Glyfair
Explorer
Steel-Sqwire released the first flip-mat a while ago and it was a hit. The original had hexes on one side and squares on the other. After that success among the D&D audience, they decided to experiment by having the hex side be a preprinted forest path with a square grid. Since then Paizo has reached an agreement with Steel-Sqwire and packaged them as part of their Gamemastery Line..
As a battlemat the flip-mat's have a lot of advantages that make them standout over the more traditional options. They are very portable folding down to 8" x 10" size. Even carrying one around at conventions is trivial. The flip side of this is that getting one to lie flat isn't always easy, even after breaking in the folds. Once you break in the folds they will usually lie flat, but that has its own issues.
Another advantage over other mats is that you can write on them with almost anything. Traditional maps required wet erase overhead projector pens, which can be a bit challenging to find (especially if you want a wide choice of colors). The more modern ones require dry erase markers. The flip-mats, on the other hand, can be written on with dry erase, wet erase, or even permanent markers! That's a lot of flexibility.
I personally haven't had any of residue issues with either wet erase or dry erase markers. Wet erase markers do tend to smear when leaned on, so I recommend dry erase over them, but it's not a major issue. I haven't tried permanent markers for more than a brief corner test, I'm just too wary. However, I've heard that even the marks that don't immediately wipe off come off after being written over with a dry erase marker. I'd avoid permanent markers, myself, but it's good that I don't have to worry about accidentally using one.
The biggest drawback of the flip-mat is the folds. The map ink does stay on the folds when erasing because the paper has broken through the lamination there (at least if they are broken in enough to lay flat). Ink also tends to accumulate against the folds when wiping the mat off. I haven't had an issue with the flip-mat, but I will know better after having used it for a long time.
The flip side of the tavern map has a map of a standard tavern. It's very nicely rendered with a main floor and a smaller second floor. The first floor has the tavern floor, the stables, and the standard assortment of rooms. The second floor has several rooms for the PCs to room in, but it does lack the traditional "common room." It is definitely suitable for a medium sized inn or tavern in your games.
Some groups might quibble over every inn having basically the same layout in your game. This could be solved by using the tavern as a base of operations for your players. You could also have a fantasy "chain" of taverns. I see no reason why Eberron's House Ghallanda wouldn't have a basic layout for their inns with minor modifications (easily made with your markers).
The size of the mat in play is somewhat smaller than I'm used to, only 24" x 30." That still will be large enough for most uses. They are even inexpensive enough that you can lay two together to make a larger map. The only problem with that is the mat does have a border, but it's a minor issue easily dealt with.
The blank side has a green grass-like texture, which is ideal for outdoor encounters. If having a grass-like mat for indoor encounters doesn't meet your needs, there are other mats that can fit your needs, again they are inexpensive.
Yes, the cost is yet another advantage. At $12.99, these mats are very inexpensive. For the cost of my Chessex megamat I can get two of these with change left over. For the cost of the popular Tact-Tiles I can get three of these. That makes buying several an option worth considering.
The flip-mats are a worthy addition to any gamers gaming material. They are inexpensive, portable, flexible and quality products. I highly recommend them.
As a battlemat the flip-mat's have a lot of advantages that make them standout over the more traditional options. They are very portable folding down to 8" x 10" size. Even carrying one around at conventions is trivial. The flip side of this is that getting one to lie flat isn't always easy, even after breaking in the folds. Once you break in the folds they will usually lie flat, but that has its own issues.
Another advantage over other mats is that you can write on them with almost anything. Traditional maps required wet erase overhead projector pens, which can be a bit challenging to find (especially if you want a wide choice of colors). The more modern ones require dry erase markers. The flip-mats, on the other hand, can be written on with dry erase, wet erase, or even permanent markers! That's a lot of flexibility.
I personally haven't had any of residue issues with either wet erase or dry erase markers. Wet erase markers do tend to smear when leaned on, so I recommend dry erase over them, but it's not a major issue. I haven't tried permanent markers for more than a brief corner test, I'm just too wary. However, I've heard that even the marks that don't immediately wipe off come off after being written over with a dry erase marker. I'd avoid permanent markers, myself, but it's good that I don't have to worry about accidentally using one.
The biggest drawback of the flip-mat is the folds. The map ink does stay on the folds when erasing because the paper has broken through the lamination there (at least if they are broken in enough to lay flat). Ink also tends to accumulate against the folds when wiping the mat off. I haven't had an issue with the flip-mat, but I will know better after having used it for a long time.
The flip side of the tavern map has a map of a standard tavern. It's very nicely rendered with a main floor and a smaller second floor. The first floor has the tavern floor, the stables, and the standard assortment of rooms. The second floor has several rooms for the PCs to room in, but it does lack the traditional "common room." It is definitely suitable for a medium sized inn or tavern in your games.
Some groups might quibble over every inn having basically the same layout in your game. This could be solved by using the tavern as a base of operations for your players. You could also have a fantasy "chain" of taverns. I see no reason why Eberron's House Ghallanda wouldn't have a basic layout for their inns with minor modifications (easily made with your markers).
The size of the mat in play is somewhat smaller than I'm used to, only 24" x 30." That still will be large enough for most uses. They are even inexpensive enough that you can lay two together to make a larger map. The only problem with that is the mat does have a border, but it's a minor issue easily dealt with.
The blank side has a green grass-like texture, which is ideal for outdoor encounters. If having a grass-like mat for indoor encounters doesn't meet your needs, there are other mats that can fit your needs, again they are inexpensive.
Yes, the cost is yet another advantage. At $12.99, these mats are very inexpensive. For the cost of my Chessex megamat I can get two of these with change left over. For the cost of the popular Tact-Tiles I can get three of these. That makes buying several an option worth considering.
The flip-mats are a worthy addition to any gamers gaming material. They are inexpensive, portable, flexible and quality products. I highly recommend them.
