Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi all!
I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions as to a good gaming mat? I've looked at a lot of various ones online and I'm leaning towards a Gale Force Nine 36" × 36" starfield mat, but I
thought before I drop the money for it I'd see if anyone had a better recommendation or a review of the GF9 mat.
I appreciate any input!

Not the Galeforce9 ones, they suck from durability to price compared to:

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd-starfield.html (Still in preorder) I will be buying at some point.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html The one I got, also cheaper by a few bucks. 25% cheaper after shipping then the GF9, 200% higher quality.

Both are made out of the same material as the card game mats. I can post pics if anyone really wants to see them up close before committing.

KnuckleWolf wrote:
Not the Galeforce9 ones, they suck from durability to price compared to:

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd-starfield.html (Still in preorder) I will be buying at some point.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html The one I got, also cheaper by a few bucks. 25% cheaper after shipping then the GF9, 200% higher quality.

Both are made out of the same material as the card game mats. I can post pics if anyone really wants to see them up close before committing.

Thanks for the fast reply! I saw it and wondered about HCD. if its not a hassle I'd love to see some pics!

(Edit: Holy crap those came out grainy as heck, sorry about that. Seems to be an upload thing, my phone/comp displays them fine)

1.) Mat at the Origins Awards Booth.
2.) In game scale and color shot.
3.) Textured neoprene stock prevents the mat from slipping, scale for thickness.

Great to roll dice on, comfortable to rest on between active turns, is a little slick on the silk surface so be careful not to bump the ships too much. Needs a better carrying tube but whatever. Looks awesome!

KnuckleWolf wrote:
(Edit: Holy crap those came out grainy as heck, sorry about that. Seems to be an upload thing, my phone/comp displays them fine)

1.) Mat at the Origins Awards Booth.
2.) In game scale and color shot.
3.) Textured neoprene stock prevents the mat from slipping, scale for thickness.

Great to roll dice on, comfortable to rest on between active turns, is a little slick on the silk surface so be careful not to bump the ships too much. Needs a better carrying tube but whatever. Looks awesome!

Not sure if you work for miniature market but you just made them some bank when I get off work!
Thanks for taking the time to do the pics. You're right they look great.

I bought a black extra large yoga mat (36" x 80") for about fifty dollars. I cut two 36"x36" mats out of it. I sprayed stars on it using the old toothbrush and white acrylic trick. Great X-Wing mats. They grip whatever table they're placed on, and minis don't slide around on them.

 DagobahDave wrote:
I bought a black extra large yoga mat (36" x 80") for about fifty dollars. I cut two 36"x36" mats out of it. I sprayed stars on it using the old toothbrush and white acrylic trick. Great X-Wing mats. They grip whatever table they're placed on, and minis don't slide around on them.

That's ingenious!

Local store has that HCD mat in the game room for us to use. It's very nice, and the cost is extremely reasonable, even at retail.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Vinyl-Space-Gaming-Battle/dp/B00GXAPIYE/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1405237196&sr=8-35&keywords=Xwing

A friend of mine recently received this mat for his birthday and it is absolutely superb!! The material feels great, non slip bottom, and tokens etc glide fantastically on the upper surface!! Would definitely recommend it to anyone

NathanD298 wrote:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Planet-Vinyl-Space-Gaming-Battle/dp/B00GXAPIYE/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&qid=1405237196&sr=8-35&keywords=Xwing

A friend of mine recently received this mat for his birthday and it is absolutely superb!! The material feels great, non slip bottom, and tokens etc glide fantastically on the upper surface!! Would definitely recommend it to anyone

I bought the starfield version of this a couple of months ago; so far, I'm totally satisfied with it. Smooth and grippy enough on both sides, looks rather nice, too.

Can't say that I've got anything to compare it to, but I don't have any complaints.

 alarmingrick wrote:

 DagobahDave wrote:
I bought a black extra large yoga mat (36" x 80" for about fifty dollars. I cut two 36"x36" mats out of it. I sprayed stars on it using the old toothbrush and white acrylic trick. Great X-Wing mats. They grip whatever table they're placed on, and minis don't slide around on them.

That's ingenious!

I can't take credit for the idea, but they're very good game mats.

Have you checked out Frontline Gaming? The smallest is 4x4, but they are pretty cool.

I love that mat design. If they were 3x3 I would love it more. After years of having to mark off play surfaces for both 40k and WM I was glad that the X-Wing mats out there can just be rolled out and set to gaming on.

 Barksdale wrote:
Have you checked out Frontline Gaming? The smallest is 4x4, but they are pretty cool.

I wasn't aware!! Thanks for the link. I'm not sure about the 4x4 as mentioned by derek though.

I've got a new wrinkle to my mat quest.... space station pattern!

I've only seen panic's awesome home brew one and Gale Force 9's veersion. Anyone seen any others?