Amassing pre-made maps (Fantastic Locations and the like)

[Asmor]

Classically, I've really had a dislike for pre-printed maps. It just seems stupid to have the same map used for multiple encounters in different areas, and it seems equally stupid to spend money on a map you'll likely only use once or twice.

However, I was reading some stuff on Wizard's website today (one of the Maximizing Minis articles) and it occurred to me that pre-printed maps would actually work out well for me. Out of sheer laziness, I had every combat for 2 sessions (which all took place in a swamp) use the same hastily-drawn "swamp" map on my flipmat, which was just a couple blobs to stand for dry land and some blue marker squiggles to show that the rest was watery. Same thing happened to me when they were in the desert, I drew up a diagram of a couple sand dunes and ended up using it for every encounter in that desert.

So I figure that if I'm going to be re-using the same map over and over, I might as well try to use maps that are more colorful, evocative and complex than anything I'd ever quickly sketch out.

I was hoping I could get some advice on what I should pick up. I'm trying to build a quick "base" collection of maps for different environments-- forest, plains, city, etc. I can work on getting more later. For the sake of argument, let's say the three most important right this instant are desert, swamp and forest.

I'm probably going to pick up a wardrums starter set (4 maps + minis sounds like fun!), and I'm looking at the fantastic locations line. Of course, if you have any other ideas I'd love to hear them. I've already got one map, the one which came with the Colossal Red Dragon.

 

[SiderisAnon]

Forests

For forests, I personally use a number of tiles from Skeleton Key Games. I printed them on card stock, then glued them to two more sheets of card stock to help make them more solid. (I used glue that applies like spray paint.) You could also use foam core or other material for extra strength.

They artwork is excellent. A have a number of tile sets, so I have enough to create random areas of trees, underbrush, and grass. They already have a 5' grid on them.

The only problem I had with the tiles is there wasn't one that was JUST grass, with no undergrowth or trees. Once in a while, I like a much larger clearing, so I wanted a couple of those printed out as well. I was able to make such a tile by combining parts of several other tiles on the computer.

I know Skeleton Key Games have two wilderness bundles on RPGNow and I saw that a number of the tree related tile sets are on sale right now.

 

[bento]

Skeleton Key is a great way to go for environments, as you can print and cut out what you need. I use them for caves.

I've purchased a couple of the Fantastic Locations line - specifically the Hellspike (loved but limited) and Dragondown Grotto (didn't like so much). I'll probably be picking up the city one that recently came out too as I think it will have greater usability.

You're right on the one hand that the maps, especially those that have iconic locations, will have limited use. But at the cost of $15 for four large and colorful maps, it won't take much money to have some really stellar fights. Much better than squiggly lines on a tan-ish mat. I think it's also cost-wise to pick up the dungeon tiles, and perhaps the Paizo tiles.

 

[JustKim]

I love Skeleton Key tiles, but it's a big expense and a big project. Between buying the PDFs and printing the files, the expense for each set is at least as much as a Fantastic Locations set. If you mount them on foamcore like I do, it's another $5-$7 per set between the board and spray adhesive (other glues wrinkle or peel). And even foamcore will slip around on the table unless you put a sheet of cork underneath, and that's another $5 per set. They are also going to be extremely thick (cork bends, the foamcore is needed for strength), so storing them will be a challenge. In the end, it is very rewarding, though.

I've picked up all the Fantastic Locations, and I think the best are Dragondown Grotto, Hellspike Prison and Frostfell Rift. All of those have some decent outdoor locations. Fane of the Drow and the new city one are indoor/urban, so I didn't care as much for them. Fields of Ruin is hit or miss.

A starter pack of DDM War Drums comes with two double-sided maps that aren't bad. One of those retails for $20, but War Drums wasn't a very popular set. Likely you can get it for less.

Paizo publishes map packs every month, and I think they're up to pack number 8. Each one runs about $12-13 for 18 tiles the size of half a page. They're not big maps and most of them don't connect together, so for the most part they're good for encounter areas.

In the 1990s, TSR jumped on the Heroquest craze with a number of Basic boxed sets, as well as a board game called Dragonstrike. The former each come with 3 poster maps, the latter has two double-sided board maps. I won't lie to you, these will run you a lot of money. Noble Knight currently has two of the Basic boxes for around $40:
Haunted Tower
Goblin's Lair
They also come with standups for monsters and heroes, and all kinds of neat counters for the things you find lying around dungeons. Really cool stuff.

I've also seen packs of urban maps for the Confrontation miniatures game. They're pretty nice, but I found them too pricey at about $30.

 

[Mark CMG]

You might want to ask on the Paizo boards (and here if anyone happens to know) which Dragon mags had battlemaps in them over the last number of years. I know I have a few from those that have proven useful. Also, some of the old boxed sets like Dragon Mountain came with mats, too.

 

[amethal]

The gargantuan dragons come with double sided battle maps. (I assume the colossal red does as well, but my budget doesn't stretch that far).

One side is a fairly useless dungeon. The other side is a cluttered desert (blue) or cluttered swampy cave (black), with all sorts of DDM gobbledegook written on them.

You'd have to be mad to buy the dragons just for the maps, but the desert one has served me well on several occasions.

 

[JustKim]

The gargantuan dragons come with double sided battle maps. (I assume the colossal red does as well, but my budget doesn't stretch that far).

One side is a fairly useless dungeon. The other side is a cluttered desert (blue) or cluttered swampy cave (black), with all sorts of DDM gobbledegook written on them.

There's nothing on the flip side of those maps but white space, Crazy McCrazypants. I don't know what dungeons you're seeing!

I agree that the blue dragon's map is really neat. The black dragon's swamp cave is not even very swampy, it's pretty bland. So is the black dragon itself IMO.

 

[Asmor]

FWIW, the red dragon comes with a lava-filled cave double sided map. Both have large hordes; one is a somewhat basic dungeon with a room large enough to fit the dragon, and the other side is mostly open and in the center is a huge treasure horde (obviously where the dragon is meant to sit) surrounded by a 15-foot wide moat of lava with a couple stones to step on for people with poor jump scores.

Kind of annoying that both the blue and black dragons come with maps I'd want... :/ I'd really like the minis too, but don't want to spend that much on a mini (I only got the red dragon because I got a gift certificate for Amazon that was almost $300 and I decided to splurge on something I wouldn't otherwise buy).

I don't suppose anyone's interested in parting with their blue/black dragon mats? I'd pay $5 + shipping (each), assuming they're in good shape. Only if they're double sided, though, seems to be a bit of confusion on that part.

Oh, has anyone tried laminating these maps? I called Staples and they said a 20"x30" (I was estimating) lamination would cost $5.

 

[Holy Bovine]

As another option how about the new Ruins of the Wild "dungeon" tiles from WotC? They have a big variety including just grass tiles and you get 6 sheets of heavy cardboard double-sided tiles for about $12. I have 3 copies of RotW and plan on getting one more. I also have 4 copies of the first and third dungeon tile sets and 3 of the second. I love these. They also all come with appropriate 'decor'. RotW has fallen trees, rocky paths, half-buried skeletons and HORSES!!! Really well done and inexpensive product.

 

[JustKim]

I laminate my poster maps, yes. I have free access to a laminator that can handle the 24" wide maps, but when you go to someplace like Copymax, they have a special machine with thick lamination for wide projects. Do not use those machines. They will wrinkle photo paper or poster maps horribly.

I'd recommend buying a tablet of poster-size 1" grid paper for $5.99 if you don't already have some. When you go to laminate, run one of those through the machine first and see how it turns out. That way, if it gets mangled, all you've ruined is a sheet of grid paper.