Best way to handle maps (without a TV table)?

[bmardiney]

So I'm gearing up to run Abomination Vaults, and I seriously don't know how GMs handle large maps. I've printed small maps on multiple 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper and taped them together, but is that even feasible for something AV? I've read online that people have used cloth-printing services, which sounds kind of cool but I dread what happens when the measurements go wrong or the printing itself sucks. I've also thought about rigging a projector above the table using some sort of overhanging metal arm or even drilling a rig into the ceiling. None of these options sound like a silver bullet and I'm just wondering what other GMs do. I know I can literally draw the maps myself, but I have neither the time nor the desire to do that. I've bought every flip-mat that Paizo has produced but that's often less than half of what's needed for even small adventure paths. I'm at a loss.

[Themetricsystem]

Check out Gaming Paper. They have a variety of options and while it doesn't fix the fact that you'd have to create the actual maps personally it makes it SUPER convenient for drawing them out with flexible grid options, pack away/roll-up options, and best of all the folks behind it are just awesome people doing their thing as a small business.

Might not be what you need, but I don't think I'll ever invest in similar options as long as I still have at least a backup roll and they are in business.

[bmardiney]

That does look cool for people who are artistically inclined, but I'm just not going to do that. Maybe if the dungeon could be printed onto those sheets, but even then, they lack color.

So far, the best options seem to be printing dozens of 8 1/2 x 11s and taping them together...or a projector. If I thought I could actually build a TV table, I would, but I'm just not that handy, either.

[Dancing Wind]

Some people print them on large paper

Printing at FedEx

[Claxon]

I think a lot of people have gone another direction, using services like Foundry's Virtual Tabletop which will let you import map files and use them, along with building your characters and helping manage things.

[Themetricsystem]

bmardiney wrote:

That does look cool for people who are artistically inclined, but I'm just not going to do that. Maybe if the dungeon could be printed onto those sheets, but even then, they lack color.

So far, the best options seem to be printing dozens of 8 1/2 x 11s and taping them together...or a projector. If I thought I could actually build a TV table, I would, but I'm just not that handy, either.

That's fair I suppose, but I would hardly say I'm artistically inclined, it's just a super easy and convenient medium as I can roll it out just like gift wrap paper and quickly knock out a map from reference with sharpies. The biggest project I ever did was all of the Fall of Plaguestone maps (plus some extras based on general area descriptions for other stuff I had planned) and it took me about two hours to get all of the broad strokes with enough detail to get the idea across for everything relevant.

The map isn't super pretty, and certainly lacks pretty much everything someone would pay a premium for but it was CRAZY convenient as I just rolled it up to transport and unfurled each section over the table as we needed the next area. For less than $10, sharpies included it is a great value though I would say that hand cramping during prep was absolutely a bit of a pain if only a temporary one. If you want a more expensive but less labor-intensive option your best bet is to find a copy/print shop you trust that is willing to do large-scale prints and order those but the big headache with THIS method is ensuring that you have your files in proper order and PERFECTLY scaled to the size of the paper you are buying because otherwise you are almost certainly bound to run into issues where you're not going to have 1-inch grids.

[breithauptclan]

I print out each map on a single sheet of paper, tack it to a corkboard, and use push pins for player and monster characters.

[bmardiney]

breithauptclan wrote:

I print out each map on a single sheet of paper, tack it to a corkboard, and use push pins for player and monster characters.

I apprieciate the minimalism but that's definitely not going to work for my group. They LOVE to make and buy figures on Heroforge. The accessories are almost as much fun as the game for them (it's a bunch of girls and my wife). So the better it looks, the more likely it will be to useful.

So I guess no one has used a projector?

[bmardiney]

Claxon wrote:

I think a lot of people have gone another direction, using services like Foundry's Virtual Tabletop which will let you import map files and use them, along with building your characters and helping manage things.

Which if a projector works well, I could do that. Or, like I said, pay a thousand dollars for someone to make me a TV table :p

[Lucerious]

I’ve seen online images of people using a flatscreen tv flipped face-up with a thin plate of glass or plastic over it for protection. If it’s connected to your computer, that may work.

[The Gleeful Grognard]

Print a small map onto paper. Use a vinyl battle map and sketch out whatever room they are in on it. Erase it when you are done.

Easy.

Other than that, printing the whole map and gluing it together works (but the maps are big) as does the tv table approach (but that depends on your budget)

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

[Claxon]

bmardiney wrote:

Claxon wrote:

I think a lot of people have gone another direction, using services like Foundry's Virtual Tabletop which will let you import map files and use them, along with building your characters and helping manage things.

Which if a projector works well, I could do that. Or, like I said, pay a thousand dollars for someone to make me a TV table :p

Well to clarify, our group has started doing it whether we play remote or in person. Everyone gather's round the table with their laptop or tablet (you can use most any device with an internet connection but it can take varying amounts of work to set up).

