Chessex Role Playing Play Mat: Battlemat Double-Sided Reversible Mat for RPGs and Miniature Figure Games (26 in x 23 1/2 in) Squares/Hexes

I'm just getting back into D&D again after a 30+ year hiatus and was looking for a mat like the one our group used to have back in the day. The Chessex Battlemat is perfect as long as you use the recommended wet-erase Stadtler markers. I tried another brand that claimed to be wet-erase, but the color didn't easily wipe off after our session. I was able to remove the marks with a soft rubber eraser and some hard work. With the Stadtler Lumocolor markers and a wet paper towel, the ink just wipes off and the mat looks great!My advice: CAREFULLY TEST ANY MARKERS IN A SMALL AREA BEFORE USING!I really wanted a mat I could roll up when not in use, so this fits the bill nicely. I like how it has a 1 in. square grid on one side and a simlar size hex grid on the back. Worked perfectly for our first adventure and I expect to be using it a lot more in the future.

This is an awesome product. I read the reviews discussing how to deal with creases in the mat and getting it to lie flat, so I was prepared for something a bit rigid. Got mine in the mail the other day and I was very surprised at its pliability.It does look a little small at first, so I figured I'd bust out the new markers I ordered with it and see how many encounters I could put on here. Once I drew out a little 8x8 octagonal room, I was surprised at how well it fit, how clean it actually looked on the mat, and how much space there was left over. You can cram at least 10 dungeon-crawl maps on here with a little careful planning.The ink dried fairly quickly. It stayed with no problems as I ran a few minis across it, and it only smudged when I pushed my thumb down and gave it a good durability test. After about 10 minutes, I used some damp tissue paper and everything came right off and the mat was spotless after just a few wipes.All in all, this is a great tool, and you can use it to place map tiles as well as draw your own simple and very fun encounter maps. I am very excited to put this thing to use this weekend!

A perfect companion for all your RPG needs.I am a relatively new 'dungeon/game master.' As such it can be hard to know what is necessary, helpful, luxury, negligible, or 'more trouble than it's worth.' And of course, some of that boils down to play style or even ruleset. Well, I decided to go in for the battlemat, and I've never looked back. Now, it's by no means "necessary," but I would place this squarely in the "helpful" category... or maybe an "extremely helpful" category. Sure exploration can happen in the world of the mind, interacting with NPC's, even dungeon delving... but if you're drawing up complex encounters then you're going to be writing stuff down *somewhere.* Some people opt for a notebook/paper. I understand that...you'll have it to recollect things, but if you have a full party and you're facing off against more than one enemy, and if there's any sort of terrain complexity (trees, walls) you're going to be using a lot of paper or erasers. The battlemat, though, with hex/square grids on either side instantly simplifies your combat/storytelling.--It's wet erase NOT dry erase which means bumping your hand against a line won't smear it... but you will have to keep a rag/water handy.--The vinyl is extremely durable, and quickly returns to flat when unrolled.--It's large enough for most encounters and even mapping cities or dungeons, but you can fit it onto anything bigger than an end-table.This is the first one I've owned, so I can't compare it to other products, but I can praise the qualities of this one in particular. I DM three campaigns and have for about 8 months, but I can't imagine having a single session without it.

I've had this mat for a little over a year now, and it's been so awesome to have! I've used some of the other alternatives on Amazon, but they're really expensive considering all you get is a laminated sheet of paper. Yeah, you can use Sharpies on those, but the things crease suuuuper easily and they're honestly a pain to work with.This mat, however, is the exact opposite! I've left this thing rolled up in my closet for a few months now (boo, summer hiatus!) and when I rolled it out it looks brand new! And perfectly flat, I might add. I made the mistake of using a blue wet-erase marker on it, and while it says that wet-erase is the way to go, sometimes red and blue can stain it, so just beware. A bit of a pain to get out but not a fatal mistake, fortunately. In my opinion, having a mat of some kind is just as important as your dice, so if you're starting up a group definitely look into it!Recap: This thing rocks and it'll last you for literally years. Works for anything and everything, just watch what markers you use. It'll quickly become a staple in your setup because seriously, it's awesome and worth the cost. :)