Messageboard Golem
First Post
Provides a 30" X 40" Playing Surface &
Includes 12 Tiles, Marker, and Carrying Box
Includes 12 Tiles, Marker, and Carrying Box
TTK-002 Expanded 12-Tile Kit
- Thread starter Messageboard Golem
- Start date
GlassJaw
Hero
I concur: Tact-Tiles RULE! I got some a couple of weeks ago and they've definitely changed my game.
Since I have been using them, I had a few comments on your review Joe. First off, I feel that you are assuming the reader knows what Tact-Tiles are. I would have mentioned that they are made of a hard plastic and are approximately 10"x10".
Also, the 2 longest paragraphs in your review don't actually talk about Tact-Tiles at all, they discuss a vinyl battle map and Dungeon Forge. Comparing Tact-Tiles to a vinyl map makes sense but I didn't think the info about Dungeon Forge was helpful.
I have been using a vinyl battle mat for some time now and found the cleanup to be a mess. I would get ink all over my hands every time without fail. Cleaning Tact-Tiles is unbelievably fast, easy, and clean.
Tact-Tiles really shine in a dungeon setting. Instead of having to start a dungeon in the center or the edge of a large map, you can start with a single tile and just add tiles according to where the players go. It's almost like scrolling a map in a computer RPG. For an encounter in a large room or outdoor setting, I would still use my vinyl mat though. Vinyl mats also allow you draw things out in advance and then store it so you can take it out when needed. You can't really do that with Tact-Tiles.
I have a couple of minor complaints about Tact-Tiles though. As Joe mentioned, the surface is very slick. Plastic minis have a tendency to slide around a bit whereas a vinyl mat has more resistance to hold them in place. Also, the dry erase tends to rub off fairly easily during combat when things are getting moved around a lot. I usually had to redraw some walls once in a while.
Even with the minor gripes, I would still give the TT a 5/5 without question.
Since I have been using them, I had a few comments on your review Joe. First off, I feel that you are assuming the reader knows what Tact-Tiles are. I would have mentioned that they are made of a hard plastic and are approximately 10"x10".
Also, the 2 longest paragraphs in your review don't actually talk about Tact-Tiles at all, they discuss a vinyl battle map and Dungeon Forge. Comparing Tact-Tiles to a vinyl map makes sense but I didn't think the info about Dungeon Forge was helpful.
I have been using a vinyl battle mat for some time now and found the cleanup to be a mess. I would get ink all over my hands every time without fail. Cleaning Tact-Tiles is unbelievably fast, easy, and clean.
Tact-Tiles really shine in a dungeon setting. Instead of having to start a dungeon in the center or the edge of a large map, you can start with a single tile and just add tiles according to where the players go. It's almost like scrolling a map in a computer RPG. For an encounter in a large room or outdoor setting, I would still use my vinyl mat though. Vinyl mats also allow you draw things out in advance and then store it so you can take it out when needed. You can't really do that with Tact-Tiles.
I have a couple of minor complaints about Tact-Tiles though. As Joe mentioned, the surface is very slick. Plastic minis have a tendency to slide around a bit whereas a vinyl mat has more resistance to hold them in place. Also, the dry erase tends to rub off fairly easily during combat when things are getting moved around a lot. I usually had to redraw some walls once in a while.
Even with the minor gripes, I would still give the TT a 5/5 without question.
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
Tact-Tiles is a mapping utility for role-playing games where miniatures are in use and some sense of scale is useful. These are dry-erase whiteboards with two sets of grids, a standard five-foot grid and a darker line with ten-inch lines marked out. The expanded kit includes 12 Tact-Tiles, a dry-erase marker, and a carrying carton. Also included are spacers of thin white foam. These are useful for keeping the tiles from being damage or from rubbing against one another and erasing your work. The carrying carton contains a separate pouch for the marker and I’ve already filled it with a variety of other dry-erase markers.
The tiles are square with puzzle edges that can only be linked in one direction. This prevents you from creating a map with one image in mind and then assembling it incorrectly latter on. It also provides a great degree of stability. In the games I’ve played with the Tact-Tiles, I’ve yet to see one get accidentally dislodged.
Those who’ve read my reviews know that I enjoy my miniatures and my props to use them. In this field, we have a few options. One of my oldest and least expensive favorites is my Crystal Caste double-sided vinyl map. One side of squares, the other hexes. It’s gotten a lot of use and it’s not that difficult to set up and with some wet towels, cleans up fairly easily. One thing that it can’t do is be modular. I can’t just pull out part of the map. Another thing is despite being easy to clean up, wet erase markers are often harder to find, come in fewer sizes and are more expensive. But still, having hexes on one side and squares on the other is a nice thing. It’s also fairly easy to store too if you buy one of those cylinder mailing containers from the post office.
