Battle Mats
- Thread starter Olive
- Start date
the Jester
Legend
Heck yeah we use them! In 3e, with combat being so tactical, I've found a battlemat is one of the most useful dming aids out there- as useful as a given monster book (take your pick of the good ones), in fact.
Couldn't tell ya where you'd get one in Australia, however.
Couldn't tell ya where you'd get one in Australia, however.
yes I do
Mats are critical to the game! Miniatures are critical to the game!
We've used them for a while, and they really make a difference. We have a 4'x8' gaming table that we play at, and elevated on cinderblocks in the center of the board is a 2'x4' board that holds the mat - it allows us to keep the gaming dynamic clear of all our books, soda, character sheets, and stuff.
I use wet erase markers and occasionally pre-create a room or encounter scene with graph paper.
As for getting one overseas, try www.rpgshop.com - they ship overseas with a paypal account (or other verified credit card info) - and you support this site. I've gotten stuff this way before (to here in AZ) with no problem.
Ron
Mats are critical to the game! Miniatures are critical to the game!
We've used them for a while, and they really make a difference. We have a 4'x8' gaming table that we play at, and elevated on cinderblocks in the center of the board is a 2'x4' board that holds the mat - it allows us to keep the gaming dynamic clear of all our books, soda, character sheets, and stuff.
I use wet erase markers and occasionally pre-create a room or encounter scene with graph paper.
As for getting one overseas, try www.rpgshop.com - they ship overseas with a paypal account (or other verified credit card info) - and you support this site. I've gotten stuff this way before (to here in AZ) with no problem.
Ron
Or you could try....
www.chessex.com
Some folks seem to think the Chessex "Megamats" are better than the Crystal Caste "Battlemats." I can't say one way or the other since I haven't tried them both.
But...
Crystal Caste is out of inventory on all their mats, yet their web site doesn't reflect this fact. Being out of inventory is a bad business mistake; not posting that fact on your web site is worse.
I'd imagine Chessex ships wherever you want 'em to, provided you pay the proportional shipping. You can order through their site or call 'em.
Smallz
www.chessex.com
Some folks seem to think the Chessex "Megamats" are better than the Crystal Caste "Battlemats." I can't say one way or the other since I haven't tried them both.
But...
Crystal Caste is out of inventory on all their mats, yet their web site doesn't reflect this fact. Being out of inventory is a bad business mistake; not posting that fact on your web site is worse.
I'd imagine Chessex ships wherever you want 'em to, provided you pay the proportional shipping. You can order through their site or call 'em.
Smallz
Guillaume
Julie and I miss her
I've been using one since the early 1990's. I was playing 2e back then and found that a Battlemat just made things easier, both as an explanation tool for the DM and a visual aid for the players.
In 3e, I find that a battlemat is almost essential to run combats smoothly. Just dealing with attacks of opportunity makes the mat worthwile.
As for getting one, I bought my first mat from Chessex. It is a Megamat with 21mm squares. Back then, that was the scale of most of my miniatures and the ones I was buying. Now the scale has moved up to 25mm. Therefore, if you get one, make sure to get the 1 inch squares one.
As for getting one in Australia, being from Canada, I can't help you there. I have dealt with a few online ordering business. You might have some luck there.
Guillaume
In 3e, I find that a battlemat is almost essential to run combats smoothly. Just dealing with attacks of opportunity makes the mat worthwile.
As for getting one, I bought my first mat from Chessex. It is a Megamat with 21mm squares. Back then, that was the scale of most of my miniatures and the ones I was buying. Now the scale has moved up to 25mm. Therefore, if you get one, make sure to get the 1 inch squares one.
As for getting one in Australia, being from Canada, I can't help you there. I have dealt with a few online ordering business. You might have some luck there.
Guillaume
A) I would reccomend getting the counter collections from Fiery Dragon, I think itis, Very useful, very portable and very cheap compared to minis.
B) Unlike most people I use a 50 page easel pad marked out in 1 inch squares available from most office supply places.
This has a number of advantages.
You can write on it with anything, Personally I use colored wax pencils. You can use the edge for notes.
You can prepare maps ahead of time or even in sections if you want to just scissor them into the appropriate pieces.
You can save them (I have like 4 generic woods, one swamp, and several inns/buildings) With a few quick add ons you can change it fairly much. I also draw out the players home base to scale since it often is a scene of villianous attention.
You can easily sketch out spell affect ares and such.
When done just ball it up and throw away no cleaning needed.
I have used about 2 and 1/2 pads since 3rd edition came out which includes two games a week (mine and someone elsses I play in) and they cost about 12-13 bucks which often the players will buy for me (which they will have to do not to long in the future)
C) I usually also have little minions/fodder be unpainted minis and require all PC's, NPC's in the party to be painted, that way when a villian shows up I used a painted mini and itis just a little more dramatic. Also makes picking out friendlies and such easier on the group.
Later
B) Unlike most people I use a 50 page easel pad marked out in 1 inch squares available from most office supply places.
This has a number of advantages.
You can write on it with anything, Personally I use colored wax pencils. You can use the edge for notes.
You can prepare maps ahead of time or even in sections if you want to just scissor them into the appropriate pieces.
You can save them (I have like 4 generic woods, one swamp, and several inns/buildings) With a few quick add ons you can change it fairly much. I also draw out the players home base to scale since it often is a scene of villianous attention.
You can easily sketch out spell affect ares and such.
When done just ball it up and throw away no cleaning needed.
I have used about 2 and 1/2 pads since 3rd edition came out which includes two games a week (mine and someone elsses I play in) and they cost about 12-13 bucks which often the players will buy for me (which they will have to do not to long in the future)
C) I usually also have little minions/fodder be unpainted minis and require all PC's, NPC's in the party to be painted, that way when a villian shows up I used a painted mini and itis just a little more dramatic. Also makes picking out friendlies and such easier on the group.
Later
Pbartender
First Post
Olive said:
Nope, but the Crystal Caste ones (if you can find them) are.
Two tips for battlemats...
1. Steadtler brand water soluble makers are the absolute best you can buy. They're made for use on overhead projectors.
2. Disposable diaper wipes are the absolute best things for cleaning a battlemat. They are easily transported in a zip-lock sandwich bag.
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