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.
Zaister,
I could not agree more. I use both the initiative combat board above AND the InitiativeBoard for the iPad. THey are both freaking awesome!! :)
Now I WOULD seriously LOVE an iPad app by paizo that looked like the one here for this thread though!! :)
Now THAT would be even better then the initiative board, but at least I have that until an official one comes out by Paizo :D
My experience with the previous one was that mine lasted about 2 Adventure Paths in length. Seems a better unit of time than something else as people play through at different times...
Hmmm ... when I saw the initiative on the left, and the notes on the right (the opposite arrangement than the previous Combat Pad), I had wondered whether one side might be for left-handers, the other for right-handers. Could be an idea to keep in mind for the next incarnation of Combat Pad design ;-)
I'm a leftie. with the notes on the right hand side, the side of my hand, while writing there, will rest right on where the name magnets will be.
Perhaps I will simply have to use this product upside down. so the notes are on the (from my perspective the correct side) namely the left side, and the magnets can be on the right side.
I still have the old initiative pad.
Hmm. Well most products are made with right handers in mind.
Well if you flip it over and the nots are on the left hand side and the name magnets on the right, well that would be nice, you have something for everyone.
Ordered one, thanks for all the commentary as it helped me decide to take the plunge. Besides, our groups existing combat pad has had a long, glorious life and has earned its retirement.
To well used combat pads everywhere....I salute you.
I'm a leftie. with the notes on the right hand side, the side of my hand, while writing there, will rest right on where the name magnets will be.
Perhaps I will simply have to use this product upside down. so the notes are on the (from my perspective the correct side) namely the left side, and the magnets can be on the right side.
I still have the old initiative pad.
Hmm. Well most products are made with right handers in mind.
Well if you flip it over and the nots are on the left hand side and the name magnets on the right, well that would be nice, you have something for everyone.
That is the way it was for us right-handers with the old Game Pad. I am glad of this one :)
I ordered one of these as soon as I saw it available. Just one day previously, I was at PaizoCon, and one of the GMs I played with had one. I commented on it, and he lamented that it had been out of print (does "out of 'print'" apply to something like this?) for some time.
I'm a leftie. with the notes on the right hand side, the side of my hand, while writing there, will rest right on where the name magnets will be.
Perhaps I will simply have to use this product upside down. so the notes are on the (from my perspective the correct side) namely the left side, and the magnets can be on the right side.
I still have the old initiative pad.
Hmm. Well most products are made with right handers in mind.
Well if you flip it over and the nots are on the left hand side and the name magnets on the right, well that would be nice, you have something for everyone.
That is the way it was for us right-handers with the old Game Pad. I am glad of this one :)
Yeah, well rarely do we ever get something made for lefties in mind. Perhaps your experience with the old game pad will help you understand my potential frustration with the new pad :D
Generally I just wrote on the notes section. I did not flip it upside down or anything like that. Sometimes I did get marker on my hand but no worse then if I was drawing on a game mat for showing the players the map :)
And it does wash of and the little soap and water does not get wears off with in a day :)
I still like the board though, but I'm also a lefty ...
combat Manager is TOO much. I want something simple like the Initiative combat Pad that Paizo puts out for the iPad. Just simple and yet elegant.
The best one I can get that is even close to the Paizo combat pad is the InitiativeBoard Go to iTunes Initiativeboard.
Even that app is not simple enough as it just seems a bit to clunky and slow compared to just the magnetic board.
So it is not the Combat Manager I am looking for. It is nice though.. just not for me. That is what I have Hero Lab for :)
Currently on backorder... ETA when new stock will be available?
Sorry ckdragons but we haven't sent the files back to press yet so I don't have a firm ETA. I'm expecting for us to sent the files in the next few weeks so a July or August arrival is anticipated. Once we send the files, we will have a better idea.
do they have any idea when these will be back in stock bought mine on here a few weeks ago ( said they were in stock at the time) then it got changed to out of stock
We are getting the files ready for press now so I'm anticipating that this will be back in stock in August. Sorry about the delay everyone but I'm sure it will be worth the wait.