[RPG] What writing utensil should I use on gaming paper

Pat and Scott both have excellent answers. Here are some other things to think about.

First there is this link where a guy goes step by step through building a digital game table with the projector mounted from below.

Remember you can project from above or BELOW. In either case you need to figure out how far your projector needs to be from the surface to get the surface area you desire.

Remember that many video cards have two video ports. Often the included software allows you, among other things, to slave both ports to each other, or to setup multiple monitors. What I recommend is using multiple monitors with two copies of maptools. One is the server which you move to the GM Screen, the other is the client which you move to the screen presented by the port the digital projector. This way you don't have to do the "Please don't look" request you find describe on the Pen, Paper, and Pixel site.

You can make your own with paper easily.

• Take a standard sheet of paper and put the grid on it manually. Graph paper will make this step easier.
• Once you have one page with the proper gridlines, photocopy as many as you need for your mat (I'd estimate somewhere around 15 or 20).
• Match the gridlines up and tape the pages together.
• Now get some clear contact paper and place it adhesive side up on a table.
• Lay down your gridded paper on the contact paper so they make a battlemat of what ever size you desire. For more durability, laminate the back side too.

The clear contact paper works well with wet-erase markers (I've never tried dry-erase markers).

As for size, I personally just use 2 sheets wide by 2 sheets tall (of 8-1/2 X 11 inch paper), so I guess that's something near 17X22.