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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeff Wilder" data-source="post: 4266187" data-attributes="member: 5122">I own three different kinds of battlemats, and have tried a fourth.  My comments on each below.(1) Chessex (I own both a megamat and the smaller version) -- This is, IMO, the classic.PROS -- Big, nice to write on (good tactile feel), holds wet-erase ink well, doesn't smudge too much.CONS -- Not particularly portable (although not hurt by rolling and/or folding), projector pens with red ink (including mixed color pens) stain pretty easily, wet erase is a little messy to clean.(2) Flip-Mats -- I own literally all of these that have been released, and will continue to buy them.PROS -- Amazing portability, use any kind of marker, pre-drawn locations on reverse, pretty cheap (~$14 each).CONS -- Not perfectly flat (counter-folding, which should be done with these, helps, but it's still not ideal), not very large, pre-drawn locations can be a little too specific.(3) Homemade vinyl mat -- A friend just gave me this 40" x 72" mat for my birthday.  He made it at the graphics joint where he works.PROS -- Huge and long, fits my poker/game table perfectly; use both wet- and dry-erase.CONS -- Very expensive ($200 or so), least portable of all options, probably too big for most gamers' tables.(4) Crystal Caste mat -- A friend tried this after getting one cheap at GenCon and gave it away after one use, buying a Chessex mat.PROS -- Pretty much the same as the Chessex mat, except less tactile feel when drawing.CONS -- Ink beads and lines are thus faint; this was a deal-breaker.I can also reiterate the recommendation for 1"-gridded easel pads.  I haven't used mine as much as I'd like, but on those occasions when I have, it's worked great.  If you've got a location that will see repeated use, drawing it on a sheet of this -- in color or black-and-white -- will really add to your game.The paper is, well, paper, so I recommend laminating your work.  And check the width of your laminator before drawing ... I have to trim three inches from the sheets to fit the laminator, and you don't want to find that out after drawing your masterpiece.</blockquote>

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