"A Tapemeasure fit for wargaming." Topic

Dunno about you lot, but until a laser rangefinder is developed that measures distances from 1CM to 10M, I hate being stuck with the B&Q standard retractable steel tape measures.

They are not flexible enough, get in the way of the figures and bases, make annoying clicking sounds as your opponent stands waving them back and forth CLACKCLACKCLACK in your turn, are too wide and meh…other stuff.

What I want is a 2mm thick flexible wire roll that measures in MM and Inches, retracts and has a lock feature on it.
The ability for it to download pr0n and dispense beer would be desirable but optional.

Any Ideas?

Seamstresses cloth tapes work well.

Dressmakers use flexible fabric tape measures. Very flexible, no clacking sounds, can't be waved back and forth, Imperial and metric measurements on the same tape, lockable, lengths up to 10 feet. Any fabric or craft shop should carry them, but they're readily available online, too. There are several available here: link

That's a UK company, but you can find them worldwide. Anywhere dresses are sewn.

:)

Wow, I just went to work (freelance design is slow) shipping UPS for a lamp company. In their catalog boxes to clients they sent a promotional tape measure. The case is roughly 3"x 2"x 5/16", the tape is metal about 1/8" and extremely flexible. It locks automaticly and has a retract button but is only graded in inches (but that works for the majority of the games I play.) It'd probably be even smaller but they included a level on top to boot. I immediately grabbed three for gaming.

Ive tried the fabric tapes, yeah theyre OK, but again are wide and dont retract of course, I spend time obssessivly rolling them back up. And they dont dispense beer. :(

Walmart has a locking retractable version of the dressmakers flexible fabric tape. It is small, round, and blue. It has centimeters and inches, but only goes to 36". I think the last time I bought one it was less than a buck. I keep one of the the longer non-retractable flexible fabric tape with it for longer measurements. I really like if somebody drops it on a figure it is so light it won't hurt the figure.

I usually buy five of them because they break after six months to a year of use and I tend to misplace them.

LLC aka Ron

LLC aka Ron

What the hell is this thread doing on the Dice board?

This place is going to the dogs.

We need a Tape Measure board.

Pat

for a lot of games I use a relevant stick- marked out in graduations- mucho easier- this covers 90% of the common measurements you have to make- then recourse to the tape for those tricky (long range) measurements

I'm with Christot. Measuring sticks are the way to go. No arguments about fractions of a millimeter, or 1/64th of an inch. See the red band? That's long range. The blue one is infantry movement.

Oh, and for added fun and realism, the increments on a measuring stick need not be precise or even accurate. For most periods troops did not have laser range finders so why should the players?

Ive tried the fabric tapes, yeah theyre OK, but again are wide and dont retract of course, I spend time obssessivly rolling them back up.

You are misunderstanding.
They make tape measures that are identical to the standard hardware retractable kind, except that the "tape" is soft instead of metal.

They are common for sewing or for Scientific field work.

and dont retract of course

Some do, some don't. Buy one that does.

:)

I buy the round, dressmaker's tape measures for about a buck at a dollar store or a Wal-Mart. I usually keep 4-5 on hand so I'm not worried if they "walk off" during a game.

They make slightly better ones for $2.50 USD that are a little more durable, but I don't bother with them.

link

These are soft, flexible vinyl with both Imperian and Metric systems (one per side). I prefer them to measuring sticks because they allow you to measure when a figure moves around a corner or doesn't stay in a straight line.

I've never noticed the retractable soft tapes, I'll have to look into that.
I'm using the standard steel ones atm. I find the biggest problem with them is my sons tendency to grab the end of it, run away and then let go before I can lock it-in which case I tend to throw it far away and cover my head, shouting 'look out!', those things are dangerous!

Our group has moved mostly from tapes to measuring sticks. Works well for artillery ranges, grape, medium and long, in Shako.
Six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen and twenty-four inch dowels, for movement,and ranges with the Armati and Shako rulesets.

And they dont dispense beer. :(

Damn, that's the real capability deficiency, isn't it?
--
Tim

I've just found this wonderful new tape measure in the dressmakers shop.

Not sure who makes it as the case is a bit battered but I can read the following:

E?AS?IC TAPE

So far I can reach any target without a problem…

I've no problem with the 98p ones from B&Q

For heaven's sake! Just use a tailor's cloth measuring tape. Ball up the excess in your fist and pull it out to how long you need. If you drop it no damage is done to anything. It is the ultimate flexy measuring tool. High tech is for sissies. We play with LEAD toys for crying out loud.

Oh, Ambush Alley already said that. I didn't recognize "seamstress's cloth tape" in time. Oh well, ha ha.