Hi All,

I'm not a graphic artist and have no skill in that department. I'm sure someone out there might have enough skill, though, to do something good for the community. Here's my idea:

What if someone took the arcs for the facing for Heroes of the Aturi Cluster (the ones to figure out which arc the target ship is in)....and create a template to be printed on some sort of clear plastic. I know you can buy a pack of these sheets or pay to have them printed at some company. I'm thinking one sheet could hold about a dozen of these templates. Once it's printed, you can just cut out the sheets and place them on top of the bases of the ships.

I don't think it would be too hard, but I'm no expert. Create one template and then copy/paste it across one sheet to print.

Is that a do-able thing? Anyone able to do that for the community?

Somebody in Europe did it with acrylics. There's a link somewhere... Too pricey for me though. The acrylic goes over the base, and already has the maneuver arcs marked on it.

And yes, this is totally achievable with simple photoshop. I've got to many projects though to give it a go and I know my results will still be left wanting.

I know. I've seen them. They are very cool. They are expensive. That's why I'm thinking someone should be able to do it for a template that people can print out on clear plastic paper.

I think the arcs would be very do-able... and then just take it to a print shop and get it done on a transparency slide. It's the interior hole that really holds me back. I'm not sure how to cut that accurately and I don't think a hole punch is large enough.

Use an exacto knife to cut a slot, and then just use scissors to cut out the hole.

Oh right. I have a drill press. Nevermind, I am equipped. Just build a quick holder to take a stack of them and keep'em steady. I forget I have tools when projects don't initially appear to overlap.

Maybe, just maybe, I can fiddle something together. Graphics are not my specialty so I'm hoping somebody else reading this thread is ready to pipe in?

Back in the original HOTAC thread was this post:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/186308-x-wing-co-op-campaign-is-here/?p=2218239

with this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9r5giirhohfm61m/HotAC%20ship%20bases.pdf?dl=0

Works perfectly. Print them with the rest of your materials on card, punch a hole in the middle and you're done.

I guess that post didn't register far enough to be recalled. Can't say I didn't read it, I mean, I posted right there next to it. Now that I'm looking at it again I remember seeing this.

Perfect! PDF'd the PNG file and off to Staples right after work. Guess I'll have to build a quick drill press guide as well.

Probably because there's no preview picture.

You could probably get a hole punch of the right size for cheap while you're at Staples so you don't need the drill press if you're printing on card.

Are you planning on acrylics?

A drill press will likely be too fast for any type of cardboard and will just shred it. The tool you want is called a wad cutter, or hollow punch tool. It is essentially a hole punch that you hit with a rubber mallet.

For example, though these are from New Zealand. http://tradetools.co.nz/category/HCSC

Now if only I could find a good solution for cutting out the mine tokens. By far my most frustrating element of HotAC.

I've personally seen drill press setups do large bundles of paper... I've also later seen it done badly and scorch the paper through the hole it made. Big stacks at once rather than single sheet scenarios. Properly compressed I don't think there should be much issue, but I won't cry tears if it fails. I think based on this I'll set my guides so I can apply better compression to hold things down. And I don't plan on using light paper which your picturing twisting and ripping but card stock. It, in theory, should work.

That said, I still got some store credit at staples and if I see the correct sized hole punch you'd better believe I'd pull the trigger.

Edit: heck, it works on a single sheet of paper. Had to test it just now. I have an old 8.5x11 receipt from a printer with a perfect 1/8" hole in it now.

I designed exactly such a thing to be printed out on a 3D printer. They work great!

I have small base overlays done, but haven't had time to get the large base overlays done yet. Once I do, I'll post them on thingiverse.com for everyone (along with designs for ALL the HotAC terrain... yeah, I may have gotten a little carried away... )

I designed exactly such a thing to be printed out on a 3D printer. They work great!

I have small base overlays done, but haven't had time to get the large base overlays done yet. Once I do, I'll post them on thingiverse.com for everyone (along with designs for ALL the HotAC terrain... yeah, I may have gotten a little carried away... )

Please let us know when you get them uploaded, I so want 3D station.

I designed exactly such a thing to be printed out on a 3D printer. They work great!

I have small base overlays done, but haven't had time to get the large base overlays done yet. Once I do, I'll post them on thingiverse.com for everyone (along with designs for ALL the HotAC terrain... yeah, I may have gotten a little carried away... )

Please let us know when you get them uploaded, I so want 3D station.

Me too!

Would anyone be able to create a PDF with just the Arcs used for HotAC?

We could then get them printed on normal transparency sheets to overlay them onto the ship bases.

Now if only I could find a good solution for cutting out the mine tokens. By far my most frustrating element of HotAC.

I thought I saw it mentioned somewhere in one of the threads or the FAQ comments section on the author's site that you could find card stock circles at about the right size at a craft store. Cutting a circle in mat board is a real pain, but if you can get precut circles, you can cut the token stickers out with scissors. Haven't looked much myself to find out yet.

Now if only I could find a good solution for cutting out the mine tokens. By far my most frustrating element of HotAC.

I thought I saw it mentioned somewhere in one of the threads or the FAQ comments section on the author's site that you could find card stock circles at about the right size at a craft store. Cutting a circle in mat board is a real pain, but if you can get precut circles, you can cut the token stickers out with scissors. Haven't looked much myself to find out yet.

They make a circle cutter in many different styles, you just have to repeat your cut to get through the mat board.

I thought circle cutters were pretty expensive, though. My solution would be a compass with an Xacto knife stuck in it, but then you'd have to repeat the cut dozens of times per mine.

Michael's has a couple for $20, plus there is always a 40% off coupon for them, would make it ~$12. I am going to print out the card bases and put them on the mat board and cut out. I will get a hollow punch at Harbor Freight and see if that will work.

Good to know, thanks!