Gridded mats

[Alex M]

Due to the problems at tiny wargames does anyone have any recommendations of good gridded mat suppliers ?

[usagitsuki]

Simon Miller sells some Deep Cut ones if you want to avoid the postage from Lithuania.

https://bigredbatshop.co.uk/collections/all/battle-mats

[Alex M]

Thank you I'll give it a look

[martin goddard]

I would suggest you buy any "normal" mat and put black spots on it with a thick marker pen. That is what I do for all my mats Alex.

martin

[Sean Clark]

I've just done that with a Geek Villain mat.

It's relatively easy to do, but I always end up slightly messing it up 😂

Fortunately the exact size of each square isn't critical so long as they are there or there abouts and you have the right number of squares on your grid.

[usagitsuki]

I measure up the grid and put a penny coin at each intersection first, then double check the whole thing before painting a dot where the pennies are. Like Sean said, you don't have to be too exact, so it's easy enough to do yourself.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Make a template about 2 ft x 18 inches with holes in the middle and nicks along the edge to mark up the 6 inch Squares ?
Makes life a lot easier, when you get the mat mark out the top or side with appropriate dots and line the template up. Repeat.
Miles

[Sean Clark]

What a clever idea Miles.

[Alex M]

Thank you for the suggestions gents

[Leman (Andy)]

I'm pretty certain both Geek Villain and DeepCut will apply tiny crosses instead of full grids if you request them. Personally I prefer the full grid. All my gridded mats are DeepCut and the grid lines are really fine. Now that different RFCM rules have different sized grids it might be better to use small bushes, rocks, or low level L shaped pieces to mark grids.

[martin goddard]

Stewart and I marked up a mat the other day.
15 minutes work and all done.
Very simple and very easy.

martin

[mellis1644]

From past experience if you use a sharpie pen for the marks, I recommend you ensure that the ink does not go through the fabric - otherwise you may end up marking whatever you were doing it on.

I lesson learn from shall we say not my most popular move - but at least it was not on a tabletop.

[Bankinista]

Are there reasons, which cannot be ignored, as to why there are a variety of different grid sizes? It would be better for players, (although maybe not cloth manufacturers) if a game was either gridded or not. Are there reasons why there is a need for different sized grids?

Derek of Cambridge

[martin goddard]

Good question Derek.

A conversation I often come across when presenting an RFCM game.
Using different mats for different games can annoy some gamers but that is accepted. They are unlikely to play an RFCM game anyway.

HI uses hexagons.
CK uses rectangles.
BB does not have a grid.
The rest are 6" grids on 4x3,  5x3 and 4x4 mats.

I buy a separate  mat for each game I play. Mats can be made for £6 upwards to £60, which I find most affordable.  This is cheap and allows the mat to be stored with the troops. I would put that into context by saying  I am happy to spend £70 on scenery for a game too. That will seem outrageous to many . The visual aspect of a game really matters to me.

The 5x3 mat can be used for FM,TCR,BI and others.

For most games I prefer an appropriate  colour. I am not keen on the "green for everything" mode of gaming.
e.gs. For FM I use a scrub type mat. For PBI desert I have a desert mat. For ECW I have a green mat. For Europe I have a patterned green mat,  etc.

If a game is played rarely then the cost of the mat  rises in proportion to the enjoyment had playing that game. That is accepted.

I see the price of a game mat as minimal compared to the money spent on troops and scenery.
The mat does set the scene, literally, for games.

The thinking behind RFCM rules is that the mat must fit the game rather than the other way around. If the game uses armies that deploy closer then the mat is less deep (CK). If game needs depth and width then a square (PBI) mat.

The WRG 40mm frontage dominates 15mm ancients. CK ignores this and makes the bases more useful for basing figures and handling. All those ancient figure rules overhanging or overfilling their bases  just to tempt WRG players.

Many popular games use a 6x4 mat that covers the whole table. Then players dump all their  detritus on the game mat. I really dislike that unavoidable mess up.
"Sorry they are not dead, they are reserves that just happen to be in the same place as the dead". "I will just place my rule book on top of the rear regiments along with my drink can, dice, measuring sticks and counters".


The above suits RFCM players who are in an accepted  minority.  We happy few.

martin

[Sean Clark]

Ah...the old 'hide your reinforcements under a rule book' trick. That one never fails 😁

Actually regarding different size grids...it's the number of grids that's important really. C&K can be played on 12x6 sized grids if required. As mentioned elsewhere I'm in the process of ordering bespoke scenery for this and Bloody Barons, but these can be used in any non gridded game too if i choose.