Review of Deep-Cut Studio Aerial Fields Game Mat (6' x 4', mousepad)

Blurb from the publisher: 'This is a terrain mat for miniature wargames representing aerial fights of any system and persuasion like the contemporary Blood Red Skies. It is ideal as stand-alone scenery or background for additional terrain elements. This design comes in three different materials, each of them featuring:

- The choice for a premium gaming table.'

What you get: Your EUR 64,90 will buy you the Aerial Fields Game Mat from Deep-Cut Studio in its 6' x 4' (183 x 122 cm) mousepad iteration. The mat comes out in three different materials (PVC, cloth and mousepad), and two different sizes: 4' x 4' (122 x 122 cm) and the present 6' x 4'. The absolute less one can pay is EUR 39,90 for the PVC 4' x 4', while the most expensive article is the one that we are examining together.

The mat depicts a view of cultivated farmland taken from high up in the air, just above the cloud layer. All land is well-cultivated, and crisscrossed by provincial roads. Houses and cottages can be seen at the distance here and there. A few clouds here further enhance the feeling of being high up, with their shadow being cast on the ground at an angle.

The mousepad quality mat has a thickness of around 2 mm, while it is sold within a soft, transparent plastic case with two buttons on top.

The strong points: If I had to use only one word to describe this mat, that word would be 'unique'. Setting aside dedicated mats made by the publishers of games of aerial warfare themselves, there aren't that many designs with a clear sight of the land from more than 1.000 meters up that try to accommodate nothing but aerial warfare. The first game that came to my mind upon seeing it was 3W's Aces High, a WWI hex-based wargame with depictions not dissimilar to the ones here. That game however is out-of-print for ages, while its soft paper, small-sized map cannot possibly compete with the majesty and glory of the present design. I can't think of a single WWI or WWII game that wouldn't use this map to its full extent: the newest Blood Red Skies from Warlord Games that Deep-Cut Studio itself mentions is one example only, seeing how Wings of Glory or even Axis & Allies Air Force Miniatures would fit the bill perfectly. If you wish to be original, you can surprise everybody by having tactical space battles of games like Star Wars X-Wing, Star Trek Attack Wing or Battlestar Galactica Space Battles taking place here, for those situations where that spacecraft has gotten dangerously close to the surface of the planet.

There are a lot of details on the mat, when one deploys and carefully examines it. The clouds and the shadows they cast give a vivid impression of textured elements; on many events the mat prompted me to touch in order to disprove the optical illusion. Very well done! One gets a feeling that he flies somewhere over central or southern Europe, with small and fragmented plots of land. This does not mean however that other locales cannot be simulated. WWI and WWII would fit the bill quite easily, under single caveat: the dog fights or raids have to take place during day time. It would be very interesting to see a night version of the exact same mat, that however would be the niche of a niche. I do not know whether the mat is based on a real picture or whether the whole thing is a computer simulated exercise from the get go, it feels however quite realistic.

When is comes to ease of use, this mat is as good as they get. Things stay where you put them; the mat stays firm on the gaming surface. Even though the mat is rolled for storage, it doesn't lose its flatness. It is flexible, and makes me believe that it will neither become flakey nor it will start breaking up after repeated use.

Having the map available in two different sizes is a plus for those with smaller tables. As expected, the picture in the two sizes is not identical, seeing how one of them is square while one is rectangular.

The weak points: This is a mat dedicated to a particular niche of wargames. There is no legitimate way one can play with ground troops or vehicles on it, unless they have a size of under 15 mm and simultaneously simulate giants roaming the lands. Conversely, the mat might nominally cover starship battles of fighters that are fighting near the planet's surface, this isn't however the first mat that would come to mind for a sci-fi game, no matter how original the thought is.

Even though the mat doesn't host many colours, its numerous and sudden changes from greens to yellows and golds can make similarly coloured tokens relatively hard to spot. This, however, applies to almost all mats with these characteristics.

Like all mats, this one needs some love and care. You wouldn't want to start eating on it, let it become a nesting area for your pets, or expose it to high temperatures or directly to the elements. Treat it nicely, and it might as well last forever.

Like the other mats from Deep-Cut Studio, this map doesn't have rounded corners. As much as I prefer rounded corners myself, this isn't something that would make or break a purchase, and even more so, a mat with a design that is as unique.

Conclusion: The Aerial Fields Game Mat is the most pertinent mat to use for any game with miniature airplanes out there, irrespective of time period. The more you play such games, the more you need it.

To find out more about Deep-Cut Studio take a look at http://www.deepcutstudio.com.

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