"Any tips for a beginner?" Topic

I'm going to sidestep from my World War 2 plans a bit and prepare some terrain for an All Things Zombie game.

I was thinking of setting the whole campaign on a tropical island with western world attractions like a mall (Mall Madness game) and hotels, swimming pools and such. I played the Dead Island xbox game about a year or two ago and loved the tropical setting.

I've been gathering lichen and some moss, but I think I need something to create the landscape with height differences and ways to create a more attractive gameboard. I was thinking of using small areas for scenarios in the beginning of the game, and prepare all of them to suit the tropical background theme. Then, I'll gradually build the complexity up in the scenarios to include the Mall, and more complex buildings, so I'll have time to learn to construct different sorts of scenery.

I can get palm trees for cheap on ebay, but all the other stuff I'll need (bamboo huts, pools, hotels and stores) will have to be built or converted from something else. The scale will be 15mm zombies and survivors, so I won't need the individual scenario pieces to be too big, I can start small. Maybe a hut in the jungle, or a beach or something like that.

Any pointers or resources available that would help?

This will start you with two bamboo huts. They are sized for 25/28mm but you can reduce the size of the printing to make them work for 15mm. They come with both a regular and a burned out version. They are easy to assemble. I would recommend you print them on heavy paper/light cardstock.

link

You can also find plenty of plastic jungle plant material at your local craft store such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels in the US. Other items can be found at pet supply stores such as Pet Smart.

There are other paper buildings available that can be used. Wargame Vault has many dealers that sell very inexpensive paper buildings.

wargamevault.com

Jim

I would use some HO scale buildings.

I'm leaning towards spending time and effort to making my buildings collapsible. So you can fold the buildings flat. I've got 1/72 scale Mogadishu from Olympic Hotel to the crash site as fold down buildings.
Don't skimp on your terrain modelling, as good terrain, as Keats says "is a joy forever". If you make crappy terrain, you'll have to remake it as your skills improve.
I do recommend wargames vault.

Matakishi's tea house had some excellent bamboo huts he built from scratch, so I will try and emulate those. Cork board is really cheap as are bamboo skewers.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

Shoot on on over to the local Petland, or whatever pet store is close by, and look through the aquarium section. You'll find tons of pieces for your Island.