PDF Maps to Physical Maps

[Jedhed242]

Hi everyone,

Since COVID and quarantine I've rediscovered my love of RPGs and have had a weekly session going with my wife and kids for 9 months now its been an absolute blast. We started with PF1E and some 3PP beginner adventures and now are starting to break into PF2E. It gets talked about during the week and has brought us together in a lot of ways.

I've struggled to get physical versions of some of the maps in pdf format for which Paizo doesnt offer product. As an example I'm running Troubles in Otari now and the flip mat has two of the larger locations but there is a whole page of smaller encounters in the middle story adventure which isnt produced anywhere. These are some of the most exciting encounters in the adventure so need their own map!

I took to to a local print shop to see if they could make something on foamcore board or vinyl stickers that I could just tape down and while its a little pricey the resolution once is enlarged to scale is pretty blech.

Just wondering if anyone here has devised a good solution for converting some of the pdf maps in the adventures or APs into physical maps when they arent available for purchase from Paizo?

thanks!

[Steel_Wind]

Jedhed242 wrote:

I took to to a local print shop to see if they could make something on foamcore board or vinyl stickers that I could just tape down and while its a little pricey the resolution once is enlarged to scale is pretty blech.

Just wondering if anyone here has devised a good solution for converting some of the pdf maps in the adventures or APs into physical maps when they arent available for purchase from Paizo?

thanks!

While your comment is several months old, the issue is a recurring one so this reply will be of use to you as well as to others.

The cost of printing maps adds up quickly. The simplest and most cost-effective approach is to not print anything. Instead, use a 40" inch flat panel TV and lay it on the tabletop and hook it up with an HDMI cable to your PC or laptop -- or cast to it from a tablet or phone if it supports that feature.

Display your map on the TV, either through the use of a VTT -- or simply the use of a graphics program or even Adobe Acrobat if you must. Put your minis on top of the flat screen and just play.

You can get fancy and add a wood frame or install it in a purpose built table if you like -- but just laying down an old TV on the kitchen table works just fine too. If it gets tippy -- use a bath towel scrunched up underneath the tippy side to stop it from doing that. Carry on gaming.

You may well have an old flat-panel TV you no longer use that could be repurposed for this (I have two of them in the 40" range we no longer use). If so, the cost of doing this + your old bath towel to prevent tipping is exactly ZERO DOLLARS.

And yes, it will look better than any printed map, too. And the ease of use of changing maps and so forth during play will take you less than 1 second to appreciate and come to enjoy.

On Craigslist, a used flat panel can be had for less than $100. Hell you can buy a NEW low Hz 55" model for $200-$300 or so. 60 Hz is totally fine for still images. High Hz resolution is a concern for showing movies and sports - not for Tabletop gaming!