Where can I buy a placemat (washable grid-map thingy)?

[Gnome Berzerker]

Ya know, one of those cool maps that DM's always seem to have. I need to get a grid one, because my group only has a hex map, and I prefer the other kind.

What are they called anyway?

 

[Usurper]

They're usually called battlemats or something similar I think. Crystal Caste has combat mats (2 sided hex/grid). www.crystalcaste.com

I've been thinking of seeing what Kinko's charges to print and laminate one given the high price of the things.

 

[OnCider]

They're usually called battlemats or something similar I think. Crystal Caste has combat mats (2 sided hex/grid). www.crystalcaste.com

I've been thinking of seeing what Kinko's charges to print and laminate one given the high price of the things.

I don't know whether you can get this in the States, but in the UK you can get rolls of self-adhesive plastic (to cover books with?), the backing paper of which is marked in 1 inch squares (WHSmith). Roll out the size you need, snip the backing paper off at the corners and stick the corners of the paper to your table.

The plastic is wipeable and works fine with OHP pens. We've been using the same sheet for about two years now and we've still got years more worth on the roll. DMs with time on their hands could pre-prepare maps for very little cash.

OnCider

 

[Marimmar]

...you can get rolls of self-adhesive plastic (to cover books with?)...
OnCider

I used that stuff to laminate my photoshoped and color-printed A2 battlemat. This really works fine, especially since the table cloth has additional protection against spilled drinks.

~Marimmar

 

[Zappo]

Ooh! Thanks for this great idea, I thought nothing beat battlemats, but this could be even better... I'm going to purchase a couple meters of inched plastic as soon as I can find it.

 

[diaglo]

chessex also sells a nice battlemat and wet erase markers at www.chessex.com

 

[Henrix]

I favour a homemade mat* (protected by self-adhesive plastic)and mounted on stiff cardboard. That way I can put the map on a box on the table, so that everyones character sheets and stuff isn't cluttering it up.

* Well, actually several in different sizes, so that I can expand the map when necassary.

 

[OnCider]

I used that stuff to laminate my photoshoped and color-printed A2 battlemat. This really works fine, especially since the table cloth has additional protection against spilled drinks.

~Marimmar

Ah, but the cool thing about this particular type is that the backing paper is marked in 1 inch squares - ie. you don't actually remove the backing paper, you keep it on the back so that you see through the film and can see the squares on the paper beneath.

You can cut the corners of the backing paper off so that you can stick it down at the corners to stop it rolling up.

Here's a picture (you can just about see the squares):

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=00755115&DB=320

 

[Marimmar@Home]

Ah, but the cool thing about this particular type is that the backing paper is marked in 1 inch squares - ie. you don't actually remove the backing paper, you keep it on the back so that you see through the film and can see the squares on the paper beneath.

But that's just some boring grid, my players demand that they put their minis on a battlemat that looks like a stone floor. I also made a lot of wall pieces, simple brick patterns that are color printed and glued to some cardbord strip.

~Marimmar