When we play Epic we very often play on a 9 x 5 feet table. So with two 4 x 4 mats there is a 15 ctms wide free out of limits perimeter to deploy cards, dices...

8 x 4 is enought to play 600 pts games with ease. For 300 pts Epic play sometimes one 4 x 4 mat is enought. If not, two 3 x 3

Perhaps I have played too much cramped minis wargames with too much minis on a too small table. And when whe played hex and counters air warfare games there was plenty of space to maneuver. When exchanged 3 x 3 mats by 4 x 4 feel better.

To my taste this is the smaller game surface needed to play Epic. To deploy Epic ships 3 feet is too short. Turbolasers firing since turn 1.

Do you like big mats?

I've generally found that all a wider mat does is delay the initial engagement. On a 3x3 mat, you'll have combat on the second or third turn of the game. If you make it a 4x4, you're adding at least a turn to that. Plus a wider mat makes it easier for ships to get "stranded" away from the main engagement, which isn't something I'm a fan off. The 6' length of a standard Epic table can do that easily enough without adding more width as well...

So, you like big mats and you cannot lie?

Exciting post, Rodafowa.

YAH... BIG IS Better!

the 4x4 mat is good for the double cross games.. when you got 4 players playing on the same mat, with the folks on opposite sides attacking each other..

3 hours ago, Rodafowa said:

So, you like big mats and you cannot lie?

You other gamers can't deny

I have a 4x3 mat for Epic games. It gives you a turn to plan and move before your opponent is in range. It works for me. 6x3 wouldn't fit on my table anyway and would just add positioning rounds to an already long format.

5 hours ago, Jarval said:

I've generally found that all a wider mat does is delay the initial engagement. On a 3x3 mat, you'll have combat on the second or third turn of the game. If you make it a 4x4, you're adding at least a turn to that. Plus a wider mat makes it easier for ships to get "stranded" away from the main engagement, which isn't something I'm a fan off. The 6' length of a standard Epic table can do that easily enough without adding more width as well...

I've played 600 points on 6x6 and been partly engaged by round 2 and fully engaged by round 3. You know nothing is happening round 1 but maneuvering, so set dials, blow off actions, and reset dials. It gives you a chance to faint and reposition.

I've played often on 4x4 tables as the local game store made these 2x2 boards that were air brushed to look like space. So, eventually people put painters tape to mark out 3x3, but I've often played on the 4x4. I really like it, too. It's fun to boost the points a bit or put more obstacles on it.