Slitherine

I'm just modelling some bruah/broken ground and the realisation struck me that when I first went to the gaming club, my initial impressionwas 'hmm, boring scenery', then when I watched the games unfold, I realised bits of cloth actually made more sense in a game where troops actually moe through terrain.
So, there's a bit of a conflicy between wanting the scenery to look good, and the fact that a wood modelled as a wood is unlikely to offer space for placing bases moving through it. Similarly with most other terrain types.
Also, modelled terrain is quite bulky, and in order to provide enough scenery to allow a full range of choices from the terrain chart, even for just one army list, is likely to mean that a rather large case of terrain would be required.
Then there's the issue of slopes combining with other terrain types, meaning there has to be either a very large number of scenery pieces, in various sizes and combinations, or a modular system.
Suddenly, it seems that to provide enough well modelled scenery for a competition, I'm going to have to hire a van!
I'm guessing there's a way round these issues, but I'm failing to see it. Any ideas, or pointers to sites explaining how suitable terrain, sattisfying these requirements, can be modelled?

Yes, always a tricky one.

I've come to the conclusion that fully modelled 3D terrain is just too bulky - even for storing and using at home. Bits of cloth are convenient to carry for travelling comps or when having to fly but tend to look tatty. So I've moved toward a modular approach.

I use thin ply or MDF for the base terrain, which can be flocked or have some limited terrain effects added but essentially keeps the depth to a minumum. The terrain can be stacked in platters and can be transported, although is a bit heavy - okay if driving but not if by plane or public transport.

Trees, hedges, etc are seperate. Trees with a weighted base (e.g. a 2 pence coin) are reasonably stable and can be moved around to make way fro troops. There is a balance b/t enough to represent a wood and so few it looks like a lone tree in a field. Similarly for villages.

Some terrain suppliers make small circular pieces (about 2-4 inches) modelled with brush or rocky ground. A few of these can be used to indicate the type of "platter" terrain being used and give more "dimension" to the platters. Similarly, irregular concentric circular or eliptical platters can be used to represent hills / slopes.

It's a tricky balance between weight, transfportability, and appearance.

When you find the optimum configuration, let me know.

Neil

If you have the money Miniature World Maker has latex terrain that you can just throw into a bag (the rivers and roads are really handy). Otherwise I'd suggest it is posisble to buy paint or pour on liquid latex and makle your own scenery. Take along some lichen for brush, cork pieces for rocks/broken and a few removable trees and you'll be right.

I'm investiagting making some myself as I'm really not keen on the appearance of pieces of cloth although I can understand why it is used. We play with minis why use something akin to a board game?

John O

I am in the process of looking at producing some nicer terrain for AoW. The problem with DBM is every milimeter mattered, in AoW it is far less critical. There are the odd measurements you need to worry about but generally these can be agreed between players.

As a result I will be making some nice new terrain.

One option I saw at the Challenge was terrain made from multiple layers of craft foam. I saw a rather nice vineyard made this way.

When I finally get round to it I will post some photos and may put together a hints and tips page.

Hammy