Battlegraph dry erase Boards!
- Thread starter Longtooth Studios
- Start date
Longtooth Studios
First Post
No Tricks, just Treats!
Ok, let me take my business hat off and and erect my DM (GM?) screen. I have been playing for over 20 years, and I am a gamer just like the rest of you. My honest review of this product goes like this.
They are very useful. I can plan out maps in advance by numbering the boards with dry erase. I then stack them so that they are in order, and then lay them out for the players as they reach the area. Kind of like a fog of war for my game table. As they continue, the area they leave behind gets removed so that the table doesn't get completely taken over. Oh yeah, when stacking, place a small piece of non slip material in the corners or where they will not erase part of the map. This keeps the stack together with friction, and provides a little space to keep your drawing from getting wiped.
If you have enough boards, you can plan out entire dungeons this way. When planing out the dungeon, you can take your time, and do it up right. Trying this with a table full of players will bring the game to a screeching halt. They didn't come to watch you draw maps all night.
As far as material, the boards are sturdy and endured my two year old son stomping on them, throwing them, taking them apart and putting them back together again for hours. I took four sets and assembled them on the floor and let him go on them with a dry erase marker. They fared much better than I expected of them to be honest. They were scratch a bit due to his shod feet, but they did not chip, crack, or break, and were fine for my weekend game. No one even noticed the scratches. I don't recommend this treatment, but it is a testament of there durability.
I must also say that they have one vulnerability that tact-tiles did not have, and that is water. Sweating glasses left on top of them will leave blistering, as will using a dripping rag to clean them. The blistering doesn't affect the boards performance, just its appearance. Each order will include instructions on care. All of my attempts at making them waterproof have either added too much to the cost, or left the dry erase surface compromised and resulted in ghosting. Which was far worse than a little extra care, coasters under glasses, a bottle of dry erase cleaner (also available after release) to freshen it up on occasion. Not much more than is to be expected of any dry erase surface.
I can make waterproof boards but they cost more, and as a result will make them more unavailable to far too many people right now.
If someone wants a set made from more exotic materials, I will entertain the idea of custom orders in the future, but for now, I am focused on getting these out to as many gamers as I can reach. The cost is low enough so that after a while, when they start to show their age, they can be replaced.
That said, I would buy them, and I would pay more than I am asking. My personal set consists of 32 boards, of which I may use half on a given night. If I don't get to the other half then they will be ready next week and I am free to reuse the first half. I think that they are cheap enough to make the possible for anyone.
Sure, I am here to make a business of this, but I am also here to make our games better. Otherwise its just a job, and not nearly as fun.
I hope this helps you guys to get off the fence.
Ok, let me take my business hat off and and erect my DM (GM?) screen. I have been playing for over 20 years, and I am a gamer just like the rest of you. My honest review of this product goes like this.
They are very useful. I can plan out maps in advance by numbering the boards with dry erase. I then stack them so that they are in order, and then lay them out for the players as they reach the area. Kind of like a fog of war for my game table. As they continue, the area they leave behind gets removed so that the table doesn't get completely taken over. Oh yeah, when stacking, place a small piece of non slip material in the corners or where they will not erase part of the map. This keeps the stack together with friction, and provides a little space to keep your drawing from getting wiped.
If you have enough boards, you can plan out entire dungeons this way. When planing out the dungeon, you can take your time, and do it up right. Trying this with a table full of players will bring the game to a screeching halt. They didn't come to watch you draw maps all night.
As far as material, the boards are sturdy and endured my two year old son stomping on them, throwing them, taking them apart and putting them back together again for hours. I took four sets and assembled them on the floor and let him go on them with a dry erase marker. They fared much better than I expected of them to be honest. They were scratch a bit due to his shod feet, but they did not chip, crack, or break, and were fine for my weekend game. No one even noticed the scratches. I don't recommend this treatment, but it is a testament of there durability.
I must also say that they have one vulnerability that tact-tiles did not have, and that is water. Sweating glasses left on top of them will leave blistering, as will using a dripping rag to clean them. The blistering doesn't affect the boards performance, just its appearance. Each order will include instructions on care. All of my attempts at making them waterproof have either added too much to the cost, or left the dry erase surface compromised and resulted in ghosting. Which was far worse than a little extra care, coasters under glasses, a bottle of dry erase cleaner (also available after release) to freshen it up on occasion. Not much more than is to be expected of any dry erase surface.
