"Thoughts on Terrain" Topic

After going to a couple of cons in the past few months, I was delighted to see some really beautiful games, and also stunned to see some pretty bad ones. My response is this:

Terrain is critical! Further thoughts on wargaming and aesthetics here: hmwrs.com/Terrain.htm

Well said.

I'd love great terrain but the fact is I don't have the space or talent for it. So I settle for decent terrain.
The only critical thing with gaming is that you have fun doing it.

My favorite phrase has always been "terrain makes the game". That being said, I fault no one who plays on something other than brilliant terrain. As Dyna noted, the "fun factor" is the important thing.

Nice article and Terrain always makes the game in my book.

It is always a joy to game in a good looking terrain/table!

I agree. As I get older I find I spend more and more time on the terrain and less on the figures.

For me this hobby is entirely about the spectacle. If I just wanted to "fight Waterloo" all over again, I'd buy a boardgame. You can buy a boardgame for less than the cost of a few units of miniatures.

I have no beef with people who don't care abut terrain. It may be they are more collectors and painters. But it's also why I don't play ancients, naval or air games. There's no real terrain in them so no spectacle.

And as the OP noted you can make terrain incredibly inexpensively, you just have to bother. Some examples:

For dirt roads i use….dirt. I get a coffee can full from my local baseball infield and strain out the pebbles. I'm left with a light tan soil that is extremely fine and clean. Looks as good as any road out there.

Rivers can be made by painting strips of cloth and adding flock along the edges. Then make them glossy with a coat of white glue:

And I agree with the "ditch the Kelly green" felt. Looks horrible. Buy a mat or some "Reet's Relish" that is more variegated and natural.

Terrain is critical for those who think so. For others, not so much. I enjoy a nice looking game as much as the next guy, but I don't have any problems playing a game with masking tape roads and felt squares. For me, the game (players and rules) is more important than the terrain.

I want terrain to look good, but not get in the way of playing the game. Probably why I use templates for woods and built up areas placing the trees and buildings on top (so things can be moved out of the way of the action)

I prefer not to do battle on a golf course … unless it involves jousting on golf carts.

Dan