DnD gaming mat...?

[Lyrima]

My son is part of a start up group for tabletop DnD gaming.  He wants to buy a board for their mapping of the game.  You know what I mean better than I do!

What should he buy? 

[Namae Nai]

You're looking for something like this: Chessex Role Playing Double-Sided Reversible Megamat. The price varies as does the size. You will also need some wet erase markers, and be aware that some colors erase better than others. Earth tones are usually harder to scrub off, so be careful.

Also, you're probably going to end up with mini's. So you'll end up needing a case for those as well. This can become quite a hobby though! I have a friend with an entire wall full of cases filled with mini's.

What edition DnD is he playing? I mostly do 3.5 stuff, so that's what I'm good at. *voice gets all Sith-like* If that's the edition I can give some good ...character optimization advice. Give in to the dark side of the effective mechanics curve! 

[PinkRose]

That link that Namae posted is what I would recommend as well.
I got an older version actually that doesn't have the hex grid, only one-sided and I wish I had the double.
But yes, just buy what Name linked.
Pretty much always, just listen to Namae.

Except for Min-Maxxing! Roleplay over Roll-play!
And I recommend D&D Next, coming Summer 2014. You can buy an adventure and the playtest rules on DNDClassics.com. If you want more info about that, I would be happy to help. It's the other Alpha I'm in right now.

[Namae Nai]

Except for Min-Maxxing! Roleplay over Roll-play!

"The low-optimization characters... will die. As will your 'roleplay.'

"...Good, I can feel your anger. I am defenseless, but have a 95% miss chance and an immediate action teleport. Take up your eldritch hellfire glaive or your Empowered Maximized Energy Substituted Piercing Cold Fell Draining Invisible Twinned Energy Admixed Orb of Fire. Strike me down with all of your rollplay hatred and your journey towards the dark side of CharOps will be complete!"

-4- PinkRose. 

[Lyrima]

Thanks you two!! 

Once I talk to the boy I'll let you know the answers above.  He will be excited to share with you I'm sure.

[GuidingOlive]

I'm also a 3.5 player and I do Dark Heresy on the side. I highly recommend that mat but if there's ever a time when they can't get everyone sat down together Roll20.net is a good back-up plan.

[PinkRose]

I prefer MapTool but I have years of experience with it.
It just isn't the same, but online can be done. I had a group run for almost 3 years.
I much prefer face-to-face to the online gaming.

[Alirrin]

I, of course, will dissent on D&D and promote Pathfinder.  The rules are derived from the D&D 3.5 ruleset, so it has the flavor of D&D but works somewhat differently in mechanics from the current generation.

I highly recommend Gamemastery flip-mats. They fold up and fit with your other game materials nicely, and work well with both dry- and wet-erase markers (even at the same time).   A single costs $14, or you can get a set of three for $25.  Most game stores should have or be able to get them, or you can buy them online:
http://paizo.com/products/btpy8oto?Pathfinder-FlipMat-Basic
http://paizo.com/products/btpy8yvs?Pathfinder-FlipMat-Basic-Terrain-MultiPack

Regardless of system, though, face-to-face roleplaying is the best!

[Syllestrae]

I'll promote Paranoia.

The computer is your friend!

[Lyrima]

He's starting it at his high school and has a core of friends who are already a part of an outside of school group.  They decided it open it up to the grade because there is a teacher at the school really into it and excited to be the adult in charge of the new club.

His friend is the DM; my boy just loves to play.  He's never done it online or used computer tools; they are all about the face to face and drawing the maps.  For Christmas, I bought all kinds of fun DnD items for him.

He wants to buy the mat for the group as part of his contribution.  I'll show him all the options and see what looks best to him.

Thanks!

[PinkRose]

What's the local game store you go to?

[Lyrima]

I don't. I go online. Why?

[Lyrima]

He tells me they use the 4.0 rule set.  bummer.  Be fun if you had advice for him. :-/

[PinkRose]

The reason I asked was because Local Game stores are a great place to meet more gamers.
He has a good school group it sounds like, but I was just wondering if it might be one I've heard of. They become special places to the gamers in their area. Guardian Games is my hometown Store.
I like to support them as much as possible so they stay in business and welcome in more gamers.

As for advise, I have YEARS of advise for him.
I played 4e since 3 months before it was officially released.
You can e-mail me any questions he has and I will happily talk D&D.

[Lyrima]

Huh. That's good to know about the game stores.  I'll let you know if he has questions.