I can make waterproof boards but they cost more, and as a result will make them more unavailable to far too many people right now.
If someone wants a set made from more exotic materials, I will entertain the idea of custom orders in the future, but for now, I am focused on getting these out to as many gamers as I can reach. The cost is low enough so that after a while, when they start to show their age, they can be replaced.
That said, I would buy them, and I would pay more than I am asking. My personal set consists of 32 boards, of which I may use half on a given night. If I don't get to the other half then they will be ready next week and I am free to reuse the first half. I think that they are cheap enough to make the possible for anyone.
Sure, I am here to make a business of this, but I am also here to make our games better. Otherwise its just a job, and not nearly as fun.
I hope this helps you guys to get off the fence.
Longtooth Studios
First Post
No Tricks, just Treats!
Ok, let me take my business hat off and and erect my DM (GM?) screen. I have been playing for over 20 years, and I am a gamer just like the rest of you. My honest review of this product goes like this.
They are very useful. I can plan out maps in advance by numbering the boards with dry erase. I then stack them so that they are in order, and then lay them out for the players as they reach the area. Kind of like a fog of war for my game table. As they continue, the area they leave behind gets removed so that the table doesn't get completely taken over. Oh yeah, when stacking, place a small piece of non slip material in the corners or where they will not erase part of the map. This keeps the stack together with friction, and provides a little space to keep your drawing from getting wiped.
If you have enough boards, you can plan out entire dungeons this way. When planing out the dungeon, you can take your time, and do it up right. Trying this with a table full of players will bring the game to a screeching halt. They didn't come to watch you draw maps all night.
As far as material, the boards are sturdy and endured my two year old son stomping on them, throwing them, taking them apart and putting them back together again for hours. I took four sets and assembled them on the floor and let him go on them with a dry erase marker. They fared much better than I expected of them to be honest. They were scratch a bit due to his shod feet, but they did not chip, crack, or break, and were fine for my weekend game. No one even noticed the scratches. I don't recommend this treatment, but it is a testament of there durability.
I must also say that they have one vulnerability that tact-tiles did not have, and that is water. Sweating glasses left on top of them will leave blistering, as will using a dripping rag to clean them. The blistering doesn't affect the boards performance, just its appearance. Each order will include instructions on care. All of my attempts at making them waterproof have either added too much to the cost, or left the dry erase surface compromised and resulted in ghosting. Which was far worse than a little extra care, coasters under glasses, a bottle of dry erase cleaner (also available after release) to freshen it up on occasion. Not much more than is to be expected of any dry erase surface.
I can make waterproof boards but they cost more, and as a result will make them more unavailable to far too many people right now.
If someone wants a set made from more exotic materials, I will entertain the idea of custom orders in the future, but for now, I am focused on getting these out to as many gamers as I can reach. The cost is low enough so that after a while, when they start to show their age, they can be replaced.
That said, I would buy them, and I would pay more than I am asking. My personal set consists of 32 boards, of which I may use half on a given night. If I don't get to the other half then they will be ready next week and I am free to reuse the first half. I think that they are cheap enough to make the possible for anyone.
Sure, I am here to make a business of this, but I am also here to make our games better. Otherwise its just a job, and not nearly as fun.
I hope this helps you guys to get off the fence.
Ok, let me take my business hat off and and erect my DM (GM?) screen. I have been playing for over 20 years, and I am a gamer just like the rest of you. My honest review of this product goes like this.
They are very useful. I can plan out maps in advance by numbering the boards with dry erase. I then stack them so that they are in order, and then lay them out for the players as they reach the area. Kind of like a fog of war for my game table. As they continue, the area they leave behind gets removed so that the table doesn't get completely taken over. Oh yeah, when stacking, place a small piece of non slip material in the corners or where they will not erase part of the map. This keeps the stack together with friction, and provides a little space to keep your drawing from getting wiped.
If you have enough boards, you can plan out entire dungeons this way. When planing out the dungeon, you can take your time, and do it up right. Trying this with a table full of players will bring the game to a screeching halt. They didn't come to watch you draw maps all night.
As far as material, the boards are sturdy and endured my two year old son stomping on them, throwing them, taking them apart and putting them back together again for hours. I took four sets and assembled them on the floor and let him go on them with a dry erase marker. They fared much better than I expected of them to be honest. They were scratch a bit due to his shod feet, but they did not chip, crack, or break, and were fine for my weekend game. No one even noticed the scratches. I don't recommend this treatment, but it is a testament of there durability.
