Does anyone know where I could get a quality, cheap battlemat?

[snarfoogle]

The combat in my game could be a little more structured, so I want a battle mat. I'm thinking of a kind which one can use with a sharpie and a wet/dry cloth as well as miniatures. Does anyone know a quality battlemat I could obtain for less than or around $20?

 

[Crothian]

for cheap print out a battle mat and get it lamenated, cheaper do it yourself.

 

[shaylon]

I agree with Crothian. If you want to save the money, make something and have it laminated.

However, if you are set on a battlemat, check out Ebay.

Here's one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44112&item=5951002444&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Good Luck,
Shay

 

[naturaltwenty]

Foam core

Go to Office Depot - purchase a sheet of foam core (1/4" thick) - while not rollable like a true battlemat it only costs 1.99 and is usually marked with 1" x 1" grid of very light ghosted lines. Buy a light grey permanent ultra-fine point sharpie and use a yard stick to darken the ghosted lines.

The foam core has a plastic coating which you can use Vis-a-Vis markers on.

Viola battlemat for cheap. Also note that the foam core comes in a variety of colors so you can have one for grass/forest(greens), one for rock/caves (grey), one for water (blue).

Later,

Greg V.
Natural Twenty Gaming
www.naturaltwenty.com

 

[cybertalus]

Chessex sells slightly blemished factory seconds for a pretty decent price here.

Chessex mentions this on their website, but it's worth repeating. Be very careful what type of marker you use on vinyl battlemats. You want wet erase or overhead projector markers. NEVER dry erase, permanent markers, or grease pencils. The Sharpies I've seen would leave a permanent mark on a battlemat.

 

[IronWolf]

Yeah, if you want cheap then the do-it-yourself option is probably the way to go. Looks like there are already a few suggestions, I am sure there will be some more added to this thread.

 

[maddman75]

Go to Wal-Mart, buy a poster frame. Turn the insert paper that comes with the frame upside down and draw 1" squares on it. Put it back in the frame and use dry-erase markers. Costs about $10 for the frame and can last for years.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Just a warning - use transparency markers, not Sharpies. Sharpies are permanent markers.

The Auld Grump one of my player's girlfriends tested one on my battlemat a few years ago...

 

[psyekl]

Not cheap initially, but not a bad idea:

STAPLES has a large pad (about 24"x36", probably 50 sheets) of 1" grid paper for ~$25.

No worries about staining, cleaning or damaging the vinyl, so the DM can lay out a large full-color encounter map weeks in advance.

 

[Andre]

Go to Office Depot - purchase a sheet of foam core (1/4" thick) - while not rollable like a true battlemat it only costs 1.99 and is usually marked with 1" x 1" grid of very light ghosted lines. Buy a light grey permanent ultra-fine point sharpie and use a yard stick to darken the ghosted lines.

The foam core has a plastic coating which you can use Vis-a-Vis markers on.

Viola battlemat for cheap. Also note that the foam core comes in a variety of colors so you can have one for grass/forest(greens), one for rock/caves (grey), one for water (blue).

Later,

Greg V.
Natural Twenty Gaming
www.naturaltwenty.com

The Office Depot near me sells these $10 for a pack of two, so the cost is a bit higher than you mention. Still cheaper than a real battlemat if someone is willing to put in the work to darken the lines.