Battle Mat [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Battle Mat [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
capone888
03-29-05, 01:02 PM Does WotC sell an officially licensed DnD Battle Mat/Grid that I can buy in a game store? I know the Dungeon Master Guide (3.5) has a pull out in the back, but I was looking for something a little more durable. I would like a vinyl mat that I can draw on and erase when I'm done. Does WotC sell these, or do I need to purchase one from somewhere else?
Arrowhen
03-29-05, 01:13 PM You can make one yourself for about $6. Just buy a 3' x 5' piece of posterboard and a roll of clear Contac paper at any office supply store. Place the paper battlemat from the DMG or from a DDM starter kit over the posterboard, cover it with the Contac paper, leaving a margin of a couple inches on either side to wrap around the back, and voila--one dry-erasable battle grid.
Zherog
03-29-05, 01:15 PM WotC does not sell one. However, anything that has one inch squares will suffice. I have a vinyl one that requires wet erase markers.
AM roach
03-29-05, 02:07 PM We use a photocopy of the grid in the back of the DMG 3.5 (dunno if its in the others) which is laminated then use dry wipe makers.
Kliqueman
03-29-05, 02:58 PM Goto chessex... they have really nice mats, and I would recommend checking out the factory seconds... they have small defects, but nothing all that bad.
PsionScribe
03-29-05, 09:31 PM Well, I personally prefer hex grids, as opposed to squares.

What I would do would be get a pattern of hexagons (or squares) and place it on a sheet of vinyl.

Take a razor blade and gingerly cut the edges of the hexagons down onto the vinyl, but not through it.

Laminate the paper pattern so that a dry erase (or any water soluable) marker can write on it and erase.
allenchan
03-29-05, 10:06 PM Just get it lamenated (I got my done for 6 bucks) and dry erase markers. viola!
Stuntman
03-29-05, 10:32 PM Just remember that dry erase markers don't erase off of acetate. I learned it the hard way.
Heironymus_Vann
03-30-05, 12:31 AM I use Tact-Tiles with Dry Erase markers - one of the better gaming investments.

They have a website at http://www.bc-products.net/ and you can sometimes find them cheaper on EBay from resellers.

They're great because you can add tiles as needed to extend the map in directions the players are going, so you're not restricted to a square encounter area. Plus they save time, because you don't have to erase constantly - I judge a lot at conventions with limited-time slots and the time savings are appreciated.

Now I just need to get some of those steel sqwire templates and I'm set...

HV
Thelandrach
03-30-05, 09:33 AM They used to sell one, but it wasn't compatible with the 3.5 rules and they figured it wasn't cost-effective to reprint it in the newer format.

:rolleyes:
PurdueDave
03-30-05, 11:08 AM Thanks for the tip H-Vann. Those look pretty cool.
Arrowhen
03-30-05, 11:13 AM They used to sell one, but it wasn't compatible with the 3.5 rules and they figured it wasn't cost-effective to reprint it in the newer format.

:rolleyes:
Heh, were the one-inch squares bigger or smaller in 3.0?
SheldonSmith
03-30-05, 11:26 AM I use Tact-Tiles with Dry Erase markers - one of the better gaming investments.

They have a website at http://www.bc-products.net/ and you can sometimes find them cheaper on EBay from resellers.
HV

I love my Tact-Tiles. Two things that you need to know about them. 1) When they get scratched they are hard to clean. 2) they are heavy.

That said it is well worth getting a set of 9 tiles. That is more than enough for every encounter that I have had for the past year. I have two groups in various venues. I have a book bag and I keep them in it all the time -- ready to go. Also dry-erase markers come in all sorts of colors. The ones from EXPO are the best. The EXPO cleaner also works good on the tiles.

If you are planning to DM for a long time, these are by far the best investment you can make. And I don't work for BC-Products.
Draco Strang
03-30-05, 12:51 PM And here I always thought this Battle Mat everyone talked about was the brother of my close and personal friend, Battle Eugene. :waits:

Seriously folks, my friend that DMs our Eberron Campaign shelled out 40 bucks (shipping included in there) for a giant battlemat that's wet erase, with both hex and squares on opposing sides, in addition to a half dozen markers.

It's more than paid for itself in ease of play and convienence. Plus, it helps on those days where we decide to arbitrarily enforce facing rules.
Thelandrach
03-30-05, 01:44 PM Heh, were the one-inch squares bigger or smaller in 3.0?
No, it's just that one inch stood for 10' in 2nd edition and now it's 5'.

:rolleyes: , as it were.
Arrowhen
03-30-05, 01:49 PM No, it's just that one inch stood for 10' in 2nd edition and now it's 5'.

