KotS

[Remplar]

Hello ENworld!
I got 4e recently, along with H1 Keep on the Shadowfell. I took me a good few days later did I suddenly realise it was a re-imagining of Keep on the Borderlands and was like "Ohhh!". Anyways, I get the maps out and realise 'Hey! There is no map for the Keep itself!" so I was left wondering what to do. Now, I play with a miniture heavy group, so maps are a very, very important part of our group.
How did you guys make the maps/setting for the KotS? I was thinking of using large grid paper and drawing it by hand, but I have no idea where to get large grid paper.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Horgesh]

My group has a collection of the WoTC tile packs. We're cobbling together the keep from those.

Another, less expensive, option is to just use a hex or grid board and a dry erase marker. This can be time-consuming unless you've got multiple maps and pre-draw it all.

 

[HRG]

Most big office supply stores (I get mine at Office Depot) have easel pads with a 1" grid on them. They're a little pricey (20+ dollars) but they get the job done.

I really prefer Dungeon Tiles, but I haven't built up a nice collection of those yet. A battlemat is great too but my dog found mine yummy and I haven't replaced it.

 

[Starnite]

Cheap battlemat

Find a storm window in the garage or on garbage day. Take printer paper, tape pieces together to cover one side of window. Draw 1" grid lines in pencil. tape or glue to window with lines visible on the other side. use wet or dry erasable markers to draw what ever rooms you need. Better then vynal battlemats as they don't stain when people spill soda on them.

 

[Weregrognard]

Flip-Mats are the bomb diggitty. You can use any kind of marker on em (washable, dry-erase, Sharpie). I find myself using them more than my expensive (and now out of production) Tac-Tiles.

 

[Vanuslux]

I've run two sessions so far and the only area that had me seeing red that they didn't include a battlemat for it was the excavation room...trying to set up an approximation of that room with dungeon tiles was an exercise in aggravation. Otherwise dungeon tiles have been working out alright for me.

 

[jhilahd]

I use battlemats. Crystal Caste makes some, as does the Armory(or they used to).
Crystal Caste Battle Mat
I use them with some Vis-a-Vis markers and I'm good to go.

The tiles are great, but I don't always have what might be needed. So I draw with one color the area, use other colors for other items. Spell effects, dangerous areas, secret doors/rooms. I use the biggest and its the first thing that goes on our gaming table.

Even if you don't get a big one, get one. You'll be glad ya did.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Lexan plates with a 1" grid cut into them.
Apply dry erase marker as needed.

 

[DM_Jeff]

I've run two sessions so far and the only area that had me seeing red that they didn't include a battlemat for it was the excavation room...trying to set up an approximation of that room with dungeon tiles was an exercise in aggravation.

Print and scotch-tape together the attached for hours of mayhem.

-DM Jeff

 

[naturaltwenty]

I'm doing some basic room layouts using Dunjinni which I'll post as tiles you can laydown as you enter each area or as larger spreads. Get our your scissors and load up the ink-jet with a new toner!

Later