Another favorite of mine are the sets from Dwarven Forge. These are scale-sized models that are perfect for dungeons but have a few problems of their own. See, while they’re modular, they’re not capable of handling the great outdoors and unlike these tiles, take up a lot of space and piece per piece, probably cost something like five to ten times as much, depending on the Dwarven Forge set you’re purchasing. For me, it also takes up a lot of time in setting up the fields and then more time in putting them away. If you have a lot of sets like I do, you realize that many of the pieces are uniquely carved, giving them a great look, but making them impossible to just put in any old slot. Not saying that I couldn’t use the Tact-Tiles for some woods outside a dungeon that is composed of Dwarven Forge goods, but in and of themselves, they do one thing and they do it well, interiors.
In game play, I’ve noticed a few things, which Thomas Belcher, the owner of BC Products, has already answered. The first of which, is that when the tiles are brand new, they have a ‘wax’ on them that causes dry-erase markers to bead on them briefly. It’s recommended to let the ink dry. Good advice and it works. I found that less than two minutes was needed in most cases.
In terms of miniature use, I find that it’s still best to not treat the slick surface as a toy. You don’t want to say, flick the miniatures across the surface. First, this might scratch the surface of the tiles. Next, it might flip the miniature over as the tiles, while fairly smooth even when two tiles meet, does have an edge, which can cause the miniature to flip over. It’s something I saw for myself and since I’m the guy painting the miniatures, it quickly because the rule that it always was, of picking the miniatures up and showing me how your character is moving.
You won’t have this problem with counters though. Much like with a vinyl matt, counters work perfectly on a smooth surface. I’ve always found it difficult to use counters with Dwarven Forge products but they fit perfectly here.
For those on the go, the nice thing about the tiles is that unlike a standard vinyl map is that the titles don’t have to be spaced equally. This allows you to put the focus on where the action is heaviest on the map. Some dungeons have a lot going on in say the center or off the side where a labyrinth is. By this, I mean you can arrange the tiles to look like say a snake or a pear as opposed to just a square or a rectangle. To handle this ahead of time, you can number the tiles and then write out your tile plan and assemble them at the game.
Now as I love maps and mapping tools, one thing I decided to do was bust out the Dungeon Stamps and see for myself, how they work on the Tact-Tiles. I went with the old Gothic Door set. First thing, let the stamp dry for a few seconds before applying it or it will bead up so much that all detail is lost. I stamped out about six doors with the one application of ink and only the last two really retained the shape enough while the others look like ink blobs.
Giving it a moment or two, I busted out a tissue and tried to wipe it off. My advice? Don’t do it. Smeared all up and down the tile. I then broke out the Expo2 White Board Cleaner. That loses it up real nice but push it to one side of the board unless it’s a really absorbent towel, as it will continue to smear. The short version is that it can be cleaned off with no staining, but requires more work than just using standard dry erase markers. Now I have to wonder if the makers of Dungeon Stamps will offer alternative dry-erase ink for those who have Tact-Tiles.
And speaking of dry-erase, when cleaning up, these things do so quickly. As others have noted, it can be a bit of a problem because if you’re like me and cursed with the clumsy gamer friends who lean on your map, you’ll quickly find that your forest and open road become merged into one quick blur of ink. I’ve had minimum damage to maps when transporting, but that’s only when I put the foam spacers between the tiles. I understand that the rubbing between the tiles is what erases the marks so the foam prevents that to a limited degree.
For those who need variety in their utility and don’t want to bother with the wet towel clean up at the end of the game, Tact-Tiles are the way to go.
The tiles are square with puzzle edges that can only be linked in one direction. This prevents you from creating a map with one image in mind and then assembling it incorrectly latter on. It also provides a great degree of stability. In the games I’ve played with the Tact-Tiles, I’ve yet to see one get accidentally dislodged.
Those who’ve read my reviews know that I enjoy my miniatures and my props to use them. In this field, we have a few options. One of my oldest and least expensive favorites is my Crystal Caste double-sided vinyl map. One side of squares, the other hexes. It’s gotten a lot of use and it’s not that difficult to set up and with some wet towels, cleans up fairly easily. One thing that it can’t do is be modular. I can’t just pull out part of the map. Another thing is despite being easy to clean up, wet erase markers are often harder to find, come in fewer sizes and are more expensive. But still, having hexes on one side and squares on the other is a nice thing. It’s also fairly easy to store too if you buy one of those cylinder mailing containers from the post office.
