Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tyveil 11-22-04, 03:17 PM	I'm looking for a product which I can use to create maps for D&D battles using miniatures. The grid map in the DMG should work fine but how do I quickly add features to it? Should I get it laminated and use dry erase markers? Or is there some other product that I should buy ready for use? Please excuse my ignorance. Back in my prime D&D days we used to use nothing more than our DMs descriptions, but I do want to follow 3.5 combat rules and use some type of grid map. Links appreciated as I'll probably have to order online as this town has very little to choose from. Thanks.
Seeker95 11-22-04, 03:20 PM	If you are going to laminate, I suggest wet erase markers instead of dry-erase. Trust me.
Sucineri 11-22-04, 03:27 PM	How much do you figure laminating something costs anyway? I was always curious about that (but not to the point of actually asking anyone, silly me!). Oh, and why wet erase rather than dry? Does wet clean off better or sumpin?
Seeker95 11-22-04, 04:50 PM	Dry erase markers are made for the special surface of a dry erase board. Wet erase (overhead markers) are made for laminate material.
Phrennzy 11-22-04, 05:09 PM	We just made a great map. Foam-core board center. 20" x 30" and 1/4" thick. About $3.00 Roll of Contact paper 9' x 18". Clear, low shine. About $3.00 Spray Adhesive. About $3.00 4 sqaures to the Inch graph paper 20" x 30". About $5.00 (you only need one sheet. Or you could use a few smaller sheets of 1/4 squares, just outline the 1" squares.). Darken the inch sqaures on the graph paper. Use the spray adhesive to mount the paper on the foam core board. Put the contact paper over the paper. Trim it down - you get a map about 18" x 29" - it's rigid but light. I also made two smaller 8" x 10" boards so that if combat runs off the map, we can place the boards on the edge. And you can use dry erase markers on it - wet erase markers suck.
Phrennzy 11-22-04, 05:12 PM	Another trick - download the demo version of Gridsmith (there isn't enough support for the real program to make it worth buying.) Use this to make your own custom maps. Put the custom maps inside 8 1/2"x11" paper protectors - the clear ones. Then you can use eraseable markers on it. Gridsmith is a great program: Go here to download. (http://www.gridsmith.com)
KevlarKnight 11-22-04, 06:13 PM	I tape a one inch grid to the underside of a glass table and use dry erase markers. Black for walls, Green for trees, Blue for water, and Red just in case there is any blood :fight!:
Dave Stebbins 11-22-04, 07:00 PM	The most widely-used battle mats are made by Chessex. You can also use a clear plexi-glass sheet placed over gridded paper. I have also heard that showerboard (available at home improvement stores) works great with dry-erase markers. I have also seen people use chalkboard. Most forms need to be scored with a knife to create the grid. In addition to Gridsmith, you can also use Dundjinni, a well-supported but somewhat expensive commercial software product for creating printable grids. There are also many PDF products available at RPGNow (.com) for printing out battle grids. Whatever you choose to do, the best battle mat advice I've heard is the following: create a small table to raise your battle mat 6 to 8 inches off the table. Plywood and dowels will work fine for this (cover the edges). With the battle grid raised, it is still central, but all the space underneath is opened up for books, papers, dice, snacks, etc. It's the best thing my group ever did. -Dave (no links, but Google is easy to use)