I'm looking for a program to help improve my combats in DnD...

[Ajoxer]

I'm thinking of maybe using Microsoft Excel or something, but can anyone think of a more effective customizable grid thing? Would definetly help me out with things.

[Hunter]

In all honesty?  Scrap the grid and go more freeform.

[Ajoxer]

Hmmm... Depends, if nobody else has a particular idea, then yeah, scrapish.

Not the first time, by god.

[Hunter]

I didn't like the addition of the grid system in 3.x as it makes it too wargamish.  And I'd rather not have to wait five minutes for a player to decide which travel path he should use so he can still attack at the end of his move....

[Ajoxer]

Well, let's face it, it's PBP, five minutes don't do much. :-P. We shall see, anyway. Chances are, yeah, we shant use the grid...

[Celestial Goblin]

Try VASSAL game engine. It's for playing tabletop games 'virtually' trough the net, but you can also use it for yourself. There's a 'miniatures skirmish battles' module that's an adaptation of latest D&D wargame rules. It not only has grid for you to play around but also tools for checking LoS and spells with cone and area effects.
http://www.vassalengine.org/community/index.php