:rolleyes: , as it were.
Oh, ok. When you said "they" used to sell one, I thought you meant WotC.
capone888
03-31-05, 04:32 PM Those tact-tiles look awesome! Just placed an order for 12 tiles and the markers and carrying case. Can't wait to get them. Thanks everyone for helping me out!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
capone888 03-29-05, 01:02 PM	Does WotC sell an officially licensed DnD Battle Mat/Grid that I can buy in a game store? I know the Dungeon Master Guide (3.5) has a pull out in the back, but I was looking for something a little more durable. I would like a vinyl mat that I can draw on and erase when I'm done. Does WotC sell these, or do I need to purchase one from somewhere else?
Arrowhen 03-29-05, 01:13 PM	You can make one yourself for about $6. Just buy a 3' x 5' piece of posterboard and a roll of clear Contac paper at any office supply store. Place the paper battlemat from the DMG or from a DDM starter kit over the posterboard, cover it with the Contac paper, leaving a margin of a couple inches on either side to wrap around the back, and voila--one dry-erasable battle grid.
Zherog 03-29-05, 01:15 PM	WotC does not sell one. However, anything that has one inch squares will suffice. I have a vinyl one that requires wet erase markers.
AM roach 03-29-05, 02:07 PM	We use a photocopy of the grid in the back of the DMG 3.5 (dunno if its in the others) which is laminated then use dry wipe makers.
Kliqueman 03-29-05, 02:58 PM	Goto chessex... they have really nice mats, and I would recommend checking out the factory seconds... they have small defects, but nothing all that bad.
PsionScribe 03-29-05, 09:31 PM	Well, I personally prefer hex grids, as opposed to squares. What I would do would be get a pattern of hexagons (or squares) and place it on a sheet of vinyl. Take a razor blade and gingerly cut the edges of the hexagons down onto the vinyl, but not through it. Laminate the paper pattern so that a dry erase (or any water soluable) marker can write on it and erase.
allenchan 03-29-05, 10:06 PM	Just get it lamenated (I got my done for 6 bucks) and dry erase markers. viola!
Stuntman 03-29-05, 10:32 PM	Just remember that dry erase markers don't erase off of acetate. I learned it the hard way.
Heironymus_Vann 03-30-05, 12:31 AM	I use Tact-Tiles with Dry Erase markers - one of the better gaming investments. They have a website at http://www.bc-products.net/ and you can sometimes find them cheaper on EBay from resellers. They're great because you can add tiles as needed to extend the map in directions the players are going, so you're not restricted to a square encounter area. Plus they save time, because you don't have to erase constantly - I judge a lot at conventions with limited-time slots and the time savings are appreciated. Now I just need to get some of those steel sqwire templates and I'm set... HV
Thelandrach 03-30-05, 09:33 AM	They used to sell one, but it wasn't compatible with the 3.5 rules and they figured it wasn't cost-effective to reprint it in the newer format. :rolleyes:
PurdueDave 03-30-05, 11:08 AM	Thanks for the tip H-Vann. Those look pretty cool.
Arrowhen 03-30-05, 11:13 AM	They used to sell one, but it wasn't compatible with the 3.5 rules and they figured it wasn't cost-effective to reprint it in the newer format. :rolleyes: Heh, were the one-inch squares bigger or smaller in 3.0?
SheldonSmith 03-30-05, 11:26 AM	I use Tact-Tiles with Dry Erase markers - one of the better gaming investments. They have a website at http://www.bc-products.net/ and you can sometimes find them cheaper on EBay from resellers. HV I love my Tact-Tiles. Two things that you need to know about them. 1) When they get scratched they are hard to clean. 2) they are heavy. That said it is well worth getting a set of 9 tiles. That is more than enough for every encounter that I have had for the past year. I have two groups in various venues. I have a book bag and I keep them in it all the time -- ready to go. Also dry-erase markers come in all sorts of colors. The ones from EXPO are the best. The EXPO cleaner also works good on the tiles. If you are planning to DM for a long time, these are by far the best investment you can make. And I don't work for BC-Products.
Draco Strang 03-30-05, 12:51 PM	And here I always thought this Battle Mat everyone talked about was the brother of my close and personal friend, Battle Eugene. :waits: Seriously folks, my friend that DMs our Eberron Campaign shelled out 40 bucks (shipping included in there) for a giant battlemat that's wet erase, with both hex and squares on opposing sides, in addition to a half dozen markers. It's more than paid for itself in ease of play and convienence. Plus, it helps on those days where we decide to arbitrarily enforce facing rules.
Thelandrach 03-30-05, 01:44 PM	Heh, were the one-inch squares bigger or smaller in 3.0? No, it's just that one inch stood for 10' in 2nd edition and now it's 5'. :rolleyes: , as it were.
Arrowhen 03-30-05, 01:49 PM	No, it's just that one inch stood for 10' in 2nd edition and now it's 5'. :rolleyes: , as it were. Oh, ok. When you said "they" used to sell one, I thought you meant WotC.
capone888 03-31-05, 04:32 PM	Those tact-tiles look awesome! Just placed an order for 12 tiles and the markers and carrying case. Can't wait to get them. Thanks everyone for helping me out!