Man Battlestations Forum

Other Naval Games => Space Naval Games => Topic started by: Landlubber on February 24, 2016, 10:33:59 pm

Title: New Space Mat!
Post by: Landlubber on February 24, 2016, 10:33:59 pm

I was getting a little tired of using my "space mat" from the fabric store, so I decided to use the method I used for my X-Wing mat to make a new space mat for larger fleet games. I headed over to the Hubble image gallery website, picked an image, imported it into the banner builder at Banners On the Cheap.com, and here is the result!

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4073_zpsn6crnxy5.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4073_zpsn6crnxy5.jpg.html)

The colored area is 4'x6', so I'll need to trim the white edges off to make it fit on the table.

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4078_zpsztu5yfog.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4078_zpsztu5yfog.jpg.html)

It's not perfect; it looks fine at arm's length, but up close you can see some pixelation:

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4074_zps38q9vibr.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4074_zps38q9vibr.jpg.html)

I think that's probably unavoidable; the Banners on the Cheap website has a file size limitation.

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4077_zps7oqdjj8e.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4077_zps7oqdjj8e.jpg.html)

But I'm still pretty happy with it. Total cost was under $50, including shipping. Hopefully I'll get some action shots with it next week!

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4075_zpswb9fysts.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Miscellaneous/IMG_4075_zpswb9fysts.jpg.html)

Thanks for looking!

Title: Re: New Space Mat!
Post by: Ruckdog on February 25, 2016, 06:54:30 am

Nice! Yeah, the pixilation up close is a bit of a bummer, but you can't beat the price! Most other 4x6' gaming mats I've seen start at around $100. I've been thinking of picking up a space mat myself, so I'll have to keep this option in mind.

Title: Re: New Space Mat!
Post by: Landlubber on February 25, 2016, 02:21:30 pm

Like I said, this is my second mat using this method, and I'm pretty happy. You really only notice the pixelation if you're looking for it, and to be honest when you're engaged in a game you usually aren't staring at the mat--it's background. This fits the bill, I think.

The other nice thing about this is that it is unique. There aren't a whole lot of options out there right now for 4'x6' space gaming mats (although there seem to be a ton in 3'x3', thanks no doubt to the popularity of X-Wing and Star Trek: Attack Wing). The Frontline Gaming mats are very nice, to be sure, but they only have one pattern for space mats. Unless someone else has used this exact same image to make a gaming mat, you likely won't see another mat like this.

Title: Re: New Space Mat!
Post by: Ulric the Grey on March 03, 2016, 11:35:11 am

Looks Beautiful man. Can't wait to see it down here in the springs.

Title: Re: New Space Mat!
Post by: Landlubber on March 04, 2016, 02:06:53 am

Thanks!

Used it for the first time on Monday--Halo Fleet Battles at the Haven:

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4104_zpseonrunxp.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4104_zpseonrunxp.jpg.html)

Here's my opponent's ORS hiding behind a derelict space station:

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4105_zps7epekhjl.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4105_zps7epekhjl.jpg.html)

SDV heavy corvettes leading the charge around an asteroid clump:

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4106_zpsihnmph8w.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4106_zpsihnmph8w.jpg.html)

Standing tall against the Covenant:

(http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr186/landlubber2011/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4107_zpsuuyibxer.jpg) (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/landlubber2011/media/Tabletop%20Wargaming/Halo--Fleet%20Battles/Halo--Fleet%20Battles%20Battle%20Reports/IMG_4107_zpsuuyibxer.jpg.html)

I really am pretty happy with how the mat turned out. May get some Firestorm Armada pics this weekend.

Title: Re: New Space Mat!
Post by: Dakkar on March 04, 2016, 08:15:41 am

It's weird how the pixelation is only a bother in close up, but at tabletop height the whole thing pops!