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Zuzzy mat review
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=23580		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  WestSide [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:14 am ]
Post subject:  Zuzzy mat review
I usually play at home, I pretty much always used the standard green mat or my city scape tiles I made from floor tiles.

Well I started to get real sick of the Citadel green carpet. It just looks to pristine and cheery and I really wanted something that looked grim dark and only war, like my city tiles, but a field.

The problem for me was I really don't have the space for a dedicated gaming room and to keep the pax imperialis in my personal universe I can't really have a bunch of loose sand, grit, etc. slowly eroding all over the house. I really became intruiged when I discovered Zuzzy mats: http://zuzzy.com/

These mats are basically a sheet of rubber with a pattern molded into it. The mats come in various styles and are very reasonably priced. I generally play rather low point games of Epic so I purchased a 3' x 4' Sulfur Fields Gaming Mat. The mat only cost 30.55 USD and shipping was 10.08 USD.

The mat took almost a month to arrive, but when it arrived I was really impressed. The mat is sent in a cardboard box wrapped around a cardboard tube. The manufacturer recommends you keep these items to help store the mat, sounds like a good idea to me.
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out of the tube.jpg
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The manufacturer also suggests painting with pretty much just washes and dry brushing. According to Zuzzy, if you use too thick of paint and try to roll it up the paint my crack, if you stick with the washes you won't have that problem. Zuzzy put some really nice details on the mat, so painting just with washes was a quick and easy process that gave great results. I just used three different concentrations of an ochre wash, a different concentration on each distinct terrain detail. Then I dry brushed everything with a light grey house paint.
Attachment:
ochre wash.jpg
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Zuzzy mats not only are very affordable, but they paint up quick, are easy to store, and look great (my photos don't do them justice). Even if you have a dedicated game space I would highly recommend Zuzzy mats.
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stands on zuzzy.jpg
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Author:  Vaaish [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
I agree. I've been looking to buy one of these since I saw them, but I really don't have the time right now to fix it up once it gets here so I went with the citizen battle mat. It's also a good product but needs a wash or two to tone down the florescense and some variation to the surface.
Author:  madd0ct0r [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
that looks pretty neat. $80 to cover a full table before terrain pieces seems a bit steep though.
Author:  WestSide [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
madd0ct0r wrote:
that looks pretty neat. $80 to cover a full table before terrain pieces seems a bit steep though.


:D I thought it was cheap. Especially compared to some offerings from larger companies.

Unless I scavanged for styrofoam, sand, rock, paint etc., I really can't see how I could do it myself much cheaper, and then I still wouldn't have the ease of storage, "assembly", or durability.
Author:  WestSide [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Vaaish wrote:
I agree. I've been looking to buy one of these since I saw them, but I really don't have the time right now to fix it up once it gets here so I went with the citizen battle mat. It's also a good product but needs a wash or two to tone down the florescense and some variation to the surface.


It only took a couple hours to paint with washes.

I like it so much I'm thinking about picking up a couple of the other designs they offer.

The mat was the easiest, most realistic looking, terrain project I have ever done.
Author:  zabarr [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Zuzzy mat review
Awesome, thanks for the review.

I've been looking at grabbing one of these bad boys. Now I just need to pic a color...
Author:  madd0ct0r [ Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
WestSide wrote:

The mat was the easiest, most realistic looking, terrain project I have ever done.



that's true, they do look insanely good. guess i'll hold out until i know i won't have a permanent gaming table.
Author:  Blip [ Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Looks nice, and i'd say a fair price (i'd imagine a theroetical GW version - inc umpteen pits of skulls - would retail around three times that - love 'um :D

Amazing how many small companies there are in the states putting out stuff like this.

I'd like to hear how it fairs in a few months time. In my experience the transition from storage to the table and back is always a dangerous time for terrain... :D

Blip
Author:  dcal12 [ Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
I ordered a Broken Black Top 4x6 game mat from Zuzzy.com on June 1, 2012, never received any responses to emails, had to finally file a dispute & Claim with PayPal. Zuzzy has not responded to PayPal yet and has until July 30th. I would really like the mat or at least for Zuzzy to respond and let me know whats going on. Whatever happens I doubt I would ever order from them again.
Author:  Onyx [ Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Zuzzy are notorious for poor communication.

