Alternative to using mini's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative to using mini's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
erc1971
07-18-07, 10:35 AM Our campaign is looking at a large battle in the near future. Putting 50+ mini's on the board would be a real pain in the rear. (Especially since I own the mini's and we don't play at my house.)

I am wondering if anyone has seen any product out there (hopefully in downloadable PDF format) that consists of 1 inch tiles that you could use in place of mini's? (kind of like the tiles at the back of the 3.5 DMG, but for monsters)

This way we can use our mini's for the important characters and monsters, then use the simple tiles for the mobs of orcs and pirates ;)

Thanks,
Eric
Zherog
07-18-07, 10:38 AM I'm sure you could use Google to find gobs of 'em. They're typically called "counters" which should help your search.

As an alternative (though not free): My wife bought me a bag of colored stones from the dollar store. They're intended to be used in a glass vase with plastic flowers to look nice. But they're just the right size to drop onto a battlemat and use as whatever.

Another alternative would be loose change.
penchant
07-18-07, 05:02 PM I'm sure you could use Google to find gobs of 'em. They're typically called "counters" which should help your search.

As an alternative (though not free): My wife bought me a bag of colored stones from the dollar store. They're intended to be used in a glass vase with plastic flowers to look nice. But they're just the right size to drop onto a battlemat and use as whatever.

Another alternative would be loose change.

And Abraham charges George with a power attack leap attack. And he hits! George Washington Dies.
Jake_D
07-18-07, 08:00 PM Fiery Dragon's Counter Collection: Gold seems to be exactly what you're looking for. It's got creatures from the core monster manual, and it's available as a PDF.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=14&products_id=1446
Edymnion
07-18-07, 08:02 PM Use candy.
No, seriously, get a bag of gummy bears, some hershey kisses, etc. Use those as the monster minis. If you kill it, you get to eat it.
Isida Kep'Tukari
07-18-07, 08:44 PM Yeah, I've done the candy thing before. The sorcerer practically danced with glee after fireballing a dozen goblins, because he got to eat a dozen Hershey's Kisses.

Alternately, I got myself a Pound O' Dice from the Chessex booth at GenCon a few years ago, and as I'm mini-deficient, use them all the time to represent anything that needs representing.
MHolland
07-18-07, 11:03 PM Colored glass beads. Found in any craft store or your local Walmart. Hundreds of glass beads for just a few bucks. Can't beat it.
DX2052
07-19-07, 01:17 AM I always preferred chess pieces.
shadzar
07-19-07, 01:23 AM why not just look at the DDM galleries, select the monsters you want, and print the mini images out to scale.

small medium = 1 square
large = 2x2 square
etc

you could also always use dice.

i must ask if all 50+ creatures will be in combat at once? and why?
docballen
07-19-07, 01:55 AM The next new game I get into, I'm doing what they did in the ad in the magazines.

I'm using a chicken.

(Would that be gigantic or colossal?)
green_girl
07-19-07, 10:16 AM it really depends on the chicken.
Sisial
07-19-07, 12:45 PM We use push pins and put the map over a foam board. I also draw arrows on their tops so you can tell which way they point! :P I'm cheap and it rocks!
_Jayne_Cobb_
07-19-07, 12:48 PM 50 minis is nothing. Just throw them in a box and take them along.
Blackskullgreymon
07-19-07, 04:20 PM Personally, I use a lot of LEGOs in my campaigns. For building doorways, to monsters, to more complicated 3D battles on walkways and such. While not really what you are looking for, maybe that'll help you brainstorm a little.
Jake_D
07-19-07, 07:09 PM Hmm... I must've misread, because I thought he was looking for 1-inch (for medium, 2x2 for large, etc.) tiles of D&D monsters in a downloadable pdf format...
Well, if that's not it, just use minis, or LARP, or maybe don't use anything and just imagine everything, or...
:rolleyes:
Grod_The_Giant
07-19-07, 10:23 PM let's see...what do I use...

