Ok, so this is probably somewhere in the rules and I'm just missing it. But what constitutes a "legal" play mat.

In my experience I have played on vinyl starfield mats, mousepad material type mats with starfields and planets, fully taped off squares on tables, partially taped off squares with gaps in the middle (not good), and magic the gathering type mousepad material mats with a 3'x3' square taped-off, yoga mats cut to 3'x3' squares.

This discussion has come to pass because I ordered one of those Death Star mats and immediately I have people chiming in telling me they aren't "tournament legal."

That's all well in good in a perfect world I won't bring said mat to Worlds and expect them to use it. Frankly a big tournament will most assuredly provide their own mats (and the tournament rules clearly state that a player can't bring and use their own mat). But in the real world of casual game store weekly get togethers, well, I've already listed off all the things I've seen.

So TLDR,

1.) Where can I find the specific rules governing play mat surfaces?

2.) How strictly are these rules enforced outside the realm of Worlds/Nationals/Regionals?

There's absolutely nothing illegal about a Death Star surface mat as long as it's the correct dimensions. For tournaments though, players can bring their own mats to help out, but cannot play on their own mat during the tournament.

Wait. Someone is trying to suggest that the mats being done by FFG somehow aren't legal? Uhm.

Ok, here us the exact reference

"What’s more, both playmats are legal in casual level events, while the Starfield Playmat is legal in all X-Wing Organized Play events,"

Taken from the bottom of the announcement article, here

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5356

Wait. Someone is trying to suggest that the mats being done by FFG somehow aren't legal? Uhm.

Well I mean it is FFG making the suggestion so I don't know I feel as if they know the event rules.

Kidding aside the discrete objects on the Death Star map could and would lead to premeasuring. Thus FFG has said once you move past casual level events they aren't legal.

My understanding is that the reason the death star may isn't intended for tournament play is you can get a leg up on your competition by using the death star and yavin as to premeasure distances if you've taken the time to compare maneuver and range band rulers vs the death star and planet.

Ok, here us the exact reference

"What’s more, both playmats are legal in casual level events, while the Starfield Playmat is legal in all X-Wing Organized Play events,"

Taken from the bottom of the announcement article, here

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5356

They've changed the article, and now it says both mats are legal in all Organized Play events:

"What’s more, both playmats are legal in all X-Wing Organized Play events, bringing the Star Wars setting to your tournament matches."

Making the Yavin map legal in tourneys above the casual level is a mistake, it is clearly easy to premeasure on that surface.

Wait. Someone is trying to suggest that the mats being done by FFG somehow aren't legal? Uhm.

"What’s more, both playmats are legal in casual level events, while the Starfield Playmat is legal in all X-Wing Organized Play events,"

What's weird to me is that according to the current tournament rules, they really aren't legal:

Players cannot bring their own playmats to play on instead of the play surfaces provided by the TO.

So either the article introducing the playmats is wrong (even after multiple revisions), or the current tournament rules are wrong.

or the current tournament rules are wrong.

Well the tournament rule are worded kind of oddly. Because the next line says this...

A TO may borrow playmats from players ahead of time, but they must be randomized to ensure fairness.

So what that seems to mean is, I can't bring a mat and say "We'll use my mat to play on." But I can bring a mat and loan it to the TO who will put it on a table, at which point I may or may not play on it depending on how they decide who plays on what tables.

cant both sides pre-measure? so how would it be an advantage? or are folks suggesting that the owner of said mat has an advantage as its his or her own pre-measured turf.. but its not like these are exclusive one off mats??? I mean even the starfield ones can be pre measured??

cant both sides pre-measure?

Yes provided both sides have access to the mat and enough time to figure out what the distances are. I'd say if you were really serious about it, and needed that kind of aid you'd likely do just that.

But as you point out, you can really do the same thing with a star field too. It may not be as easy and may not be as precise, but it's still possible.

cant both sides pre-measure?

Yes provided both sides have access to the mat and enough time to figure out what the distances are. I'd say if you were really serious about it, and needed that kind of aid you'd likely do just that.

But as you point out, you can really do the same thing with a star field too. It may not be as easy and may not be as precise, but it's still possible.

You could do it, but why would you want to? If you are a good (net even very good, just good) player you can probably judge it by looking at it, and if you are only mediocre at the game it isn't enough of an edge to beat a good player. I get that some people will do anything; I've seen it many times. I guess I just don't see much actual benefit from the effort it would take to do it. Like a less legal, less effective 'fortress'.

If you are a good (net even very good, just good) player you can probably judge it by looking at it

You're right of course, a good player doesn't need to do such a thing, because they can judge the distance without any help. That's why I don't think it's a big deal.