Over the past few months, yapping with fellow gamers in stores, some say a 4x4 mat, is best for when playing with the 5 epic ships for Xwing. other's feel a 3x6 mat is good. Only one said, "just keep with the base 3x3 mat"..

So what do you all say?? Keep it small, on a 3x3 mat? go up one ft each way, or do a long one? Do you use other sizes?

I always go 6x3. Initially, I felt 4x3 would be enough but I was wrong.

If you have the space, 6x4 works well for regular epic or team epic games, the extra foot of space on the width gives you a bit of extra maneuver and setup room in the first 1 or 2 rounds, making it a bit less forced into a set joust and brawl in the beginning of the match.

6x4 if you can. My 'big' table barely fits 6x3, which is 2 normal 3x3 mats.

But most games end up on 6x3.

6x3.

First of all, it is conveniently 2 standard mats side-by-side.

Second, while there will be some turns of movement without engagement, more space makes the battle feel less like shooting fish in a barrel. Arc dodgers have some space to hide in. Micro-engagements will arise and ships can "come to the rescue."

Third, setting up on the short edge vs. long edge can really change how the battle unfolds. The variety is fun.

7 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

6x3.

First of all, it is conveniently 2 standard mats side-by-side.

Second, while there will be some turns of movement without engagement, more space makes the battle feel less like shooting fish in a barrel. Arc dodgers have some space to hide in. Micro-engagements will arise and ships can "come to the rescue."

Third, setting up on the short edge vs. long edge can really change how the battle unfolds. The variety is fun.

Pretty much what I was going to say.

Hm.. Seems like i need to get 2 mats.. Though i am not sure if i want the official ones (as i won't be doing Any tornament play, just running HOAC), or try to get material and make my own..

Playing with 2 cards Huge Ships on the table, better 6x4. Well tested to play Epic or Double Epic. 6x3 is not the best option if you deploy 2 CR 90 and your oponents 2 Raiders. They are too large.

And Epic feels better if you play with objectives, reinforcements, reserves, Hidden initial setup, Hiperspace entry points. Yeah, 6x4. Or 5x4. But try to expand from 3' to 4'.

Hey everyone,

I know most people use a 6x3 gaming area... but does anyone run it the "long" way with each fleet starting at the far ends (6 feet away) instead of the "short" way (3 feet away) when playing?

7 hours ago, RedKnightRob said:

Hey everyone,

I know most people use a 6x3 gaming area... but does anyone run it the "long" way with each fleet starting at the far ends (6 feet away) instead of the "short" way (3 feet away) when playing?

For my custom scenarios, I always set up and play the “long” way. I have a custom Nebulon-B and a custom Arquitens. They’re both 19-1/2” (50 cm) long have a firing range of 5. They shoot soon enough. Plus, my scenarios are typically “Cinematic Play”. Playing the “long” way helps to set up the “scenes” better.

20 minutes ago, weisguy119 said:

...my scenarios are typically “Cinematic Play”...

Nice!

I would love to read your scenarios. I might have to play some "cinematic" ones myself.

11 minutes ago, RedKnightRob said:

Nice!

I would love to read your scenarios. I might have to play some "cinematic" ones myself.

Here’s the synopsis for my next large Cinematic Play scenario (coming soon!):

General Dodonna, operating on sensitive intel, has found the location of an asteroid base used by the Imperial Department of Military Research for testing TIE Fighter prototype models.

After luring the base's Star Destroyer and one of its Arquitens cruiser escorts to a nearby system in a feint operation, General Dodonna springs his attack.

His force, consisting of the Nebulon-B Frigate command ship Vanguard, a CR-90 corvette, a DP-20 Frigate, 2 GR-75 fire ships, 6 X-wings, 2 Y-wings, 2 A-wings and 2 B-wings is bolstered by the presence of such superior starfighter pilots as Wedge Antilles, Dutch Vander and Derek "Hobbie" Klivian.

Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Thrawn has seen through the diversionary ruse and ordered the Star Destroyer and Arquitens to take the bait while he lies in wait.

Believing in economy of force, the skill of his pilots and his own supreme strategic intellect, Thrawn takes command of the remaining Arquitens Command Cruiser and 2 Raider-class corvettes. He brings two TIE Defender Elites, led by Vult Skerris, from his pet project on Lothal and puts out a call across the Empire for elite pilots to deal a knockout blow to the upstart Rebellion.

Admiral Garrick Versio answers the call by sending 3 Special Forces TIEs (Inferno Squad TIE prototypes) led by Gideon Hask in his TIE Interceptor.

Already familiar with the ships, first-rate test pilots Maarek Stele and Soontir Fel are deployed by the wishes of the Emperor himself. They are tasked to lead the 4 prototype TIEs being tested at the facility, two of which are advanced scout ships designed to locate the ever-elusive Rebel forces. Protection of the scout ships is vital to the operation as they will provide precise targeting information for Thrawn's defense force.

Rounding out Thrawn's force are two brand new Assault Gunboats, the pride and joy of Cygnus Spaceworks.

Thrawn seeds the nearby asteroids with adolescent and juvenile Exogorths as well as proximity mines. The defenses are completed with 4 laser batteries surrounding the base, which has its own point defense turrets.

Can General Dodonna slip his GR-75 fire ships through Thrawn's defenses, dealing a blow to Imperial weapons development or will Thrawn deal a serious setback to the Rebel scum?

On 10/25/2018 at 12:51 PM, RedKnightRob said:

Hey everyone,

I know most people use a 6x3 gaming area... but does anyone run it the "long" way with each fleet starting at the far ends (6 feet away) instead of the "short" way (3 feet away) when playing?

For me, it depends on the nature of the scenario.

If it is more of a straight up confrontation (here's the objective, now fight for it), I have the players set up on the long edge of the board, so that they are immediately into the fray.

If movement is a bigger deal (crossing thru enemy territory, reinforcements will arrive at some point) or there is a lot of "furniture" (a space station, an immobile ship as a target), I will have players set up on the short edges of the board so there is some run up time, or to give a feeing of distance. HOWEVER, I usually allow things to deploy out to Range 3, otherwise there can be 3-4 turns of Dials for Miles before anything happens. It also gives space in the backfield for the "furniture" (i.e., the defender can deploy in front of the thing to be defended).

On 10/25/2018 at 1:51 PM, RedKnightRob said:

Hey everyone,

I know most people use a 6x3 gaming area... but does anyone run it the "long" way with each fleet starting at the far ends (6 feet away) instead of the "short" way (3 feet away) when playing?

Both can work. I like setting up on the shorts edges so you have more time to set up waves of interceptors, air superiority escorts and then bombers all heading out to engage while the command ships stay back and offer long range support. It feels more tactical to me that way. But sometimes, you just want to go shoot stuff so getting everything into battle early can be fun too.