Another favorite of mine are the sets from Dwarven Forge. These are scale-sized models that are perfect for dungeons but have a few problems of their own. See, while they’re modular, they’re not capable of handling the great outdoors and unlike these tiles, take up a lot of space and piece per piece, probably cost something like five to ten times as much, depending on the Dwarven Forge set you’re purchasing. For me, it also takes up a lot of time in setting up the fields and then more time in putting them away. If you have a lot of sets like I do, you realize that many of the pieces are uniquely carved, giving them a great look, but making them impossible to just put in any old slot. Not saying that I couldn’t use the Tact-Tiles for some woods outside a dungeon that is composed of Dwarven Forge goods, but in and of themselves, they do one thing and they do it well, interiors.
In game play, I’ve noticed a few things, which Thomas Belcher, the owner of BC Products, has already answered. The first of which, is that when the tiles are brand new, they have a ‘wax’ on them that causes dry-erase markers to bead on them briefly. It’s recommended to let the ink dry. Good advice and it works. I found that less than two minutes was needed in most cases.
In terms of miniature use, I find that it’s still best to not treat the slick surface as a toy. You don’t want to say, flick the miniatures across the surface. First, this might scratch the surface of the tiles. Next, it might flip the miniature over as the tiles, while fairly smooth even when two tiles meet, does have an edge, which can cause the miniature to flip over. It’s something I saw for myself and since I’m the guy painting the miniatures, it quickly because the rule that it always was, of picking the miniatures up and showing me how your character is moving.
You won’t have this problem with counters though. Much like with a vinyl matt, counters work perfectly on a smooth surface. I’ve always found it difficult to use counters with Dwarven Forge products but they fit perfectly here.
For those on the go, the nice thing about the tiles is that unlike a standard vinyl map is that the titles don’t have to be spaced equally. This allows you to put the focus on where the action is heaviest on the map. Some dungeons have a lot going on in say the center or off the side where a labyrinth is. By this, I mean you can arrange the tiles to look like say a snake or a pear as opposed to just a square or a rectangle. To handle this ahead of time, you can number the tiles and then write out your tile plan and assemble them at the game.
Now as I love maps and mapping tools, one thing I decided to do was bust out the Dungeon Stamps and see for myself, how they work on the Tact-Tiles. I went with the old Gothic Door set. First thing, let the stamp dry for a few seconds before applying it or it will bead up so much that all detail is lost. I stamped out about six doors with the one application of ink and only the last two really retained the shape enough while the others look like ink blobs.
Giving it a moment or two, I busted out a tissue and tried to wipe it off. My advice? Don’t do it. Smeared all up and down the tile. I then broke out the Expo2 White Board Cleaner. That loses it up real nice but push it to one side of the board unless it’s a really absorbent towel, as it will continue to smear. The short version is that it can be cleaned off with no staining, but requires more work than just using standard dry erase markers. Now I have to wonder if the makers of Dungeon Stamps will offer alternative dry-erase ink for those who have Tact-Tiles.
And speaking of dry-erase, when cleaning up, these things do so quickly. As others have noted, it can be a bit of a problem because if you’re like me and cursed with the clumsy gamer friends who lean on your map, you’ll quickly find that your forest and open road become merged into one quick blur of ink. I’ve had minimum damage to maps when transporting, but that’s only when I put the foam spacers between the tiles. I understand that the rubbing between the tiles is what erases the marks so the foam prevents that to a limited degree.
For those who need variety in their utility and don’t want to bother with the wet towel clean up at the end of the game, Tact-Tiles are the way to go.
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
I mentioned Dwarven Forge because it's for the same type of purpose. Miniature manipulation on a map.
I encourage you to write a review and add your opinion of the utility of the Tact-Tiles to the database. More reviews could make this one of the top twenty products!
I encourage you to write a review and add your opinion of the utility of the Tact-Tiles to the database. More reviews could make this one of the top twenty products!
GlassJaw
Hero
Tact-Tiles - They changed my game!
If I had to make just one statement about Tact-Tiles, that would be it. But alas, one statement a review does not make so I'll press on.
I was able to use a set of Tact-Tiles extensively in actual game play before writing this review.
Tact-Tiles are 10in x 10in square tiles made of a durable plastic about a 1/4in thick. Each of the four sides features a male or female puzzle piece so that the tiles may be interlocked together. In addition to being locked together side by side, a tile may be placed in the middle of two adjacent tiles (so as to create a pyramid shape). The tiles are light gray in color and are marked with a 1in grid in red. Every other grid line is in bold. When using a 1in square = 5ft key, each tile is 50ft x 50ft (each 10in x 10in square is outlined in bold).
Tact-Tiles really shine when used for mapping dungeons or building floor plans. It doesn't matter where the map is started on the tiles. I don't have to start the map in the center or the edge of the battlemat. I start with one tile and just place it on the table. As the players move through the map, additional tiles are just added as needed. There is no chance of going off the mat with Tact-Tiles. This aspect is very similar to a scrolling through a computer RPG map. I can remove and add tiles as needed with ease.