Dowels for PCs. We take a 1" thick dowel and cut it into pieces. Poof, easy.
Washers for most monsters. I draw a number on 'em with a marker for identification.
Lego, for a big zombie swarm type thing. I grabbed a ton of 2x3 bricks and used them.
Pieces of paper with names or numbers on them if all else fails. Washers are better, though, since they can't blow away.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
erc1971 07-18-07, 10:35 AM	Our campaign is looking at a large battle in the near future. Putting 50+ mini's on the board would be a real pain in the rear. (Especially since I own the mini's and we don't play at my house.) I am wondering if anyone has seen any product out there (hopefully in downloadable PDF format) that consists of 1 inch tiles that you could use in place of mini's? (kind of like the tiles at the back of the 3.5 DMG, but for monsters) This way we can use our mini's for the important characters and monsters, then use the simple tiles for the mobs of orcs and pirates ;) Thanks, Eric
Zherog 07-18-07, 10:38 AM	I'm sure you could use Google to find gobs of 'em. They're typically called "counters" which should help your search. As an alternative (though not free): My wife bought me a bag of colored stones from the dollar store. They're intended to be used in a glass vase with plastic flowers to look nice. But they're just the right size to drop onto a battlemat and use as whatever. Another alternative would be loose change.
penchant 07-18-07, 05:02 PM	I'm sure you could use Google to find gobs of 'em. They're typically called "counters" which should help your search. As an alternative (though not free): My wife bought me a bag of colored stones from the dollar store. They're intended to be used in a glass vase with plastic flowers to look nice. But they're just the right size to drop onto a battlemat and use as whatever. Another alternative would be loose change. And Abraham charges George with a power attack leap attack. And he hits! George Washington Dies.
Jake_D 07-18-07, 08:00 PM	Fiery Dragon's Counter Collection: Gold seems to be exactly what you're looking for. It's got creatures from the core monster manual, and it's available as a PDF. http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=14&products_id=1446
Edymnion 07-18-07, 08:02 PM	Use candy. No, seriously, get a bag of gummy bears, some hershey kisses, etc. Use those as the monster minis. If you kill it, you get to eat it.
Isida Kep'Tukari 07-18-07, 08:44 PM	Yeah, I've done the candy thing before. The sorcerer practically danced with glee after fireballing a dozen goblins, because he got to eat a dozen Hershey's Kisses. Alternately, I got myself a Pound O' Dice from the Chessex booth at GenCon a few years ago, and as I'm mini-deficient, use them all the time to represent anything that needs representing.
MHolland 07-18-07, 11:03 PM	Colored glass beads. Found in any craft store or your local Walmart. Hundreds of glass beads for just a few bucks. Can't beat it.
DX2052 07-19-07, 01:17 AM	I always preferred chess pieces.
shadzar 07-19-07, 01:23 AM	why not just look at the DDM galleries, select the monsters you want, and print the mini images out to scale. small medium = 1 square large = 2x2 square etc you could also always use dice. i must ask if all 50+ creatures will be in combat at once? and why?
docballen 07-19-07, 01:55 AM	The next new game I get into, I'm doing what they did in the ad in the magazines. I'm using a chicken. (Would that be gigantic or colossal?)
green_girl 07-19-07, 10:16 AM	it really depends on the chicken.
Sisial 07-19-07, 12:45 PM	We use push pins and put the map over a foam board. I also draw arrows on their tops so you can tell which way they point! :P I'm cheap and it rocks!
_Jayne_Cobb_ 07-19-07, 12:48 PM	50 minis is nothing. Just throw them in a box and take them along.
Blackskullgreymon 07-19-07, 04:20 PM	Personally, I use a lot of LEGOs in my campaigns. For building doorways, to monsters, to more complicated 3D battles on walkways and such. While not really what you are looking for, maybe that'll help you brainstorm a little.
Jake_D 07-19-07, 07:09 PM	Hmm... I must've misread, because I thought he was looking for 1-inch (for medium, 2x2 for large, etc.) tiles of D&D monsters in a downloadable pdf format... Well, if that's not it, just use minis, or LARP, or maybe don't use anything and just imagine everything, or... :rolleyes:
Grod_The_Giant 07-19-07, 10:23 PM	let's see...what do I use... Dowels for PCs. We take a 1" thick dowel and cut it into pieces. Poof, easy. Washers for most monsters. I draw a number on 'em with a marker for identification. Lego, for a big zombie swarm type thing. I grabbed a ton of 2x3 bricks and used them. Pieces of paper with names or numbers on them if all else fails. Washers are better, though, since they can't blow away.