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I'm looking for a new gaming mat. I currently have the citadel one but it tends to slide around on my plastic table and since it is folded the creases can get in the way. I kind of like the idea of a zuzzy, but I hear their shipping time is horrible and they don't respond to emails. I sent them an email asking about what the ETA on shipping would be if I ordered one and they never replied. It would need to be a mat that can be put away, I just don't have the space for a 6x4 table to be sitting out.

Thanks.

Zuzzy is honestly the best quality you can get IMO, but you have to put up with lackluster customer service to get it (although to be fair, if there is an issue with what you order, they will replace it for you).

Have you tried calling? Dunno if a number is posted, but generally calling someone is more likely to garner a response than an email...

Hargus56 wrote:I'm looking for a new gaming mat. I currently have the citadel one but it tends to slide around on my plastic table and since it is folded the creases can get in the way. I kind of like the idea of a zuzzy, but I hear their shipping time is horrible and they don't respond to emails. I sent them an email asking about what the ETA on shipping would be if I ordered one and they never replied. It would need to be a mat that can be put away, I just don't have the space for a 6x4 table to be sitting out.

Thanks.

I use an old wooden chess board as my cutting mat....you can pretty much use anything flat and hard as a mat.

I think he wants a mat as in something to place over the gaming surface. Using a chess board it basically the gaming table, not the mat.

I'll second the Zuzzy suggestion.

You could also try holtz felt matts, they're supposed to be real good. Planning to get one myself one of these days.

http://www.hotzmats.com/

-Loki- wrote:I think he wants a mat as in something to place over the gaming surface. Using a chess board it basically the gaming table, not the mat.

I'll second the Zuzzy suggestion.

oh

I also recommend the felt mats by Hotz, e.g. Dirt planet (40k) or European Fields (Fantasy).
Simple, durable, light, precoloured.





Zuzzy mats have great structure, but you must paint them, they smell of rubber for a long time and postage is high.

What you need is a piece of green carpet; perferably outside-carpet because that has rubber fixingx at the other side that stop it from sliding around. I got mine in the next hardware store, cost me about 4€ (guess 5$). Its nice and firm and doesn't slide around at all, plus it look great.

Carpet? Screw that. If you're going the DIY route, then what you want is teddy bear fur:

http://www.elladan.de/002%20fur%20mat%20WiP/002.htm
http://www.elladan.de/001%20fur%20mat%20test%20pieces/001.htm

The are relatively new, but Corsec Engineering has some interesting photo-based mats that look pretty cool:

http://www.corseceng.com/fabric-mats/

I haven't seen one in person, but I can vouch for the company's service after getting my hands on some of their Omnistands.

I've actually enjoyed my citadel mat. my friends have done others but all are not nearly as good as the green citadel one.

then again the realm of battle board is better but in trying to build my own board they'd modular. I actually use 3 boards 2 foot by 4 foot from home depot on a folding table. The citadel mat sits on top. Everything is easily stored.

Ruckdog wrote:The are relatively new, but Corsec Engineering has some interesting photo-based mats that look pretty cool:

Prices start at 100$ plus postage. For that money you get 3-4 felt mats by Hotz.

Isn't the Hotz Mat only 45 inches wide? Not the greatest if you are trying to do a 6x4 area.. (yes, I know it is only 3 inches less, but people tend to care about that..)

porkuslime wrote:Isn't the Hotz Mat only 45 inches wide? Not the greatest if you are trying to do a 6x4 area.. (yes, I know it is only 3 inches less, but people tend to care about that..)

The full size is 72"x45", which comes to 6'x3.9', so it's 3" too narrow to make a full 6x4, so not small at all.

Have to say though, I don't think I've ever played on a full 6'x4' board. Smaller boards work fine until you get into the 2.5k-3k+ range of games.

I'm actually considering a couple of Hotz mats simply because playing Fantasy will be easier on it - I'll be able to slide movement trays over the felt.

I love my Zuzzy mats, but they were scary to order, i was at the end of my paypal dispute period when the mats arrived. I sent several emails as well as the paypal dispute and got zero feedback/communication. A+ on the mats and D- on the retail side of the company. I have a review on my blog in my sig.

porkuslime wrote:Isn't the Hotz Mat only 45 inches wide? Not the greatest if you are trying to do a 6x4 area.. (yes, I know it is only 3 inches less, but people tend to care about that..)

The regular mats are that size, because Mr. Hotz got that machine for free. You can get the exact 6x4 size as a special order for some extra money.

We just added the option for 72" by 42" for all our space base fabric mats. Also added a new Aerial Fields pattern

http://www.corseceng.com/blog/2011/8/19/product-update-space-mat-patterns-now-available-in-72-by-42.html

http://www.corseceng.com/blog/2011/8/19/new-product-aerial-fields-mat-pattern.html

We have several more patterns coming out in the next few weeks.

Jonathan Bowen
CorSec Engineering
www.corseceng.com

I'm not familiar with the wargame-specific mats out there, so I don't know how different it is, but I really like my Boards & Bits table cover. They are essentially giant black mousepads that come in sizes up to 4' x 8'. I bought it to play boardgames/cards on, but it works very nicely for minis, and even blends with black bases.

http://www.boardsandbits.com/product_info.php?products_id=22422

We looked into that process but ours are printed on demand. That way we can offer overlays and custom work. It was just to expensive for us. Their boards look to be just generic black or green.

Jonathan Bowen
CorSec Engineering
www.corseceng.com