Gridless Battle Mat

Zalman · December 22, 2023, 07:37:59 AM

Does anyone make one?

Suggestions for methods of making my own?

I'd like to end up with a high quality roll-up mat, similar to a Chessex, with no squares or hexes.

Old Aegidius · December 22, 2023, 07:50:00 AM

Is there a specific reason you want to make one, like custom terrain art or something else you'd like to use? The wargaming hobby generally has readily-available neoprene mats and other roll-up options for a variety of environments like grasslands or cities.

If you want Chessex material but no squares or hexes then you're looking for vinyl. A quick web search of "vinyl wargaming mat" shows several vendors that appear to sell pre-printed or custom vinyl mats. If that's too expensive then you can consider hiring a printing service to print your mat and then buy a roll of soft plastic and affix it to the mat with glue or clips or whatever else that works. Obviously that's less nice than the commercial alternatives.

Zalman · December 22, 2023, 07:54:30 AM

Quote from: Old Aegidius on December 22, 2023, 07:50:00 AM
Is there a specific reason you want to make one, like custom terrain art or something else you'd like to use? The wargaming hobby generally has readily-available neoprene mats and other roll-up options for a variety of environments like grasslands or cities.

If you want Chessex material but no squares or hexes then you're looking for vinyl. A quick web search of "vinyl wargaming mat" shows several vendors that appear to sell pre-printed or custom vinyl mats. If that's too expensive then you can consider hiring a printing service to print your mat and then buy a roll of soft plastic and affix it to the mat with glue or clips or whatever else that works. Obviously that's less nice than the commercial alternatives.

Thanks for the search term tips!

I don't need custom art or terrain: blank would be fine. I just want the grid lines absent.

BadApple · December 22, 2023, 08:58:29 AM

If you're just looking for a blank field you can use a dry-erase marker on, you can go to an automotive upholstery shop or a fabric store and just buy a piece of vinyl sheet what ever size you want. It usually come on rolls 3-4' wide and several yards long. This is also very cheap, usually costing less than $20 for a couple of yards.

Zalman · December 22, 2023, 09:54:01 AM

Quote from: BadApple on December 22, 2023, 08:58:29 AM
If you're just looking for a blank field you can use a dry-erase marker on, you can go to an automotive upholstery shop or a fabric store and just buy a piece of vinyl sheet what ever size you want. It usually come on rolls 3-4' wide and several yards long. This is also very cheap, usually costing less than $20 for a couple of yards.

Excellent, this sounds perfect, thank you. Now to find one of these "fabric stores" of which you speak ...

(Though I wouldn't mind finding one printed with a mottled brown or grey for that vintage look, like the grid maps I've seen.)

BadApple · December 22, 2023, 10:02:13 AM

Quote from: Zalman on December 22, 2023, 09:54:01 AM
Quote from: BadApple on December 22, 2023, 08:58:29 AM
If you're just looking for a blank field you can use a dry-erase marker on, you can go to an automotive upholstery shop or a fabric store and just buy a piece of vinyl sheet what ever size you want. It usually come on rolls 3-4' wide and several yards long. This is also very cheap, usually costing less than $20 for a couple of yards.

Excellent, this sounds perfect, thank you. Now to find one of these "fabric stores" of which you speak ...

(Though I wouldn't mind finding one printed with a mottled brown or grey for that vintage look, like the grid maps I've seen.)

Get it clear and put whatever you want under it. They use it as flexible windows for convertible tops and boat canopies. You can order it from Amazon for less than $10 a yard.

1stLevelWizard · December 22, 2023, 10:07:08 AM

I found this idea in a group I'm in, but you take mini jenga blocks and make them look like dungeon walls. It's pretty neat looking, and it's not too hard if you don't mind doing a little crafting. Just spray the jenga blocks black, and then paint on a stone pattern. You can make quite a few on the cheap. If you wanna take it a step further, you could get a 1'x1' square of grey cloth to use for the floor. Then just arrange the blocks to the room size you need.

GeekyBugle · December 22, 2023, 11:56:53 AM

To make it whatever color you want just follow the tips, switch colors and don't use any of the texturing things like sand, rocks, etc.

THEN buy the clear vinil Bad Apple told you about.

To use place the clear vinil on top of the other mat, when the clear vinil is no longer clear (after a few years granted) throw it away, buy a new one the underlaying battle mat will be just fine.

Or see if you can find paper that looks like you want it to, that would totally work too.