Just bragging

[Prosopis]

I recently received a 44" large format plotter that outputs photo quality color prints. I'm printing huge battlemaps from the PDFs found in the CC modules I'm going to GM (as well as for the kingmaker campaign I'm currently playing in). If you have such a printer, I suggest you do the same. Its awesome. [/superior tone]

[Mauril]

I'm actually looking for one of these also. Where did you get it, how much did it cost and will my firstborn child do in compensation to have you send me yours?

[NotMousse]

While I applaud you for your new asset, I can do the same thing with a quick trip to my local kinkos.

That reminds me, I should see about making a pathfinder poster to put up at the FLGS right over that 4e monstrosity.

[Alan Sinclair]

I have just wrapped up the Battlemarket from Howl of the Carrion King with 1" scale maps printed on a monstrous plotter (this thing literally can print wall sized maps). The only limit to this wondrous device is as you blow up the PDF the quality begins to drop.

It made running the boss fights so much fun (especially as PCs were tossed off the balcony back to the ground floor).

As an aside, these things are no use to me any more and take up far too much space (according to my wife). I paid nothing to print these (the plotter is an asset in the department where the party cleric works) and I would happily recycle them, although they have minor game damage (pizza and tea stains, as well as a corner having been nibbled by my infant son).

Unless doing this is a big no-no for some reason.

Cheers

Alan

[Prosopis]

Mauril wrote:

I'm actually looking for one of these also. Where did you get it, how much did it cost and will my firstborn child do in compensation to have you send me yours?

Its an epson stylus pro 10000 with photo inks. It was given to me by a colleague under the restriction that I had to move it out of his place (it's like 250 lbs) and no tech support. You can get them used for around $1500. Paper is about $50 - $150 per roll (depending on width: 24" - 44") and the seven inks cost around $125 each, but it will print for years.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epson-Stylus-Pro-10000-Wide-Format-Printer-WORKS-GREAT- /190506043352?pt=COMP_Printers&hash=item2c5b0b87d8

[blakbuzzrd]

Alan Sinclair wrote:

The only limit to this wondrous device is as you blow up the PDF the quality begins to drop.

QFT. This is why I started recreating key battlemaps in Photoshop, so as to get resolution worthy of 1-inch scale printing.

I started doing it when my players were in Thistletop (RotRL #1), and am currently working on the various floors of The Misgivings in RotRL #2.

Something else I did was to cut the map up room-by-room, such that heroes never knew where things were going or how much dungeon was left. No more need to cover the table with blank paper!

[Alan Sinclair]

I am planning on doing room by room mapping for House of the Beast.

I intend to use CC3 from profantasy to do this, all I have to do is learn how to use the damn software! I mean it can't be that hard.

Not as hard as the transition from XP/Office 2003 to Windows 7/Office 2010 right?

[Prosopis]

blakbuzzrd wrote:

Something else I did was to cut the map up room-by-room, such that heroes never knew where things were going or how much dungeon was left. No more need to cover the table with blank paper!

Ohh, I want to do this too. Did you find a need to glue the cut up pieces onto thick cardstock or anything like that? I have a feeling the shards of paper will be too flimsy, leading to curling edges and rips.

Also, what does QFT mean?

Alan,
If you ever get around to creating those CC3 maps, be sure to post them because I'm looking for software to create some battlemaps. There was an awesome tool I saw on YouTube called Mallet something-or-other by Rockwater Software. Unfortunately, it seems that their program has become vaporware because I can't find out anything new about its status.

[Astralplaydoh]

You can do the room by room thing using a standard printer as well.

As far as the pages being too flimsy, there's a few things you can do.

Print to a lightweight cardstock.

Print to a glossy paper. They have more weight.

If you have access to a laminator, just laminate your pages. This has the added benefit of being able to then use wet/dry erase markers on the rooms.