Never miss a turn with the Pathfinder Combat Pad initiative tracker. Usable with any roleplaying game, this wet and dry erase board includes magnets that stick right to it! List the names of heroes and foes on the magnets using a wet or dry erase marker, then place them in initiative order. When the order changes, simply slide the magnets to their new places. Take the uncertainty out of battle with the Pathfinder Combat Pad!
This is a clever, durable little product that I now use every time I run Pathfinder Society games. The combat pad itself is a thick magnetic board with a column for Initiative on the far left side, “Action, Ready, Delay” columns next to that, and a column with Rounds (1-20) in the center. On the far left is a large blank area for notes. The set comes with a *lot* of blank magnets for writing the name of a character (with different coloured magnets for PCs, enemies, and NPCs), and then you just slot in the magnets in order on the left side of the pad to keep track of everyone’s Initiative order with the help of the little “Turn” arrow magnets—which I need to remember to use!. If the order changes or more characters join the fight (or drop out of the fight), it’s very easy to slide the magnets around to change the order. The package comes with two little “Round” magnets so you can keep track of what round it is, which is particularly useful for keeping track of limited-duration buffs, how long a poison lasts, etc. Last, it includes two “Next Round” magnets—I’m not really sure what the purpose of these are, since you know it’s the next round when everyone has gone.
The particular genius of the Pathfinder Combat Pad is that *everything* (pad and magnets) are coated for dry erase and wet erase markers. Adding or removing names to the character magnets is a snap, and the large “Notes” section is perfect for keeping track of all the little details a GM is supposed to remember (but often forgets) during an encounter.
My only criticism of the package is that both sides of the pad are exactly the same and there’s way more magnets than you could possibly need. If I had my druthers, the flip-side of the pad would be designed for something different (like how the Starfinder Combat Pad uses the flip-side for starship combat). I’m not sure what I would want on the flip-side, but almost anything would be better than the redundant design it currently has.
That point aside, this is a very useful product and one that will last a long time. I’ve used it in dozens and dozens of sessions, and it has held up well. For GMs who currently juggle a dozen pieces of scratch paper to keep track of things during encounters, I strongly recommend purchasing this product.
It ain't thrilling, it ain't revolutionary, and it ain't particularly interesting.
But man, does this thing save a lot of time, and it works a whole lot better than the magnetic-paper dice tower version I was using before (and so much better than index cards that it's almost a joke). It's super customizable, super flexible, and it just plain works.
I do kind of wish there was a stand or something but it works well just the way it is.
Had this lying around for some months now, but only got to use it now.
The functionality and layout are really amazing, making this a very good product to keep control over initiative order, different conditions or effects in place, rounds, etc.
The magnets seem solid and are easy to use.
Non-permament marker was easy to wash off.
While DM Sothal is probably correct, the best way to find the cost of shipping a thing to you is to add it to your card and begin the checkout process. Once you're provided your address and chosen a shipping method, you'll be told exactly what the shipping cost will be before you have to commit to purchasing the item(s).
We have an Extra Magnet Pack here. We have graphically redesigned the Combat Pad since this pack was made, so you'll find the magnets *not* identical, to the ones pictured above. They are similar, though.
Forgive me if I overlooked this, but is there any difference between this one (2015) and the previous one (2013) ?
The only differences between the last few printings would have been the graphic design but otherwise the elements within the product should be identical.
Our new printing will have an extra sheet of magnets included to help give the product enough bulk to give the packaging a spine and help justify the price increase (that and our manufacturing costs have increased since the previous printing).
FYI, the purpose of the “Next Round” magnet is simply to be a visual reminder to advance the “Round Arrow” magnet. I would always forget… Now, when I see “Turn Arrow” magnet point at “Next Round”, I automatically advance the “Round Arrow”. I know a lot of people that don’t use it, which is fine by me. I like it though – I don’t really have to think, I just do what the magnet tells me to!
I can't find the product page, but last week, I ordered the extra magnet pack. The ones in that pack are NOT the ones that are pictured. The ones pictured are shorter, with small arrows on the right side of the magnet (I don't mean the arrow markers themselves, but the red, blue, and green ones.)
The pack I received were larger magnets that were black, blue, and green, and they do not match the ones I already have.
We have an Extra Magnet Pack here. We have graphically redesigned the Combat Pad since this pack was made, so you'll find the magnets *not* identical, to the ones pictured above. They are similar, though.
