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[DIY] Area of Effect Markers for Battlemats (Free and Easy)
Hey all,
My wife and I are currently nearing the end of the process of buying a new home (we move in August 29th). So as you might guess, that meant many visits to places like Home Depot.
Anyway, I was looking through paint samples and of course D&D came to mind. In our games, we usually use markers (pens) to draw out area of effect... areas (I draw the corners of these areas usually). In my friend's campaign he bought transparencies and cut them to shape... but those cost money of course and are flimsy. BUT, these paint samples are FREE! (I suppose that's debatable as they would not let me take ALL of them I'm sure - but they encourage you to take as much as you want - they get boxes sent to them and dish them out without a care). Anyway, you only need a few of each color you may want...
So I figured I would grab a few of a bunch of different colors to cut up into area markers... 1) they come in tons of colors, 2) they are free, 3) they are sturdy cardstock material and 4) did I mention they are free already?
So yea, mark em up with a ruler and pen with 1" squares and cut em out to the size you want (1x1, 2x2, 3x3)...
And that's about it, you are good to go!
__________________
Dark Water Campaign run in the Last Lands
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Last edited by weem; 9th August 2009 at 08:42 AM..
I used transparencies for a good long time, but got tired of having to reach around under them for chits when they were on top, or having to readjust everything that was on top of them when they were underneath and moved.
What I ended up doing was giving each of my players a bunch of those clear bingo chips (each player has their own color for all their props) that they then use to keep track of where their conjurations, or zones, or effects were. For zones, instead of filling up the entire square, and adding to the already sizable number of game bits and pieces that exist on a 4E battlemat, we just mark the corners of the effect. This had the added bonus of only needing 4 chips to be able to describe any size zone.
If you end up deciding that these are problems for you too, you could convert everything to the 1" squares you're already using, or even make little L shaped chits to more clearly show where each zone is.
__________________ Life's a die and then you bitch.
I used transparencies for a good long time, but got tired of having to reach around under them for chits when they were on top, or having to readjust everything that was on top of them when they were underneath and moved.
I agree, very clever use of free stuff.
What I've done for AoE markers (and this only works for certain sizes) is recycle the boards that my Dungeon Tiles popped out of. By cutting the appropriate places, I have created 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 8x8 square frames, which I can plop down on the battlemat without having to work around miniatures.
I haven't used them yet, and you do have to want the Dungeon Tiles for it to be worth it, but I think it could help my group deal with most burst and blast sizes (the one I'm missing that would be useful is a Burst 3 (7x7) frame).
What I've done for AoE markers (and this only works for certain sizes) is recycle the boards that my Dungeon Tiles popped out of. By cutting the appropriate places, I have created 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 8x8 square frames, which I can plop down on the battlemat without having to work around miniatures.
I haven't used them yet, and you do have to want the Dungeon Tiles for it to be worth it, but I think it could help my group deal with most burst and blast sizes (the one I'm missing that would be useful is a Burst 3 (7x7) frame).
That's a good idea. I don't own any dungeon tiles yet, but do intend on getting some (didnt have the room to be storing more than I already am but my wife and I just bought our first house - let's here it for a room dedicated entirely to D&D!).
__________________
Dark Water Campaign run in the Last Lands
----=====----
What I've done for AoE markers (and this only works for certain sizes) is recycle the boards that my Dungeon Tiles popped out of. By cutting the appropriate places, I have created 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 8x8 square frames, which I can plop down on the battlemat without having to work around miniatures.
The other option is to take an old wire coat hanger, cut it to length and bend it into a square of appropriate size.
__________________ The Pbartender
"I don't believe it. There she goes again! She's tidied up, and I can't find anything! All my tubes and wires and careful notes and antiquated notions..." - Thomas Dolby
The other option is to take an old wire coat hanger, cut it to length and bend it into a square of appropriate size.
I have seen these before (or items that look like bent coat hangers though they may not have been) - I should do this as I think I have a few laying around Good idea
Sporemine said
Quote:
This is a GREAT idea. Free things to make a highly needed thing in D&D. Great job. Why didn't I think of this?
