Emrico said:

Yeah, I didn't see the prices until after I posted the link…I'll stick with my HOTZ matt.

I would personally prefer a low-key background that doesn't stand out too much.  The ships are supposed to be the "stars."

The cheapest solution I've found is here.  A mere $13 after shipping for a 36"x44" star background.

http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Twinkle-Stars-Midnight-Fabric/dp/B0081UJ5P2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1351200507&sr=8-4&keywords=star+fabric

Another possibility if you want something heftier and don't care about the thematic pattern is this.

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Solid-Super-RF34B-Bike/dp/B00186NOK8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351200752&sr=8-2&keywords=rubber+mat

If you have a Walmart nearby, this is an option.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/VIP-Fabrics-Anything-Goes-Fabric-Cosmos-Black/17189991

Hi guys! I'm new to the game, only have the starter set, but I've ordered some more ships that will hopefully turn up soon :)

I made a space mat, by getting a big hubble telescope photo of a nebula, sizing it to the dimension of my gaming table, then using PosteRazor to cut it up into a PDF file of A4 pages. I printed it out, laminated, cut out, and taped together to make a spacey gaming table :) It's a bit glossier than I thought it would be, so it's hard to get photos without reflections showing, but it turned out all right.

I also printed, resized, posterazored and cut/taped a desert planet image I found on Google, to make a planet I can sit on the map as a backdrop piece, and also did the same thing with the Corellian Corvette piece on X-Wing Miniature Game's Board Game Geek pages. Love the Corvette!

I tried to host them on photobucket so I could display them here, but for some reason, photobucket is really buggy at the moment, so I've just linked to the images direct, from my star wars minis blog.

2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nYq_S8qoBc/UJYIxUk4HdI/AAAAAAAADnw/OtvZvXMsYHQ/s1600/bigger+view.JPG

2.bp.blogspot.com/-egMvj-EvxkE/UJYI7lHwPtI/AAAAAAAADn4/0TbtPaH_JwE/s1600/close+up+1.JPG

1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxG8XXDdUuE/UJYJSgmcb0I/AAAAAAAADoA/cfckAALn1N8/s1600/planet+overlay.JPG

1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_mMFnd9tc4/UJYJwHdLHFI/AAAAAAAADoQ/0YWhDP5MJ-E/s1600/star+wars+x-wing+002.JPG

I thought I'd have a go at doing a mat, so I found a suitable Hubble image, but added a couple of colored bars to mark out the play areas (3' x 3'  & 3' x 4')

This is the final version I used:

I made the file full size (1000mm x 1300mm) @ 300dpi, so the image was quite big and had to send it through the mail.  In under 5 working days, the printers sent the mat as you can see from the snaps below.

I just didn't realise how bright the centre of this image is…

I added faded color strips to mark off a 3' x 3' (green) & a 3' x 4' (red) and I think it works well

Almost all of it, couldn't get it all in….

This is a shot of the material the mat is made of. Its quite thick, but looks hard wearing.

I am quite happy with the results, so I'll definitely do another (or two…

The custom mat was £25, then add the delivery & taxes and it was just under £40.

This was through www.printed.com (UK based) and a custom banner (with no eyelets)

My mat 3 x 3. Cost £25 after postage.

 I am looking at getting my map at bannersonthecheap.com it cost me 20 dollars (including shipping) here goes the image I came up with

resized the image to fit the screen, have set up areas marked in white and the center is marked for where you can place astroids

 For those who spent all their money on models and have only pocket change for mats,  3x3 black felt cloth is available prepackaged at AC Moore craft stores for about $8 US. Go online and get a 50% off one store item coupon.  

Emrico said:

while i agree that the corsec mats might be a bit overkill for x-wing, they're FANTASTIC quality made from excellent fabric and with nicely sewn edges.  they're the most durable and great-looking pre-made gaming products i've ever used.  cor-sec rules.

that said, i definitely am currently using an MKP mat wrapped around some 2" insulation foam for x-wing, and saving the cor-sec mat for my other, larger-scale spaceship games.

also, some of you guys have been really creative with the subtle multi-colored maps you're making!  super cool stuff!

Harleequin said:

I should read more forum posts before jumping in and buying things. I saw the first post about hotz, got excited and ordered one, and then came back here to the rest of the discussion… Is customer service always this bad, or was this just a one-off experience??

I really want that mat!!

I'm throwing in with Corsec Engineering. Quite impressed with what I've seen, and the fact that he's improving on the Blue Stars pattern is even better. 

Jonathan has been very prompt with his emails and was good enough to discuss some of his processes via email. Very impressed, and I've found the mat itself to be acceptable price-wise despite shipping half-way around the world, in comparison to what it would cost to get it done locally.

He is also making custom flight stands and firing arc templates for those interested. The only downside to the stands so far is that there is no way to mount the ship number chits.

http://corseceng.com/

 Kierto: From where did you order?

 What size mat do you guys recommend? I figured 3' x 3' should be fine for most games, though 4' x 6' sounds more future proof.

Here is the pics from my recent game.

 I ordered a Hotz mat about 4 months ago, 6'x4' double sided with hexes on one side for another space game play. I have sent him numerous emails with little to no communication except to say it would be ready soon. It has been 6 weeks since my last contact with the man.

Though the quality and price is right, Eric Hotz has a LOT to learn about how to treat customers. I can guarantee when (if!) I get my mat it will be the last order I make with him.