Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zovc 01-18-08, 10:32 PM	Hey, guys, Zovc here. I've got very little shame, I don't have much money to spend on Dungeons and Dragons. I was hoping to start a discussion (and, of course yoink ideas) on cheap Dungeons and Dragons paraphernalia. I'm basically asking what cheap things have you represented other things with that didn't get in the way of the flow of the game. Things I've personally tried: Paper Tokens to represent characters Hand-drawn 1-square-inch grids Store-bought dry-erase boards with a 1-square-inch grid drawn in permanent marker covered with tape. For the record, I'd not recommend any of the above things, and I truly could use better methods. Paper character tokens can easily (and mistakenly) be blown off of the board simply by hysterical laughter, chuckling, or even simple breathing. In wal-mart a few days ago, my friend and I noticed a plasticish mat that had 1-square-inch units and 32" (I believe) rulers along every side, it seemed like it might be a good, durable playing mat, has anyone ever tried these? If so, how do dry-erase markers interact with them, if you've tried that?
Krusk 01-19-08, 12:35 AM	For books I recomend the http://www.d20srd.org/ until you can buy some. Now for a battle map of some sort. 1- pizza box lid 1- ruler capable of making even segments and a straight line. 1- pencil or pen Mini's? 40- push pins of one color 10- push pins of another 10- push pins of a third color. DND for the cost of things laying about your house. Many colleges have a 24/7 computer lab in which you can print the srd or relavant parts for free. Most do not even check to make sure you attend the school, and if your lucky it might even be open to the public (mine is). If you dont want to print, you can always play near a computer or bring a laptop. I assume you have computer access because you have a post on the internet. (this one)
sblaxman 01-19-08, 12:52 AM	Graph paper, go to the craft store (or office depot) and by a stack of it... it's still what I use after 20 years. For tokens... pennies, erasers, pins (good idea krusk), chess pieces, monopoly hotels, whatever you can find works
Heros_Backpack 01-19-08, 10:05 AM	Graph paper works very well, and if you can't find anything for tokens, you can just scribble on it in pencil and erase the marks when you move. The other thing is that you don't have to have 1 inch squares on your mat as long as the whole group is agreed that 1 square (of any regular size) = 5 feet. Look around your house - have you got any board games? Snakes and ladders? Chessboard? Checkers/Draughts board? All usable. Do you have any of those floppy plastic packets that free CDs come in? Remove CD, insert squared paper - you now have a mini wipe-clean board. For markers, there's a longish thread here (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=974868) about the assorted things people use instead of miniatures. You might want to take a look.
sblaxman 01-19-08, 01:02 PM	Above is correct, you can use any grid size for anything. We typically use a fine grid grid paper and just use pencil marks to denote where players are... I just make a "scale" mark on each page (1 squre = 5 foot = 10 foot = 20 foot) or whatever the situation called for. If you need a "battle mat" type envionrment w/ actual tokens, then find a checkers board... it'll work just fine
Etarnon 01-20-08, 02:10 AM	Cheap cardstock cut into squares make wonderful counters for good guys and bad guys.
MergedLoki 01-20-08, 04:32 AM	ok i didn't read all the posts here so if im just rehasing someones idea you'll just hafta deal w/it. I haven't played dnd for a number of years (about 5 now i think) but for old times sake me and a few friends are gonna pick up 3.5E and give it another go. anyways, unless i've bought an adventure that came w/a large map board i've never used any props unless it was a regular campaign/area map to show the pc's where they were in the world etc. we've (my group) has basically just used our imaginations/descriptions to do everything so except for dice and sheets never been a TON of clutter lying around.
Morbid 01-20-08, 04:34 AM	I once cut a rubber band to make it one straight piece, and clipped a paper clip to one end, thus creating a red dragon. (even though it was a blue rubber band, and a silver clip...)
sblaxman 01-20-08, 11:34 AM	we've (my group) has basically just used our imaginations/descriptions to do everything so except for dice and sheets never been a TON of clutter lying around. This is how we run it basically, but we use graph paper so the players can make maps as they go, or to draw out a room in detail if needed. However, 3.5 rules are written a LOT different than 1e/2e, which I run.... It is written to be heavily dependent on using game mats and minis, and a lot of players have become dependent on them and have trouble playing without them, especially if they play using the rules as written in the newer additions. Not that all need it, but if you read the boards a lot, you get the gist that almost everyone now-adays plays using a standardized game-mat and standardized minis
CryoSilver 01-20-08, 11:54 AM	My group goes insane with technology, and our battlemap looks something this: http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/cryosilver/battlegrid.jpg Before that, we got a 36"x48" grid and covered it with a sheet of clear Lexan. It lasted for a long time, and we never had to worry about spills.
Ariakus 01-21-08, 09:08 AM	I recognize Cad when I see it :) x,y,z UCS....is that Civil 3D? My company refuses to go 08', we're still using 05' :)
Hsien 01-21-08, 02:33 PM	Check out Fat Dragon Games (http://www.fatdragongames.com/) Good stuff for the cost and they even have a section of free downloads. This years X-mas Wreath Door got used by our DM as a trapped door. It was one heck of a Slay Ride.
Eldritch_Lord 01-21-08, 02:37 PM	Well, as I mentioned in the Minis thread that was linked to, my group and I like to use Legos because we have a lot of them (a lot a lot). If you want to do that, you should look at buying a Lego Chess set. You can find them brand new for ~$7.00 on eBay or other places, and you'll get: 32 miniatures Your choice of Castle, Viking, or Pirate themes An 8x8 chess board with ~1x1 inch squares Get a box of plain bricks for less than $10.00 at your local hobby shop or toy store and you can make walls, terrain, etc., all quickly rebuildable and customizable. If you really get into it, you can do this (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=14850141&postcount=57), but you can make things as simple or as complex as you want (and your budget allows). Just my little plug for Lego D&D. :D