Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Basic Terrain Multi-Pack

There’s not a lot to say about the Basic Terrain Multi-Pack beyond the basics you can read about in the product description. It’s a set of two 24x30 inch gridded mats that, as with all Paizo flip-mats, accepts wet erase, dry erase, or even permanent marker. Each side of the mats is a different colour and is very lightly textured to serve as an otherwise-featureless landscape: grasslands, stone floor, water, and street. By “otherwise-featureless”, I mean that these are uniform in pattern—there aren’t any fallen trees in the grasslands or broken cobblestones in the street. But to me that’s okay, as it’s not the point of the set and other flip-mats exist that provide that additional layer of detail. In terms of the colouring and texture that are there, I think each side is a good representation except that the “street” side doesn’t seem particularly evocative of anything at all.

In terms of usefulness, I think it’s really going to depend on the level of immersion you want players to have during encounters. Featureless grids aren’t hard to find, and the Bigger Basic flip-mat could stand-in for any of these terrains. But if you’re vexed with players who are like “why is the ocean a light tan”, then having terrain-specific but detail-free flip-mats could be useful. I don’t have those players and don’t use this set very often, though it’s always handy, of course, to have some extra mats available to pre-draw certain encounters. And if you don’t already have any blank flip-mats, then this is a good value and worth the purchase.

Ever since I discovered the Pathfinder game, I've been hooked. I've had to use blank, white grids that we couldn't draw on to play. So I finally bought this Flip-Mat set.

Wish I didn't.

These don't sit flat. It's clear that the ink will get stuck in the creases. I have just purchased the official "Adventure Grid" for the 5th edition of the world's oldest role-playing game. There really is no comparison between the two products. The Grid is thicker and folds out flat and straight. I'll be using that and these Flip-Mats will stay on the shelf.

Can't believe I'm about to say this about a Pathfinder product .... but stay away from this one, it's not worth it.

The GM sale was going on recently, and even though I already have a sizeable flip mat collection, I had $20 burning a hole in my pocket. I figured that any self-respecting GM should at least have the maps labeled "basic" in their collection.

I was very pleasantly surprised by what I received.

First off, I received it only two business days after I placed the order, and I placed the order later in the day. So, I was very satisfied with the delivery speed.

I do have to echo with the others that the printing of these flip mats is kind of dark. The flip mats don't have to glow neon, but a few shades lighter would do wonders to help accent the details.

There are details. Sure, for the most part, these flip mats are just repeated designs, but there are intricacies to the patterns that make them interesting.

Here is why these are useful:

* If you also have a collection of map packs, these flip mats make a very useful base to put all of the smaller map pack cards on top of. This helps complete the picture, and it gives the characters room to move around and up to the map pack objects. One of the drawbacks of using the map packs is that if you just use them on a gaming table, they are small, and seem to just be floating in space. Putting them on top of these maps helps ground them.

* These fold up just like the other flip mats and can be carried with your books in your backpack. Then just fold them out, and use markers on them. After the game, just wipe them off and fold them back up. Easy peasy. Very transportable.

* The four terrains are the main four terrains that characters will encounter, and in my opinion, they offer a variety of terrains that the rest of the library of flip mats just doesn't offer.

I would say that for newer GMs starting out, this should be one of the first accessories that they buy - along with a set of markers. And seasoned GMs will really appreciate the versatility of these flip maps.

...so-so execution.

I love the design of this product, and I believe they went with a good mix of terrain types. Unfortunately, only the dungeon floor pattern is light/sparse enough to really show wet erase markers. Alas, if only the other textures were lighter and/or less busy, this would easily be a five-star product. As it is, you're better off sticking with Flip-Mat: Basic.

(***--)

If you are attracted to the flip-mats but don't have the resources to buy lots, buy these. The package contains two double-sided mats. One is watery on one side and covered in light stone tile on the other. The other features meadow-like terrain and worn flagstone on the other. While the particular point of these is that they are largely "blank" with very little detailing, there are a lot of nice subtle touches to the design that makes these more desirable to have than the basic flip-mat--for example, shallow puddles dispersed across the flagstone, areas of strewn rocks and light undergrowth on the meadow. The detail is well designed without being distracting or getting in the way of items you may wish to place or draw on the mat.

I expect these will mesh very well with a number of map cards from the map packs, so you could create an endless variety of landscapes with these and the cards, or of course you can draw or embellish as you see fit with whatever tools you have at your disposal.

My only complaints are relatively minor:
First, as with all of the flip mats, I wish the brightness and saturation was turned up just a notch on the color; in particular the flagstone one needs to be a tad lighter and show more contrast, and the meadow is more of an ooky green than nice grass green. None of these are TOO dark, but most save the stone-tile side perhaps a bit dull, and I always prefer lighter, brighter mats upon which anything I draw will show up brilliantly. I am being nitpicky here, in full admission--these work fine as they are, but lighter or brighter would be even better in my opinion.

Second, I wish the water side had been a cave floor/darklands floor instead (perhaps usable for wasteland terrain as well). You are FAR more likely to need such terrain than you are ever going to need a blank water mat. While you can use the stone tile or flagstone maps for dungeons, something for natural terrain would have been ideal. Also, if you're really wanting water terrain, you're likely to want to be purchasing one of the other water-scene-based flip mats, many of which also have blank water sides, and I can't imagine needing more than one. However again if this is all you're getting in flip mats, this will absolutely cover a wide range of needs.

It is still a nice, practical product and I look forward to using these extensively.