Finding Good Gameplay mats - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Finding Good Gameplay mats

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
chonen
Jan 24, 2010 13:03:10 I have been wanting to buy a Wet Erase Mat for quite awhile. The regular squares that are standard for D&D minis is easy to find but I was wondering if there were alternate mats out there. I know that there are dual sided ones with hexes.

I want to run some D20 Modern games and since there are not many modern figures available I have collected random Hero Clix minis that work better than traditional Armor and Robe clad D&D minis. The problem is that their bases are Large size instead of medium. Does anyone know if there exists a mat that is Large Square x Large Square? I know Medium x Medium translates to 1 inch x 1 inch, but wasn't sure what the measurement was for large or if it exists.

Thanks,
Chance ^_^
#2
bone_naga
Jan 24, 2010 13:13:20 I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure Chessex makes a large square wet erase mat (1.5" squares I think). You could also print off downloaded modern maps and adjust the print size to get the squares you need, and then laminate them to use them with wet erase markers.

Or you could just change the bases to 1 inch. I've done that with a number of minis and it's pretty easy. Use a razor blade or exacto knife to separate the mini from the base, and glue it to a new base (I drink lots of beer, so I use bottle caps that I've painted black).
#3
TheRealOrion
Jan 24, 2010 13:39:46 Chessex does indeed make good mats in various sizes and styles. Squares of various sizes, hexes of various sizes, dual-sided (squares on both, hexes on both, hexes and squares). They also have a section for factor seconds, where mats with slight imperfections are sold for lowered prices. I've heard that the "slight imperfections" can be things like the squares going all the way to the edge of the mat, which ain't so bad, actually.

Main sight:

www.chessex.com/mats/Battlemats_&_Megama...

Factory 2nds:

www.chessex.com/mats/Battlemats_&_Megama...

That said, I bought my mat at a gaming shop. If you have one in your town, I'd go there and ask. Ordering one from Chessex will cost you shipping and handling. An actual store will be happy to bring one in to sell it to you. You support a local business and you get the product for less money. Everybody wins.
#4
malbur
Jan 24, 2010 15:39:33 I actually made my battle mat. turns out that if you have a walmart near you, or a fabric shop, you can get rolls of vinyl (i used clear). By doing this, and by using a sharpie and a yard stick, you can make the mat as big or as small as you want. takes a bit of time but means you get your own personal mat for less than 5 bucks (if you want a square yard mat, it's about 1.77 i believe). Best if you do this with a square grid however as making a hexagonal grid would be difficult and confusing i believe, but hey, maybe you could do it?
#5
narukagami
Jan 24, 2010 17:56:19 Chessex Factory 2nds are the cheapest good quality mats you can get. Most of the "mistakes" are redundant little things that don't actually effect the usability of the mat at all.

For example, the one I have is a reversable 1"x1" mat with squares and hexes (I forget how large off hand, and its a thousand miles away right now :P), the only thing thats "wrong" with it is the grid goes all the way to the edges instead of having a fancy boarder taking up an inch of space on each side.

So really, sometimes the factory 2nds can be better. :P
#6
chonen
Jan 25, 2010 10:02:06 Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix?

Making my own bases sounds like an option though.
#7
AnimeSniper
Jan 25, 2010 16:19:25
I actually made my battle mat. turns out that if you have a walmart near you, or a fabric shop, you can get rolls of vinyl (i used clear). By doing this, and by using a sharpie and a yard stick, you can make the mat as big or as small as you want. takes a bit of time but means you get your own personal mat for less than 5 bucks (if you want a square yard mat, it's about 1.77 i believe). Best if you do this with a square grid however as making a hexagonal grid would be difficult and confusing i believe, but hey, maybe you could do it?

Hexagonal Stencils/Templates, then you can make them big enough for multiples mechas/ships... just find one at you local Office Depot or Architectural Engineering supply store the latter being better since you could get just a hexagonal one with differing sizes
#8
narukagami
Jan 25, 2010 19:12:21
Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix?

Making my own bases sounds like an option though.

Pop them off and glue them to some 1" washers. :P

Otherwise 1.5" should work.
#9
AnimeSniper
Jan 26, 2010 17:23:43
Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix?

Making my own bases sounds like an option though.

Pop them off and glue them to some 1" washers. :P

Otherwise 1.5" should work.

I remember on another board a GM/DM mentioned he took his clear chessex mat, a printed map equal to its size, and a piece of sheet metal along with magnets for the PC's figurines...

Basically he placed the sheet metal on the table with the printed map then chessex grid overtop and then either glued/velcroed the magnets to the base of the figurines... The whole reason behind this setup was that his groups resident play area had housecats trampling across the tabletop disturbing figurine placements which after a month+ in between gatherings could play havoc on the whole continuing from last session startups.

