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Let's say, just for fun, that I was the co-owner of a company who acquired the rights to Tact-Tiles. And let's say, just for kicks, that we planned to start producing them again.
What would you like to see?
__________________ Mike McConnell, Freelance RPG Writer Currently Working On: Starblazer Adventures: The Planet Killers
Co-Owner of Imagineering Inc, formerly known as BC-Products, and the owner of the original Tact-Tiles.
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As for Tact-Tiles, I -- wait, what was the question again?
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I would love some hex tact-tiles. And the idea of clear tiles is a great one--maps and such can be placed beneath the tiles, rather than simply drawn on them.
My group uses Tact-tiles (in fact, we have two sets, but we only use one at a time), and we love them. If I had the ear of the folks designing them for another production run, I'd say:
Make the grid lines all the same -- don't make the 10' squares a thicker line than the 5' lines. Rooms and combats often don't align perfectly with the 10' squares (like when an ogre takes a 5' step), and the different thickness of the lines throws off one's eyeballing the map.
I liked them more or less how they were, and that'd be my first choice and mainstay. I could see the use of clear tiles as an overlay for a freehand map, but I wouldn't use those exclusively because I know I wouldn't always draw a freehand map in advance (the large tablet of 3'x4' graph paper -- with 1" squares -- that I still have attests to that) and I know many surfaces could make the lines hard to see. I could see me buying a smaller set of clear tiles, but opaque would continue to see more use.
I didn't check the options for hexes, but I just recalled that we were considering moving to Hero system and I'd mulled the difficulty of using squares just because of my Tact-Tiles. I'm not a big fan of hexes (okay, I actively dislike them), but I'd get a set of hex tiles for use with Hero.
I have quite a lot of tiles, from WotC, Paizo, SK and others, as well as dozens of poster maps and easy access to large, good quality mapping paper. They are all 1" grids. So when I think about changing to hexes, most of what stops me is that all the stuff I already have wouldn't be compatible.
I would be very interested in clear hex-lined tiles if they were something I could lay over my existing maps. Anything else I really have no need for.
Make the grid lines all the same -- don't make the 10' squares a thicker line than the 5' lines. Rooms and combats often don't align perfectly with the 10' squares (like when an ogre takes a 5' step), and the different thickness of the lines throws off one's eyeballing the map.
I totally disagree -- for the same reason. I find it easier to do 5' steps (and movement in general) if the lines alternate. Plus, they're close enough that it's never bothered me if a room/wall/critter/whatever didn't line up with the solid lines vs. the dashed lines.
Let's just say you do them sooner rather than later. My set, and that of the other GM in our group, are getting pretty scratched up. Had them for years. Still useable but a few have some marks that just wont come up. I love them. No changes. Gimme now. I'll even come pick them up. I am in Birmingham, weren't they made in Huntsville before?
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My set is the best RPG accessory I own, but they are scratched. Clear ones would be nice, and I'd love to have a case to carry them in. We bought our other GM a set so we wouldn't have to carry them when we played at his house. I'd gladly buy a set of clear ones or gray ones with a square grid. And like Stormborn, I'd drive to get them. Gimme!
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"So many games, so little time..."
I love my tact-tiles. They came in a cardboard carrying "case" which I've had to repair a few times but I also think they're one of the best D&D accessories I own.
Books used last session Black Horse Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Player's Handbook 2 (invoker), Adventurer's Vault, Wrath of the River King. Dulwich Parsantium campaign: 4e core rules, Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (genasi, swordmage), Players' Handbook 2 (barbarian), Dragon (Playing Gnolls), Sellswords of Punjar (the adventure) Lands of Intrigue: 3.5 core rules, Arcana Evolved (unfettered), Ptolus, Spell Compendium, Complete Book of Eldritch Might, The Banewarrens (the adventure), Book of Nine Swords (Desert Wind), Monster Manual V (demons)
Let's say, just for fun, that I was the co-owner of a company who acquired the rights to Tact-Tiles. And let's say, just for kicks, that we planned to start producing them again.
What would you like to see?
More durable tiles for metal miniatures. Mine cracked a bit and cleaning them was a pain, but my overall experience with Tac-Tiles was that I really enjoyed them because of the convenience of switching them around to keep going instead of wiping and cleaning the standard battle mat. I haven't used them in a while because I have to haul a lot of stuff to the games, but they are still quite valuable to me and I would like to pick up another set.
I selected both the clear and opaque 1" squares. Just keep in mind that some people may have selected clear only as they already own the older opaque ones.
Personally I like the idea of the clear ones for putting maps underneath. It would allow me to put maps or even the WotC Dungeon Tiles underneath and be able to write on them without worrying about marking them up.
On the other hand, I don't know how well the clear ones would work on my table if I had nothing underneath them. My table has quite a dark wood stain so seeing lines on the tiles might be hard if there wasn't something else (like some white paper) underneath the tiles. The opaque ones would probably be better in that situation.
Overall though I would just be happy to see Tact-Tiles back on the market. The price of the tiles and how much they cost to ship to Australia (shipping was quite a bit when I enquired when they were last in stock) will be the deciding factor in how many I buy.
Olaf the Stout
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