Category Archives: Pub Battles

First and foremost, I always recommend getting the battle / subject / theme that you are most interested in.  It seems easier to learn and play when you are excited about that subject.

Another consideration is size.  How big is the map?  How big is the battle?  Are there lots of blocks on both sides or are the armies smaller?  Bigger maps and more pieces mean you need a bigger table.  They also take a little longer to play.  They also cost more dollars. 

If you are new, it can be easier to start with a smaller battle.  Brandywine is great for this.  It is also a good introduction to Wargaming for new players.  Waterloo could feel a little overwhelming for your first game. Gettysburg has a nice mix. It starts off as a small, little scrap. By the end of the first day, it has grown into a full on titanic struggle! So in one game, you can get a feel for both.  

How many players do you expect to have?  You can cram 4-6 players around a small map but I find that more comfortable with a big map. 

These are all good things to keep in mind but the subject that motivates you trumps them all.  If it’s not a battle or historical period that you’re excited about, then it is harder to get into the game and want to play.    

Which should I get? Canvas or paper? Is the canvas really worth it? What is the better way to go? Here’s the breakdown:

They have the exact same graphics.  The canvas is insanely durable!!!  My copy of the first Pub Battle we ever made, has been played a TON.  It still looks brand new!  You’d never know it.  It’s like bomb proof. 

If you spill a drink or dribble a few drops, it’s fine.  Just wipe it up with a paper towel.  You’ll never know.  (Unless maybe it’s dark red wine and you leave it there or something.  That can leave a slight discoloration but even that just kind of blends into the map.) 

The paper looks fine.  I think it holds up fairly well.  If you’re worried about spilled drinks, you can always put the paper under a sheet of plexiglass.  That does a great job.  The downside is that is has a kind of modern look that clashes with the old world feel of the rest of the game.  :/   lol….   It makes the artist in me cringe, but many people may not even notice. 

I guess another option may be to have it laminated.  That’s pretty expensive.  In fact, by the time you are done with that, it’s probably cheaper to just get canvas.  Lamination also has a glossy modern look that clashes with the old world style.  It won’t look as good.  That does open up options to write on the map and draw in unit locations and movements with dry erase pens though.  I think some guys have done and are doing that! 

If you do have an ‘inner artist’, you’ll notice and like the extra texture of the canvas maps.  It has little ridges in the surface of it.  If you look close, you can see the thread lines.  I like that.  It makes the surface look even more detailed and rich.  It is a minor and subtle effect but really cool.  I appreciate that too from a historical perspective because that’s what these maps were really printed on in the day.  That’s what they really looked like! 

This makes me think of another benefit:  immersion into the game.  This may appear trivial.  Some people may not care at all but it does have an impact.  There is something to looking at a real canvas map with real wood KS style blocks.  It triggers your imagination somehow.  I can’t help but imagine that I’m a real officer on the field, in command of the battle.  It has a way of taking you back to that period.  It FEELS a lot better to me.  It draws me in.

One advantage of the paper, is that they now come in regular sized game boxes that fit on the shelf with your other games.  It’s also kind of nice to keep the rules in the box so they don’t get that curl from being in the tube.  That’s not too bad.  You can counter roll them to flatten them out. 

The downside is that we fold the map to fit into the box.  The creases make the map surface all uneven.  You can get it to lay flatter by folding it backwards.  It’s not too bad. 

Now, you can upgrade to a canvas map later if you decide you want that.  It does cost extra because you have to pay for shipping twice and 2 boxes.

Here’s what we recommend:

Go with a Paper Map if:

-it’s your first Pub Battle and you aren’t sure yet if you’ll even like the system.

-you really want a box that just fits on your shelf easily with the rest of your games.

Go with Canvas if:

-You REALLY want the map!  Like maybe you live in or near Gettysburg and you know you will want that map to keep, regardless of the game.

-You collect games and want a good resale value later. 

-You expect it to get lots of use and play time on the table.  Pub Battles in general gets played more than other games.  Some play it so much, they wear the stickers off the blocks.  We have to send them new ones!  I’ve done that myself a few times.      

This may vary by the battle though.  I notice that some battles are my favorites and I keep coming back to them:  Like Gettysburg and Marengo.  Some battles are interesting to see.  I want them in my collection but I don’t play them as much.  It might make more sense to get the paper version of those battles.

-You expect to use this multi-player.  Yeah, definitely go with canvas.  It’s just a matter of time till somebody spills a drink or dribbles something on the map.  :/    You know it’s gonna happen.  It’s worth it for the durability here.