Best Playing Aids: Nominations

[Mercule]

In my Tact-Tiles thread, someone mentioned Steel Sqwire (or however it's spelled). That got me to wondering what other sorts of non-rules products there are out there that I don't know about, or know how great they are.

I'm looking for things that speed play, rather than introduce new rules to the game. Things like Tact-Tiles, Steel Sqwire, Battle Box, or even PC Gen and HeroForge.

If we get enough entrants, maybe I'll even do another round or two to find the "best of" aids.

 

[Glyfair]

Technically miniatures count, but I don't think they should. They really merit separate consideration.

 

[DaveMage]

I like the (non-pdf) dungeon tiles from Fiery Dragon (and am looking forward to WotC's tiles scheduled to come out next month).

SkeletonKey Games' .pdf tiles are also very nice (though I prefer non-.pdf gamaing aids so I don't have to print them).

I also love the Battlebox (for D&D).

 

[JoeGKushner]

The Flip Matt is so cool that when the new one came out, a forest type pack, I bought it with no reservations. The price is easy and it's a great little tool.

The Fiery Dragon Battle Boxes are also awesome. I use those little reference cards all the time and they're very handy.

The Rangefinder was m'eh. Okay but nothing too great.

Dwarven Forge is good but expensive but if miniatures could as a seperate category, why wouldn't the flip mats and other bits for your MINIATURES for use in your RPGS?

 

[Mercule]

The usefulness of minis, themselves, could be a completely different thread.

For purposes of this thread, please name a specific brand or line of minis that you feel are particularly useful.

 

[JVisgaitis]

The colored counters by Alea Tools are really handy. Website: http://www.aleatools.com

Monster Tiles from Ocho Games are cool as well. Website: http://monstertiles.com

Also, I'd recommend Initiative Cards by The Game Mechanics. Website: http://thegamemechanics.com We (The Inner Circle) have our own version of Initiative Cards which I think improve on what is already out there. I'll post a link here when they are done.

 

[JVisgaitis]

The Flip Matt is so cool that when the new one came out, a forest type pack, I bought it with no reservations.

I still don't understand what the flip mat is after looking at their website. Is it made out of metal? What's so different from a standard battlemat and why is it so cheap?

 

[JoeGKushner]

I still don't understand what the flip mat is after looking at their website. Is it made out of metal? What's so different from a standard battlemat and why is it so cheap?

It's laminated.

Doubled sided. One side hex, the other squares.

Can use wet erase or dry erase on it.

Foldable and easy to carry.

Very inexpensive.

These things make it the winner in my book. If I want to do a quick pick up and play game at the game store or take something with me for a local con, I can toss this into a bag and I'm good.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I still don't understand what the flip mat is after looking at their website. Is it made out of metal? What's so different from a standard battlemat and why is it so cheap?

The benefit for me is that you can fold it to the size of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper for easy portability. You can also use dry or wet erase marker with no problem. Dry Erase takes a little more elbow grease to get off the mat but it still comes off clean.

Edit: Never mind, Joe beat me to it and said it better.

 

[DethStryke]

I nominate a website/newsletter:
Johnn Four's Roleplaying Tips Weekly

He complied the first few years of them onto a indexed and searchable CD. It is awesome and well worth the money.

The newsletter is free, which makes it even BETTER!