"How to enhance Battlemat, non-permemently?" Topic

I'm trying to figure out how to enhance the look of my WWII games, using non-permemnent solutions. I have a good bit of nice looking terrain, but it's not all tying together the way I would like. I was thinking about trying to get a few shades of sand in different sizes to toss and sprinkle around my Citadel Battlemat, but I'm not sure where to find that or whether it would possibly harm the mat. Do you guys have any insights on this? And also any other thoughts or techniques on how to make my tables feel a little more alive?

Thank you so much!

-B

When we run games at conventions we use a felt game mat. On top of that we use different colored flock to make fields or woods or rough area. The more colors the better. You want to break up the golf course look. Now since you said non permanently this might work. Of course this means most of the time, that you go thru a lot of flocking, but it looks great.

Here is a pic of an ACW game on my game table. I put the flock down for fields and after the game vacuum it up.

I do what Xintao does but someone also posted about scattering little bits of the woodland scenics "clump foliage" about. Pea sized or smaller in small loose group (flat circle, not high like a bush). In the game they don't have an effect but add to the "wild" look of the table. It is something you have to pick up and will eventually have to replenish.

X…That looks pretty darn good…I'd have never suspected that was felt.

cut out pieces of teddy bear fur for fields, if you use a few different colors it will break the same same look.
if you're really worried about ruining the mat by making permanent changes why not get some smaller versions that model railroad enthusiasts use first, to experiment on?

I put all sorts of terrain on mine, including fields. The great thing about the Citadel BM is things like Teddy bear fur stick down like a magnet. It may leave some residue when you pull the terrain off. Just don't put anything down that would bother you if it sticks. Over time my mats have "aged" with the sort of loose flock that eventually builds up from troops, trees, and fields. I don't see that as a problem.

My suggestion is to avoid the felt, and go with a smoother cloth. I have had success with canvas, although the master from whom I learned my technique asserts a bed sheet is best. These types of cloth go better over (yes OVER) your terrain elevations, and also provide a better surface for further attaching or coloring (as described below).

Any interesting cloth tidbits can be used for fields … faux fur, some terry cloths or even heavy corduroy cloths. I have also used thin felt, with lines of model RR shrubbery glued down, to make row crops. Popsickle sticks and stirring sticks (from your friendly coffee house) can provide the bases for hedges or lines of trees.

Your local sewing supplies shop can provide many choices. They can also provide a spray adhesive (temporary) which can be used to keep the fields flat on your battleboard.

Then … pastels! You can create all the roads, rough terrain, and forest floors you want with a pack of 20 earth-tone pastels. Even the slopes can use a touch of a different color.

Here is a grounds-eye view of a 1941 Russian village.

Here is another view of the same village, taking in the wooden hill on the near side.

Here is a long view of a Tunisian village in 1943.

Italian forces advance on the village from the south, across the fields of row-crops. Note the seasonal creek on the upper right, which is marked with some green pastel and some crushed stones (RR talus).

A lone Italian field gun overlooks the debacle as the attack is beaten to a stand-still in the approach to the town. This view gives you a sense of the elevations. Note the pastel striping I used to give a highlight to the slopes of the ridge at left.

I have learned this technique from Mark Luther, who posts on many of the wargaming forums including this one. If you get a chance to look over some of his AARs, I strongly recommend it. He is a master of creating superior terrain from re-useable cloth and pastels. You can find one of his recent AARs here: TMP link

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

raylev, thanks but that is not felt. That is my home table. Flocked plywood. I couldn't find a pic of one of our convention games. But that pic illustrates what I do with the flock for fields.

Xin

You may feel a terrain cloth limits your options, but it's all in the set dressing.

Check out Jeff Knutson's Flickr page:

link

Pay attention to the sets on "Building a Table" and the ATF games. Most of these are set on the same cloth.

varied colors of felt can be found in about any good craft shop. it's cheap, re-usable and can be cut to any shape.
good for fields.

A few things we like at Metropolitan Wargamers in Brooklyn, NY:

- Using loose lichen and clump foilage for hedgerows and randoms bits of shrubs.

- Sprinkling various colors of fine ground cover flock in greens and browns in certain areas. When the game's done, just shake the table mat off outside.

- Making hills by inserting books and boxes under the mat so there are more gradual hilled areas rather than lone foam islands gives a table a more natural feel.

- Weather everything. If you buy pre-painted buildings, trees, fences, roads, bridges, etc., make sure you spend some time toning down the colors and roughing them up.

- Rather than using generic objective markers, model objectives using extra figures and vehicles, or pick a natural landmark or building as an objective. Nothing makes a table look "gamey" like tossing out a plastic rectangle with "OBJECTIVE" written on it.

Lots of photos online from AARs here:

link

link