A new DM here, looking for kit

[Festivus]

Having used both a battlemat and a flipmat, my preference is the flipmat. The flipmat lets you write in either wet or dry erase, where the battlemat is wet erase only (and woe to those who write with dry erase). I want to say you can even use permanent marker on the flip-mat but don't quote me.

You can get a flipmat at Paizo (http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gamingMats)

For miniatures, if you are just starting out I don't suggest a huge investment in them. Make sure you like the game, and that your friends do too. Cardboard cutouts or coins work just as well (but require more imagination). Fiery Dragon has a nice downloadable counter set you can print and make your own critters with. Check http://www.rpgnow.com for their stuff.

 

[subbob]

The "Kit" is Only A Small Part

As someone else suggested, you do not need to spend a lot of money to have a good time.

My fondest memories are of games long ago where, if my memory serves me right, my character was the red six-sided die! Other party members were represented by different colored, or different sided, dice.

On occasion we'd have to "roll one of us", but that was OK 'cause we'd just put it back when done!

And that was just using the old 4 squares to an inch graph paper for mapping. We only broke out the "figures" when in combat situations.

The minis, battlemat and such add a nice flavor. BUT, if the core mechanics are not there, it will not matter. If the DM is not creative, or if the players think it's a video game, where the DM is just going to feed them a story and they are passive participants, no amount of figures or accessories will save the game.

 

[Twinbladez]

I know I will like the game, I loved D&D and was deeply saddened when I was unable to play anymore. I also am already brewing the sort of adventure that should keep my party more enthralled than those pesky mind flayers

Now comes a question, what sort of size should I be thinking of ((I have enough cashflow to mean I can pretty much get any mat I need))

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I second the flipmat. I have a battle mat and 2 flipmats. Since I bought the 2 flipmats my battlemat hasn't been used at all. Flipmats are cheaper that your standard vinyl battlemat and they can be used with wet or dry erase markers.

For counters, I use both D&D minis and the Counter Collection counters. The great thing about the Counter Collection counters is that you can print out as many as you need and resize the counters to whatever size you want.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Twinbladez]

Well I have an excursion planned for later today, gonna have a look at what some nearbye shops have to offer, thank you all very much, wish me luck on my search rolls

 

[Wik]

We use a 24"x36" easel pad of 1" graph paper for our battlemaps - they come with 50 sheets for about $10. A box of Crayola markers will run you another $6. You can draw out a whole pile of maps before the session starts, then just flip over as needed.

Hope this helps!
-blarg

Having actually seen this set-up in play, it's perfect. We adopted it soon after for my own group. You can pre-make maps (which means they're generally better thought-out, and prettier!), and there's no worry about accidentally using permanent markers on your dry-erase board (which SUCKS!).

I've been using the same pad for about six months now. It's perfect, and gets my vote. Just hope you don't have any hippy "green" players that get angry over the waste of paper. (We recycle, but apparently that's not enough anymore).

 

[blargney the second]

I'm glad you liked it, Wik!
-blarg