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"Creating customisable hilly terrain" Topic


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1,150 hits since 22 Jun 2023
©1994-2024 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Bolingar23 Jun 2023 12:55 a.m. PST

Here's how I do hills for Optio, but this can apply to any ruleset. I needed the following:

1. Non-adhesive magnetic sheets, the kind you use for vehicle signage and the like. Quite cheap and widely available
2. Ferrite magnets. These are dirt cheap and also widely available
3. Printed cloth. This costs a bit more but once you've got it you've got it. I got mine from TMP link a printing company that specialises in point of sale stuff like banners and printed tablecloths. Or you can just use a painted sheet. But nothing too thick. Felt is no use.
4. Cardboard. Reasonably thick and sturdy.

The magnet sheets are trimmed to accommodate the printed battlefield cloth. I have two to vary the depth of the battlefield (I have two cloths).


Put the printed cloth on top.


With the carboard I made 4 basic hill segments, each the size of a battlefield square. Here is a hilltop:


The side of a hill:


The corner of a hill:


And what I call an inverted corner:


Next the ferrite magnets:

I use them in 2's for more strength:


They are used to join the segments together. This is a bit fussy and I suspect not strictly necessary. I'll try the next game without them.

The completed hill. You can see where the inverted corners come into the picture:


Next slide the cloth over the hill. For now it's all creasy and messy:


I had made several rounded sheet magnet sections with the printed cloth glued on top:


The smaller sections smooth out the creases around the hill and fix it in place:

The larger sections and some small sections are used to stretch the corners of the cloth and get rid of most remaining creasing. And voila!

Bolingar23 Jun 2023 1:40 a.m. PST

Here's a customised hilly battlefield for one of my Optio games:

Sydney Gamer23 Jun 2023 2:48 a.m. PST

Brilliant, and very portable!

korsun0 Supporting Member of TMP23 Jun 2023 4:46 a.m. PST

What a splendid concept, nice work.

Fitzovich Supporting Member of TMP23 Jun 2023 5:03 a.m. PST

Looks Great!

Larry Gettysburg Soldiers Supporting Member of TMP23 Jun 2023 7:31 a.m. PST

Compliments also on your tutorial with pictures; simple and easy to follow instructions.
Well done!

Bolingar23 Jun 2023 8:32 a.m. PST

Thanks chaps. Now go and make 'em! Throw your kopjies away!

Personal logo Old Contemptible Supporting Member of TMP23 Jun 2023 5:30 p.m. PST

I have the same thing. It's called Geo-Hex.

Rhubarb 63324 Jun 2023 3:36 a.m. PST

That's a very clever idea. Pretty easy to transport and store too. Thanks for sharing.


Old Contemptible:

I have the same thing. It's called Geo-Hex.

With square grids?

pfmodel02 Jul 2023 7:10 p.m. PST

I feel most gamers need to put a lot of effort in terrain, in order to maximise bling. This video provides some ideas on how to create modular terrain.
youtu.be/wgl9NsD_wqA

Bolingar25 Jul 2023 6:06 a.m. PST

Here's another view of hills from an Optio game.

Andy ONeill31 Jul 2023 8:59 a.m. PST

Way back when I did micro tanks, we used carpet underlay.
The type with brown paper topping it..
Not so easily transported.
Roll it out on your table.
Put socks, books etc etc underneath.
Dyed cloth over the top.
Or a thin cheap carpet instead of cloth.

Down the local wargame club they have carpet table tops.
Some scenery has a bit of the grabby velcro that attaches to the carpet to keep it static.

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