Game Mats and Hex Sizes For Naval Thunder

[fluorophil]

Hi all!
I'm interested as to everyone's views on using game mats with their naval games.
I have a few questions regarding these.
1) Who are the manufacturers? (I am aware of Hotz Mats and Corsec Engineering)
2) What size mats would be standard?
3) What are everyone's views on having hexes?
4) What would be a good hex size for 1/2400th scale?
5) What would be a good hex size for 1/6000th scale?
Sorry there are so many questions...
TIA, Phil

[afilter]

I guess a hex mat could be used, but why would you want To?

Seems like it would make ranging easier than intended. Since ships can turn up to 90° a hex map may limit your turns.

If insistasnt I would recomend 1" for 1/6000 and 2" for 1/2400.

I have never bought any, but seen hotz mat highly recomended on the Waar ar Sea fotums.

HTH,

[TheDreadnought]

I'd go at least 3", maybe even 4" if you were playing at 1/2400 scale.

At 1/3000 scale, a 3" hex is pretty much perfect in my experience.

If you're going to play Naval Thunder using hexes, I would just switch to 1 movement point per hex side turned, to keep things simpler. But as afilter mentions, not sure why you would want to switch to hexes.

[afilter]

Harry is correct if you want the ships to fit in the Hex. I guess I was looking at it from a movement standpoint.

Either way one of the greatest appeals of NT to me is the freedom from a grid or hex system which makes movement a bit more realistic IMO and you are not limited to a certain degree turn and it is not a predictable.

The other Naval Game I play is War at Sea and the grid system and lack of facing is one of the major ditractors of the game IMO.

[Bluebear]

I might point out that it also depends upon what period you game in. Pre-Dreadnought 1/2400 ships are much smaller than WWII 1/2400 ships. So IF one wanted to use a hex surface, it would depend upon which era he wished to game.


-- Jeff

[fluorophil]

Thanks Aaron, Harry and Jeff - you all have given me food for thought. I was a little rushed for time on my initial post, and I could have asked more questions.
I am leaning towards more not having hexes now..
To clarify, my navy is mainly 1/6000th WWII (200+), with a few Modern capital ships to throw into the mix.. ;-) (as well as less than 20 1/2400 mainly GHQ)
Sooo..
1)What game mat manufacturer would everyone recommend?
2)What would be considered a good size (and price!) for the mat? I can always put the mat on the carpet, so space is not an issue, but I don't want it to be obscenely large.
3)What colour seems to work best?
Thanks as always for your input! (Someone's got to ask the silly questions - It might as well be me!)
All the best from the Shaky Isles,
Cheers, Phil

[warchariot]

There are several mat makers out there. It really come down to price, size and if you want hexes/squares or not. Try these :

www.theterrainguy.com/4x6fesemat.html

Holz the most popular maps
www.hotzmats.com/1_mat_postage.html

Very expensive mats
www.terrainmat.com/SeaScape1.1.html

These should get you started

[Bluebear]

I might add that it is always worthwhile to take a browse through your local fabric store. You might find a hex-patterned bolt of cloth in a blue that you like.

While it isn't a hex pattern (I wasn't looking for one), I got my vinyl sea surface in a fabric shop.


-- Jeff

[afilter]

Jan 19, 2011 0:46:14 GMT -5 Bluebear said:

I got my vinyl sea surface in a fabric shop.

This is the best bet IMO especially if you have abandoned the Hex concept.

I had used felt in the past and then I saw Marine Vinyl at the Rock Con and was sold. The ships slide nice and easy on the vinyl and it is fairly duarable. Claens up easy as well if you allow drinks near your gaming surface.

It is a little pricey at $14/yrd, so see if oucan find it on sale. Our fabric store had three shades of blue to pick from. I believe the standard is 54" wide and then how ever long you want.

I bought enough to cover my 4'x8' table which was just big enough to do the RJW Battle of Yellow Sea in 1/2400. Using 1/6000 I would think 4'x8' would be large enough for most scenarios. I also scored and empty roll so I can keep mine rolled up for easy storage when not in use.



HTH,

[warchariot]

The vinyl sea surface is a nice idea, one of our group had one, which he found in 72". A piece of PVC pipe works well to roll it up on, that's what Holz maps sends his on.