I must also say that they have one vulnerability that tact-tiles did not have, and that is water. Sweating glasses left on top of them will leave blistering, as will using a dripping rag to clean them. The blistering doesn't affect the boards performance, just its appearance. Each order will include instructions on care. All of my attempts at making them waterproof have either added too much to the cost, or left the dry erase surface compromised and resulted in ghosting. Which was far worse than a little extra care, coasters under glasses, a bottle of dry erase cleaner (also available after release) to freshen it up on occasion. Not much more than is to be expected of any dry erase surface.
I can make waterproof boards but they cost more, and as a result will make them more unavailable to far too many people right now.
If someone wants a set made from more exotic materials, I will entertain the idea of custom orders in the future, but for now, I am focused on getting these out to as many gamers as I can reach. The cost is low enough so that after a while, when they start to show their age, they can be replaced.
That said, I would buy them, and I would pay more than I am asking. My personal set consists of 32 boards, of which I may use half on a given night. If I don't get to the other half then they will be ready next week and I am free to reuse the first half. I think that they are cheap enough to make the possible for anyone.
Sure, I am here to make a business of this, but I am also here to make our games better. Otherwise its just a job, and not nearly as fun.
I hope this helps you guys to get off the fence.
Longtooth Studios
First Post
Trial by earth
Lets find out...
Let me select a nice heavy mini...
Ah, earth elemental, that should do nicely!
Tossing at a board a few feet away on the floor....
We have a hit! No dice required...
Checking results...
A small surface scratch that does not show any dark from the board beneath.
Not bad at all!
Now I will save that board to ship with your set...
Lets find out...
Let me select a nice heavy mini...
Ah, earth elemental, that should do nicely!
Tossing at a board a few feet away on the floor....
We have a hit! No dice required...
Checking results...
A small surface scratch that does not show any dark from the board beneath.
Not bad at all!
Now I will save that board to ship with your set...
bobthehappyzombie
First Post
What would the approx shipping cost to the UK be do you think?
I might wait for the £ to pick up a bit however
I might wait for the £ to pick up a bit however
Mercule
Adventurer
If I didn't already have a set of Tact-Tiles, or mine were worn, I'd be an easy sell, too.
First, I've had issues with roll-up vinyl mats, well, rolling up during play. Even if you weight down the ends, the weights inevitably seem to be bumped. Tact-Tiles (and these, I presume) don't have that issue. They're rigid, so no bending, and they're interlocking, so no splitting.
Second, you can use them on a variety of surfaces. We game on a long, narrow table. People are willing to move their books, if need be, for a large battle, but I can use my Tact-Tiles for smaller or more constrained battles without affecting the local real-estate values.
Third, tiles are configurable. If I want to stage a battle in a long hallway, I can still use my whole surface by arranging them end-to-end. While the long hallway probably isn't a likely regularity, having a winding area does seem to be. Also, if you battle or exploration moves off the edge of the area, you can erase an earlier tile and reuse it in the new area. That happens almost every session, for us.
Note: While I own and referred to Tact-Tiles, what I've seen of these tiles looks like it would be true for them as well.
Longtooth Studios
First Post
Thank you for your support everyone. This really is a great community.
This looks very interesting. I'll keep my eyes peeled as time goes on. I use a vinyl mat right now. However, I'm not pleased. It doesn't fit in my gamer bag, so I'm stuck carrying an extra tube. Also, it is wet erase, so kinda requires a bit of a mess to set up multiple encounters. Also, I only have 1 so I can't prep multiple maps for all the encounters.
I like the "grooved grid" feature that will let me get a tactictile feel for how long a line is.
I'm looking forward to some reviews as well.
I like the "grooved grid" feature that will let me get a tactictile feel for how long a line is.
I'm looking forward to some reviews as well.
Just ordered a couple of sets ... I'll post a review after I get to test-drive them myself.
I've always used vinyl roll-up mats, so I'm interested to see how much of an improvement this is.
Oh, and for the record--I'll put in my vote for hex-gridded versions to be made available, at a reasonably higher price.
I've always used vinyl roll-up mats, so I'm interested to see how much of an improvement this is.
Oh, and for the record--I'll put in my vote for hex-gridded versions to be made available, at a reasonably higher price.
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