Reviewed: Chessex Reversible Battlemat
Graph paper and hex maps have a long history in both the RPG and wargame hobbies. Highly tactical game systems such as those found in Deathwatch, Pathfinder, and D&D 4E, make the use of grid maps almost a necessity. With that in mind, I recently purchased the Chessex1" Square & 1 " Hex Reversible 23 1/2" x 26" Battlemat from The Rusty Scabbard for use in my weekly Rogue Trader campaign.
The battlemat in question is a 23 1/3 by 26 inch vinyl mat with a grid map printed on one side and a hex map printed on the other. Both the grid squares and hexes are scaled for use with miniatures with a standard 1 inch base. However, the key feature of the battlemat is its dry erase surface, allowing a GM to quickly sketch out dungeon corridors, asteroid fields, or any other environment where tactical combat is likely to occur.
The Good
After several uses, I've found the battlemat to be extremely useful. My players have found that the battlemat takes a lot of the guesswork out of combat, and as a GM I'm glad to have something I can use to sketch out dynamic battle locations. A mage destroys a wall with a Magic Missile? Just erase the wall and sketch in some rubble. Also, being vinyl, the mat rolls up for easy storage.
The Bad
I've found this battlemat to have a less erasable surface than I had hoped. The mat is manufactured from a porous vinyl, and as a result standard dry erase markers can stain the surface with smudges after being erased. Unfortunately, dry erase markers were all I had on hand at the time. The manufacturer recommends using a water soluble overhead projections pens, meaning anyone planning to make use of this battlemat will also need to purchase an additional set such pens to avoid permanently staining their boards. However, I have found that lysol and a paper towel will remove most stains provided they are applies within an hour after the ink sets.
Conclusion
In the end, I've found Chessex's double sided battlemat to be incredibly useful, but requiring an inconvenient amount of cleanup and care after use. Provided the use can get ahold of some overhead projector pens they should have no problem.
