Battlemats [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Battlemats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dark_emperor
07-10-06, 06:37 PM Okay, I am a major noob, but I want to know what do you do to copy a map on to the battlemat. For example, in the Dungeon magazine, I wanna know how to copy the map of Gates Of Oblivion onto a battlemat, do I literally draw it with a pen on to it or what? Please help me.
fuzzypants
07-10-06, 06:42 PM A vis-a-vis overhead pen works best. Red tends to stain. What I and my gaming group do is use acetate (the plastic used on overhead projectors) over top so you never write/draw directly onto the battle mat. I imagine you can get acetate at a hobby shop or a store that sells teaching supplies.

Edited to add: Essentially, yes, you draw directly onto the battlemat. Make sure you're using some sort of marker/pen that you can wipe away with water.
ccerose
07-10-06, 06:42 PM That's usually the way it goes.

My group uses vinyl battle mats and over head projector pens. And yes, I have to draw everything out by hand.

I also use the dungeon mapping software program called Dundjinni (http://www.dundjinni.com/). I used to print them out, but it became way too expensive. Once projectors come down in price a bit more, I'm going to invest in one and mount it overhead, so I can just project the maps from my PC onto the table.
Dark_emperor
07-10-06, 06:53 PM Where do you get the vinyl mats? Ive never seen them
Dark_emperor
07-10-06, 07:02 PM I always thought you just use the paper ones, like the one that comes with the DM guide.
Dark_emperor
07-10-06, 07:05 PM anyone know where t oget the vinyl mats?
Aeromus
07-10-06, 07:18 PM www.crystalcaste.com

Or you can do one of three other things.

1) Laminate your poster sized battle grid from the DMG this costs around 5 bucks. And, Dry erase markers (mostly just black) works.

2) Buy, a piece of plexiglass from Lowe's or another similier store. This is around 15-20 bucks.

3) Use the over head projecter screen plastic sheets, easily available where you get copies made. I'm not sure of the price.
PenderGrass
07-10-06, 07:27 PM anyone know where t oget the vinyl mats?
Patience.

:dragon:
****
starfire311
07-10-06, 08:00 PM What a good friend of mine has done in the past for using printed maps in modules... say the Shackled city... he went to the kinkos and had them enlarge it to so the squares were 1 inch and then laminate it... he did that for every map in the shackled city. It was pretty cool.
ccerose
07-11-06, 12:42 AM Here is one that I have from Chessex (http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gamingMats/chessex/megamats/v5748btpy74if) , but I am thinking of investing in these Tact-tiles (http://www.bc-products.net/Our_Products.html) because they seem to be a bit more user friendly. Instead of over head projector pens, you can use standard dry erase pens, so they don't seem to be nearly as messy.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dark_emperor 07-10-06, 06:37 PM	Okay, I am a major noob, but I want to know what do you do to copy a map on to the battlemat. For example, in the Dungeon magazine, I wanna know how to copy the map of Gates Of Oblivion onto a battlemat, do I literally draw it with a pen on to it or what? Please help me.
fuzzypants 07-10-06, 06:42 PM	A vis-a-vis overhead pen works best. Red tends to stain. What I and my gaming group do is use acetate (the plastic used on overhead projectors) over top so you never write/draw directly onto the battle mat. I imagine you can get acetate at a hobby shop or a store that sells teaching supplies. Edited to add: Essentially, yes, you draw directly onto the battlemat. Make sure you're using some sort of marker/pen that you can wipe away with water.
ccerose 07-10-06, 06:42 PM	That's usually the way it goes. My group uses vinyl battle mats and over head projector pens. And yes, I have to draw everything out by hand. I also use the dungeon mapping software program called Dundjinni (http://www.dundjinni.com/). I used to print them out, but it became way too expensive. Once projectors come down in price a bit more, I'm going to invest in one and mount it overhead, so I can just project the maps from my PC onto the table.
Dark_emperor 07-10-06, 06:53 PM	Where do you get the vinyl mats? Ive never seen them
Dark_emperor 07-10-06, 07:02 PM	I always thought you just use the paper ones, like the one that comes with the DM guide.
Dark_emperor 07-10-06, 07:05 PM	anyone know where t oget the vinyl mats?
Aeromus 07-10-06, 07:18 PM	www.crystalcaste.com Or you can do one of three other things. 1) Laminate your poster sized battle grid from the DMG this costs around 5 bucks. And, Dry erase markers (mostly just black) works. 2) Buy, a piece of plexiglass from Lowe's or another similier store. This is around 15-20 bucks. 3) Use the over head projecter screen plastic sheets, easily available where you get copies made. I'm not sure of the price.
PenderGrass 07-10-06, 07:27 PM	anyone know where t oget the vinyl mats? Patience. :dragon: ****
starfire311 07-10-06, 08:00 PM	What a good friend of mine has done in the past for using printed maps in modules... say the Shackled city... he went to the kinkos and had them enlarge it to so the squares were 1 inch and then laminate it... he did that for every map in the shackled city. It was pretty cool.
ccerose 07-11-06, 12:42 AM	Here is one that I have from Chessex (http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gamingMats/chessex/megamats/v5748btpy74if) , but I am thinking of investing in these Tact-tiles (http://www.bc-products.net/Our_Products.html) because they seem to be a bit more user friendly. Instead of over head projector pens, you can use standard dry erase pens, so they don't seem to be nearly as messy.