Battle/Gaming mats???

[Flying Officer Kyte]

needles (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?485-needles) - 12-12-2010, 20:56


What do you use as a battle mat?

Are there any suitable (cheaper) mat alternatives to the WoW twin set.

Does anyone use the WoW mats and if so whats your opinion.

Many thanks

Needles
Edit (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/group.php?do=message&gmid=1004&pp=10&page=1) Report (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/group.php?do=report&gmid=1004)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/images/avatars/thumbs/81.gif (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?1580-Boney10) Boney10 (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?1580-Boney10) - 12-12-2010, 22:13

Yes I use the official mats, they work fine, I have no slipping of the cards and I use the sleeves too.
The down site for me is they are a tad bright , in my opinion for WW! trenches, there are some trenches on them but dont link, ie no sap & communication trenches, look like they are for behind the lines type fighting.
The other big issue for me is the Ginormouse Wings of War loggo in each corner or each map, a bit excessive for me :(
Report (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/group.php?do=report&gmid=1007)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?u=377&dateline=1266954324&type=thumb (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?377-IRM) IRM (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?377-IRM) - 12-13-2010, 10:54

There's the likes of Panoramat and Hotz Mats who both do suitable terrain mats, but the prices aren't that much less than the official mats.

I've been using the WoW mats and I think they're pretty good, but not particularly realistic. Matter of taste, really. Take a look here:http://www.boardgameclub.co.uk/index...d=wings+of+war (http://www.boardgameclub.co.uk/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=0&zenid=545ede531cdfbf59b9864e1c774f4796&keyword=wings+of+war)
Report (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/group.php?do=report&gmid=1019)
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/images/avatars/thumbs/81.gif (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?1580-Boney10) Boney10 (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/member.php?1580-Boney10) - 12-13-2010, 13:58

I have a Hotz map , but is space for my BFG kit, just seen the Panoramat chaps hello message and his last post looks very interesting, depends upon price though. There is also a company caller Terrain Mat that have a Western Front map , prices are a bit high but they look good. Google them or PM me for the link
Report (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/group.php?do=report&gmid=1024)

[HTRAINo]

We use just a regular flock roll mat. It's not fancy, but doesn't detract the eye too much from whats going on.

It's all about budget, looks, and practicality. If it ticks your boxes on those 3 things, then it's all good.

[wargamer]

For everyday game use, keep it simple.

For public displays, tourneys, etc.; as 3d and detailed as possible to hook em in.

[Boney10]

Here is the link for Terrain mat

http://terrainmat.com/MicroMatWesternFront1.1.html

Not cheapest but they do look good, I have the 4x4 which is enough for a standard game. Take a look at this for one on show

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?8317-Aerodrome-Accessories-Action-Pics

[Marechallannes]

The two standart WoW gaming mats.

Still looking for some sea surface for WW II pacific scenarios.

[Burt]

Terrain mat do sea mats and coastline mats as well.
I haven't got a sea mat but they look very good in the pictures.

[LingSter]

I use my own photo-realistic mat. I've shared it up here as well as on the yahoo group. It's a good 3x4 size.

[Nightbomber]

I use two official mats, but a Citadel's regular grass mat we put under them would be good enough as well. For an ocean dogfights we use a blue plastic garbage bag cut along placed over a Citadel's green and it works fine:)

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Terrain mat do sea mats and coastline mats as well.
I haven't got a sea mat but they look very good in the pictures.

Yes Don. I'm expecting my Terrain mat at any moment as they said it was posted last week. I'll put it up when it arrives.
Rob.

[gully_raker]

Here is the link for Terrain mat

http://terrainmat.com/MicroMatWesternFront1.1.html

Not cheapest but they do look good, I have the 4x4 which is enough for a standard game. Take a look at this for one on show

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?8317-Aerodrome-Accessories-Action-Pics

:thumbsup: Yes I brought one of those & it will get a workout at Cancon.:)

[Scott]

That 6' x 12' terrain mat sounds gorgeous ... but I choked on the price tag!

I'm still unsure what I'll do for a "grab their attention" terrain mat. I'm hoping to expand beyond WoW airplay and integrate with some type of ground game. The choice I end up making for a ground game will inform the decision I make (Mat, 3D custom, ???) for a game board. I'm in isolation away from gaming groups and game/craft stores while I work in Nunavut but will be back to larger civilisation and hopefully doing some planning and building in late February.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

My mat arrived yesterday. I will give you my opinion once I have tried it out.
Rob.

