GF9's new Dungeons & Dragons Game Mats

[Dire Bare]

I haven't seen a thread on this yet . . .

Gale Force Nine - Welcome!!

GF9 has announced that they are going to release official D&D game mats. The artwork is from prior paper game mats from various WotC products (at least so far), but done up in a nice vinyl format.

 

[thalmin]

Inn of the Welcome Wench! Looking forward to it!

 

[Steel_Wind]

I look forward to seeing these mats "live in concert" at Gencon - if not sooner.

I am not sure whether or not they are superior in use to Paizo's flipmats or not. I do know that GF9's oceanic vinyl mat that they made for use with Wizkids' Pirates of the Spanish Main is a really cool, high quality mat which I still use from time-to-time. So I'm quite interested in these and may pick some up.

Anyway you slice it, I'm a fan of licensed "cool gaming stuff". And this seems to meet the "cool gaming stuff" test, to me.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'm a sucker for maps.

 

[Fifth Element]

These look nice - but are they not double-sided?

 

[Thanlis]

Man, that road is gorgeous but I'm a bit spoiled for dry-erase since Paizo's mats allow it. Also, they're easier to transport. but wow, pretty road.

 

[Nebten]

The King's Road is the same map that comes with Keep on the Shadowfell along with 3 other maps. While it maybe on paper, if they terrian is already there, why draw on it?

With the price being at $20 and only single sided . . . . not seeing the worth.

 

[falcarrion]

if they are as nice as the orginal chessex vinyl game mats then it will be worth it.

 

[darjr]

I want that inn. Very cool. Though I'm not sure that going vinyl was a necessity. I think the classic ones I'll get but the kings road and other more generic ones I might not.

 

[Steel_Wind]

if they are as nice as the orginal chessex vinyl game mats then it will be worth it.

My guess is that the fabrication is very similar to the colored game mat they created for Pirates of the Spanish Main.

That mat was not as thick as the Chessex mat, but is closer in thickness to the Crystal Caste mats, probably a little bit thinner. (If you are familiar with those, the CC mats are most definitely of thinner stock than the Chessex mats). That said, my GF9 mat is of solid construction, rolls up very nicely, lies flat and does not crease if stored properly. Dice still bounce a little more off of it than I would prefer, but it's still a lot better cushion for rolling dice than paper or a laminated Paizo flip mat. Still - it's no Chessex battlemat when it comes to thickness.

The color/ink method for creating the art on the mat was gorgeous and the printed image was of exceptionally high quality with vivid color, compass rose and chart lines to assist in movement and "feel".

They have done another mat for Axis and Allies naval miniatures, but that A&A naval map is far less glamorous than the "Old World" styled PotSM Ocean chart.