While the graphics may not be really stellar, the fact that this mat is not a vinyl playing surface has promise.

I have wanted from the start, a playmat made out of the same material that most card game play mats are made out of. So I'm going to be very happy to give the star field one a shot! It drives me crazy playing on the vinyl playmats and often I'll just opt to play directly on my table with taped off borders. As there is less slip on that surface.

Good job FFG, I can't wait until my mat gets in so I can test it out. I hope it lives up to expectations!

Please add more prints! A nebula would be better than the plain star field. I myself am not a fan of ones that have planets or asteroids on them. Without any form of 3d effect it makes the game look more like you are playing on a picture. That is less so with the nebula and star field maps.

may not be really stellar

Hah! I see what you did there

I kinda agree regarding the Death Star and planets (although I'll still get one), etc, but I disagree that a nebula would be better than the plain starfield. It's that plainness that screams Star Wars to me, as opposed to all those unofficial designs that were all covered with nebula and what not.

Nebulae = star trek for me.

Hoth or Tatooine half planet would be cool

Yeah, or not even half plant, just a little sliver.

I agree that the star field may seem a little blah artistically, I disagree that this is a bad thing for a play mat. It is supposed to be background. When you look at a game in progress you want to see the ships flying around not be amazed at the colors of the things they are flying around on top of.

My son just LOVES the Deathstar so I will probably get the Deathstar one to hang on his wall, but to play on I think I would prefer the star field.

Yeah, or not even half plant, just a little sliver.

like this?

While I think it's good that they gave up on that mat they were working on... Aren't there a number of matts out there made of the same thing?

Interesting I remember the article said Neoprene before now it says "natural rubber."

It said natural rubber when I read it yesterday.

The difference is these are proper Star Wars style.

This thread is useless without pics!

HCD supplies won the Origins award for Best Gaming Accessory last year for their first 3'x3' neoprene gaming mat, the Ice Planet one. I bought one of those and a week ago bought their new one which is basic stars and gas clouds. The gas clouds on a certain side of each actually line up but unfortunately they screwed with the printing color so I intend to use some painting and marker tricks to blend the two mats together aesthetically so I will have one full 6'x3'. As you could imagine though picking up the second mat just days before the FFG ones were announced was a bit frustrating. Because now I want those too Oh well, guess it's a good thing I bought a carrying case big enough for four mats!

This thread is useless without pics!

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

This thread is useless without pics!

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

I know... I want to see what the mat looks like on a real table with models on it.

The starfield one is PERFECT. I don't get the hate. I'm excited for it.

http://store.frontlinegaming.org/fat-mats a bit pricey but really really nice.. i have one of the 4x4 ones.. its like a giant mouse pad.

I'd like to see the planetary / Death Star from a top don perspective

The only thing I dislike is the price. $40 plus $16 shipping. Yikes.

Yeah it is expensive but so pretty! I bought a starfield one - I WANTED the Death Star version, but the only problem is that if I ever want to pair mine up with someone else's, I will have a MUCH better chance at doing it if mine is only a starfield. If it is a Death Star and someone else has a Death Star, then we have a problem. Also, if I ever decide to play another space game, the starfield will be able to pull double duty.

The starfield one is PERFECT. I don't get the hate. I'm excited for it.

Starfield IS Star Wars.Period. IMO

Too little and too late.

I already got mine.

Too little and too late.

I already got mine.

I must say that's a very nice one. Not Star Warsy in my opinion, but quite cool.

Where is that from Elkertyc?

Yeah, or not even half plant, just a little sliver.

like this?

This is a 450 scale Interdictor on 6'x3' or Epic size.

It was included as a X-wing Vassal map.

Yeah, or not even half plant, just a little sliver.

like this?

Episode II Tatooine 3'x3' ,

also a map from the Vassal map pack:

Too little and too late.

I already got mine.

Nice. Also, Level 7 and Eldritch Horror are both awesome