"A useful idea...mayhaps?" Topic

If you use maps that require making marks on I use this idea, I thought it was something everybody had figured out but when I used it the other night all the ohter players were suitable impressed with it so I thought I would share: Laminate a piece of paper (can be an actual map, blank paper or with squares on it) then use overhead projector markers..NOT dry erase markers. Using the overhead projector markers and your marks wont rub off unless you use a damp cloth. Anyway hope it of use.

Using the overhead projector markers

Can you still get these? I thought the OHP had died out years ago …

If it's actually laminated, just write on it with permanent marker. To erase, write over with dry erase and wipe off (no need for water). If you need to really clean things up, use a bit of rubbing alcohol on a dust-free cloth (a retired, but very clean t-shirt).

Water-based pens are still around, and still quite useful. There are a lot of fantasy mats made for them, with just this concept: to draw upon them with water-based pens, as needed, and then erase with water, or a cleaning product, like Windex.

I made my own, back in 1983, using large format quadrille paper and clear Contact Paper (translucent, clear, peel-n-stick vinyl, cupboard liner). Worked great. Can be done for any paper maps, just sandwich them between clear Contact Paper (Wal-Mart, kitchen accessories aisle), on both sides, and then add water-based markers (office supply stores, or Wal-Mart's office supplies area).

Do NOT use dry-erase markers on Contact Paper… It will leave a permanent mark. Also, be careful what surfaces you apply dry-erase markers to: the surface must usually be very smooth, and very hard, for the markers to come off easily; Contact Paper is not particularly smooth, nor is it hard, plus it tends to have a rougher microscopic surface -- bad for dry-erase, wonderful for wet-erase markers. Cheers!

We used this for decades in the Military, keeping maps dry and being able to mark key points and control graphics are necessary.

The getting a good job laminating was worth its weight in gold. The Sargent who did the job well was important when you switched areas of operations.

I buy wet-erase pens by the case for naval gaming (I make reusable plastic-coated ship rosters).

It has recently become impossible to find them with "fine" points, so I'm stuck with either "ultra-fine" tips which smash and dry out more quickly, or bigass "regular" tips that draw lines a bit too thick for most rostering work. The regular tips are great for drawing on campaign maps, though, and it's really easy to find them in small color sets (green, red, blue, black).

- Ix