Cloth Maps

[trancejeremy]

The 100 Kickstarter rewards things make me think of this, because it was a reward in the Wasteland 2 kickstarter thing.

Cloth maps were once a staple of CRPGs, and to this day, still sometimes happen (I have one from last year's YS Seven).

But why were they never used for regular, table top /pen & paper RPGs? They hold up much better, don't tear, and look really, really cool. Obviously not great for an adventure, but for a setting boxed set, they'd be great.

Are they that expensive to make? Lacking detail?

 

[howandwhy99]

Personalized handkerchiefs can actually get a little pricey. I agree though, they would be a cool addition to a boxed set adventure. We just don't see many of those lately.

Here's my personal reason why I don't see these and infinitely useful: My maps are dynamic. They change so having the PCs find a map, like a cloth one I can hand out, while cool is not as useful as one they can edit.

I could see something like a pirate treasure map of a larger overland area, some less apt to change in the default time scale. If I want it older, I could simply alter more - making such a handout even easier to convert in.

 

[pming]

Hiya.

The "revised" (2nd..."after the Prisim Pentad" one) Dark Sun Campaign setting had a cloth map. I thout it was very cool...annoying that it was for the 'revised' box, but still cool.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[gamerprinter]

Yes, printing to cloth is fairly expensive. Even inkjet printing to cloth is expensive, dye sublimation or other processes are even more expensive. Silk screening might be the most cost effective, but unless you're printing thousands of cloth maps - its expensive too.

As a cool prop, a cloth map is nifty, but agreed with the other posters, if the map isn't paper, or laminated print, there's no easy way to mark up a map for use in game. Functional gaming aids are more practicall than nifty ones. And costs of game accessories are expensive to create, so it's better to provide useful aids to justify the cover price of a boxed set.

 

[delericho]

They're not cloth, but Gale Force Nine do some really nice vinyl maps for some of the D&D settings. I picked up the Eberron map recently, and it's lovely. Of course, it arrived just in time for my PCs to quit Khorvaire on a quest to the Frostfell...

 

[Relique du Madde]

The reason is because they are expensive and time consuming to make. Its easier just to whip out several poster sized maps then to do a print map on cloth (because of the time it takes to prep the cloth then dry it after your work is done.)

 

[trancejeremy]

That's right, I remember Dark Sun having one.

But still, if a video game that sells at $40/50 can do it, I'd think a boxed set that sells similarly could do it as well

 

[Filcher]

That's right, I remember Dark Sun having one.

But still, if a video game that sells at $40/50 can do it, I'd think a boxed set that sells similarly could do it as well

Yeah, but volume, my friend, volume.

 

[Crothian]

I think the Exalted First Age box set, which was pricey, also had a cloth map. I love my Darksun one, it is very awesome.

 

[[derek]]

I printed cloth maps for my Carrion Crown campaign. The process was relatively simple.

I took a white sheet and cut out 8x11 size sections.

I then ironed these cloth sections on freezer paper and cut the freezer paper to 8.5x11. These feed perfectly into my Dell Laser printer.

I the printed out the maps and gave to the players at the start of the campaign.

It absolutely ruled and the players loved them. If you would like more info let me know.