Another benefit of Tact-Tiles that I didn't really foresee is that it makes mapping for the players very easy. No longer do I have to describe the dimensions of rooms to the players and make sure if they got it right. As I draw the map on the tiles, the players transfer the map to their graph paper. If I erase some tiles or move them around, the players have the completed map. If they return to an area they've already been before, I just scroll the tiles and redraw. I've found that mapping is one of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks of dungeon-crawling. Tact-Tiles cut this time in half or more.
Since they use dry erase markers as compared to wet erase for vinyl battlemats, Tact-Tiles are much easier to clean. A simple paper towel will completely erase all your tiles in seconds. Vinyl mats must be cleaned with a wet cloth and then dried. You can even use your finger if you need to erase something quickly on the tiles without getting the ink all over your hand. It literally just flakes off. You'll be washing your hands for days if you do the same with wet erase markers.
There are a couple of downsides to Tact-Tiles. Since dry erase markers are used, it is very easy for the ink to become smudged, especially during battles when there is a lot of movement of minis on the tiles. I usually end up having to redraw some lines here and there. The smooth surface of the tiles do not offer as much friction as a vinyl mat does. Miniatures, especially plastic ones, have a tendency to slide on the tiles a bit. And while the Tact-Tiles replace the need for a large battlemat most of the time, they certainly don't make them obsolete. For large areas, especially outdoor settings, I would still use a vinyl battlemat. A vinyl battlemat also allows a DM to draw a detailed map well in advance and store it until needed. You cant really do that with Tact-Tiles since the dry erase ink comes off very easily.
Tact-Tiles are easily one of the best gaming tools I've purchased. The time they save when a lot of mapping is required is amazing. Players love to see the map unfold right in front of them instead of having to fight through mapping it out on graph paper. The ease of clean-up make Tact-Tiles that much better. Change your game today – get some Tact-Tiles!
If I had to make just one statement about Tact-Tiles, that would be it. But alas, one statement a review does not make so I'll press on.
I was able to use a set of Tact-Tiles extensively in actual game play before writing this review.
Tact-Tiles are 10in x 10in square tiles made of a durable plastic about a 1/4in thick. Each of the four sides features a male or female puzzle piece so that the tiles may be interlocked together. In addition to being locked together side by side, a tile may be placed in the middle of two adjacent tiles (so as to create a pyramid shape). The tiles are light gray in color and are marked with a 1in grid in red. Every other grid line is in bold. When using a 1in square = 5ft key, each tile is 50ft x 50ft (each 10in x 10in square is outlined in bold).
Tact-Tiles really shine when used for mapping dungeons or building floor plans. It doesn't matter where the map is started on the tiles. I don't have to start the map in the center or the edge of the battlemat. I start with one tile and just place it on the table. As the players move through the map, additional tiles are just added as needed. There is no chance of going off the mat with Tact-Tiles. This aspect is very similar to a scrolling through a computer RPG map. I can remove and add tiles as needed with ease.
Another benefit of Tact-Tiles that I didn't really foresee is that it makes mapping for the players very easy. No longer do I have to describe the dimensions of rooms to the players and make sure if they got it right. As I draw the map on the tiles, the players transfer the map to their graph paper. If I erase some tiles or move them around, the players have the completed map. If they return to an area they've already been before, I just scroll the tiles and redraw. I've found that mapping is one of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks of dungeon-crawling. Tact-Tiles cut this time in half or more.
Since they use dry erase markers as compared to wet erase for vinyl battlemats, Tact-Tiles are much easier to clean. A simple paper towel will completely erase all your tiles in seconds. Vinyl mats must be cleaned with a wet cloth and then dried. You can even use your finger if you need to erase something quickly on the tiles without getting the ink all over your hand. It literally just flakes off. You'll be washing your hands for days if you do the same with wet erase markers.
There are a couple of downsides to Tact-Tiles. Since dry erase markers are used, it is very easy for the ink to become smudged, especially during battles when there is a lot of movement of minis on the tiles. I usually end up having to redraw some lines here and there. The smooth surface of the tiles do not offer as much friction as a vinyl mat does. Miniatures, especially plastic ones, have a tendency to slide on the tiles a bit. And while the Tact-Tiles replace the need for a large battlemat most of the time, they certainly don't make them obsolete. For large areas, especially outdoor settings, I would still use a vinyl battlemat. A vinyl battlemat also allows a DM to draw a detailed map well in advance and store it until needed. You cant really do that with Tact-Tiles since the dry erase ink comes off very easily.
Tact-Tiles are easily one of the best gaming tools I've purchased. The time they save when a lot of mapping is required is amazing. Players love to see the map unfold right in front of them instead of having to fight through mapping it out on graph paper. The ease of clean-up make Tact-Tiles that much better. Change your game today – get some Tact-Tiles!
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