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Hi guys!
we got a bit wild designing new 4x4 wargaming mat. Would appreciate any feedback. would this fit into your universe?

Feels a bit too modern for Warmahordes. Though if you added in some like glowy bits, and a bit of stonework I could otherwise buy it as a Cygnar location. Otherwise no, doesn't really fit.

EDIT: "In universe" is still a bit different than fitting with the game. Even in the case it was rather spot-on for the setting, it's still a mat for develop area. Warmachine/Hordes is really a game about engagements on the outskirts of civilization, where it's meeting the edge of the wilderness. It tends to choke rather badly on urban terrain.

 Chongara wrote:
Feels a bit too modern for Warmahordes. Though if you added in some like glowy bits, and a bit of stonework I could otherwise buy it as a Cygnar location. Otherwise no, doesn't really fit.

EDIT: "In universe" is still a bit different than fitting with the game. Even in the case it was rather spot-on for the setting, it's still a mat for develop area. Warmachine/Hordes is really a game about engagements on the outskirts of civilization, where it's meeting the edge of the wilderness. It tends to choke rather badly on urban terrain.

great to know! I thought its kind of steam punk but mat is to sci fi I guess

matous1983 wrote:

 Chongara wrote:
Feels a bit too modern for Warmahordes. Though if you added in some like glowy bits, and a bit of stonework I could otherwise buy it as a Cygnar location. Otherwise no, doesn't really fit.

EDIT: "In universe" is still a bit different than fitting with the game. Even in the case it was rather spot-on for the setting, it's still a mat for develop area. Warmachine/Hordes is really a game about engagements on the outskirts of civilization, where it's meeting the edge of the wilderness. It tends to choke rather badly on urban terrain.

great to know! I thought its kind of steam punk but mat is to sci fi I guess

Well. Warmachine/Hordes isn't really steam punk, far from it it actually. The heart of it is closer to a straight fantasy setting, with a sort "all over the place" tech-level stapled on. A mostt it borrows or draws influence from some elements of steam punk, but the similarities kind of end at coal power and goggles.

If you're interested in doing something for the game, this video could serve as good example of the "Feel" of the setting, since it's from the development of the official video game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_cjWGah2Cw#t=296

I like it. Maybe not for warhammer as much, but definitely 40K or similar games.

Warmachine is described as "Full metal Fantasy" more than Steampunk. Although the latter applies as well, just different than typical steampunk.

Anyway, that mat you have is not Steampunk at all. Not even close.

Steampunk mats would have pipes, very large and unnecessary gears and pistons everywhere, grease and oil stains, iron would be very rusty, and there would also be a lot of copper/bronze metal in addition to the iron.

Warmachine has most of those elements. It lacks some of the other classic steampunk themes, such as Victorian fashion/building style+steam engines everywhere+airships. Just play Bioshock for the general Steampunk feel.


Warmachine is more of an evolved Steampunk. Imagine Steampunk getting further along into a more modern era, and not quite as much OTT technology(warjacks and magic aside)

Its basically modern just on the cusp of the 21st century technology if steam engines had been refined to be a practical method of driving humanoid robots(which have magical brains that operate them) and you also have magic.

Thus its really a blend of the late 20th century, classic fantasy, and a little steampunk for good measure.

Yeah, that's more Sci-fi.

Warmahordes borrows from a range of different eras, though generally the urban areas in cygnar/Khador and the other northern kingdoms seem a bit 1800s europe (so anything from medieval looking to post-industrial/pre-WWI). Southern protectorate areas tend to be a bit more middle-eastern. The linked video has some good examples, but here are a few more:


So more cobble-stones and pipes and steam vents sort of thing than metal plates.

Generic fantasy stuff would also fit in well enough for the most part.

Thanks all you guys for clarification and universe introduction!
Just mine second question if I could: Would this natural style mat be suitable? thats the second type we plan to produce soon as 4x4

Yeah, standard terrain types like that that are fine and can easily fit. Grass, icy tundra, forest floor, rocky outcrops and desert all work fine.

A desert like that could easily represent part of the bloodstone marches, a desolate desert sort of area, or part of the blasted wasteland further east.

If you did want to do any specific iron kingdoms mats we could give you some ideas, though I suppose you'd probably prefer to keep your mats as cross-game compatible as possible. And that's fine, most WHFB or Malifaux type terrain would work for warmachine just as well.

 Maddermax wrote:
Yeah, standard terrain types like that that are fine and can easily fit. Grass, icy tundra, forest floor, rocky outcrops and desert all work fine.

A desert like that could easily represent part of the bloodstone marches, a desolate desert sort of area, or part of the blasted wasteland further east.

If you did want to do any specific iron kingdoms mats we could give you some ideas, though I suppose you'd probably prefer to keep your mats as cross-game compatible as possible. And that's fine, most WHFB or Malifaux type terrain would work for warmachine just as well.

You are perfectly right. Business wise is better to have all-game-systems universal mats. But rally helpful to get some insights as we are not yet very familiar with other systems then W40k/WFB

Yak Se Mas!

It might be worth the time to look at various scenarios that are commonly played... If you had a mat that 'premeasured' some key locations and marked them with terrain variations on the mat itself, i would consider that very appealing from a gamers standpoint.

For instance, many scenarios use common zones of control or objective locations... if you are of the mindset that you are going to make a few variations on your mats, perhaps you could group them based on similar 'game features' rather than by the various types of terrian.

Kiwidru wrote:
Yak Se Mas!

It might be worth the time to look at various scenarios that are commonly played... If you had a mat that 'premeasured' some key locations and marked them with terrain variations on the mat itself, i would consider that very appealing from a gamers standpoint.