EDIT: In regards to map printing I would look at locally or online for a company that can handle the resizing and printing since you can buy Poster sized printers off the internet and some printshops could do this for you including lamenation
#10
TheRealOrion
Jan 26, 2010 18:11:26 The only problem with laminated mats is that they're a little harder to transport. That said, you can use dry-erase markers on them, which is a huge improvement over the rubber mats, which require wet erase.
#11
chonen
Jan 27, 2010 10:14:29 As far as the Wet Erase vinyl mats go, do they make a soultion that is better than water to get the marks off? Many of the mats I have seen have ghosts of games past on them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 chonen Jan 24, 2010 13:03:10	I have been wanting to buy a Wet Erase Mat for quite awhile. The regular squares that are standard for D&D minis is easy to find but I was wondering if there were alternate mats out there. I know that there are dual sided ones with hexes. I want to run some D20 Modern games and since there are not many modern figures available I have collected random Hero Clix minis that work better than traditional Armor and Robe clad D&D minis. The problem is that their bases are Large size instead of medium. Does anyone know if there exists a mat that is Large Square x Large Square? I know Medium x Medium translates to 1 inch x 1 inch, but wasn't sure what the measurement was for large or if it exists. Thanks, Chance ^_^
#2 bone_naga Jan 24, 2010 13:13:20	I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure Chessex makes a large square wet erase mat (1.5" squares I think). You could also print off downloaded modern maps and adjust the print size to get the squares you need, and then laminate them to use them with wet erase markers. Or you could just change the bases to 1 inch. I've done that with a number of minis and it's pretty easy. Use a razor blade or exacto knife to separate the mini from the base, and glue it to a new base (I drink lots of beer, so I use bottle caps that I've painted black).
#3 TheRealOrion Jan 24, 2010 13:39:46	Chessex does indeed make good mats in various sizes and styles. Squares of various sizes, hexes of various sizes, dual-sided (squares on both, hexes on both, hexes and squares). They also have a section for factor seconds, where mats with slight imperfections are sold for lowered prices. I've heard that the "slight imperfections" can be things like the squares going all the way to the edge of the mat, which ain't so bad, actually. Main sight: www.chessex.com/mats/Battlemats_&_Megama... Factory 2nds: www.chessex.com/mats/Battlemats_&_Megama... That said, I bought my mat at a gaming shop. If you have one in your town, I'd go there and ask. Ordering one from Chessex will cost you shipping and handling. An actual store will be happy to bring one in to sell it to you. You support a local business and you get the product for less money. Everybody wins.
#4 malbur Jan 24, 2010 15:39:33	I actually made my battle mat. turns out that if you have a walmart near you, or a fabric shop, you can get rolls of vinyl (i used clear). By doing this, and by using a sharpie and a yard stick, you can make the mat as big or as small as you want. takes a bit of time but means you get your own personal mat for less than 5 bucks (if you want a square yard mat, it's about 1.77 i believe). Best if you do this with a square grid however as making a hexagonal grid would be difficult and confusing i believe, but hey, maybe you could do it?
#5 narukagami Jan 24, 2010 17:56:19	Chessex Factory 2nds are the cheapest good quality mats you can get. Most of the "mistakes" are redundant little things that don't actually effect the usability of the mat at all. For example, the one I have is a reversable 1"x1" mat with squares and hexes (I forget how large off hand, and its a thousand miles away right now :P), the only thing thats "wrong" with it is the grid goes all the way to the edges instead of having a fancy boarder taking up an inch of space on each side. So really, sometimes the factory 2nds can be better. :P
#6 chonen Jan 25, 2010 10:02:06	Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix? Making my own bases sounds like an option though.
#7 AnimeSniper Jan 25, 2010 16:19:25	I actually made my battle mat. turns out that if you have a walmart near you, or a fabric shop, you can get rolls of vinyl (i used clear). By doing this, and by using a sharpie and a yard stick, you can make the mat as big or as small as you want. takes a bit of time but means you get your own personal mat for less than 5 bucks (if you want a square yard mat, it's about 1.77 i believe). Best if you do this with a square grid however as making a hexagonal grid would be difficult and confusing i believe, but hey, maybe you could do it? Hexagonal Stencils/Templates, then you can make them big enough for multiples mechas/ships... just find one at you local Office Depot or Architectural Engineering supply store the latter being better since you could get just a hexagonal one with differing sizes
#8 narukagami Jan 25, 2010 19:12:21	Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix? Making my own bases sounds like an option though. Pop them off and glue them to some 1" washers. :P Otherwise 1.5" should work.
#9 AnimeSniper Jan 26, 2010 17:23:43	Thanks for the advice. Does anyone know if I would need the 1.5" or 2" squares for HeroClix? Making my own bases sounds like an option though. Pop them off and glue them to some 1" washers. :P Otherwise 1.5" should work. I remember on another board a GM/DM mentioned he took his clear chessex mat, a printed map equal to its size, and a piece of sheet metal along with magnets for the PC's figurines... Basically he placed the sheet metal on the table with the printed map then chessex grid overtop and then either glued/velcroed the magnets to the base of the figurines... The whole reason behind this setup was that his groups resident play area had housecats trampling across the tabletop disturbing figurine placements which after a month+ in between gatherings could play havoc on the whole continuing from last session startups. EDIT: In regards to map printing I would look at locally or online for a company that can handle the resizing and printing since you can buy Poster sized printers off the internet and some printshops could do this for you including lamenation
#10 TheRealOrion Jan 26, 2010 18:11:26	The only problem with laminated mats is that they're a little harder to transport. That said, you can use dry-erase markers on them, which is a huge improvement over the rubber mats, which require wet erase.
#11 chonen Jan 27, 2010 10:14:29	As far as the Wet Erase vinyl mats go, do they make a soultion that is better than water to get the marks off? Many of the mats I have seen have ghosts of games past on them.