Post by hardlec on Oct 22, 2016 0:29:42 GMT
I learned a little while ago, web surfing on some leads from another game, that the 4x4 foot tabletop map is becoming a new standard.
Many years ago, the standard or miniatures games was 9x5 feet, a ping pong table. 4x8 feet was an accepted substitute, this being a standard sheet of plywood, particle board or oriented strand board. The standard has been reduced to 4x6 feet for many miniatures game, I believe this is because of the standard size for conference tables changed. 4x6 or 4x4 seem to be the most commonly available pre-printed game mats. Some games are adopting an even smaller 3x3 foot area, the size of a common card table.
It seems that as miniatures are becoming bigger through scale creep, the playing surface is getting smaller.
The advantages of a smaller area are obvious. It costs less to make, it is easier to transport and easier to store when not in use.
The disadvantages of the small table are that only small numbers of figures can be used, ranges and movement become abstract to fit the smaller area, tactical maneuver tends to be ignored, and combat becomes a clot of melee in the center of the table.
I remember with great nostalgia games of "Command Decision" where played on a ping pong table, with 4 players a side and 200 5mm figures on the table.
the battle of Maryville brought back many of those fond memories.
What I would suggest for AQMF:
Mats can be screen printed on heavy muslin fabric with waterproof acrylic ink. Little worry from spills. Roll like a tube, transport in a piece of PVC tube. (Four-foot lengths are usually available at DIY stores)
Ironclad could acquire screen printing materials sufficient for the purpose of creating mats for 3-5 hundred dollars. a significant purchase but not a huge one. (There used to be a big Dick Blick Art Supply store in St. Louis, with all materials available.)
4x4 foot mats can be made and sold for 20 to 25 dollars. 4x8 foot mats might be able to be produced and sold for 30 to 40 dollars.
by folding edges of a 4x8 foot mat under itself, a 4x8 foot map sheet can be a 4x4 foot or a 4x6 foot sheet, and because the areas "folded under" do not need to be equal, the possibilities are nearly geomorphic.
Now take a separate sheet, and print roads, stream/rivers, groves of trees, ponds, swamps, red weed, etc. which players can cut out themselves.
To this can happily be added the existing trenches and hedges, as well as other 3D buildings and such (Shameless recommendation to Scott Washburn.) This might make certain 3D pieces, such as trees, an upcoming project. (Has anyone else noticed that there aren't may trees well suited for game tables? they are either cheap bottle-brush types or fragile railroad layout types that shed their foliage too easily.)
I'd like to see mats for Texas/Southwest US, Midwest US and Northern US/Canada.
I am eager for comments and discussion.
Does anyone want this?
Many years ago, the standard or miniatures games was 9x5 feet, a ping pong table. 4x8 feet was an accepted substitute, this being a standard sheet of plywood, particle board or oriented strand board. The standard has been reduced to 4x6 feet for many miniatures game, I believe this is because of the standard size for conference tables changed. 4x6 or 4x4 seem to be the most commonly available pre-printed game mats. Some games are adopting an even smaller 3x3 foot area, the size of a common card table.
It seems that as miniatures are becoming bigger through scale creep, the playing surface is getting smaller.
The advantages of a smaller area are obvious. It costs less to make, it is easier to transport and easier to store when not in use.
The disadvantages of the small table are that only small numbers of figures can be used, ranges and movement become abstract to fit the smaller area, tactical maneuver tends to be ignored, and combat becomes a clot of melee in the center of the table.
I remember with great nostalgia games of "Command Decision" where played on a ping pong table, with 4 players a side and 200 5mm figures on the table.
the battle of Maryville brought back many of those fond memories.
What I would suggest for AQMF:
Mats can be screen printed on heavy muslin fabric with waterproof acrylic ink. Little worry from spills. Roll like a tube, transport in a piece of PVC tube. (Four-foot lengths are usually available at DIY stores)
Ironclad could acquire screen printing materials sufficient for the purpose of creating mats for 3-5 hundred dollars. a significant purchase but not a huge one. (There used to be a big Dick Blick Art Supply store in St. Louis, with all materials available.)
4x4 foot mats can be made and sold for 20 to 25 dollars. 4x8 foot mats might be able to be produced and sold for 30 to 40 dollars.
by folding edges of a 4x8 foot mat under itself, a 4x8 foot map sheet can be a 4x4 foot or a 4x6 foot sheet, and because the areas "folded under" do not need to be equal, the possibilities are nearly geomorphic.
Now take a separate sheet, and print roads, stream/rivers, groves of trees, ponds, swamps, red weed, etc. which players can cut out themselves.
To this can happily be added the existing trenches and hedges, as well as other 3D buildings and such (Shameless recommendation to Scott Washburn.) This might make certain 3D pieces, such as trees, an upcoming project. (Has anyone else noticed that there aren't may trees well suited for game tables? they are either cheap bottle-brush types or fragile railroad layout types that shed their foliage too easily.)
I'd like to see mats for Texas/Southwest US, Midwest US and Northern US/Canada.
I am eager for comments and discussion.
Does anyone want this?