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Rise of the Red Skull gaming mat... The card game space is awesome. Whether it's Collective Card Games (CCG), Living Card Games (LCG), Trading Card Games (TCG), self-contained games using cards or even… using a regular deck of cards, there is just about a game out there for anyone who enjoys time around a table, rather than in front of the TV. Whether it's battling a live opponent to complete destruction, working together to defeat the ultimate villain or going solo to beat all the odds to come out on top, it is an experience unlike any other.
When it comes to the gaming experience, you want the focus to be on playing the game. Not having to hunt for where cards are on the table or which cards are 'live' in the game because one player has their discard pile in a neat pile next to their draw deck, and another chucks them 'wherever as they are dead to them'. Another regular drag can be the difficulty in trying to pick up a card off of a table because you can't get a good grip and either end up chasing the card all over the table or using your nails or force and risk damage to the card.
If you are the host or are showing the game to others, immersion can help increase the enjoyment and keep everyone 'in the game'. When you're powering up your hero and are working out the optimal path to apply the final damage and secure victory, it can take you out of the gaming experience when you look over at the evilest of villains that has been your nemesis for the last hour to check their health and see if you can deliver the final blow, all the while grimacing at the smug grin they have, but then see that the villain is being framed by the decorative floral pattern printed on your Mum's tablecloth. It… changes the experience, and not for the better.
If only there was something that could be portable alongside the card game that could provide a consistent surface to make picking up cards effortless and, at the same time, keep the player immersed in the world by having a background that matches the game at the same time.
Enter the game mat. Specifically the Rise of the Red Skull Game Mat for Marvel Champions (although we won't tell if you use it for other games).
Unboxing
This is a quality, premium mat that is non-slip, so will stay where you deploy it and unrolls flat with ease, even if stored for a time. The surface is smooth, allowing cards to move freely, making it easy to change position or pick up. The size of the mat is great if playing with one or two players, but you'll struggle with any more players and end up having your cards in play off the mat, and instead use the green space for the villain, allies and minions only.
So, it ticks the boxes regarding what you need a gaming mat to do. How about the aesthetics? The predominately green background contrasts nicely against most colours. If used in games of Marvel Champions (and why wouldn't you), the cards that typically are facedown are either yellow or blue (unless you use the sleeves to protect your cards better), so they can be seen nicely. The overall pattern is thematic in the Marvel universe, displaying comic strip-esque graphics. The non-symmetric patterns could be distracting from the game for those who prefer the background to get out of the way or need things to be in order.
Using The Gaming Mat
I use the mat for all my Marvel Champion games, and it has seen a lot of use, easily over 100 games. The mat size is perfect for one player to have all the cards in the area. For two players, it works, but things can get 'snug' quickly. For three or more players, you either need to use this game mat for central aspects (villains, allies or minions) or have a player use an extra individual game mat to extend the play space.
It shows no signs of wear or tear, including less-than-ideal storage and handling. It's been rolled up, had things stored on top of (while rolled up) and even been folded up instead of rolled (the horror). This game mat survived unscathed, unrolling flat without any creases or bumps.
Final Verdict
This Rise of the Red Skull gaming mat smooths the experience of playing card games and is primarily a colour contrasting nicely with the cards used in Marvel Champions. If you don't have a gaming mat or want one that keeps the game within the Marvel universe, you can't go wrong with this!
