While it’s convenient to have everything laid out on the mat without the need for overlays or an extra board, the quality could have been better—especially given the number of small icons that require clarity. In terms of convenience, playmats already have a slight disadvantage due to storage difficulties, which can be frustrating. All things considered, I probably would have preferred sticking with the original boards, but since I bought it, I use it.

The mat is good quality. It looks and feels good and has a stitched border. I like that the mat has room for components from the base game and both expansions. The crispness of the artwork on the mat is understandably not as good as on the original board. This is not an issue for me as I am familiar with all the worker spaces on the mat and I prefer the experience and aesthetic of a singular game surface.