Greetings all,

Not to make my first post on here a question ...but I guess it's inevitable when you're a new player/user..and yeah I've searched quite a bit for the mats on here and elsewhere.

We are starting X-Wing--have some games under our belts. I currently have the FFG Deathstar map and have applied the rubber pegs under the bases. This helps with slipping..but since we're starting to play Epic and I need a 3x6, I'm looking to buy a nice mat.

If price was not a consideration and you were concerned for slipping, what would everyone suggest? The reason I put Grip Mat in the title--is right now it's the one I'me looking at most heavily. My only concern is what the material looks like up close. It seems very ribbed--and I've tried my search fu and can't find a really high quality picture of one of those mats up close. Does anyone on here have a Grip Mat? If so--thoughts and do you have an up close picture of that ribbing? Also, many of the reviews I've seen show some curling at the corners...at least more than my current mat appears to. Is that rolled curling that bad if you roll the design where it's on the outside?

The other mat I'm looking at is the Magnetic War Mats. That mat looks incredibly nice...of course only concern is it would require my friends to get magnets as well and I'm not sure they're all keen to do that. Anyone have any experience with that mat?

Lastly--any other mats that are high quality, with no major slipping...I'm all ears. Price isn't a consideration, so just shoot over whatever you think is the best. Thanks!

I have grip mat and I couldn't conceivably play on any other surface that is it or TerraTiles (for unique atmospheric battles).

I love my grip mat. Its worth it. I got mine when they had the scratch and dent sale. Awesome!!!

I have grip mat and I couldn't conceivably play on any other surface that is it or TerraTiles (for unique atmospheric battles).

I love my grip mat. Its worth it. I got mine when they had the scratch and dent sale. Awesome!!!

Do you mind sharing what it looks like up close? From the photos I've seen--it appears like it's very ribbed. Is that just poor quality photos or is it not really something you notice?

Does it curl badly?

Think of it more like a Yoga mat surface, just thinner. Its really grippy on the plastic bases. I built one similar using thick rubber shelf liner from Home Depot. I've heard it called "too precise", as well as acusations that it "holds" dice too well and doesn't allow them to do their normal action. I personally love it! Dice bounce but stop quickly, ships don't get bumped easily, and there's just a precise "feel" to putting acrylic templates and bases on this surface. It just doesn't move. Worth their price? Easily!

However, if you are practicing for high level competition, you should really just get used to playing on the FFG mats. They're more like a mousepad so things can move around easier. You can slide templates around on the mat VERY easily, and ships aren't as "stable" as on a gripmat.

I love my grip mat. It just makes the game so much more enjoyable if things stay were they are. I would totally go for one as I have not seen other solutions that give the spacefield visual with the the grip of the mat.

As jonnyd says, the only real downside to using a gripmat is that it doesn't prepare you for playing on FFG mats in tournaments where everything slides around much more easily. Little bumps that don't move things on a gripmat can really mess things up on the FFG mats.

I played on one of the Magentic War Mats last night. Shipped got bumped very slightly, but overall it was a great surface to play on. My opponent (who owned the mat) had plenty of extra bases with magnets for me to borrow.

Many thanks for the replies fellas, appreciate it.

I love my grip mat. It just makes the game so much more enjoyable if things stay were they are. I would totally go for one as I have not seen other solutions that give the spacefield visual with the the grip of the mat.

What does the surface look like up close? It looks like it has a great deal of ribbing in photos (rough surface)--and not sure. Also--any curling of edges?

Thanks again!

You can also flip the FFG mat over when you want to play on a surface with more "gription."

gripmats are really grippy. theyre really good for that. but unfortunately, ffg and mousepad mats are just soooooo nice and smooth and pretty looking. (they also reduce movement, but not nearly as much as gripmat).

Bespin is going to be awesome. I have an HCD mat. Purple and blue planet. Its the most beautiful thing ever.

Also very handy for my game room: I can simply use it as a giant mousepad for playing computer games with friends.

If you find a gripmat design you like, go for that. Put a little felt or something on the side of the table to roll dice on. or even just have a small piece you can put on the mat where the ships arent so you can roll dice. I really dont like roolling dice on gripmats. They really just... flop.

Magnetic mats are the best for precision though. A light magnetism. A friend of mine built a better one than the War Mats and its just nice.

I have a GripMat and I love it, the surface is slightly "rippled" but I don't notice it, really. It seems almost like the skin on the inside crook where your forearm and upper arm meet. The mat tends to have more of a glossy sheen, as opposed to the matte FFG finish. When my GripMat was new, it was way more sticky, but with use and time comes layers of nerd-grease, and it's seasoned nicely like a good cast-iron skillet. I always roll my mat into its tube with the graphic facing out; reduces curling and any curling usually settles out by the time you have everything else set up.

If you already have an FFG mat, and are looking to double your space for Epic games, I'd suggest just getting another FFG mat for consistencies sake, it could be jarring in both appearance and texture to have one of each. At least until you've had an opportunity to play first-hand on a GripMat and decide if you want to start over with two mats there.

I've played on the magnetic mats, and while they look nice it was like playing on an air-hockey table. If all players have magnetized bases, it's great; otherwise I personally don't care for it.

Love my grip mat for the reasons stated here. Was using a ghetto board made from black shelf padding which was better grip and storable but the looks.... I can't go back.

Grip mat is the best mat I've played on and I have had the opportunity to play on many different types of mat. Also, they have improved their current batch of grip mats according to their Kickstarter page. The one I play on regularly at my FLGS has a white underside and the design is a little faded. The new ones have a black underside and the colours are more vibrant. I can't wait for them to reach retail!

I have a GripMat and I love it, the surface is slightly "rippled" but I don't notice it, really. It seems almost like the skin on the inside crook where your forearm and upper arm meet. The mat tends to have more of a glossy sheen, as opposed to the matte FFG finish. When my GripMat was new, it was way more sticky, but with use and time comes layers of nerd-grease, and it's seasoned nicely like a good cast-iron skillet. I always roll my mat into its tube with the graphic facing out; reduces curling and any curling usually settles out by the time you have everything else set up.

If you already have an FFG mat, and are looking to double your space for Epic games, I'd suggest just getting another FFG mat for consistencies sake, it could be jarring in both appearance and texture to have one of each. At least until you've had an opportunity to play first-hand on a GripMat and decide if you want to start over with two mats there.

I've played on the magnetic mats, and while they look nice it was like playing on an air-hockey table. If all players have magnetized bases, it's great; otherwise I personally don't care for it.

I echo these thoughts completely. Mine is fairly new so I haven't had enough chances to notice less sticky-ness. The rippled is hardly noticeable once your playing. It never stuck out for me. I keep mine in the shipping box but I am looking for a larger tube to store it long term.

Dusty, I hit an art supply store and for fifteen Canadian got a 4" diameter plastic tube with a shoulder strap. I'd suggest a 5" but the four does work.

Sounds better than the yoga mats we traditionally use at my club.

Skip the gold-plated garbage FFG mats entirely.