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I am quite a fan of using printable paper models for my RPG sessions. I have purchased PDFs from several publishers but I generally prefer those from Fat Dragon Games because their art is bright and clean (but not too cartoony) and their textures are not dark or garish. I have been looking for a ship model to use in my campaign for some time now and I discovered that FDG publishes both a 3D and a 2D version. i am a lazy gamer and so even though the 3D model is very nice, I got the 2D EZ Tiles version.
The EZ Tiles Medieval Sailing Ship is a set of eight PDF tiles for $3.99 that can be printed as a series of (mostly) 6" inch square tiles to create a small medieval-style sailing ship. The ship is very simple with three tiles forming the lower deck, three forming the upper deck and two smaller tiles for the stern and forecastle. Use of layers in the PDF allows you to customize the ship somewhat. You can add or take away details like ballista on the upper deck, hammocks on the lower deck or even the water texture around the ship. While I would have preferred even more choices, the ones provided definitely add value to the set. Regarding the layers, I would also let my fellow Mac users know (as I found out) that you do have to use the free Adobe Reader software to 'see' the PDF layers. Preview won't cut it.
Printable models like this one provide lots of advantages of course. Besides the customization that the layers provide, you can print as many tiles and ships as you want. You could also print say just the lower deck and hack it up to create a wreck or a sunken ship and use it as the lair of a sea monster or the like. You could even use it in a historical game i suppose. The tiles themselves are very attractive with lots of detail and bright colors. I also like the fact that the 'cross style' grid on them (that you can turn off with the layers feature if you like) is functional but not obtrusive.
I printed my tiles on a Canon printer and mounted them with spray adhesive on chipboard that I purchased from Amazon. This makes for a sturdy tile that is of a similar thickness to those released by Wizards of the Coast. I thought they came out rather nice, but I would like to see perhaps a little more realistic water texture in future sets. Along those same lines I would have preferred that FDG had included an empty sea tile. I think there is one in the 3D version of the ship and one in this set would have been nice too. A wharf or dock tile would have been even nicer (are you listening Mr. Tullis?)
So, is the EZ Tiles Medieval Sailing Ship a good value and should you buy it? Well, at $3.99 it is priced a little high for an impulse buy. However, if you are like me and need one or more ships for your campaign and are too lazy or busy to build a 3D model - this is the way to go. Check it out at DriveThruRPG or RPGNow.
