Starter Kits Geomorphic Maps

lvet

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
19
Reaction score
26
Country
llSpain
Hello,
I just received the Starter Kit #2 (Starter Kit #1 is on its way).
I cannot find a way to lay out the Geomorphic Maps flat as there is that annoying center fold in the middle.

I read that many people are placing a sheet of plexiglass on top while playing, but I don't think this is an optimal solution.
Did anyone try to glue the maps on a rigid piece of cardboard? The idea is to mimic something similar to the maps of the original Squad Leader.
What do you think?
 

62nd Army

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2003
Messages
892
Reaction score
330
Location
USA
Country
llUnited States
Hi

If you want to make like the original "hard" boards, them by all means mount then.
Maybe poster board or something firm, yet light.

remember you do lose the "flexibility" of easy storage/travel once this is done.

Good luck and welcome to the ASLSK ride!! :)

Thanks
Joe
 

Robin Reeve

The Swiss Moron
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Messages
19,595
Reaction score
5,557
Location
St-Légier
First name
Robin
Country
llSwitzerland
Did you try to fold the map both ways ?
It usually reduces the impact of the crease.
And/or use repositionable tape to fix it on the table?
 

Jazz

Inactive
Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
12,188
Reaction score
2,739
Location
The Empty Quarter
Country
llLithuania
The last thing I would want to do is to make them anything like the original Squad Leader boards.

Plexiglass is far & away the best option. Cutting them in half is another option, but less than desirable IMMHO.
 

lvet

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
19
Reaction score
26
Country
llSpain
Hi @Jazz
What is the disadvantage, for you, of the original Squad Leader boards? Having something similar is my objective
 

von Marwitz

Forum Guru
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
14,358
Reaction score
10,207
Location
Kraut Corner
Country
llUkraine
Hi @Jazz
What is the disadvantage, for you, of the original Squad Leader boards? Having something similar is my objective
I preferred the old mounted boards as well - in principle.

The SK style boards were printed more precisely and butted together better. However, with more advanced printing methods, the same could have been (and indeed was) achieved with (some) mounted boards. The true reason for the SK style boards to prevail, however, is that they are much cheaper to produce. There were about 50 mounted boards before the advent of the SK-style boards. Since then, something approaching 100 boards in SK-style have been produced by MMP alone.

If you plan to 'mount' SK-style boards yourself, I'd advise to take the following into account:

Many scenarios only use half-boards. If you mount full boards which cannot fold, then you will see configurations where one unused half-board will jut out on each side of the playing area on the table - which is awkward. That's probably the reason, why some people cut their SK-style boards in half (some of which laminate instead of mounting them). Personally, I prefer to print out the playing area via VASL.

Once you start 'mounting' boards, probably, there's no turning back. If one thing sucks for sure, then butting 'mounted' and 'unmounted SK-style' boards together.

If, however, you start mounting boards, it appears to be a sh**load of work to me. Sure, I have spent weeks on clipping my counters and devising a storage solution, so why should I lament about the time burnt by mounting boards... Just sayin', though.

von Marwitz
 

Jazz

Inactive
Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
12,188
Reaction score
2,739
Location
The Empty Quarter
Country
llLithuania
Hi @Jazz
What is the disadvantage, for you, of the original Squad Leader boards? Having something similar is my objective
Last time I played on the original boards I took the scenario down half way through and re-set it up on paper boards. I preferred the paper boards of the original boards to all the other options (SK included).

Original boards warp, move around way too easily, and the junctions where they join do violence to LOS and the hex grid. Did I mention storing and traveling with them is a pain in the a**?
 

Actionjick

Forum Guru
Joined
Apr 23, 2020
Messages
7,466
Reaction score
4,992
Location
Kent, Ohio
First name
Darryl
Country
llUnited States
The last thing I would want to do is to make them anything like the original Squad Leader boards.

Plexiglass is far & away the best option. Cutting them in half is another option, but less than desirable IMMHO.
We used a large piece of plexiglass for the Red Barricades mapsheets. It worked very well and has the added benefit of protecting the maps from spills, FOBA and blood.🙄
 

Actionjick

Forum Guru
Joined
Apr 23, 2020
Messages
7,466
Reaction score
4,992
Location
Kent, Ohio
First name
Darryl
Country
llUnited States
I preferred the old mounted boards as well - in principle.

The SK style boards were printed more precisely and butted together better. However, with more advanced printing methods, the same could have been (and indeed was) achieved with (some) mounted boards. The true reason for the SK style boards to prevail, however, is that they are much cheaper to produce. There were about 50 mounted boards before the advent of the SK-style boards. Since then, something approaching 100 boards in SK-style have been produced by MMP alone.

