I am DMing in person but my players have requested a physical map instead of me projecting them onto the wall and using digi tokens. They have minis they want to use. I dont want to just use an 8x12 piece of rinter paper but we are runing dragons of storm wreck isle so I need the maps from that. Anyone know of a good way to get large maps like 36x40 or so for the premade modules? I got the set digitally
Personally, I just use a grid that I can draw on using erasable pens. I just draw the map each time. I also use scatter (so like market stalls, wells, ruins etc) to make it look better - I think it would be fair to ask them to provide scatter though, if they want it. I wouldn't go out an get specific maps - too expensive and of limited use. Just get game mats and draw on them.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
To back up Linklite I don't think it's worth going to the expense of printing out specific maps for each encounter, they've got limited reuse value and the cost will soon mount up. You're much better off spending the money for a decent battle mat that allows you to quickly draw maps out and erase them when you're done. I've got a Chessex mat that's been really hard wearing, allows use of both dry and wet erase markers and rolls up easily for transport. If my group are doing a dungeon crawl or exploring a region it's been really easy and surprisingly fast to start in one corner of the mat and expand outwards as they move
I purchased a dry-erase gameboard and just draw relevant stuff on it for different combats, I feel like if you want more detailed maps than that the cost builds up really fast for physical stuff, I have seen books with different maps you could just use for similar enough settings, but i cant attest to their usefulness.
Also, as far as minis, I print out sheets of pictures of the enemies I want minis of, cut them out and laminate them, put them on the little black paper binders with the metal bits removed to act as a base, I ran the numbers a while ago and I think the cost ended up being like 10 cents each, highly recommend it for budget mini production, it works great. (You can also use dry-erase to write health or damage taken on the backs, for added utility)
I did try printing out maps in the past, I don't think there is a good way to make it work, at least not without some crazy printer (or a 3d printer) but I imagine you're on more of a budget than that
I purchased a dry-erase gameboard and just draw relevant stuff on it for different combats, I feel like if you want more detailed maps than that the cost builds up really fast for physical stuff, I have seen books with different maps you could just use for similar enough settings, but i cant attest to their usefulness.
Also, as far as minis, I print out sheets of pictures of the enemies I want minis of, cut them out and laminate them, put them on the little black paper binders with the metal bits removed to act as a base, I ran the numbers a while ago and I think the cost ended up being like 10 cents each, highly recommend it for budget mini production, it works great. (You can also use dry-erase to write health or damage taken on the backs, for added utility)
I did try printing out maps in the past, I don't think there is a good way to make it work, at least not without some crazy printer (or a 3d printer) but I imagine you're on more of a budget than that
poster board from the dollar store you can draw a grid on, those work just as well. That’s what we did for years. But this was the 80’s so battle maps weren’t a thing that we knew of. We just used dominos for walls. I agree with the others. Would be way too expensive to print out each map. If they need a visual show them a picture of the map like you would do now projecting. But play on the grid.
If you really want the maps...and have a lot of money to burn...what I'd say instead is to invest in a flat screen TV. Tip it up, connect it to your computer (or use a thumb drive) and you can use your digital maps.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Another cheap option to consider: Some gift wrapping paper has a grid on the back, so it's easier to line up and cut. Just take that and use the back for a giant disposable sheet of graph paper to draw on.
I am DMing in person but my players have requested a physical map instead of me projecting them onto the wall and using digi tokens. They have minis they want to use. I dont want to just use an 8x12 piece of rinter paper but we are runing dragons of storm wreck isle so I need the maps from that. Anyone know of a good way to get large maps like 36x40 or so for the premade modules? I got the set digitally
If you are talking about a map for an in-person game, Chessex (same people that make dice) have a few sizes available, and they are two-side, one with 1 inch squares, the other with 1 inch hexes. Make sure you have a good set of dry erase pens, and I have found that Windex after a 4 hour session will take off even the difficult colours. Just make sure you don't let the inks stand for longer than that.
I also have taken 1 inch square 24-32 inch presentation paper (think a pack is 50 sheets), have cut those into various sizes, and glued them to a cardboard backer, so I can slap down any size room I want in an instant. Clearly, I don't draw on those. But you could for special encounters.
Drawing on grids, sometimes dry erase or a wipeable overlay/"glass" is the traditional way of playing with miniatures. There's a whole range of vendors of battle maps to full on terrain designed to improve on that for the "premium experience," really though I think you'd be better off investing in some sort of video table if you had the budget for bespoke battle maps/enivornments. But yeah, most folks use some sort of drawn on or drawn under grid.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
You can rig up your projector to put the image on a tabletop instead of the wall.
I agree with this. Either use a mirror to project the image down onto a table or hang the projector off the ceiling and directly project it down onto the table.
With a simple white grid mat on the table you should be able to line everything up and then use any minis you want.
If you are talking about a map for an in-person game, Chessex (same people that make dice) have a few sizes available, and they are two-side, one with 1 inch squares, the other with 1 inch hexes. Make sure you have a good set of dry erase pens, and I have found that Windex after a 4 hour session will take off even the difficult colours. Just make sure you don't let the inks stand for longer than that.
