Battle Mats

[berk the black]

Here's a quick YouTube review I did on the 3 new battle mats:
https://youtu.be/GdQAS7050NI

It’s good to hear creasing is not an issue. I do worry that the grid might deform in ares since the material is much thinner, though. Also, Kor, you said these were 4’ x 6’ in the video, I thought they were 3’ x 5’? I suppose if they are bigger it’s OK, because they should drape down over the sides of the table better than the older versions.

[coyotee]

Looks nice but with the felt material you cant draw on it, and I can only imagine the spills, Food, drink rings etc that would ruin it.
Nice but not for me.

[Yack]

Man, I was not aware they changed the format for the new mats.
I really do love my Tundra, ocean, astral sea and grassland mats not sure if I like the tablecloth like version.

I have zero issue that you cannot write on them as I use 3d terrain pretty much 98% of the time now when I do play. (I have an old grid matt in dessert color that can be written on if really needed).

I was skipping these ones anyways as the desert I have another option (see above comment) and I dislike the water on the bluff one.... it limits the usage having printed water ways and the grassland one cover the forest/meadows for me.

thanks for the review, Kor as that was a surprise for me.

[Marco]

Here's a quick YouTube review I did on the 3 new battle mats:
https://youtu.be/GdQAS7050NI

Congratulations to and my sincere thanks for 70(!) quick reviews, Kor!

These have been invaluable, as is your site and your great work is very, very much appreciated.

Without you, this community wouldn't exist as it is.
Best wishes, Marco from Cologne, Germany.

[berk the black]

Man, I was not aware they changed the format for the new mats.
I really do love my Tundra, ocean, astral sea and grassland mats not sure if I like the tablecloth like version.

I have zero issue that you cannot write on them as I use 3d terrain pretty much 98% of the time now when I do play. (I have an old grid matt in dessert color that can be written on if really needed).

I was skipping these ones anyways as the desert I have another option (see above comment) and I dislike the water on the bluff one.... it limits the usage having printed water ways and the grassland one cover the forest/meadows for me.

thanks for the review, Kor as that was a surprise for me.

I’d say these mats were designed for 3D terrain users specifically, since they can’t be drawn on. And, I’ve found almost all the variations useful. I’ve used plains, forest, ocean, astral sea, subterranean lake, acid, and expansive caves so far. I haven’t used lava or tundra yet but I am sure they will make it to the table soon enough. And I have an upcoming need for the desert mat, so I’m glad it is coming out. I have multiples of several of the mats, as I have been cutting them up to make some simple elevation pieces.

The felt surface is wonderful for helping to keep terrain and minis from being jostled during normal gameplay. And the 3’ x 5’ size has offered a large enough play area to allow for exciting battles.

I’m a big fane of all the mats somfar, the one exception is I do wish the grid was a little more visibile.

I did order the sky mat, as I will give it a try if I ever have an aerial battle. It seems a bit too situational, but I want to give it a try before I dismiss it outright.

[Yack]

I want to use the Astral Sea mat actually as sky as it just cloudy with no actually detailed environment underneath in my eyes. (which what I want). The purple with the white does not bug me I actually love it.

I 100% agree and that's why I love the WK mats and they are cheaper than say Mats from Mars when you live in Canada.

I have not cut one yet but yeah, they are massive, large. I may just in time instead build a custom game table to the actual mats surface size just wish they stop changing the dimensions LOL

[Marco]

I want to use the Astral Sea mat actually as sky as it just cloudy with no actually detailed environment underneath in my eyes. (which what I want). The purple with the white does not bug me I actually love it.

I 100% agree and that's why I love the WK mats and they are cheaper than say Mats from Mars when you live in Canada.

I have not cut one yet but yeah, they are massive, large. I may just in time instead build a custom game table to the actual mats surface size just wish they stop changing the dimensions LOL

Wizkids didn't change the dimensions.
It was a mistake Kor made.
They are still 3 feet x 5 feet (90 cm x 150 cm).
Kor also wrote that in the comments.

[Yack]

I want to use the Astral Sea mat actually as sky as it just cloudy with no actually detailed environment underneath in my eyes. (which what I want). The purple with the white does not bug me I actually love it.

I 100% agree and that's why I love the WK mats and they are cheaper than say Mats from Mars when you live in Canada.

I have not cut one yet but yeah, they are massive, large. I may just in time instead build a custom game table to the actual mats surface size just wish they stop changing the dimensions LOL

Wizkids didn't change the dimensions.
It was a mistake Kor made.
They are still 3 feet x 5 feet (90 cm x 150 cm).
Kor also wrote that in the comments.

Actual yeah they did between the round 1 mats (ocean, Tundra, forest and grasslands) and the Astral Sea.
the Astral Sea is a smaller mat.

[berk the black]

I got the second generation of Icons of the Realms Battle Mats today. Here’s my impressions:

They are much thinner, but seem durable anyways. The mat drapes more easily, and will conform to tables it is bigger than without problem. The lack of weight does mean when you lay out the mat, you’ll have to smooth it out flat since it lacks the rigidity and weight to smooth out by itself.

Here’s a picture of an old mat (that was rolled up in a 4 1/2” tube) and the new mat (folded up in a box) when I first laid them out:



You can see the wrinkles from the folds on the new mat, but they we much less pronounces when I stretched the mat out by running my hands across the surface. The rubber backing was preventing it from smoothing out on its own:



There are still some creases I’m not happy about. I believe ironing will take care of them, but I don’t think I’ll be folding them up to store them. I tried rolling them up. It is a little harder because that mats are so floppy, but they easily row up twice as tight as I would go with the older style, and I don’t think any curl at the ends will be retained when laid out.

Despite being thinner, the one inch grid is just as accurate is the older 3’ x 5’ mats, meaning very precise. However, wrinkles will throw it off so that smoothing step when you lay out the mat is a must. Also, the grid on all three mats was easily visible, which is an improvement over the earlier versions. There are areas on the Forest mat where you simply can’t see the grid at all.

The flocking (or felt or whatever it is being called) is also thinner, and as a consequence it actually seems a bit smoother than the first generation mats. This is actually a con in my book, as I think minis and terrain will slide around a bit more easily.

As for the three varieties, the desert mat will be the most useful for me:



I pulled out some of my Monster Fight Club sandstone terrain to see how it would look, and I’m happy enough with the results:



There is nothing wrong with the Bluffs mat, but with the similar Grasslands and Forest mats it won’t get used that much.

The Sky mat is situational, but I do think I will make use of it occasionally. Especially if the players acquire a flying ship, balloon or even winged mounts. It conveys the sense of being above the ground, while still providing a combat grid for movement and combat, which is all good. It would mean all my air battles would take place over a forest with a river running through it, but that is better than most of the battle mat alternatives I would have. The Astra Sea would be an exception, easily being construed as cloud layer. But seeing the terrain below adds a sense of the height peril that cloud cover lacks, which I think will add to the immersion of encounters.

My overall thoughts are that these mats are good additions to my terrain collection, offering new environments for the table. The new style is Ok, my only concern being that the surface is a little less grippy. I’m super happy about the Desert Mat, as I have need for it in my current campaign. I know Wizkids has now covered a lot of the game mat varieties, but I am looking forward to any more they decide to make.