Gaming Mats - Who Uses Them?

[Phototoxin]

I'm designing up a little something to get printed. The MAS one is mout-mat like and heavy, the gale force 9 ones are paper thin and expensive. Spectre are making thicker ones that are more expensive. I think I'd rather pay £15 and get one done in china!

This is what I've done so far:



Needs a bit more I think

[luferox]

First of all I'd like to apologize for my english. I'm from germany an though I'm trying my best, there might be some messed up sentences. I've bought myself a mat from deepcut studios a while ago and I really like it. I wrote a little review about the mat in my plog: http://luferox.blogspot.de/2014/06/revi ... g-mat.html

Yeah it wasn't really cheap, considering the 50€ I spent, but it was really worth it. I enjoy playing on a nice underground, with painted miniatures and good looking terrain. And well, it was a fast way to get a fitting background for our board.

[Michaud]

Looks good, intrigued to see how it turns out. Was postage much?

As promised, pics!

Very impressed for $20. Colored portion of the map is 4'x4', so it is the correct size as well!

[Section9]

First of all I'd like to apologize for my english. I'm from germany an though I'm trying my best, there might be some messed up sentences. I've bought myself a mat from deepcut studios a while ago and I really like it. I wrote a little review about the mat in my plog: http://luferox.blogspot.de/2014/06/revi ... g-mat.html

Yeah it wasn't really cheap, considering the 50€ I spent, but it was really worth it. I enjoy playing on a nice underground, with painted miniatures and good looking terrain. And well, it was a fast way to get a fitting background for our board.

Your written English is fine.

Loads better than any attempt I could make at German, at any rate!

[Claudius Sol]

I'm designing up a little something to get printed. The MAS one is mout-mat like and heavy, the gale force 9 ones are paper thin and expensive. Spectre are making thicker ones that are more expensive. I think I'd rather pay £15 and get one done in china!

This is what I've done so far:



Needs a bit more I think

This has me intrigued. Let us know how it works out!

(as for improvements, you might need some more texturing on the black asphalt areas... might come out looking too flat)

[SgtHulka]

I just finally got around to building Toposolitario's industrial mat and I'm quite pleased. It was much, much easier to put together than I thought it would be and it looks significantly better than my black table cloth. I added a single column of extra tiles on the left hand side, and I made it in two parts with three rows of tiles (instead of four) on the second mat. The result is about a 48.25" by 48.5" mat, which is pretty close to four by four.

The downsides are that it's on regular paper, the glue effects the ink so you can see the joints, and inkjet ink is pretty expensive. So like a lot of paper terrain this might give the illusion of being inexpensive when really it might be less expensive to have it printed professionally. That all said, I'm really happy to finally have a gaming mat!

[smog]

Do you have pictures?

[SgtHulka]

Very impressed for $20. Colored portion of the map is 4'x4', so it is the correct size as well!

That looks aces. Is there any chance you could upload the full file somewhere so we can get one, too? (my understanding is the link you provided is a scaled-down version but maybe I misunderstood?)

Also, looking at the webstore it looks like they don't have a 4x4 banner size. Did you get two 2x2 or did you do a custom job?

Thanks in advance.

[Icchan]

Two 2x2 would only give you a 4x2 area. You'd need four of them.

[SgtHulka]

Do you have pictures?

Here are the two mats that combine for the slightly larger than 4x4 foot table:



The four columns on the right on the bottom mat is what you get if you print out the full pdf from Toposolitario's website. It's not quite 4' wide, though, which is why I added the left hand column (by printing an extra set of the last four pages of the pdf...possible because the whole pdf is "wrap around" or "seamless").

The top mat is identical to the bottom one, but without the first row. I've got the first row printed but didn't include it because if I did the two mats together would be longer than 4'.

And here are the two mats combined with some terrain:

[SgtHulka]

Two 2x2 would only give you a 4x2 area. You'd need four of them.

Good point!

[BakuninLover]

I ordered a mat from zuzzy, choosed sulfur fields. Very happy with it but took about a month to get it after we ordered. They threw in a bit free extra terrain though.

Soaks a lot of paint so buy some cheap acrylic artist paints

[red harvest]

I just finally got around to building Toposolitario's industrial mat and I'm quite pleased. It was much, much easier to put together than I thought it would be and it looks significantly better than my black table cloth. I added a single column of extra tiles on the left hand side, and I made it in two parts with three rows of tiles (instead of four) on the second mat. The result is about a 48.25" by 48.5" mat, which is pretty close to four by four.

The downsides are that it's on regular paper, the glue effects the ink so you can see the joints, and inkjet ink is pretty expensive. So like a lot of paper terrain this might give the illusion of being inexpensive when really it might be less expensive to have it printed professionally. That all said, I'm really happy to finally have a gaming mat!

If you have an airbrush, use it to spray seal a matte polyurethane on the paper (both sides). This keeps the glue from causing trouble with the ink. Don't use a brush to apply the sealer.

It looks really nice. Save the black cloth for the Star Wars X-Wing Game.

[SgtHulka]

If you have an airbrush, use it to spray seal a matte polyurethane on the paper (both sides). This keeps the glue from causing trouble with the ink. Don't use a brush to apply the sealer.

Thanks for the tip!