I get that may not be 100% satisfying if your group really likes physical tokens and things, but my group faced the same challenge and this was the most economical solution. The projectors and other routes would mean only one person could host and were expensive compared to the cost of the software. For us it was the most practical solution. And we were never that into the miniatures, we often used beer caps as PCs and NPCs.

[bmardiney]

The Gleeful Grognard wrote:

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

Damn, alright. Was hoping that was a legit option. Oh well.

[Captain Morgan]

The Gleeful Grognard wrote:

Print a small map onto paper. Use a vinyl battle map and sketch out whatever room they are in on it. Erase it when you are done.

Easy.

Other than that, printing the whole map and gluing it together works (but the maps are big) as does the tv table approach (but that depends on your budget)

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

Yeah, I'd just use the vinyl room by room.

Now, I no someone built 3D maps for Abomination Vaults, but that was just for a podcast, not for general purchase, right? Because that would probably be the best possible thing for your group of mini lovers.

[bmardiney]

Captain Morgan wrote:

The Gleeful Grognard wrote:

Print a small map onto paper. Use a vinyl battle map and sketch out whatever room they are in on it. Erase it when you are done.

Easy.

Other than that, printing the whole map and gluing it together works (but the maps are big) as does the tv table approach (but that depends on your budget)

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

Yeah, I'd just use the vinyl room by room.

Now, I no someone built 3D maps for Abomination Vaults, but that was just for a podcast, not for general purchase, right? Because that would probably be the best possible thing for your group of mini lovers.

I mean, that would probably run into the hundreds of dollars. I'd pay $100 for all the AV maps. Not sure I could justify more for 1 adventure path..............okay maybe $200. But yeah that would be amazing.

[Captain Morgan]

Ugh, my drunk posting typos make me cringe so hard.

I'm actually a little surprised Paizo didn't publish a flip map pack for AV, but apparently they don't do that for APs.

I did find this $69 USD 3D terrain set, but it would require significant effort. They come unpainted and they seem to be more like Legos where you need to build individual rooms.

https://archon-studio.com/shop/dungeons-lasers/238-pathfinder-terrain-abomi nation-vaults-5901414672294.html

[Baron Ulfhamr]

I actually started using Christmas wrapping paper! Many have 1" grid on the back and are perfect for maps, they can be obtained cheap after Christmas and/or at dollar stores, and have jarringly festive prints to balance the gloom and doom you'll be scrawling on the reverse side, mwahaha...

I really love this stuff- I work with my daughter and her crayons, I do the line work, she draws and colors the furnishings. I purchased a roll of plastic that covers my map and allows for dry erase markers to be used, and you can put blank sheets under or over the plastic to add "fog of war" in unexplored regions. I no longer do this, however, I simply place "dummy tiles" over secret doors/regions.

[DeathlessOne]

bmardiney wrote:

The Gleeful Grognard wrote:

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

Damn, alright. Was hoping that was a legit option. Oh well.

I've tried the projector method but unless you get a really good one, and a really bright one, the room is going to have to be so dark that you won't be able to see your character sheets or dice rolls without another light source and/or backlit devices.

I designed a table with a television in it and had my father-in-law put it together for me. He had all the tools for wood working that was needed. 100% would recommend that route if you are inclined to it.

[bmardiney]

DeathlessOne wrote:

bmardiney wrote:

The Gleeful Grognard wrote:

Don't go the short throw projector route, it is not as good as making a tv table and almost as expensive while being more fiddly.

Damn, alright. Was hoping that was a legit option. Oh well.

I've tried the projector method but unless you get a really good one, and a really bright one, the room is going to have to be so dark that you won't be able to see your character sheets or dice rolls without another light source and/or backlit devices.

I designed a table with a television in it and had my father-in-law put it together for me. He had all the tools for wood working that was needed. 100% would recommend that route if you are inclined to it.

I'm asking carpenters in my area about it. Got 2 people potentially interested. The only problem now is that my house's rooms are probably too small for it (we don't have a proper dining room). Might be able to make it work somehow, we shall see.

[bmardiney]

Any thoughts on this kind of thing? Better to just build a table or would this be worth it for the "put it away when you aren't using it" aspect? https://us1-photo.nextdoor.com/post_photos/ad/d4/add4522906fc73ea51d81a2164 1f554b.webp?request_version=v2&output_type=jpeg&sizing=linear&x _size=5&resize_type=max

[Pythos]

bmardiney wrote:

Claxon wrote:

I think a lot of people have gone another direction, using services like Foundry's Virtual Tabletop which will let you import map files and use them, along with building your characters and helping manage things.

Which if a projector works well, I could do that. Or, like I said, pay a thousand dollars for someone to make me a TV table :p

You could buy a pre-built portable one that sits on top of the table. A couple of companies make them.

https://www.craftykobolds.com/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CuriousMercantileMA?ref=simple-shop-header-name&a mp;listing_id=1201026738

You're looking at probably $1,500, but of course it can be used forever with all future campaigns as well.

[bmardiney]

Interesting. I think I'd still rather go local if I can but it's good to know there are options.