If you plan to 'mount' SK-style boards yourself, I'd advise to take the following into account:

Many scenarios only use half-boards. If you mount full boards which cannot fold, then you will see configurations where one unused half-board will jut out on each side of the playing area on the table - which is awkward. That's probably the reason, why some people cut their SK-style boards in half (some of which laminate instead of mounting them). Personally, I prefer to print out the playing area via VASL.

Once you start 'mounting' boards, probably, there's no turning back. If one thing sucks for sure, then butting 'mounted' and 'unmounted SK-style' boards together.

If, however, you start mounting boards, it appears to be a sh**load of work to me. Sure, I have spent weeks on clipping my counters and devising a storage solution, so why should I lament about the time burnt by mounting boards... Just sayin', though.

von Marwitz
SL style boards are much more satisfying to watch being torn in half by a frustrated opponent. 😉
 

lvet

Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2021
Messages
19
Reaction score
26
Country
llSpain
If, however, you start mounting boards, it appears to be a sh**load of work to me.
Is there a place where I can download high definition scans of the boards? (Worst case scenario I will scan the maps myself)
I will reprint the boards on a high resolution printer and experiment on different types of supports.

It doesn't look like a lot of work, but I will tell you in few days :)
 

Tuomo

Keeper of the Funk
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
4,652
Reaction score
5,537
Location
Rock Bottom
Country
llUnited States
Is there a place where I can download high definition scans of the boards? (Worst case scenario I will scan the maps myself)
I will reprint the boards on a high resolution printer and experiment on different types of supports.

It doesn't look like a lot of work, but I will tell you in few days :)
THIS MAN HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY ASL.
 

Jazz

Inactive
Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
12,188
Reaction score
2,739
Location
The Empty Quarter
Country
llLithuania
Is there a place where I can download high definition scans of the boards? (Worst case scenario I will scan the maps myself)
I will reprint the boards on a high resolution printer and experiment on different types of supports.

It doesn't look like a lot of work, but I will tell you in few days :)
Having scanned most (all?) of the maps myself, getting the scans is not that big of a deal.

Printing and trimming on the other hand is a royal pain.....
 

jacobingonzo

Recruit
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
carlisle
Country
llUnited Kingdom
bigger fan of the mounted boards rather than the SK boards- I use plexiglass to cover- My mounted boards, in the main, are coming on for 30 years old now- as they are covered in plexiglass and I avoid strong sunlight when I play the colours are still good. No liquid or food stains. After my first set of charts became fairly rancid after decades of use I now laminate all my game charts- its amazing how much grime and grease transfers from apparently clean fingers. The boards are stored stacked and with over 50 boards they are weighty indeed and I have never suffered from warping- wonder how the SK boards will fare after 10 years never mind 30 ?
 

SSlunt

Senior Member
Joined
May 26, 2012
Messages
437
Reaction score
582
Location
Calgary AB
Country
llCanada
(Worst case scenario will scan the maps myself)
I will reprint the boards on a high resolution printer and experiment on different types of supports.

It doesn't look like a lot of work, but I will tell you in few days :)
Do yourself a favor. If you do scan and print - Enlarge the hexes first. Go to at least a HASL size 1"
 

Kijug

Senior Member
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
418
Reaction score
390
Location
Texas
First name
Matt
Country
llUnited States
We used a large piece of plexiglass for the Red Barricades mapsheets. It worked very well and has the added benefit of protecting the maps from spills, FOBA and blood.🙄
I've lost too many times playing with plexiglass. It makes a shadow under a stack and I keep thinking stacks are "one higher" than they actually are. I have found it very distracting. I just bend mine the other way until they lay flat. Seems to work well.
 

Actionjick

Forum Guru
Joined
Apr 23, 2020
Messages
7,466
Reaction score
4,992
Location
Kent, Ohio
First name
Darryl
Country
llUnited States
I've lost too many times playing with plexiglass. It makes a shadow under a stack and I keep thinking stacks are "one higher" than they actually are. I have found it very distracting. I just bend mine the other way until they lay flat. Seems to work well.
Interesting viewpoint.
 

von Marwitz

Forum Guru
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
14,358
Reaction score
10,207
Location
Kraut Corner
Country
llUkraine
I've lost too many times playing with plexiglass. It makes a shadow under a stack and I keep thinking stacks are "one higher" than they actually are. I have found it very distracting. I just bend mine the other way until they lay flat. Seems to work well.
Amen to that. Plexiglass can also be a PITA when trying to string a close LOS. Not to mention the extra glare.

I use unprotected, unlaminated SK-style boards or VASL printouts in case of terrain alterations.
Should the improbable happen and an unprotected board be "attritioned" to being unplayable or fall victim to an immediate ghastly fate, I'll use a spare and move on.

von Marwitz
 

Fubar Awol

Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
95
Reaction score
9
Location
Bahamas
Country
ll
Top