[Dwarflord22]

I use the official mats. The surface prevents slipping of cards and planes to increase accuracy in movement and I like the background (trenches, bomb craters, aerodromes, buildings, etc.). :thumbsup:

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I use the official mats. The surface prevents slipping of cards and planes to increase accuracy in movement and I like the background (trenches, bomb craters, aerodromes, buildings, etc.). :thumbsup:

What about the lack of No mans land, and the great big Logo's Mike?
Rob.

[Oberst Hajj]

I have it on good word that new official mats are in the works.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Good news Herr Oberst.
I just hope that they tone them down a bit and cut down the Logo to one per mat.
Rob.

[Dark Horse]

I have sky, sea & desert mats from MKP Battlefield Accessories (Monday Knight Productions based in Vancouver). I am not sure if they are still being produced, but I prefer the official mats as the bases slip over them easily.

Hopefully if Ares produce a new mat then it will mesh with the current ones.

I am thinking about experimenting with a Games Workshop "Dreadfleet" mat for battles over the sea. They also used to make a nice map in their old "Battlemasters" set - which I am thinking about using for 1/72 air battles but it probably would do for 1/144, except that it is hexed (just like me...). It might be better for something like the "Algernon Pulls it Off" (try to say that without smiling!) rules by Too Fat Lardies.

See what a heretic I am?

[AlgyLacey]

I just use a big ol' length of "digital" DPM cloth from the local dressmaking things shop (see my albums)

[grumpybear]

I am waiting for Hotz mats comming. For now on green felt, or WOW mats. Hope new ones come soon

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I have sky, sea & desert mats from MKP Battlefield Accessories (Monday Knight Productions based in Vancouver). I am not sure if they are still being produced.

Interesting Nigel. I got all my Gettysburg buildings from Monday Knight some years ago, and had forgotten all about them. I'll have to have a look at the site again.
Rob.

[dans le mille]

I have it on good word that new official mats are in the works.

Great news Keith.
Did your contact mention any release date ?
What would be great is:
- a ww2 mat
- 2 double sided/geomorphic mats land and sea, which can be used as sea + sea, land+land or sea+land

[Willi Von Klugermann]

What about the lack of No mans land, and the great big Logo's Mike?
Rob.


I was skeptical before I bought them but was pleasntly surprised. Custom jobs are nice but sooooo expensive. Perhaps the community could have some input if Ares does indeed manufacture them.

[billingspike]

Just ordered a Terrain Mat ,,they have set the bar high.

[Dwarflord22]

What about the lack of No mans land, and the great big Logo's Mike?
Rob.

I didn't notice it was the missing No Man's Land. It would be nicer without the big logos, but I really don't mind :)

[Oberst Hajj]

Great news Keith.
Did your contact mention any release date ?
What would be great is:
- a ww2 mat
- 2 double sided/geomorphic mats land and sea, which can be used as sea + sea, land+land or sea+land

No release dates or further info on the new mats, beyond that they are planning them.

[Ranger]

I own the "official" ones and like them a lot. I find the coloring works very well as a background for the aircraft and makes them a lot easier to see than a darker background. Having flown gliders as a younger man, the mats remind me very much of the view of the ground from around 3,000 feet on a sunny day with a little bit of haze in the air. And I honestly don't even notice the logos once we start playing.

Also glad to hear that new ones may be in the works. I would love to have one of the city background that was used for some of the WoW WWI cards.

[Steve H]

Hi thought I would post up an image of the mat I am using. It is made up of two tiles 100cm by 100cm giving an overal 100by 200 board. It is printed on to 3mm foamex so is ridgid. It is made up from various WW1 airial photograph images cut and pasted together using Adobe Photoshop. This was my first attempt and I am quite happy with it33171

[David Manley]

and I am quite happy with it

I'm not surprised - that looks excellent!!!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

:thumbsup:
Hi thought I would post up an image of the mat I am using. It is made up of two tiles 100cm by 100cm giving an overal 100by 200 board. It is printed on to 3mm foamex so is ridgid. It is made up from various WW1 airial photograph images cut and pasted together using Adobe Photoshop. This was my first attempt and I am quite happy with it33171

PDG Steve.
Where abouts is the area that you used for the map?
Rob.

[flash]

Makes the underside of the wifes table protector look a bit sad in comparison - we play over a permanent cloud base but it works well and is a good non-slip surface - one day I will splash out on a mat of some sort but will probably get something of a more generic behind the lines feel.