There was a bulk order organised in Australia a few years ago and it was many months before the whole thing was resolved.

I bought my Zuzzy mat last year. It took 2 months to arrive. The mat is very thin but reasonably strong.
I think it was overpriced for what it is.
Postage was also a killer to Western Australia.
It must be stored properly as it will stick to itself if rolled up without the protective sheet.
I've used mine about 15 times so far with no tears or damage to report.
I've left mine unpainted.

I do like the mat and the visual effect on the table is very cool.
Image
Author:  Nitpick [ Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
dcal12 wrote:
I ordered a Broken Black Top 4x6 game mat from Zuzzy.com on June 1, 2012, never received any responses to emails, had to finally file a dispute & Claim with PayPal. Zuzzy has not responded to PayPal yet and has until July 30th. I would really like the mat or at least for Zuzzy to respond and let me know whats going on. Whatever happens I doubt I would ever order from them again.


I have the same experience. Ordered two mats earlier this year. Took PayPal claim to get a reaction from them. I eventually got them, and the storage advice about stickiness is really important. Haven't painted mine yet, maybe the paint remedies some of the stickiness problem? They look good, though.
Author:  dcal12 [ Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Nitpick wrote:
dcal12 wrote:
I ordered a Broken Black Top 4x6 game mat from Zuzzy.com on June 1, 2012, never received any responses to emails, had to finally file a dispute & Claim with PayPal. Zuzzy has not responded to PayPal yet and has until July 30th. I would really like the mat or at least for Zuzzy to respond and let me know whats going on. Whatever happens I doubt I would ever order from them again.


I have the same experience. Ordered two mats earlier this year. Took PayPal claim to get a reaction from them. I eventually got them, and the storage advice about stickiness is really important. Haven't painted mine yet, maybe the paint remedies some of the stickiness problem? They look good, though.


At least you got a reaction from them. They never responded to Paypal, so Paypal sided with me and I received a refund. Then about a week later Zuzzy sends me a email stating that, because of the dispute with Paypal, if I am still interested in the mats I have to reorder.

Reorder? Really? I think the fumes from making the mats has made someone delusional. Happy for those that like the mats. I don't recommend ordering unless you are ok with no idea on when you will receive the mat (2 to 5 weeks is a lie) and the worse customer service (completely ignores emails).
Author:  zabarr [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Yup, that's completely offside. It's a shame, because it seems to be a great product.
Author:  WestSide [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
When I ordered the mat at the begining of May 2012, I paid by PayPal. There was a confirmation email the next morning in the mail from Zuzzy.

Postage wasn't all that bad, but then again I am located in the USA. International postage is usually awful unless the shipper/postal authority subsidizes. Also the mat in a mailing tube is probably an 'oversize' item package wise. Likewise, postage costs have prevented me from justifying ordering from CNC Workshop in Australia.

About 3 1/2 weeks after placing the order I received the mat. I was just about to contact Zuzzy because now-a-days we are all used to speedy service and often an over-much of Spamish communication from most sellers. When I thought about it, I figured I could wait since I literally have buckets full of unpainted miniatures if I needed something to do, rationally there was no rush in my world.

All in all, the experience reminded me of my transactions with BattleFoam LLC. (another worthwhile wait for in my estimation)

I forgot about the slight wait when I actually saw the mat, it is a really nice product. A product distributed and perhaps even manufactured by a small time seller.

The mat looks great, doesn't shed sand and gravel. Was easy to 'stain' to blend in with most of my basing schemes. And importantly for my, easy to store in a small space. I have used it twice, with no loss of detail and no sticky problems (mine is stored per manufacturers recommendations and is in a 72 degree temperature controlled environment)

I like the mat so much I am going to order a couple more. It looks like the pattern is laid out on the mat in such a way that if I get another one the same size they will actually 'line up'.

If someone would like a self contained terrain mat that has raised 3D detail and is compossed of one piece of material that can be stored rolled up in a box Zuzzy mats are a great item.
Author:  Nitpick [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Zuzzy mat review
Sounds good Westside. Looking forward to painting mine. Good product, uniquely inadequate logistics, seems to be the general consensus when looking around the Internet.
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