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best battlemat?
- Thread starter alsih2o
- Start date
King_Stannis
Explorer
Go all the way and get a Chessex Mega-Mat. It will cover most tables and comes in handy when you need to map out big sections of a dungeon without erasing.
You may think it's too big, but unless you have a tiny table, there is no such thing. When certain sections aren't in use, players just put their dice or books on it.
Just make sure to control the markers for it - as others have said, certain ones will leave permanent marks. Vis a Vis, I believe they are called, work well. I've had mine since the inception of 3E and it is in terrific shape. Just make sure you give it a really good wipedown at the end of every session.
You may think it's too big, but unless you have a tiny table, there is no such thing. When certain sections aren't in use, players just put their dice or books on it.
Just make sure to control the markers for it - as others have said, certain ones will leave permanent marks. Vis a Vis, I believe they are called, work well. I've had mine since the inception of 3E and it is in terrific shape. Just make sure you give it a really good wipedown at the end of every session.
Holy Bovine
First Post
Some Crayola 'washables' markers work great on my 2 friends Chessex and Crystal Caste mats (they get the mats I supply the pens
). Do not use 'Sharpie' (that's the brand name) pens! They never seem to come out no matter what kind you buy.
For overall map performance (ie durability, legability and ease of transport/storage) I would go with Chessex over Crystal Caste. Mainly on the legability issue. With the Chessex map once over with the crayola marker and you have a nice bold, clean line. With the Crystal Caste one we generally have to redraw areas repeatedly as the marker smears very easily. Of course with different markers this might not be a problem.
). Do not use 'Sharpie' (that's the brand name) pens! They never seem to come out no matter what kind you buy. For overall map performance (ie durability, legability and ease of transport/storage) I would go with Chessex over Crystal Caste. Mainly on the legability issue. With the Chessex map once over with the crayola marker and you have a nice bold, clean line. With the Crystal Caste one we generally have to redraw areas repeatedly as the marker smears very easily. Of course with different markers this might not be a problem.
Drawmack
First Post
http://www.chessex.com/mats/Battlemats_&_Megamats.htm
I use the chessex megamat with 1" squares (97147) for the main game and for when we split up I have four of the battle mats with 1" squares (96147).
For writting on my mats I have Chessex Markers
http://www.chessex.com/Accessories/Accessories2.htm
(03154) The four colors come in handy for marking different things on the mat and they are garenteed not to stain which is the reason I pay the extra dollar for the official chessex markers over just having any old markers.
I also use the chessex glass markers, I have seven colors so different things can be different colors.
hmmm, would you say I'm a chessex fan?
I use the chessex megamat with 1" squares (97147) for the main game and for when we split up I have four of the battle mats with 1" squares (96147).
For writting on my mats I have Chessex Markers
http://www.chessex.com/Accessories/Accessories2.htm
(03154) The four colors come in handy for marking different things on the mat and they are garenteed not to stain which is the reason I pay the extra dollar for the official chessex markers over just having any old markers.
I also use the chessex glass markers, I have seven colors so different things can be different colors.
hmmm, would you say I'm a chessex fan?
TalonComics
First Post
I have both Crystal Caste and Chessex mats. After using both I prefer the Chessex ones *but* they now only come in two sizes so I have to break out the Crystal Caste medium sized mat everyone once and a while.
~D
~D
Leopold
NKL4LYFE
Chessex, megamat with hexes and not squares and numbers. Yes yes D&D requres squares but you can live without them and hexes is much simpler in looking at a game from every angle.
Get it with the numbers? Why? Because if/when you turn invis or fly you can just write the number of things that happen. Or if you have traps you can say "In hex 9871 there is trap X" and when they step on it you'll know. Makes suprises nasty!!
Get it with the numbers? Why? Because if/when you turn invis or fly you can just write the number of things that happen. Or if you have traps you can say "In hex 9871 there is trap X" and when they step on it you'll know. Makes suprises nasty!!
Krail Stromquism
First Post
If you have the room, build your own!
for about 20 bucks you can make a kick ass 8x4 grided table top!
$8 for a 8x4 piece of tile board, preferably white.
$8-12 for Clear Contact Paper
$2-3 for sharpies.
now this is a real simple version.
draw a grid on the tile baord with the sharpies, then carefully cover it with the clear contact paper, which really isnt paper at all its palstic. once you do that. you can write on it with dry erase markers! HUZZAH!
Now if your cruisin around home depot you could always pick up a 1/2 inch peice of partical board and some 2x4s and make a real life table!
that may be too much commitment or too much for your wives/girlfriends to handle.
The tile board itself is only 1/4 to an 1/8 inch thick so itll have to go on top of some pre-existing tables. it will be very light, one person could muscle it from the dinner table to the garage very easliy.
1/4 plywoods a bit heavier but we D&Ders need to excersize too.
at $8 a pop for the tile board and a little time put in on the grid you can afford to do some different things. You can buy different color tile board for different terrain. Brown, green or even blue or black. Sharpie makes a Silver marker now that would make a cool grid for blue or black.
Also, a tip for marker accidents, remember:
A dry erase marker will take off Permanent marker! just scribble on top of the perm marker and wait a sec and wipe off. I havent tried that on a battle mat though. but it works on the tile board, dry erase boards, floor tile, refridgerators and jsut about anything else.
word
for about 20 bucks you can make a kick ass 8x4 grided table top!
$8 for a 8x4 piece of tile board, preferably white.
$8-12 for Clear Contact Paper
$2-3 for sharpies.
now this is a real simple version.
draw a grid on the tile baord with the sharpies, then carefully cover it with the clear contact paper, which really isnt paper at all its palstic. once you do that. you can write on it with dry erase markers! HUZZAH!
Now if your cruisin around home depot you could always pick up a 1/2 inch peice of partical board and some 2x4s and make a real life table!
that may be too much commitment or too much for your wives/girlfriends to handle.
The tile board itself is only 1/4 to an 1/8 inch thick so itll have to go on top of some pre-existing tables. it will be very light, one person could muscle it from the dinner table to the garage very easliy.
1/4 plywoods a bit heavier but we D&Ders need to excersize too.
at $8 a pop for the tile board and a little time put in on the grid you can afford to do some different things. You can buy different color tile board for different terrain. Brown, green or even blue or black. Sharpie makes a Silver marker now that would make a cool grid for blue or black.
Also, a tip for marker accidents, remember:
A dry erase marker will take off Permanent marker! just scribble on top of the perm marker and wait a sec and wipe off. I havent tried that on a battle mat though. but it works on the tile board, dry erase boards, floor tile, refridgerators and jsut about anything else.
word