[CappyTom]

Hello All,
I have several different mats. I started with clothe from JoAnn's Fabric (http://www.joann.com/) store then I went to Hotz Mats (http://www.hotzmats.com/) which was fine but the sleeved cards stuck to the material. I went on to get the official mats from WGF (http://www.aresgames.eu/). Those are great for WW1 and is a great eye catcher. I then went with Game On (http://gameonterrainmats.com/aerial-view-terrain-mat) and have several of Luis' mats. Those I have to say I enjoy the best.
:pint:
Thomas

[Oberst Hajj]

Tom, will you be bringing one of the Game On mats to Origins this year?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Those Game On mats certainly look as good as any I've seen so far.
Rob.

[CappyTom]

Tom, will you be bringing one of the Game On mats to Origins this year?

Yes, I will be bringing several and Luis is making some to give out as prizes as well. It's his way of helping out.

Thomas

[Steve H]

Hi Rob I dont know where the areal shots were taken. They are from a fantastic archive taken by Harry Holloway and posted by his family on to the net http://www.drbill.net/ww1_aerial_reconnaissance_photos/index.htm parts were from else where. I now fancy doing something similar for WW2 if I can find good enough quality images. I was thinking of an areal shot of London or dover

[CappyTom]

Those Game On mats certainly look as good as any I've seen so far.
Rob.

Thanks Rob, Luis prints them with a mat finish so you don't get that glare from lights and such.

Thomas

[Tommy Z]

Tom, will you be bringing one of the Game On mats to Origins this year?

I'll have mine as well! :thumbsup:

[flyingryno]

I have mine 90% of the time we use it.

[dans le mille]

One option is also to use these
http://www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/content/breakthrough/
each of them are 70 cm large and roughly 90 cm long, if you purchase two of these packs, it becomes a very descent playing mat.
The good thing is that you can play very different scenarios as desert, overlord, ice and country are available.

With the new planes ww2 coming, i can already see some dogfights over Africa (P40's, D520's, Stuka and RE 200's) and also some dogfights in Russia with all the Yaks.

[Zoe Brain]

Still waiting for the Holz mat I ordered before christmas. Via air mail.

[Jager]

One option is also to use these
http://www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/content/breakthrough/
each of them are 70 cm large and roughly 90 cm long, if you purchase two of these packs, it becomes a very descent playing mat.
The good thing is that you can play very different scenarios as desert, overlord, ice and country are available.

With the new planes ww2 coming, i can already see some dogfights over Africa (P40's, D520's, Stuka and RE 200's) and also some dogfights in Russia with all the Yaks.

Are they a standard cardboard board that most wargames use, or a different surface?
Karl

[flash]

Yes, I will be bringing several and Luis is making some to give out as prizes as well. It's his way of helping out. Thomas

Maybe you chaps could persuade Luis to provide one as a prize for the Lease Lend raffle ?

[CappyTom]

Here's so more mats you can get from Game On Terrain Mats...

33774
4'x6'
33775
4'x6'
Luis said he can make the island this size or smaller to fit your gaming needs.
:thumbsup:
Thomas
P.S. more photos in my album, Dayton 2/11/2012 Game Day. Enjoy. Also You all can see them up close and personal at Origins this summer.

[dans le mille]

Are they a standard cardboard board that most wargames use, or a different surface?
Karl


Cardboard, a bit slippery though. But as i also play memoir 44, it is a good alternative.

[dans le mille]

Here's so more mats you can get from Game On Terrain Mats...

33774
4'x6'
33775
4'x6'
Luis said he can make the island this size or smaller to fit your gaming needs.
:thumbsup:
Thomas
P.S. more photos in my album, Dayton 2/11/2012 Game Day. Enjoy. Also You all can see them up close and personal at Origins this summer.

Thomas,

They look marvelous.
Do they ship overseas ?
What kind of material they use ?

Thanks

Stéphane

[CappyTom]

Thomas,

They look marvelous.
Do they ship overseas ?
What kind of material they use ?

Thanks

Stéphane

I believe he would, just need to find out the cost of shipping a tube. I will try to find out please send me a pm with info address etc.

[CappyTom]

Thomas,

They look marvelous.
Do they ship overseas ?
What kind of material they use ?

Thanks

Stéphane

I believe it is a wax covered heavy poly vinyl. That is what it looks like to me. I will ask Luis to make sure.

Thomas

[dancingdanslc]

Impressive. That looks amazing!!

[Bluedevil]

I am also interested in Luis' mats... If he wants to ship to europe and the price for sending them over here is reasonable...

Can you let us know what they are made of exactly?

They look fantastic that's for sure:thumbsup:

[Zoe Brain]

Still waiting for the Holz mat I ordered before christmas. Via air mail.

