SFB Game Board

[Falconer]

Deep Space Game Mats

Looked interesting. I’m not sold on it yet, but it seems to be a good option. There are also the Deluxe Space Battle Maps and the Standard Mounted Map Panels from ADB, but I am somewhat confused about the difference between the two, and not sure what I would buy to recreate the configuration of the Pocket Edition/Designer’s Edition poster map. Any insights or similar links are welcome.

[Falconer]

So, the map that comes in my SFB Designer’s Edition box is 42 hexes long by 32 hexes high. A hex is 5/8" from top to bottom. The whole map is about 25.5" across by 22" high (like you would get if you put 6 letter size sheets of paper together).

Apparently, if you get the Deluxe Space Battle Maps and use the six panels that don’t have planets on them, then you have a mounted version of the SFB map. On the back it has 1.25" hexes—i.e., the hexes are twice the size, so the play area is halved. So you’d have to buy a second set to get back up to the right number of hexes. This is doubtless the way to go for miniatures.

As far as I can tell, you can just buy 6 (or 12) Standard Mounted Map Panels to achieve the same effect (and for less price, since you won’t be paying for the “map” panels).

For the mats, you could go with either a half mat with 1" hexes (width grain), or two half mats with 1.5" hexes (length grain) to get approximately the right size map.

Am I on the right track?

[aramis]

Deluxe has 8 panels in a shink-wrap, a standard 6pack, 5 just hexes, 1 with a direction rosette, and 2 with preprinted planets. 8 for $30

Standard is 1 panel for $4. if you order 6 or more, 1 per full 6 has a rosette.

ISTR that these are on 2mm thick cardstock.

[Falconer]

Cool, thanks. So, actually, now that I think about it, you would have to get 24 panels if you wanted to get a full map at FC scale. Is my thinking correct, here? No wonder people go for a mat...

[aramis]

yep
small scale:

a1	a2	a3
a4	a5	a6

vs large scale

a1	a2	a3	b1	b2	b3
a4	a5	a6	b4	b5	b6
c1	c2	c3	d1	d2	d3
c4	c5	c6	d4	d5	d6

[Falconer]

Based on the description Finarvyn sent me, I made a quick-and-dirty mock-up of what the OSFB map looks like: here. Don’t look too closely at the numbers—the number in the lower right hand corner would be 2834. That is, each section is 14 hexes across and 17 hexes down; the entire map is 28 hexes across and 34 hexes down. Later editions would expand the map by two more panels added horizontally, and shrunk by 2-4 hexes vertically. Of course, it also says “©1979 TASK FORCE GAMES” in the lower right hand corner.

With 1.25" hexes, the map would have to be something like 30.75" x 42.5". With 1" hexes, it would have to be 21.75" x 30". The miniatures come with 1" hex bases, but I want a little breathing room. 26" x 36" should be a good size, and any printer could handle it. (Sorry, just musing aloud.)

[aramis]

Pretty close... the map in blue was the standard TFG map, used for Battlewagon, and had 16mm hexes. I'll need to dig out Battlewagon or Starfire to check if you got the grain correct.

[Falconer]

Evidence.

[finarvyn]

Feb 24, 2010 1:53:40 GMT -5 Falconer said:

Based on the description Finarvyn sent me, I made a quick-and-dirty mock-up of what the OSFB map looks like.

Don't trust that Finarvyn guy. He's a moron.

Oh, and it does look a lot like your image! Good job!

[Falconer]

Sweet! Then I will see what I can do to create a high-quality PDF.

What I would really love is a normal, professional-quality fold-out board game board. Does anyone know a company that can do that?

[finarvyn]

Any advancement on this project? I'm kind of inerested to hear if you ever found a good way to get this printed.

I suppose one could take it to be laminated. I took an old Middle-earth map to be done and it's pretty strong. (Not as nice as a cardboard-backed wargame-style board, but it seems to be pretty sturdy.)

[aramis]

If you go down to your local chandler, they have map lamination that (1) is much stiffer than normal lamination and (2) can be written on using pencil and erased. It was $30 to laminate the megasupremacy map that way... but worth it.

[Falconer]

No, no progress. Thanks for reminding me. I guess I’ll go to BGG and throw out an open query. I still want to get something that looks-and-feels like a “boardgame board”, ideally four sections folding out into one large board. With all the hundreds of companies that produce boardgames, and with all the interest in custom board games, how hard can it be?

[aramis]

I could probably copy mine on a color copier at kinkos for about $5.... but seriously, the board was on parchment-weight paper, not even really on card.

Nothing like a mounted board.

Starfire maps are on the same weight thin card as the later runs of Designer's edition black map, also standard for Commander's and Captain's editions.

Lots of games used card back then.

[Falconer]

Here are some previews of what I’m working on for a board:

Small Overview
Quadrant “B” Detail

I got the art from a company called WorldWorks Games.

Still not sure whether to go for a board or a mat.