Because you weren't standing in front of paint samples forever while your mind was full of all things D&D, hehe.
__________________
Dark Water Campaign run in the Last Lands
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I have seen these before (or items that look like bent coat hangers though they may not have been) - I should do this as I think I have a few laying around Good idea
Another one we've started using...
Just pop off those little plastic "freshness seal" rings from plastic bottles: soda bottles, juice bottles, milk jugs, whatever. If you look a bit, they come in tons of different colors, and they generally come in two sizes -- roughly one inch and about two inches.
They're great for marking small effects, or for marking conditions. We've got a load of red ones that we got from Coke bottles and use for denoting bloodied creatures... Just hang them around the mini's neck, or let it slip down around the base.
__________________ The Pbartender
"I don't believe it. There she goes again! She's tidied up, and I can't find anything! All my tubes and wires and careful notes and antiquated notions..." - Thomas Dolby
Just pop off those little plastic "freshness seal" rings from plastic bottles: soda bottles, juice bottles, milk jugs, whatever. If you look a bit, they come in tons of different colors, and they generally come in two sizes -- roughly one inch and about two inches.
They're great for marking small effects, or for marking conditions. We've got a load of red ones that we got from Coke bottles and use for denoting bloodied creatures... Just hang them around the mini's neck, or let it slip down around the base.
...
O_O
Holy cow.
Holy cow.
This is such a good and obvious idea.
Enjoy some XP.
They're great for marking small effects, or for marking conditions. We've got a load of red ones that we got from Coke bottles and use for denoting bloodied creatures... Just hang them around the mini's neck, or let it slip down around the base.
Genius. Seriously, genius idea! Plus, an excuse to drink unhealthy amounts of fizzy drinks! There is no downside. (I know, I know, my dentist would disagree...)
i have considered making AoE markers with wire, that would allow to apply the area without removing pieces from the board, i still need to get around to do it though.
i have considered making AoE markers with wire, that would allow to apply the area without removing pieces from the board, i still need to get around to do it though.
I've made a set from floral wire and floral tape. I tried a coat hanger before and found it too much of a pain to work with. The floral wire is easy to bend, and with a pair of pliers you can make fairly nice 90 degree corners. I used my battle mat as a template until I figured where exactly to grab the wire with the pliers. The only drawback to my set is that the wire only comes in 18" lengths. So for the larger templates I had to tape pieces together. I did this by overlaping the two pieces by an inch and then winding tape around them. For my next set I am considering butt welding the pieces together.
I've made a set from floral wire and floral tape. I tried a coat hanger before and found it too much of a pain to work with. The floral wire is easy to bend, and with a pair of pliers you can make fairly nice 90 degree corners. I used my battle mat as a template until I figured where exactly to grab the wire with the pliers. The only drawback to my set is that the wire only comes in 18" lengths. So for the larger templates I had to tape pieces together. I did this by overlaping the two pieces by an inch and then winding tape around them. For my next set I am considering butt welding the pieces together.
Excellent idea! I think I made do this today, thanks, hehe
--edit--
*sees it's grims first post*
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__________________
Dark Water Campaign run in the Last Lands
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The paint chip idea is awesome. Never thought of it before but the next time I'm at Home Depot I'm picking up a couple dozen
For marking conditions I got some hair elastics from the dollar store - $1 for about 600 multi-coloured tiny elastics works great for marking any kind of condition you can think of.
__________________ "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." - Samuel Johnson 18th century English author.
The paint chip idea is awesome. Never thought of it before but the next time I'm at Home Depot I'm picking up a couple dozen
For marking conditions I got some hair elastics from the dollar store - $1 for about 600 multi-coloured tiny elastics works great for marking any kind of condition you can think of.
Thanks yea - lots to choose from there...
...and wow - never thought of that one either (hair elastics) despite my wife having millions of them laying around, hehe (they are all black, but still). Yea, those are just right for dropping around a fig!
__________________
Dark Water Campaign run in the Last Lands
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Good idea
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