tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post3210241762040322226..comments2024-01-04T23:48:09.384-05:00Comments on Pawnderings on Games: Mounted or not?Seth Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-58361494287679874772011-06-20T01:06:51.369-04:002011-06-20T01:06:51.369-04:00I prefer mounted two sided boards to be on masonit...I prefer mounted two sided boards to be on masonite like Tide of Iron for their sturdy durability. For the paper maps, I frame the one sided maps and put the two sided paper maps into those oversized sturdy baseball card sleeves from top flight. These are great for just leaving them in there and for transporting to gaming venues. Naturally, you always need to remember to bring them along or your box of components is worthless.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-410288564113360162011-06-07T21:59:23.082-04:002011-06-07T21:59:23.082-04:00Over the years I've had few accidents that cau...Over the years I've had few accidents that caused serious damage to game maps, but in each case that I can recall it was a paper or card stock map that suffered. Mounted boards seem pretty resilient on that score, so long as you catch it quick and wipe it off right away.<br /><br />On the other hand, I have had some issues with aged mounted maps that split at the folds -- yet this never affected the ability to play on them. <br /><br />Circumstances have usually dictated that I have to play a lot of games away from home, so the portability of mounted maps is a plus. Plexiglas is best if you have a club or dedicated game area, although I know that some people will cart a sheet around. I can't be bothered and I can't say that I've been bothered by the lack of Plexiglas. Due to my playing style few games hit the table so often that map wear ever becomes and issue. Actually, counters seem to be the true weak spot in durability in my experience. While I can.'t say I've had many maps wear out, I do have some older, much-played games where some counters and markers are rubbed off.Seth Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-16185924352780883902011-06-03T12:47:48.807-04:002011-06-03T12:47:48.807-04:00I'll throw in a couple more reasons why I pref...I'll throw in a couple more reasons why I prefer paper over mounted.<br /><br />First, you mention plexi getting rid of wrinkles as the main reason for it's use. For me, it's as much about protecting the map from spills and fingerprints as much as anything.<br /><br />Second, I prefer to use poster frames rather than just plexi for the simple reason that the game becomes movable. Since I have two or three games set up at a time, it's easy with a poster frame to move it to my "art trays" that I use to store games in progress. While not a lot of people can do this because the cost of the trays is so high (roughly the cost of a game *per tray*), it's much easier to do with maps inside the frame instead of outside. <br /><br />Finally, most games that have a mounted map no longer have room for me to store the counters in trays in the box. Nothing annoys me more (OK, some things annoy me more) than having to store some of the components of a game outside the box (Federation Commander, I'm looking at you) once things are punched, sleeved, trayed, baggied, etc. I'm a big fan of trays for markers, also for games with scheduled reinforcements or that setup in zones. With a game like Labyrinth, for example, I can't use a tray for the many markers because of the map. <br /><br />I agree that this tends to be a matter of preference for most wargamers, and I think it's good we can discuss this rationally (I'm amazed how many people confuse the right to have an opinion with the right to force other people to adopt their opinion). While I, like you, grew up with the old AH mounted maps, the truth is that most of those maps were of poor quality and many have warped over time despite my attempts to keep them in climate controlled areas as much as I could. While the initial shift to unmounted maps with GMT Games titles in the early 90's was a bit of a shock, and I actually laminated them for a short period, in the end I've decided that a good quality paper map is my own preference. Of course, I own so many games that for a single map to come out more than once a year is unusual (Combat Commander and the Stalingrad Campaign Game was a notable exception). I'm sure I'll feel differently when the map tears at the folds, but for now it's paper over plastic for me.Dughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08827175240352968894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-21420998636390450602011-06-03T12:31:51.609-04:002011-06-03T12:31:51.609-04:00I admit I only have one ex-wife, so the sample siz...I admit I only have one ex-wife, so the sample size is somewhat limited.<br /><br />EAPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-21928199796943267532011-06-02T22:50:33.743-04:002011-06-02T22:50:33.743-04:00You may be underestimating some ex-wives ....You may be underestimating some ex-wives ....Seth Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12206653100499935990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7799357743004909192.post-77985884286057041422011-06-02T18:29:45.315-04:002011-06-02T18:29:45.315-04:00Another advantage of mounted boards is that when y...Another advantage of mounted boards is that when your (ex-)wife goes berserk and tries to make life miserable for you, she is less likely to be able to tear a mounted board to shreds.<br /><br />EAPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com