>>95968219
>Too many hours of prep spent making a map you'll use for maybe a single session.
so make something quick? it doesn't take that long for a small battlemap. most of the time spent for me is figuring out what npcs to use or what loot to put. see pic related.

>They also end up feeling railroady, as in your players can't really go places to fight you've not pre-prepped with a map
if you're skilled, you can more or less corral them to places you prepared because you show them that's where the adventure continues. they can go someplace else, but why would they when the quest is in this place?

if there's a spot where i don't plan for a battle i just put up a picture for the general area and can add the grid/draw something quickly if combat emerges.