|
I was browsing the fantastic flip-mats for Starfinder and couldn't help but think that Paizo could probably find a healthy new market for their flip-mats among wargamers if they sold a line of gridless flip-mats.
At 24"x30" they're already just about the perfect size for Warcry and Kill Team (which use a default map size of 22"x30") and if the size could be pushed to 36"x36" they'd be perfect for a massive number of skirmish games, RPGs that don't use grids, and even smaller matches in wargames.
Can they already be used for these games if you ignore the grid? Sure, I've done that myself! But since the miniature gamer crowd tends to like their table to look pretty after all the work we've put into painting models, having a gridless option would be way more enjoyable.
Sure, a couple things would have to be tweaked, like making maps a little less busy (slightly more empty space for moving around) and making sure that things like bridges/doorways/chokepoints/etc. are generally wide enough for a 40-50mm base, but these are really easy things to fix.
The biggest advantage this idea has going for it is that, currently, wargaming mats can be pretty expensive, even the cheaper vinyl ones. And sure, an expensive neoprene mat lies super flat and looks fantastic, but a double-sided mat with gorgeous art that's easy to store and carry with you for $17-$20 (what a flip-mat costs after the usual retailer discounts) would be hard to say no to. Just the idea of having 6-8 different glorious maps to play in for the price of one neoprene mat would send skirmish gamers into a frenzy.