I love the art, but it does not suggest the grit of dueling factions with an insurrection brewing underneath that obvious struggle. The mechanics are not complex but have sufficient nut-and-bolts to allow for good character differentiation.

The pieces, the board, and the carrying case are all nice and sturdy. Large easy to distinguish pieces. The pieces are very plain looking, but that's better than fancy sets where you can't tell a rook from a bishop.

The pieces look and feel nice, the mat unrolls flat/doesn't curl, and the bag makes it easy to pack. It is inexpensive, but nice and very durable.

The board is vinyl and has a very nice feel. The one downside is that the board has a strong plastic/vinyl smell each time i take it out. If you’re not planning on playing outside much, this board is a great buy, otherwise opt for mousepad material.

The mat glue smells so strongly that after a week of airing it out, we still can't be in the same room. The board is junk.