If you do, drawing over the marks with the pens will usually help by getting more solvent onto the ink. There's also wet-erase, which I think was what my mat preferred, but it's been a while.
I also have taken 1 inch square 24-32 inch presentation paper (think a pack is 50 sheets), have cut those into various sizes, and glued them to a cardboard backer, so I can slap down any size room I want in an instant. Clearly, I don't draw on those. But you could for special encounters.
One could laminate them, or lay down a layer of laminate on top to draw on.
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I am DMing in person but my players have requested a physical map instead of me projecting them onto the wall and using digi tokens. They have minis they want to use. I dont want to just use an 8x12 piece of rinter paper but we are runing dragons of storm wreck isle so I need the maps from that. Anyone know of a good way to get large maps like 36x40 or so for the premade modules? I got the set digitally
Personally, I just use a grid that I can draw on using erasable pens. I just draw the map each time. I also use scatter (so like market stalls, wells, ruins etc) to make it look better - I think it would be fair to ask them to provide scatter though, if they want it. I wouldn't go out an get specific maps - too expensive and of limited use. Just get game mats and draw on them.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
To back up Linklite I don't think it's worth going to the expense of printing out specific maps for each encounter, they've got limited reuse value and the cost will soon mount up. You're much better off spending the money for a decent battle mat that allows you to quickly draw maps out and erase them when you're done. I've got a Chessex mat that's been really hard wearing, allows use of both dry and wet erase markers and rolls up easily for transport. If my group are doing a dungeon crawl or exploring a region it's been really easy and surprisingly fast to start in one corner of the mat and expand outwards as they move
I purchased a dry-erase gameboard and just draw relevant stuff on it for different combats, I feel like if you want more detailed maps than that the cost builds up really fast for physical stuff, I have seen books with different maps you could just use for similar enough settings, but i cant attest to their usefulness.
Also, as far as minis, I print out sheets of pictures of the enemies I want minis of, cut them out and laminate them, put them on the little black paper binders with the metal bits removed to act as a base, I ran the numbers a while ago and I think the cost ended up being like 10 cents each, highly recommend it for budget mini production, it works great. (You can also use dry-erase to write health or damage taken on the backs, for added utility)
I did try printing out maps in the past, I don't think there is a good way to make it work, at least not without some crazy printer (or a 3d printer) but I imagine you're on more of a budget than that
I purchased a dry-erase gameboard and just draw relevant stuff on it for different combats, I feel like if you want more detailed maps than that the cost builds up really fast for physical stuff, I have seen books with different maps you could just use for similar enough settings, but i cant attest to their usefulness.
Also, as far as minis, I print out sheets of pictures of the enemies I want minis of, cut them out and laminate them, put them on the little black paper binders with the metal bits removed to act as a base, I ran the numbers a while ago and I think the cost ended up being like 10 cents each, highly recommend it for budget mini production, it works great. (You can also use dry-erase to write health or damage taken on the backs, for added utility)
I did try printing out maps in the past, I don't think there is a good way to make it work, at least not without some crazy printer (or a 3d printer) but I imagine you're on more of a budget than that
poster board from the dollar store you can draw a grid on, those work just as well. That’s what we did for years. But this was the 80’s so battle maps weren’t a thing that we knew of. We just used dominos for walls. I agree with the others. Would be way too expensive to print out each map. If they need a visual show them a picture of the map like you would do now projecting. But play on the grid.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
If you really want the maps...and have a lot of money to burn...what I'd say instead is to invest in a flat screen TV. Tip it up, connect it to your computer (or use a thumb drive) and you can use your digital maps.
Expensive mind, but it's something you could do.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
You can rig up your projector to put the image on a tabletop instead of the wall.
Another cheap option to consider: Some gift wrapping paper has a grid on the back, so it's easier to line up and cut. Just take that and use the back for a giant disposable sheet of graph paper to draw on.
If you are talking about a map for an in-person game, Chessex (same people that make dice) have a few sizes available, and they are two-side, one with 1 inch squares, the other with 1 inch hexes. Make sure you have a good set of dry erase pens, and I have found that Windex after a 4 hour session will take off even the difficult colours. Just make sure you don't let the inks stand for longer than that.
I also have taken 1 inch square 24-32 inch presentation paper (think a pack is 50 sheets), have cut those into various sizes, and glued them to a cardboard backer, so I can slap down any size room I want in an instant. Clearly, I don't draw on those. But you could for special encounters.
Drawing on grids, sometimes dry erase or a wipeable overlay/"glass" is the traditional way of playing with miniatures. There's a whole range of vendors of battle maps to full on terrain designed to improve on that for the "premium experience," really though I think you'd be better off investing in some sort of video table if you had the budget for bespoke battle maps/enivornments. But yeah, most folks use some sort of drawn on or drawn under grid.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I agree with this. Either use a mirror to project the image down onto a table or hang the projector off the ceiling and directly project it down onto the table.
With a simple white grid mat on the table you should be able to line everything up and then use any minis you want.
If you do, drawing over the marks with the pens will usually help by getting more solvent onto the ink. There's also wet-erase, which I think was what my mat preferred, but it's been a while.
One could laminate them, or lay down a layer of laminate on top to draw on.