Which Terrain Fits Your Next Battle?
When you're choosing a tabletop wargaming mat, the terrain artwork sets the stage for every encounter. The Badlands mat offers a harsh, arid desert look, while the Green Hills mat provides a classic pastoral battlefield. Both are built on the same durable, anti-curl material, but the visual theme and overlay options differ. Here's how to decide which one suits your games.
Shared Foundation: What Both Mats Have in Common
- Mats by Mars: Green Hills Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat: A wet-erase compatible, easy to clean, waterproof mat that will not stretch or shrink over time. Both mats share the same care and durability features, so your choice comes down to artwork and overlays, not maintenance.
Mats by Mars: Green Hills Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat - Mats by Mars: Badlands Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat: Each mat features a slight texture that keeps models from unwanted sliding. Whether you choose desert or grassland, miniatures stay put during gameplay.
Mats by Mars: Badlands Tabletop Wargaming Play Mat
Badlands vs Green Hills: Key Differences
- Terrain Theme: Badlands depicts a dry, rocky desert landscape with eroded terrain. Green Hills shows a lush meadow with green pastures, fitting fantasy, historical, or sci-fi settings.
- Available Overlays: Both mats offer Blank, RPG Grid, 1" Hex, and 3" Grid overlays, plus a Bushido overlay for the 24"x24" size. The Badlands mat also includes 3" Hex and 44"x30" options not listed for Green Hills, but both have extensive size ranges.
- Size Range: Green Hills is available in more sizes, including 48"x48", 48"x60", 44"x90", and 34"x22". Badlands offers 36"x72", 44"x30", 44"x60", 44"x90", and 48"x72". Check your table dimensions before ordering.
- Price: The Badlands mat is priced at USD 12.94 (catalog comparison USD 18.75). The Green Hills mat is USD 12.19 (catalog comparison USD 18.75). Both are similarly affordable.
Choosing Based on Your Game Setting
If your campaign often features desert encounters, canyon ambushes, or post-apocalyptic wastelands, the Badlands mat provides an immersive backdrop without needing extra terrain pieces. For classic fantasy battles, medieval skirmishes, or any setting where green fields make sense, the Green Hills mat is a versatile canvas. Both mats are described as fitting "all genres, games, and settings," so the artwork is your main differentiator.
What the Catalog Does Not Confirm
The supplied information does not specify exact color accuracy, UV resistance, or how each design appears under different lighting. If you need a mat for outdoor use, both are printed on ultra-durable heavy weight matte banner material suitable for outdoors, but specific performance in direct sunlight is not detailed. Choose based on the visual theme and overlay that best supports your ruleset.
