Terrain

[teitan]

I am about to start investing in materials etc to use terrain in my campaign. I have seen some amazing stuff but I wanted to know the advantages and disadvantages to the various types of terrain available from the people who use them... I am really interested in the cardstock terrain from microtactix and World WOrks and would really like opinions on that stuff but also would like to see some opinions on Dwarven Forge and Castlemolds (www.hirstarts.com... AMAZING stuff) and as a side I am including a poll on what people prefer! So please compare and contract these types of terrains...

Dwarven Forge
Plaster Cast types such as Hirstarts
Cardstock
Homemade from STYROFOAM!!!

Jason

 

[Threedub]

Dwarven Forge
Plaster Cast types such as Hirstarts
Cardstock
Homemade from STYROFOAM!!!

Cardstock is ok but I've found the printing and assembly takes a lot of time for a piece that doesn't hold up real well when assualted by angry dice and the 6-beer barbarian. However, making buildings and castles this way is really fast compared to molds.

Dwarven Forge is great is you have a lot of money to spend. It takes no time except waiting for the mail to deliver. When that lotto check comes through I'm going to go on a DF spending spree.

Hirst Arts stuff takes a long time to cast and build if you get into the big buildings. But if you just want to make dungeon corridors you can get about 4 molds and do a lot. I made some double thick floors and walls and then used them to cast my own in silicon to save on casting and building time. I then whipped out a bunch of corridor building pieces in a weekend. If you do buy Hirst stuff, I'd recommend getting #40 or #45 for your walls and #201 for your floors. This may be enough if you're just looking for function. After putting a few together you'll figure out if you want to invest in making your own molds. It sure saved me some time. Making your own is cheaper but it still has a price, as you'll need dental plaster or you won't be happy. I looked at buying the dental plaster online but I thought it was to expensive. I got in contact with a local shop that makes dental implants and I just order boxes through them at their price. Very nice people.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I am of the 'all of the above' crowd. Which I prefer depends on what I want it for. For modelling all have good points and bad points.

For hlls and rivers styrofoam insulation.

For buildings that I want to have around for a long time foamcore (a choice that does not appear on your list).

For terrain that I know will be getting a beating so I don't care what happens to it cardstock.

For just messing around cause I feel like building something cardstock again.

Dwarven Forge looks great, but is too expensive for me.

Grendel also makes some premade cast resin terrain, I believe you can order them from Discounthobby.com in the U.S.

Hirst molds... I haven't done anything with them... yet...

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* And as I just mentioned on a completely unrelated topic, I have found the free CDs that AOL insists on sending me handy for bases when making terrain...

 

[Turanil]

My experience after 20 years of gaming: (note: please forgive me but I don't know the exact words for all that stuff of terrain)

Plastic - cast stuff is extremely expensive (but maybe you can spend thousands of dollars on them?), and finally not really useful, as they take much space on the table, to depict small areas that are quickly crossed anyway.

For me, the best is to have floor plans printed on paper, but then pasted on heavy cardboard (so they don't move any time a player moves his mini or throw a die). Such floor plans are available by dozens here and there over the Internet. THEN, you also get some cast stuff, but only a few pillars, chests, furnitures, statues, and so on. These simple elements add much to the ambiance! (especially if painted). Contrary to complete walls and floors, etc. which take much space for few gaming benefit.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Terrain is awesome. I managed to get quite a bit of Dwarven Forge stuff on sale and from different sources who no longer wanted it.

Then I had to move.

Now I'm storing it at a friend's house who we play at.

 

[Toscadero]

I want to echo pretty much everything that Threedub said. I've gotten heavily into the Hirst Arts. I can do everything with Hirst Arts that you see with Dwarven Forge and can make as many pieces as I have the time or inclination. The only caveat is that the molds are extremely addictive. You will find that you are spending more time casting, assembling and painting than you are gaming. And you will want to do even more. Like Threedub, I also made some custom molds to crank out wall, corner and floor pieces faster.

I've assembled a fieldstone dungeon that I use for encounters and set battle scenes. I use some of the printouts that you can get from 0one Games. These are great for laying out dungeons on the fly. I also own Gridsmith by Byte Mountain, where you can lay out your own dungeon maps.

I looked at the Worldworks stuff, but wanted something more substantial, which led me to Hirst Arts. In the end it all comes down to how much you want to spend, how much time you've got and what you will be happy with. I think all these options are better than just drawing a map on a battlemap (which I still use on occasion).

 

[diaglo]

i prefer free paper cut outs from websites or that i make myself.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Not 100% sure what you have in mind, but a cheap alternative to "real looking" moss, grass etc. that you can find in gaming stores, is terrarium supplies at places that sell reptiles. They often sell large bags of moss that lasts a long time that is good "filler" for a map, to make it look more realistic. They also sometimes have caves, miniature ponds and other land formations that would look awesome in a game (and are a lot cheaper than similiar things marketed as "game supplies").
Things like :

http://www.petco.com/Productlisting...2508&ct2=Driftwood+%26+Grapevine&Dept_ID=2508
(the ones I have seen in stores vary in size and there is a much better selection than on this site)

Also, when you're at the pet store looking at terrarium supplies, stop by the fish tank supply area as well. MojoGM got these awesome colums (I've seen similiar ones at gaming stores) for about 99 cents each.
Things like this :

Can also be purchased there.

Also, never underestimate the scenic power of lego

 

[Hand of Evil]

Not 100% sure what you have in mind, but a cheap alternative to "real looking" moss, grass etc. that you can find in gaming stores, is terrarium supplies at places that sell reptiles.

Have to second this...some of the stuff you find for aquariums are just plain cool.

 

[Desdichado]

Terrain is great for wargames, many of which I like. I have no interest in it for roleplaying games, though. I use a wet-erase battlemat, or nothing.

I like to make my own stuff, though. I've been interesting in making terrain for the better part of 20 years, although my initial interest was in model railroading, not wargaming. It's a fun part of the hobby in its own right, and its way cheaper to do it that way.