Coolest. Gaming Set-up. Evar.

[Ariel23]

You can't list projectors by throw distance/diagonal, per se.
However, you can put in requirements here:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm
and then click on each entry in the list it gives you. Once you are in the projector entry, click on the little calculator icon next to "Throw Distance" on the left.

Alternatively, get a short list of good projectors and then narrow it down by using their handy-dandy throw/diagonal calculator:
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projection-calculator-pro.cfm

Or
Go to their search/comparison engine
http://www.projectorcentral.com/projectors.cfm
and put in 4.5 feet (or whatever you think your distance is) and the diagonal size you are looking for. I just put in 4.5 feet and a diagonal of 48", which returned a list of 10 projectors.
I would recommend a more reasonable diagonal such as 42" or 44" and then put in some more criteria such as SVGA, high contrast, brightness, etc.

 

[Blakey]

Thanks Ariel23.

Have had a more in-depth look at my options and I'm really struggling to find a projector which will deliver a good sized "battlemap" on the table at a distance of 4'. It seems that the Toshiba TLP 261 mentioned above would be perfect but that's been discontinued.

Are there any projectors which will do this?

Thanks
Blakey

 

[Steel_Wind]

Well, there are a number of projectors which meet that test, but you need to reconsider your "requirements" a little.

Sure, everyone wants a 48" map. In most circumstances at anything less than 1600x1200 kick-ass resolution, that's borderig on a visibly _too_ pixellated image anyway. To my eye, it's not a realistic expecation at ANY throw distance for low end projectors. Your picture is not sharp enough on most models for an image that large.

You are going to have to live in the 38" to 42" range and use zoom to increase image size a little to the 44" range. Please be aware that as you compensate with zoom factor to expand the image, resulting ANSI brightness drops.

Secondly, you are looking for a VERY short throw distance here. You are presumably still gaming at a sit down table with this expected setup. It's not unreasonable to want that and I am not suggesting it is - but it may well be unrealistic, most especially if you want a large image and wish to avoid mirrors as part of your projection setup.

We game at a coffee table height table between 4 couches. The extra 2' or so pays off large in terms of throw distance. Others here who are gaming at sit down tables have
either accepted a smaller image or are achiveing a larger one with a wide angle lens and a mirror assist to get that extra foot or so of throw.

At some point - physics invades. The difference between 4 feet and 5 feet 8" are HUGE in terms of their impact on image size. If you want it all - be prepared to have to pay for it or start to examine how many of your "requirements" could use some subtle revision.

Lastly, Ariel23's advice on searching projector central above was good. If you are finding little, its because your expectations on image size are not being realistic.

That said, there are models out there as the search discloses. As well, please pay close attention to ebay - these models come up frequently there.

 

[toberane]

That. Is. So. Cool. I'm.... stunned.

Now I have to go save up an astronomical amount of money and do that...

I mean, I should have plenty of time for gaming after my wife divorces me for even suggesting aomething like that.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

That. Is. So. Cool. I'm.... stunned.

Now I have to go save up an astronomical amount of money and do that...

I mean, I should have plenty of time for gaming after my wife divorces me for even suggesting aomething like that.

I got my projector for about a grand brand new, and guess what? My wife loves it. We rent movies regularly, and now it's as if we have a theater right in our living room. We never go to the theater anymore, and that's gotta pay for itself in the long run. I mean, theater popcorn alone is what, like $6???

 

[Steel_Wind]

That. Is. So. Cool. I'm.... stunned.

Now I have to go save up an astronomical amount of money and do that...

I mean, I should have plenty of time for gaming after my wife divorces me for even suggesting aomething like that.

$500 will do it. Talk to your gaming group and discuss everyone chipping in. Very quickly, you are looking at 80-100 per person, and that's just NOT an astronomical amount of money at all.

That's the cost of the Core Rules for something you will use EVERY session. Do keep it in perspective.

 

[Blakey]

You are going to have to live in the 38" to 42" range and use zoom to increase image size a little to the 44" range. Please be aware that as you compensate with zoom factor to expand the image, resulting ANSI brightness drops.

Okay, that's not a problem. We can cope with this sort of sized battle map being available to play on.

Secondly, you are looking for a VERY short throw distance here. You are presumably still gaming at a sit down table with this expected setup. It's not unreasonable to want that and I am not suggesting it is - but it may well be unrealistic, most especially if you want a large image and wish to avoid mirrors as part of your projection setup.

Yeah, we are playing at a dining room table basically. Its now dedicated to the Games Room but I've currently no intention of replacing our "sit up set up" with a "lounging about set up"

So, yes I realise this is a very short throw distance but at least the Toshiba 261 projector you posted about will deal with this. Can you point me at any which will also do so, which are still in production?


Cheers
Blakey

 

[rom90125]

Well, our group finally settled RL issues and we were able to squeeze in a session last night. Our setup is as follows:
The projector we are using is an old InFocus LP750, borrowed from work, sitting on a shelf mounted overhead and projected into a 1x1 mirror title. The image is then displayed on a piece of white formica (with 1" squares drawn onto the surface) which is clamped to our tabletop. We have found that Crayola Washable markers work well on the formica and can easily be cleaned off when needed. Our image size is ~39"x~31". The image size is smaller than what others in this thread are able to get, but, considering how old our projector is, we are satisfied with this size. Thus far, our maps come from the NWN toolset, utilizing the 'blacktile' written by Steel_Wind and his crew (thanks again!) as the 'Fog Of War'. I've included a few pics showing the layout. A special thanks to Iola, our Female Star Elf Bard/Arcane Archer for providing scale in the pics
And a thanks again to everyone, especially Steel_Wind, who has posted in this thread.

 

[Zoatebix]

Thanks for taking so much time to give advice and answer quesions, Steel_Wind! How's the "Complete Guide to Digital Map Projection" coming along?

 

[Steel_Wind]

I actually pitched a mini-guide as a feature article to Dragon a month or so ago.

I've heard nothing back.

I then waited until we got our second projector so I could show some comparison side by side shots of the resolution differences and DLP vs LCD quality.

I got the new LCD XGA projector last week but have not had the chance to get in game shots yet.

Short strokes - End of May? I am not a fan of doing things half-assed and I'd like it to be as good as I can make it.