[matous1983]

Hi,
we are small Czech company producing rubber gaming mats (same as FLGS).
Advantage of rubber mats: durable material, always flat, can be rolled, no bumbs. no dog ears.

Beware of PVC material as it is usually only like printed poster. And has dog ears and bumbs after rolled.

Our TriCity sci-fi themed mat in action: (thx Czech Hofal commmunity for picture)


And our full range of 4x4 mats:

http://www.gamemat.eu/4x4-g-mats.html

[Errhile]

Also, a review of a Gamemat.eu gaming mat is going to be published on the Data Sphere blog. I hope to have it done in October

[smog]

Good. I've been looking at different mats and I'll probably go for the gamemat.eu eventually, but it'd be nice to read a review.

[Michaud]

Very impressed for $20. Colored portion of the map is 4'x4', so it is the correct size as well!

That looks aces. Is there any chance you could upload the full file somewhere so we can get one, too? (my understanding is the link you provided is a scaled-down version but maybe I misunderstood?)

Also, looking at the webstore it looks like they don't have a 4x4 banner size. Did you get two 2x2 or did you do a custom job?

Thanks in advance.

Sure, I'll shoot you the big file when I get home in a couple of days.

For some reason you have to start entering it as a 3x3, click "save & continue", and then on the "Choose your sign options" page select 4x4. Don't know why it isn't available off the home page. The printed area does come out at exactly 4x4 when the 4x4 option is selected.

[SgtHulka]

Thanks, Michaud, I appreciate it!

[Michaud]

Mats are here:
http://thereforthenoise.blogspot.com/2014/10/infinity-mats.html

[SgtHulka]

Thanks a ton I've downloaded both and I'm definitely going to give this a try. I mean, for twenty bucks you can't go wrong! I used most of a printer cartridge printing the toposolorito one on paper, which is probably about thirty five bucks just in ink.

I really like the dark noire look of Ma2 so I might try that one first.

[Michaud]

I'd love to see how that turns out, I haven't printed that one yet.

[SgtHulka]

I just ordered it from Banners on the Cheap, and I'll take a photo when it arrives.

With the slowest shipping option, the 4x4 vinyl print came out to $31.99. I guess they don't do free shipping anymore, but that's still probably less expensive than the cost of ink printing it out yourself. Fingers crossed that it looks as good as yours.

The process of ordering the banner was super simple and quick.

[jherazob]

I used most of a printer cartridge printing the toposolorito one on paper, which is probably about thirty five bucks just in ink.

As i say to every newcomer to papercraft (or that wants to make paper terrain or something like that), it's worth every cent switching to a Continuous ink system if you can. You save a motherfriggin' ton of money on ink long term and can experiment to your heart's desire.

[SgtHulka]

My new mat came Friday from Banners on the Cheap:





Thanks again, Michaud!

Right now Banners on the Cheap is offering free shipping through tomorrow (I think?) so if you're interested now is the time to pull the trigger. It would have saved me 1/3 of the price if I'd waited a couple of weeks (since shipping was 10 dollars of about the thirty dollar price).

[Michaud]

My new mat came Friday from Banners on the Cheap:

...

Thanks again, Michaud!

Right now Banners on the Cheap is offering free shipping through tomorrow (I think?) so if you're interested now is the time to pull the trigger. It would have saved me 1/3 of the price if I'd waited a couple of weeks (since shipping was 10 dollars of about the thirty dollar price).

Looks like I'm going to have to pick up one of those mats, I like the colors way better than my original version.

Glad I could help, SgtHulka, it looks awesome!

[SgtHulka]

Looks like I'm going to have to pick up one of those mats, I like the colors way better than my original version.

Yeah, it's definitely got a cool noire/bladerunner vibe to it.

[smog]

My new mat came Friday from Banners on the Cheap:





Thanks again, Michaud!

Right now Banners on the Cheap is offering free shipping through tomorrow (I think?) so if you're interested now is the time to pull the trigger. It would have saved me 1/3 of the price if I'd waited a couple of weeks (since shipping was 10 dollars of about the thirty dollar price).

Which size is that? It looks like they only have 3x8 or 2x5 feet. Can you cut it easily?

[smog]

My new mat came Friday from Banners on the Cheap:


Thanks again, Michaud!

Right now Banners on the Cheap is offering free shipping through tomorrow (I think?) so if you're interested now is the time to pull the trigger. It would have saved me 1/3 of the price if I'd waited a couple of weeks (since shipping was 10 dollars of about the thirty dollar price).

Which size is that? It looks like they only have 3x8 or 2x5 feet. Can you cut it easily?

[Michaud]

My new mat came Friday from Banners on the Cheap:


Thanks again, Michaud!

Right now Banners on the Cheap is offering free shipping through tomorrow (I think?) so if you're interested now is the time to pull the trigger. It would have saved me 1/3 of the price if I'd waited a couple of weeks (since shipping was 10 dollars of about the thirty dollar price).

Which size is that? It looks like they only have 3x8 or 2x5 feet. Can you cut it easily?

You have to start making a 3x3 mat and add your design. On the next page, it will let you select 4x4. It cuts pretty easily, it is vinyl material. A long straightedge and a sharp knife make short work of the white edges.

I also received my new mat yesterday, colors are way better than try #1.