And still waiting, with no replies to e-mails. 12 weeks and counting. Delays I can handle, not replying, not so much.

[CappyTom]

I am also interested in Luis' mats... If he wants to ship to europe and the price for sending them over here is reasonable...

Can you let us know what they are made of exactly?

They look fantastic that's for sure:thumbsup:

It is a heavy poly vinyl. It is the same material used at our work to make banners or like the banner we use for our game club.

36021

It is very high quality. If you roll out the mats and let them sit for an hour they will lay flat. You don't have to tape them down. We do just so they don't move. The cost for shipping over seas is the big one. For Brazil shipping, United States Postal Service USPS, would cost $54.42 US dollars. Unless you guys can find a cheaper rate somewhere else. Let me know.

Thomas

[Green Goblin]

We are waiting for our WW1 Terrain Map which we will then furnish with some 6mm buildings (whole and destroyed) to use as target markers etc. We are hoping to use this at our next wargaming event in Exeter as a partiscipation game. I'll try to post some pictures after the event.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

We are waiting for our WW1 Terrain Map which we will then furnish with some 6mm buildings (whole and destroyed) to use as target markers etc. We are hoping to use this at our next wargaming event in Exeter as a partiscipation game. I'll try to post some pictures after the event.

Sounds interesting Dave. I look forward to seeing them.
Rob.

[Dun Diddly D.]

I just had a look at the Terrain Maps ww1 mats and I have to say they look excellent. I fear there is a purchase in the offing :)

[Dun Diddly D.]

Mats*

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Mats*

You can edit your posts Nick, if you find a typo. Just use the Edit flag at the bottom of your post.
Rob.

[Zoe Brain]

And still waiting, with no replies to e-mails. 12 weeks and counting. Delays I can handle, not replying, not so much.

I've had replies. Several. The last one 9 days ago, saying I should have it by yesterday.

I ordered from Hotz maps on 20th December last year. It's now 3rd April. Still no mat.

[Green Goblin]

Our mat is being manufactured as we speak so only about a week to go - now, where's those 6mm buildings any suggesdtions as to manufactures?

[Skullduggery]

Thomas,

They look marvelous.
Do they ship overseas ?
What kind of material they use ?

Thanks

Stéphane

I really like the white cliffs of Dover mat you have.

[Zoe Brain]

Just received the mat. A bit disappointed with the quality, I'm afraid. The roads and trenches, excellent. The hedgerows - someone had waved a spraycan in straight lines as an afterthought, sometimes obliterating carefully silkscreened detail - and are far too thick. They look amateurish. No villages or forests.

After some work with a permanent marker, the too-symmetric trenches have been modified, and the drawn-in houses look good. Acceptable, but nowhere near as good as other products.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

That does not sound too good Zoe. Have you taken any pictures of it in its original state before you improved it?
Rob.

[Zoe Brain]

That does not sound too good Zoe. Have you taken any pictures of it in its original state before you improved it?
Rob.
Fraid not - but the improvements are relatively minor, taking less than 15 minutes. Just enough to break up the symmetry, add buildings for bombings/recon targets, and emphasise shell craters in a few places.

38711387123871338714

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks for the picture Zoe. I'm not very impressed with it either. They look much better on their site when you view them.
I nearly sent for one, but the shipping price put me off, so I went with Terrain mats instead in the end, after about a year of dithering about it.
Rob.

[Doug]

I use two official mats, but a Citadel's regular grass mat we put under them would be good enough as well:)
Like Andrezej I to use the WoG game mats and the Citadel cloth mat with fine felt for terrain feature, both work well for me. The logos do not matter as base boards normally cover them.

[Doug]

Our mat is being manufactured as we speak so only about a week to go - now, where's those 6mm buildings any suggesdtions as to manufactures?
Try Irregular miniatures they make good 6mm buildings.

[Green Goblin]

Thanks Doug, off to show this weekend so I'll have a look there.
The mat itself has now arrived. Colours and detail are good and we should have some pics soon.
The mat itself is textured so to protect it the club has decided to buy some 2mm acrylic sheet which means that as well as looking terrific, movement of planes will be much easier and positions can be marked with a chinagraph pencil if necessary.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Sounds like a good idea re the mat Dave. Stormkahn and i have come to the same conclusion about ours but had not got as far as the chinagraph pen idea.
Rob.

[Doug]

Dave as an after though Ireggular mins make dead trees, these usally come with other items But the distributor in Australia made me up about 20 which I based and made into dead forests, it adds to the buildings and the front line, just an idea.