This new Bespin playmat looks absolutely spectacular, so much so that I'm concerned it will actually affect the gameplay. Is the stunning backdrop a distraction? Does it affect your movement estimation, etc? I can't help but think it would throw you off. Heck, I'd even be reluctant to place asteroids or debris on it because it would ruin the view. I want one but this is killing me!

Id get used to playing on them because I have no doubt they will be at every tourney you attend. I cant wait to get one.

I'm not sure where the rule question is in this...

But yes, by rule you must be visually distracted while using the Bespin playmat

I'm not sure where the rule question is in this...

But yes, by rule you must be visually distracted while using the Bespin playmat

That's a common misconception, but it's not true. If you look at p2 of the most recent Tournament Rules, you'll see that "being visually distracted by a particular playmat" is one of those things that one player can insist be imposed on both players, like using the same templates and/or dice. In practice, hardly anybody actually insists on it.

Huh, I guess you're right. Don't know how I missed that one.

My Bespin mat just came in and I have played one game on it so far. I'd say that while it looks really awesome, once the ships start flying its not to hard to focus on moving and such.

I've played on the Bespin mat several times, and haven't had a problem with it being too bright or busy. (Unlike, say, the GF9 Space Station mat, which is a criminal offense). Like all the FFG mats, it's slippery and has rounded corners (meaning it's not 36"x36", meaning it's technically not legal ... ). But it's not visually a problem.

I've played on the Bespin mat several times, and haven't had a problem with it being too bright or busy. (Unlike, say, the GF9 Space Station mat, which is a criminal offense). Like all the FFG mats, it's slippery and has rounded corners (meaning it's not 36"x36", meaning it's technically not legal ... ). But it's not visually a problem.

Ah yes, technically illegal yet also specifically allowed. Don't even get me started on the random exception to normal tournament scoring rules in the FAQ just for the Pup...

I decided against the Bespin mat for now and got another standard space mat for my fledgling x-wing league. As breathtaking as the view is I'm having a hard time imagining gameplay on it. Maybe someday soon I'll make the move for some variety.

I have yet to see one on the table, but I think the Bespin mat will look nice in contrast to the ships. My non FF mat has a lot of "stars" on it and it looks fine to me. However, I am glad they have added to the mat collection and I would like to start adding them to my mat collection. They are nice and are consistent from one mat to the next.

The only game mat I've seen that presents a potential game play problem is one of the third party mats that has an asteroid belt printed across its surface. Asteroid tokens, sometimes, get visually lost in the backdrop while playing. Fortunately it's not an FFG official mat so it can be rejected as a play surface in a competitive FFG sanctioned events.

Similar to the one of the left of this picture: https://www.frontlinegaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/3x3-Asteroid-Bundle.jpg

I agree ZealuxMry. That's a nice looking mat, but those rocks are too big and could be confused with the placed rocks since they are so similar in size and color.

Darned right, that mat is terrible. This brings up the whole issue of playmats and their backdrops. The image can definitely have a distracting effect, something the designers will have to keep in mind.