I wish I had seen this before ordering. The ones I got are terrible. The turn/round/end of round markers have text that is nearly illegible.
I'm confused as to which ones the redesigned ones are - are the redesigned ones the ones without the small arrow indicators on the side of the magnet? The ones with the arrows were far better, I think, and a lot nicer.
So, if I order a whole new combat pad, which will the magnets look like? If they aren't going to be the ones that are pictured in the item, you should put up an image of the new ones then.
The listing for the Extra Magnet Pack is here. It doesn't show you what the magnets look like at all; I'll see about getting that changed; at the very lest, we'll put some text on the product page that says they match the older design of the product.
If you order a new Combat Pad, the magnets will look like the images here.
If you're unhappy with what you received, please let Customer Service know—they're there to help!
The listing for the Extra Magnet Pack is here. It doesn't show you what the magnets look like at all; I'll see about getting that changed; at the very lest, we'll put some text on the product page that says they match the older design of the product.
If you order a new Combat Pad, the magnets will look like the images here.
If you're unhappy with what you received, please let Customer Service know—they're there to help!
I love the look of the new pad (it's the one I have, I was just trying to order an extra magnet pack of those same magnets, but what I got were not those magnets.
We didn't make an Extra Magnet Pack for the new version, which has a lot more magnets to begin with. (The old one had 8 blue, 8 black, and 4 green, while the new one has 13 blue, 13 red, and 9 green.)
(Also, the ratio of Extra Magnet Packs to Combat Pads sold in the prior version was pretty darn low, as evidenced by the fact we still have lots of the old Extra Magnet Packs, while the old Combat Pad is long gone.)
Wow. People are asking 130 bucks for used combat pads on Ebay and other sites. I mean, I love my combat pad, use it all the time, but c'mon, 130 dollars? I'm definitely purchasing a back-up when they get more on the shelves....
Would love to buy this when available. Will the Starfinder pad be usable for PF (same columns / tracking)?
One side of the Starfinder Combat Pad is functionally similar to the Pathfinder Combat Pad, but the second side of the Starfinder Combat Pad is for tracking starship combat.
Same here. I could really use one and they're pretty much unable to find anywhere on the internet, unless you want to buy a used one with an incredulous markup. :'(
All singular pawns have a purple number printed on them. For multiple pawns of the same type then comes red(dish) for the 2nd, then blue for the 3rd and finally green for the 4th.
The combat pad magnets come in: red, blue and green.
So while the color purple is the most prevalent one for pawns it is not represented on the combat pad at all. Too bad. I think more colors would have been better than 13x the same color.
I solve this by putting little (8 mm) colored stickers on the pawn bases and the same sticker on the combat pad magnets. So colors on the bases match colors on the pad.
You'll all be glad to know that the Pathfinder Combat Pad should be back in stock shortly. Provided that there are no delays in customs, we could see them delivered and ready to ship by the middle of July.
All singular pawns have a purple number printed on them. For multiple pawns of the same type then comes red(dish) for the 2nd, then blue for the 3rd and finally green for the 4th.
The combat pad magnets come in: red, blue and green.
So while the color purple is the most prevalent one for pawns it is not represented on the combat pad at all. Too bad. I think more colors would have been better than 13x the same color.
I solve this by putting little (8 mm) colored stickers on the pawn bases and the same sticker on the combat pad magnets. So colors on the bases match colors on the pad.
The Starfinder Combat Pad has light blue, orange and dark blue pads.
Are the blue player character magnets in this product the same color as the dark blue non-player character magnets from the Starfinder Combat Pad? They look to be different. Want to confirm cause monitor colors can skew colors a bit.
Are the blue player character magnets in this product the same color as the dark blue non-player character magnets from the Starfinder Combat Pad? They look to be different. Want to confirm cause monitor colors can skew colors a bit.
Yes, both types of blue magnets in the SF version are lighter than the blue ones in the PF version.
I'm thinking I might get an extra juuuuust in case. I like this product and it gets used heavily, but eventually will be stained to the point it is no longer viable. The magnets seem to like jumping into my dogs' mouths, too.
What would be awesome, is an pack of just the magnets, like a booster pack. Mostly of enemy colours.
Open Mind Games, who created the first Combat Pad, offered an Extra Magnet Pack that's still available.
The magnets are a slightly different design—you can see them in this image... but having more ways to differentiate characters might actually be a good thing.