Representing flying on the battle mat?

[Woas]

Although it would require a dedicated gaming room/area with allowable surface alterations I had an idea.

They sell magnetic paint don't they? Grab some of that and paint the ceiling area over the gaming table with it. Then buy some small sized magnets, attach fishing line to the magnets that measure down to the table but not actually touching the table. Then make little loops on that end of the fishing line. If a character is flying, tie the mini to the fishing line and let if hang there. Use a token on the table below to denote the square on the grid they are for movement purposes.

Oh I guess it also requires that someone in the room can reach/touch the ceiling too!

 

[MonkeyDragon]

We have these little plastic squares. They're an inch square and perhaps 1/8 of an inch thick. Easy, and they can be stacked to represent different altitudes. When someone is over someone else, the mini is generally placed off to the side of the mat.

http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/images/store/products/T400T.jpg

 

[Olaf the Stout]

We just stick a d6 under the flying creature. If it's needed we write the height off the ground on the battlemat next to them. Most of the time we just go off memory for the height though. The d6's are still there to remind as a character is flying so we don't forget.

The thing we have been having trouble with the last few sessions is Slippers of Spider Climbing. The Rogue has a pair and has been using them to climb up the walls and ceilings in combat. Normally if he's on the wall we just lay him down in that square. Representing him on the ceiling has been a challenge though. The mini doesn't sit upside down very well!

Olaf the Stout

 

[NewJeffCT]

We use a healthy supply of Combat Tiers. They're the best.

Here's a set up from one of my games recently.

index

-DM Jeff

looks terrific - thanks.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Being good friends with the inventor, I use Doctor Wizard's Patented Elevation Indicators which are a great way of showing either elevation or depth. I also use the Large and Huge Extenders for my bigger figs, or sometimes as a flying carpet. They work great, are easy to use, and quick to see how high a figure is flying.

Thanks - those look pretty good, too.

 

[MadLordOfMilk]

Well, I'd imagine if you have a checkers set lying around (I know plenty of people who have one that they never, ever use...) you could always use the circles from that under minis to represent height. I'd imagine something like poker chips would also work.

 

[Graybeard]

I have several different pieces of foam of varying heights. I use those to represent characters flying at different heights.

 

[Betote]

I bought a bunch of tiny d6's of different colors, and use them to indicate several conditions (negative hps, flight, etc). The pips on the sides are useful when you need some measurement (flight at x10 feet above the ground, buff lasting x rounds, and so on).

The pizza thingie option seems cool, cheap and easily transportable, so I think I'll look for a bunch of those and see how it all works.

 

[NewJeffCT]

I bought a bunch of tiny d6's of different colors, and use them to indicate several conditions (negative hps, flight, etc). The pips on the sides are useful when you need some measurement (flight at x10 feet above the ground, buff lasting x rounds, and so on).

The pizza thingie option seems cool, cheap and easily transportable, so I think I'll look for a bunch of those and see how it all works.

Thanks - also found a place I could order those clear styrene boxes that are 1x1x3 at 40 cents a pop. I can order 50 of them for $20, then glue a few together to represent 30 or 45 feet off the ground.

 

[alleynbard]

Indeed. The entire pack fits inside a little plastic shoebox case. Even for impromptu encounters they assemble pretty quick. There's really only about 5 or 6 core pieces to it, so grabbing them and popping them together is a snap. Great for gauging underwater depth as well!

-DM Jeff

Excellent! Thank you. Last I saw, Paizo still had some in stock. I will need to check if that is still the case.