Maps & terrain · Battle mat · Pathfinder · Kingmaker

Pathfinder Flip-Mat: River Kingdom Ruins Multi-Pack Review

From Paizo

Hands-onHit
  • Both Flip-Mats folded: a swamp map and a ruined tower in a grassy field
  • A painted tree-creature miniature standing on the river crossing map, the grid clear across the water
  • The river crossing map laid out with fold lines and window glare across its glossy surface
  • The Pathfinder Second Edition Kingmaker Flip-Mat River Kingdom Ruins Multi-Pack cover, which says wet, dry and permanent markers erase from the mat
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Score

Hit

Blaine

Quality
17/20
Usability
13/20
Look
19/20
Value
20/20

17 + 13 + 19 + 20 = 69 ÷ 4 = 17.3 , rounded to 17

Joe

No score/20

Was on After Hours with Odette.

Hands-on: we've had this in our hands and put it through its paces, but haven't used it in a session yet. Scores reflect the product, not how it holds up at the table.

Filed under battle mats and terrain. How we score

What works

  • Great art on all four maps
  • Thick, durable material with a clear grid
  • Two Flip-Mats for about the price of one

What doesn't

  • Ships folded, and the thick material takes a while to flatten
  • Glossy surface glares, though less than vinyl
  • Scene-specific maps get less use than basic terrain
Get it on Amazon

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Two double-sided Flip-Mats with four ruins maps built for the Kingmaker campaign. The art is great, the material is tough, and at the price I paid it's a steal. The catch is they're scene-specific, and like every Paizo Flip-Mat, they ship folded.

What I reviewed

The Pathfinder Second Edition Kingmaker Flip-Mat: River Kingdom Ruins Multi-Pack. It's two double-sided Flip-Mats, so four maps: an overgrown keep, a river crossing, a swamp settlement and a forgotten shrine. I got it on Amazon for $14.49 on sale, along with a bunch of Kingmaker second edition books.

I've opened it and laid the maps out, but I haven't used them at the table yet, so this is a hands-on look, not a playtest.

Quality17/20

The material is thick and durable, which is what I expect from Paizo Flip-Mats. The box says wet, dry and permanent markers all erase from the mat. I haven't tested that on this pack yet, but wet-erase and dry-erase markers have worked on the other Paizo Flip-Mats I own.

The biggest downside of any Paizo Flip-Mat is the folds. They ship folded, and because the material is thick, they take a while to flatten out unless you store them flat. Right out of the box, you can see the fold lines, and the mat doesn't lie fully flat. That's a slight pain mid-game. One storage idea I've seen online, but haven't tried, is hanging them open on a rolling clothes rack with clamps so you can flip through them.

Usability13/20

These maps are specific. They're made for Kingmaker, and outside that campaign they work best for one-shots or random travel encounters. My basic-terrain Flip-Mats get more use, but these are great to have when the scene fits.

The surface is glossy, so it glares under light. It's not as bad as the vinyl mats I own, but it's still something to plan around if you film or play under bright lights.

Look19/20

Paizo's Flip-Mat art is almost always great, and these are no exception. The river crossing and the ruined keep look fantastic with minis on them.

Value20/20

I paid $14.49 for two Flip-Mats. A single Flip-Mat usually runs $14.99 to $19.99, so even at full price this pack is a great deal.

Who it's for

GMs running Kingmaker, and anyone who wants a few great-looking ruins maps ready for one-shots and random encounters.

The verdict

A 17 out of 20, a Hit. Gorgeous maps and a great price. Just plan on giving them time to lie flat.

Get it on Amazon

Affiliate link. It costs you nothing extra, and we may earn a small commission. Rather we not get a cut? Here's the plain link.