Hi all,

After owning X-Wing since release and picking up lots of ships, I am now upgrading my home gaming facilities.

A couple of 4 foot by 2 foot tables with detachable legs shall provide me a good gaming surface that can ebstored away easily, unless I want to play Epic it'll do for almost all situations (IKEA are my friends in this regard)

However I'm looking to pick up a gaming mat.

Looking for recommendations for good quiality mats, that I can get easily in the UK, i.e. no transoceanic shipping costs.

Obviously I need a minimum 3 foot by 3 foot mat, but I see there are some 4 by 4 mats with 3 by 3 areas marked off.

But if i get a bigger mat it won't fit well on smaller tables.

A bit of research has brought up the following as candidates for purchase:

This one from UK Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deep-Space-Vinyl-Gaming-Battle/dp/B00GXA269Y

And this company in the UK

https://www.facebook.com/battlemats

And of course Wayland games seem to do a range of GF9 ones, can peopel offer comments on the quality of those?

http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/gale-force-9/game-mats/space-mat-deep-space/prod_25400.html

http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/gale-force-9/game-mats/space-mat-asteroid-field/prod_25399.html

http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/gale-force-9/game-mats/space-mat-fiery-nebula/prod_22709.html

Thanks for your help in advance

LTC

Hey,

I have just released an episode of the podcast on this very subject. check it out at http://xwingpodcast.com/x-wing-space-mats-gaming-boards-episode-7/

I've brought some mats through www.hatteeart.co.uk kick start page (which is now close). Sarah say's that " Create a universe of your choosing, spray painted by me for you to battle on and defend. it is original, no one else will own it."

when I receive I will let you know what it is like

wiggy

You might find success here as well.

http://www.comixininos.com/blood-bowl-accesories/campos.html

Its a company that specializes in Blood Bowl related products. They sell vinyl and foamboard pitches. They do custom designs also. They might make you a space themed mat. They are in Spain I think. Its worth a go. Oh BTW Blood Bowl is THE best set of rules GW has.

I have a mat from Battlemats, for 25 quid it's much better quality than the GF9 ones and extremely fun to play on. I'd buy from them since I'm in England rather than faffing around with Spanish or custom made.

Here's what a few of my friends and I have done. Go to http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

Download whatever photos of Stars, Nebula's, Galaxies that you want. I'd suggest choosing the highest resolution photos you can download. Choose photos that are at least 300 dpi, some are 400 or even 600 dpi. Many are only 72. Then go here:

http://www.eSigns.com/vinyl-banners/

Select "size" (probably 3'X3' but I've had a few 3'X6' made) then "Design your own"

You'll be able to upload any photo you want and size it by hitting the "+" or "-" button. Then just add it to your cart. 3X3 are usually $19.99, 3x6's are about $43. These mats (or banners) are thick vinyl that lay down and roll up real nice and can be cleaned. They come with big brass rivits on the corners (made for hanging) that you don't have to have included if you don't want but we've found that it helps the mat lay down better and in order to include the rivits they double fold the edges which makes the mats sturdier. By far the coolest x-wing mats you'll own for a fairly decent price. The Nebula photos are absolutely awesome. We run tournaments and this is what we use. Now, I know you're in the UK and I have no idea if they ship there but I've got to believe there's similiar types of shops in the UK online or even local. It takes about 5 minutes to upload the photo, size it, check out and within a week you have it on your doorstep. Free shipping is also available but again that's the US.

Hey bud,

Here's an article on Hobby Before I Die! regarding UK game mat search

May be of help?

Cheers

TUZ

Not UK, but also not transatlantic:

http://www.ebay.de/usr/mmo.broker?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

I have 2 mats of him. They are pretty plain vinyl mats, but they are cheap and good quality. I keep them rolled up and as you can see the egdes stand up a little, but for 25 euro...

Hey,

I have just released an episode of the podcast on this very subject. check it out at http://xwingpodcast.com/x-wing-space-mats-gaming-boards-episode-7/

Hi Ben - some useful info on that link, but how do you find 300 dpi images on the ESO website?

every single one I've downloaded so far is between about 72 dpi and 96 dpi

is it just a case of trial and error until you find one of the appropriate quality, or is there an additional trick you've not clued us in on ?

I've been contacted by the print android guys about this and they are supposed to be giving me some more information on the best images for mats, until then all I did was keep opening images and checking the sizes until I found one.

Hey,

I have just released an episode of the podcast on this very subject. check it out at http://xwingpodcast.com/x-wing-space-mats-gaming-boards-episode-7/

Hi Ben - some useful info on that link, but how do you find 300 dpi images on the ESO website?

every single one I've downloaded so far is between about 72 dpi and 96 dpi

is it just a case of trial and error until you find one of the appropriate quality, or is there an additional trick you've not clued us in on ?

I personally used this site for images:

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/search/

their search lets you set a minimum size and it offers many nice pictures at 70mega pixels and above.

With a bit of editing (cutting, varying colours/contrast) there should be enough for almost any taste from deep space to full nebula. Depending on the wished target dpi there are enough pixels to choose the right printing resolution - just a question of size vs resolution.

Here is one I used:

as for European options, a printing service I can recommend is:

http://www.pixartprinting.com/wide-format/printing-banners-mesh/pvc-banner/

the 500gsm pvc costs only around 10-15EUR for a 3x3 including shipping and around 20 for a 3x6 the material has good image quality and rolls out nice and flat.

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And this company in the UK

https://www.facebook.com/battlemats

Is there any email of Battle mats UK? I wrote them a couple of days ago requesting info about a mat and i haven't received any reply. Maybe they don't read Facebook frequently.

thanks in advance

G

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And this company in the UK

https://www.facebook.com/battlemats

Is there any email of Battle mats UK? I wrote them a couple of days ago requesting info about a mat and i haven't received any reply. Maybe they don't read Facebook frequently.

thanks in advance

G

Well, their website directly points to facebook, so if they don't read their main form of communication with their customers I wouldnt really bother with them at all.

Actually, it seems to be this guy: http://www.afewmaneuvers.com/topic/1987-battle-mats-uk-vinyl-space-mats/ so if you do want to pursue.. than send him a pm there