"Realm of Battle Alternatives" Topic

I love GW's Realm of Battle board. It's robust, light weight, good looking (as long as you cover the damned skulls) and extremely portable.

The problem is that it, like most GW products, also is almost comically overpriced.

I'm just wondering if there are any alternatives. Any other robust, plastic, modular gaming boards of the same ilk (with molded in terrain) of the same style that don't cost as much as a lease small apartment?

I don't know of any that are significantly cheaper.

I bought the realm of battle game board when it first came out. I think it was $270 USD then which was about 7 years ago. It has been worth every penny I spent on it. The case it comes with makes it miles better than anything else that is out there as far as transport is concerned. It fits easily into it. I even bought two more pieces for it for another $90. USD They fit in it too.

I don't think it is overpriced at all. At a guess I've probably paid about $5 USD or less per game that I've played on it (including the extra pieces) and it has been hauled all over the place, to conventions from Philadelphia to Ann Arbor. Never has it received any damage in all those miles or years.

If you want a good gaming surface that is going to last this is a good bargain.

Another option, if you are dead set against the GW one, is Secret Weapon.

They make plastic 1x1 foot tiles. So it is more modular, takes a little longer to set up and has more dividing lines in it.

link

A 4x6 foot board from them is $250 USD so cheaper than the GW option at this point but doesn't come with the carrying case. Now the fact that the tiles are 1x1 instead of 2x2 makes your options for finding a reasonable bag to transport them in easier so that is another advantage.

Another advantage here is that you can buy them by smaller sets, so you can get a 2x4 foot section for $100 USD and you don't have to lay out for the whole thing at once, although it will cost you more in the long run.

Of course the GW board price of $330 USD does include the shipping in it. I'm not sure how much the shipping would be on the secret weapons stuff.

I give a big +! to what Pictors has said. They are worth the price.

I have also bought 2 extra sections and while I have never "went on the road" with it, it has show quite a good resiliance.

Looks as good as the day I unpacked it.

I don't know of any that are significantly cheaper.

How about DIY?

Far cheaper than the $400 USD+ that GW wants.

I doubt it. To meet the requirements you would have to sculpt a master and then have it cast in plastic. I'd imagine you are looking at $50,000 USD or more there.

$50,000 USD > than $330 USD in case the math isn't obvious for anyone.

@Pictors Studio

With modern milling technology anyone who's dedicated, has a C&C machine, and knows their way around Auto-Cad could theoretically create the molds needed. The expense is in the injection molding machine.

That said, I wonder if it would be possible to use vacuum forming? There are some high gauge plastics out there that might hold up to it….

I doubt it. To meet the requirements you would have to sculpt a master and then have it cast in plastic. I'd imagine you are looking at $50,000 USD USD or more there.

Really,

When I talk DIY, I am talking about…

Comes in all sort of sizes.

It is cheap and easy to cut.

If you are spending over $100 USD you are building quite a lot of terrain pieces.

link

Problem is it's not very robust.

Mithmee,

How do you cast yours in plastic for less than $100 USD?

Psyhkosama:

Apologies in advance as I don't want to derail your thread at all! I'm only weighing in to respond to your above coment re: terrain boards made from styrofoam insulation sheets not being very robust. On this particular point I am forced to respectfully disagree. When mounted on hardboard or plywood, such boards can be made robust enough to survive years of gaming and transport intact, as my own have. And if you add wood framing, they are virtually indestructable as far as the normal rigors of gaming and transport are concerned -- though catastrophic mishaps are always an unfortunate possibility, no matter what material your terrain boards are made from!

Of course it's also true that they weigh a lot more than molded plastic, which makes them more challenging to store and transport, and they take a great deal of time and effort to produce.

Oh, I know when properly backed they can be pretty strong. Also makes them very heavy.

But I was talking more surface resistance. Plastic can take more abuse than foam.

The only alternative I'm aware of is by Secret Weapon. Great product, and somewhat cheaper:

link

Mithmee,

How do you cast yours in plastic for less than $100 USD USD?

I don't and would use insulation foam broad.

Far cheaper and with using the right stuff on it can be far better than those overpriced pieces of plastic that GW is selling.

So did you not read the OP or not understand it?

Because he asked for plastic boards.

How do you come to the conclusion that the GW boards are overpriced. They are similarly priced to the nearest competitor and come with a carrying case. Can you explain how you would make a similar product that you would charge less money for?

For one, the GW board price is $400 USD, not 330. 70 bucks is a big difference.

And while it doesn't come with a carrying bag, the Secret Weapon terrain is about 2/3 the price and is actually more complicated in design.

IMHO its startling to look more and more like my best option is to keep an eye on ebay and just pick up a RoB set second hand.

You're in PA right? Email me at ssp113@hotmail.com

Another option:

link

Robust, modular, and a sturdy high density foam (technically plastic)

Join the Old Glory Club for 40%. These are very sturdy and transport well. I think the flat sections are about an inch high so those don't take up a ton of space. The various hill boards start to get large.

So did you not read the OP or not understand it?

Because he asked for plastic boards.

What do you think those foam boards are made out of.