Vespene Vale vs Ashen Wastes: Which Mat Fits Your Game?
By Mats by Mars - Print-On-Demand Wargaming and Role | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: المقارنات
Compare the Vespene Vale alien terrain mat and the Ashen Wastes fantasy football pitch on theme, surface, and options so you pick the right mat for your table.
Quick answer
Choose the Vespene Vale Wargaming Play Mat if you want a versatile alien terrain backdrop for wargaming or role-playing. Choose the Ashen Wastes Fantasy Football Play Mat / Pitch if your group plays fantasy football and wants a dedicated pitch with orientation and game-mode options.
Theme decides more than color
Vespene Vale leans into alien terrain: a vivid, otherworldly landscape that works as a neutral backdrop for many sci-fi or weird-war wargames and role-playing scenes. Ashen Wastes is built around a fantasy football pitch, with the stands, fans, and brutal play baked into the design. If your models are fantasy football teams, the pitch theme does half the storytelling for you; if you need a general alien battlefield, the Vale gives you more room to improvise.
Surface and durability are shared, not differentiators
Both mats use the same heavy-weight matte banner material, which is scratch resistant and suitable for outdoor use. Both also have a slight texture that helps keep models from sliding and are wet-erase compatible for easy cleaning. So don't pick between them on surface quality alone; pick on theme and options, then treat the shared material as a baseline you can rely on for either.
Options change how each mat plays
The Vespene Vale offers Size and Overlay options, so you can scale the mat to your table and add overlays that suit your game. The Ashen Wastes offers Orientation and Game Mode options, which matter because a fantasy football pitch reads differently depending on how it is oriented and which mode you play. Check the available options for your chosen mat before ordering, since the option set is the main practical difference beyond the artwork.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Theme flexibility vs. dedicated pitch: Vespene Vale's alien terrain works across many wargames and role-playing sessions, while Ashen Wastes is purpose-built for fantasy football. If you play multiple systems, the Vale is the more adaptable choice; if fantasy football is your main game, the Ashen Wastes pitch gives you a stronger thematic match.
- Size and overlay vs. orientation and game mode: Vespene Vale lets you choose Size and Overlay, which helps fit the mat to your table and customize the play area. Ashen Wastes lets you choose Orientation and Game Mode, which tailors the pitch to how you run your fantasy football games. Decide which option set matches the way you actually set up your table.
- Shared material means no durability penalty: Both mats share the same heavy-weight matte banner material, slight texture, and wet-erase compatibility, so neither is more durable or easier to clean than the other. Base your choice on theme and options rather than worrying about surface quality.
Product facts
- Mats by Mars: Vespene Vale Wargaming Play Mat: Vibrant, scratch-resistant design printed on ultra-durable heavy-weight matte banner material suitable for outdoors. You can use it on a patio or at an outdoor event without babying the surface.
Mats by Mars: Vespene Vale Wargaming Play Mat - Mats by Mars: Ashen Wastes Fantasy Football Play Mat / Pitch: Fantasy football pitch design with fans cheering and mismatched teams brutalizing each other. The artwork immediately sets a fantasy football scene, so your team models feel at home.
Mats by Mars: Ashen Wastes Fantasy Football Play Mat / Pitch
Which mat fits your game?
Best for
- Wargamers and role-players who want a flexible alien terrain backdrop for multiple systems.
- Groups that play outdoors or on rough surfaces and need a durable, scratch-resistant mat.
- Players who want to customize mat size and add overlays to their setup.
Not for
- Groups whose main game is fantasy football and who want a dedicated pitch with orientation and game-mode options.
- Players who specifically want ash wasteland wargaming terrain as the central theme.
