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

[Asmor]

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.

Ha! There's no way in hell I'd do one of these myself!

It's definitely worth paying for them to do it... I've been extremely pleased with everything I've done through Staples Copy Center (Had them print and bind Elements of Magic Revised and it came out absolutely phenomenal; had them print and mount a ludicrously high-resolution jpg I found online and it also came out amazing). Plus, if they do ruin it, I can bitch at them to get them to buy me a new one.

Are there any issues with the folds when you laminate these maps? I could see that causing airpockets or something.

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.

I've actually got the first 3 sets of dungeon tiles... I love them, in theory, but I've only had one chance to actually use them and it was a nightmare. Might be better with some more planning and a system for sticking them together (I've heard post-its work), but it just seems like too much of a hassle and I'll just stick with mat and a dry-erase for my dungeon needs.

 

[rgard]

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.

Who sells the tablet of poster-size 1" grid paper for $5.99?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[JustKim]

Who sells the tablet of poster-size 1" grid paper for $5.99?

Thanks,
Rich

I bought mine at Office Max.

Are there any issues with the folds when you laminate these maps? I could see that causing airpockets or something.

No, I've laminated dozens of maps and I've never had an air pocket. If you have a tear in your map, though, you should try to have it fed in with the grain of the tear. Otherwise, the hole will be pulled open from the stress the machine puts on the map while it's flattening the paper.

Also, when you cut the lamination, leave a little plastic around the edges. If you cut to the dimensions of the map, the edges won't be protected and you can have stains or even peeling laminant.

 

[Glyfair]

Of course, if you have any other ideas I'd love to hear them.

I like the maps, but I think that Dungeon Tiles might be something you'd get a lot of use from.

Between WotC's Dungeon Tiles, Paizo's Gamemastery Maps & Complete Encounters, you can create a quick outdoor battlefield with detail. You also have the advantage of the battlefield changing a bit, rather than a single static map (which has it's advantages).\

Another option is to combine them with the maps. Use the full map and add tiles to add or subtract some terrain features.

 

[Mark CMG]

Paizo's Gamemastery Maps

These, like the Steel Sqwire Flip Maps before them, are quite reasonably priced and very reusable, IMO.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I have found the Fantastic Locations maps to be excellent for D&D. And, I've found that the laminator in the basement of the school where I work does a good job on my maps (so far, I've only butchered one out of about 20).

Dave

 

[rgard]

I bought mine at Office Max.

Thanks!

 

[Zaukrie]

I own a ton of tiles and maps, and I can say they have greatly increased the joy in playing the game.

The FL maps are good - you can see what is in each pack on the WotC site.

Skeletonkeygames makes great products - fortunately I mostly print them at work.

The tiles and flipmats from Paizo are nice products.

If you are willing to print tiles, you can find hundreds of them online for free - you just need some google-fu. Almost every producer on RPGnow has some tiles for free so you can test them out. Fatdragongames, for example, has tiles that you can customize, as does 0one games, another good source for tiles and maps.

Several issues of Dragon have had maps. There are free tiles in the forums at dundjinni.com and here in the ?art? forum, and dreamweaveworks (I think that's his title) has links posted from this front page to his free stuff.

 

[el-remmen]

You should look into this product. If it is as mix and match and "generic" as it seems to be - then this will be a fantastic product!

I am waiting on a "review set" - and I can give more info then.

 

[Asmor]

You should look into this product. If it is as mix and match and "generic" as it seems to be - then this will be a fantastic product!

I am waiting on a "review set" - and I can give more info then.

That does look pretty cool, thanks!