Seeking Advice on a Map Project

[D.E.Kesler]

Hello There,

I am attempting to construct a reusable blank map. I started with a four foot by three foot dry erase board that I purchased at an office supply store. As far as I can tell, no one makes a three foot by three foot dry erase board. After trimming off the additional foot of board and putting down the initial grid pattern in pencil, this piece is starting to look like something.

At this point, I have a couple of options. I could go over the grid lines in ink or I could use nine point graphic art tape. I don't have any experience with graphic art tape. I think it would make the lines look very sharp and clean; however, I don't know how well this stuff would hold up to having an eraser run over it every few days. Ink, of course, is very unforgiving, but nothing looks better or will work better if it is done correctly.

Has anyone out there constructed a reusuable dry erase board grid map for their Hero Clix games?

Regards and Best Wishes,

Donald Eric Kesler

[MarkFinn]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but does Chessex/Alliance still manufacture Megamats? These are vinyl mats with grids and such preprinted on them. You can dry-erase (or was it wet erase? I forget) to your heart's content and they will wipe clean every time. Also nice because it rolls up for storage. If they have the square size, I'd go for that.

[Melkoloran]

If it's dry erase, wouldn't you lose a bunch of it if you roll it up? Seems a bit messy.

[MarkFinn]

Well, it's not meant for permanent maps. You draw your map out, play on it, and then erase it and do another one.

They were originally designed for dungeon crawls. An enterprising GM could draw the map on the fly, even...

As long as you're okay with less than full color flat buildings, there's no reason why they wouldn't work for Heroclix.

[D.E.Kesler]

Hello There,

Does anyone know if these mats are still being made? I have one from years ago, but it has one inch squares. Not the one and a half inches like WizKids uses.

Regards and Best Wishes,

Donald Eric Kesler

[MarkFinn]

Well, that's the sixty-four dollar question, isn't it? Have you tried a Google search yet?

[Puuka]

I would leave the extra foot of board there, use it to keep track of points and kills Wins/losses

[Doomtoy]

If the tape you're talking about is real Graphic Arts tape, the kind used to lay lines and borders for old-style newspaper layouts, it will hold up fine on a dry erase board; the only way you'll get it off is by prying it up and peeling it.

I remember the old Chessex mats, but I also remember that the squares were one-inch, not 1.5, and that they were considerably smaller than the maps used for HeroClix.

I've gone so far as to ponder just printing out single-sheet grids on my inkjet printer... then taping them together into a mat... and then having the whole thing laminated. That would work, I think. Albeit kind of expensive and a hassle, but it would work... although it never occurred to me that one would want to use dry erase markers. You'd need TWO thicknesses -- one for Blocking Terrain lines, and the thinner line for ordinary objects. Although you could use different colors... Office Depot sells dry erase markers in a whole spectrum...

[D.E.Kesler]

Hello There,

Well, I have the whole thing together. I wound up deciding to cut off the extra foot of board. I have a nice map frame and piece of plexi for my maps. With that extra foot of board, it would not have fit. More than likely, I will keep the extra foot around for score keeping.

I have the grid pattern down on the board. Currently, it is in ink and it looks very sharp. After a few games, the ink is ever so slightly smudged. It is not obvious to anyone but me and the board still works fine. Still, it will get worse over time. I think I will try the Graphic Arts tape on the score card and see how well it works with that. That way, if I make a royal mess, I still have the board.

After poking about on the world wide web, I have not been able to locate any dry erase maps available that are the correct size. I am not sure that Chessex ever made one like the type Wizkids uses.

As far as dry erase markers go, I was able to pick up a variety of colors and line weights at my local office supply store for a very reasonable price.

Regards and Best Wishes,

Donald Eric Kesler

[Melkoloran]

Originally posted by MarkFinn
Well, it's not meant for permanent maps. You draw your map out, play on it, and then erase it and do another one.

They were originally designed for dungeon crawls. An enterprising GM could draw the map on the fly, even...

As long as you're okay with less than full color flat buildings, there's no reason why they wouldn't work for Heroclix.

Ahh, I see.