For instance, many scenarios use common zones of control or objective locations... if you are of the mindset that you are going to make a few variations on your mats, perhaps you could group them based on similar 'game features' rather than by the various types of terrian.

Ah, a little difficult to do, as there are so many scenarios with different objective locations, and they change every year with steamroller as well. Plus, all the superfluous markings would mean a lot of marked distances on a map, which can problematic in a game without pre-measuring.

Well, yes and no obviously. it wouldnt work putting everything on one mat, like i stated and you stated, due to the great variety of scenarios. The most appealing IMO would be to create a mat for each scenario with the zones and objectives illustrated on the gameboard. That would be my #1 choice as a consumer, especially since in any other gaming-case the printings would jsut be random nick-nacks on the battlefield

Second to that, a mat with points at 24" deep and 16" from the side: could be used for Fire Support (12), Into the Breach (11), Incoming (7), and Rally Point (8),

And a mat with alternating points 21" deep and 18" from the side could be used for: Destruction (1), Balance of Power (3), Close Quarters (5),

So that would cover roughly 2/3rds of the current maps with two mats that each have two dodads on them, which in any other case would have no effect on the play, but in those warmachine scenarios would save you a little grief during the setup process.

I can see how that could be seen as genteel, but to me that would be the main selling point... game mats for fans seems to be a niche that hasnt been filled yet, whereas generic battlemats are fairly common. Ive bought a fair number of MtG game mats in my day @ $15 -$25 USD each... if you could create a set of the 12 yearly scenarios (many of which get recycled) and price them @ $15-20ish each or a bundle of them all for a discount, I would grab a set just for the ease of setup and time saved pregame. When you become established in the culture you tend to want those personal items, such as personal dice, measuring device, tokens, and i could easily see scenario mats being added to that list of gaming periphery...

As a social aside: I understand that you are speaking with the intent to enrich, but when you misconstrue an idea in a way that the author had already anticipated and mentioned, it comes off as boorish. There is power in positive thinking; try to offer constructive advice along with spewing all the problems that the worst case would have.

Its as if you said, "thing 1 wont work but thing 2 could be useful", and someone came along and proclaimed, "thing 1 is a bad idea for all these reasons"

Kiwidru wrote:
Second to that, a mat with points at 24" deep and 16" from the side: could be used for Fire Support (12), Into the Breach (11), Incoming (7), and Rally Point (8),

And a mat with alternating points 21" deep and 18" from the side could be used for: Destruction (1), Balance of Power (3), Close Quarters (5),

Assuming they don't get moved an inch or two next year.

And that does happen occasionally, but not very often at all, i wouldnt throw the baby out with the bathwater over a couple of changes. Here are the scenarios for the last two years:

2013.01: Destruction
2013.02: Supply and Demand
2013.03: Close Quarters
2013.04: Ammo Run
2013.05: Incursion
2013.06: Chemical Reaction
2013.07: Outflank
2013.08: Incoming
2013.09: Into the Breach
2013.10: Rally Point
2013.11: Process of Elimination
2013.12: Fire Support

2014.01: Destruction
2014.02: Supply and Demand
2014.03: Balance of Power
2014.04: Process of Elimination
2014.05: Close Quarters
2014.06: Two Fronts
2014.07: Incoming *change
2014.08: Rally Point
2014.09: Incursion *change
2014.10: Outflank
2014.11: Into the Breach *add
2014.12: Fire Support

So out of the 12 scenarios:
(2) Are new
(2) Moved two objectives 1" from the previous year
(1) Added two objectives to an otherwise identical map
(7) Are absolutely identical..

This means if somehow OP had made mats for the 2013 year, 2/12 would have a 1" change in 2014 that might cause confusion, and even then it would jsut be the mat, most players ive encountered use some sort of 3d marker/base for the objectives anyway.

It may be a bad idea. But the more i consider it, the more i wish i had them, and if no one else is interested, i'll probably make a couple just to test the waters.

I would have to do a lot of mats

Kiwidru wrote:

As a social aside: I understand that you are speaking with the intent to enrich, but when you misconstrue an idea in a way that the author had already anticipated and mentioned, it comes off as boorish. There is power in positive thinking; try to offer constructive advice along with spewing all the problems that the worst case would have.

Its as if you said, "thing 1 wont work but thing 2 could be useful", and someone came along and proclaimed, "thing 1 is a bad idea for all these reasons"

It was an offhand and light comment late at night mate, not at all meant to be rude. I didn't dismiss it out of hand, or say it was a bad idea or completely unworkable, just that it might be a little difficult to do, and mentioned why mainly for the benefit of matous1983 who probably wouldn't know these things, being unfamiliar with the game.

I know that tone and intent are hard to convey over the internet, so that's why I find it best to read everything in a positive way where possible, and would recommend others to as well, as that's how it's usually intended, as my comment was in this instance. I'll wish you luck making pre-marked mats though, it'd certainly make it quicker to set up a game

sure guys, I honestly know only W40k. Happy to hear ideas here. Your discussion is enrinching my knowledge
thx

I think it's clear that mats with the zones printed on them, is likely not a sound business decision. But how about printing themed zones out of the same material?

Do not put zones on the map itself.

It would become invalidated when the next Steamroller was released, and further more it would give people some fixed point of reference to do some sneaky premeasuring.

 Todosi wrote:
I think it's clear that mats with the zones printed on them, is likely not a sound business decision. But how about printing themed zones out of the same material?

Interesting, likw additional small mats - just zone to put on?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Do not put zones on the map itself.

It would become invalidated when the next Steamroller was released, and further more it would give people some fixed point of reference to do some sneaky premeasuring.

Thanks its probably as yous said!

matous1983 wrote:
Hi guys!
we got a bit wild designing new 4x4 wargaming mat. Would appreciate any feedback. would this fit into your universe?

Dead zone