Tabletop Wargame Terrain

[Bad Buddha]

I went through a period around 10 years ago when I was making all sorts of terrain for my son and I for our WHFB and WH40K games. I was hoarding all sorts of Styrofoam and tubing and any sort of mechanical looking crap that might be used in some sort of terrain construction.

Since we have a new forum dedicated to human-interface gaming, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post some of my creations.

Here's a little gallery of what I found laying around the other day:

A mortar emplacement that I made for my son's Empire army
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3481/mortaron9.jpg

A watchtower for WHFB
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5893/watchtowerct0.jpg

A Wizard's tower. The roof comes off.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3923/towerfk1.jpg

A Tudor-style Inn
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5126/tudoryt4.jpg

A WH40K redoubt for a heavy weapons squad or a tank
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/9772/redoubtnn0.jpg

40K ruin made from 2 Dreadnaught styro packs
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3787/gothicruincn6.jpg

A 40K/Necromunda refinery made from misc commercial items and cardboard
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9885/refineryyj5.jpg

Dragons Teeth tank traps made from an egg carton
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6889/dragonsteethsk8.jpg

I'm still finding boxes in closets filled with odd shaped pieces of packing plastic! :p

[Murtaug]

Cool stuff. Terrain is one thing I have not given a lot of thought to yet, I have too much left to do to get my Space Marine army ready yet.

[danielOut]

Great pieces; you do an awesome job.

[shunoshi]

Awesome, Buddha! I never tried my hand at terrain making, but it always looked like fun. Your pieces are very nice. I love the inn!

[Ghostbear]

We should hang out, just saying... :D

[Matthias]

I haven't had the money to invest in 40k yet (or even styrofoam to make terrain for that matter), but terrain construction has always interested me a lot. Any tips, besides salvage as much as you can?

[Bad Buddha]

I haven't had the money to invest in 40k yet (or even styrofoam to make terrain for that matter), but terrain construction has always interested me a lot. Any tips, besides salvage as much as you can?

You can get lots of styrofoam from dumpsters behind electronics shops.

I bought some cheap latex paint from the "mistakes" bin at the local paint shop. A pint each of grey and tan for about a buck apiece.

"Blueboard" insulation is great for hills. You might be able to pick up some scraps at construction sites.

Foamcore board is fairly cheap at office supply stores. Makes great walls for buildings.

Wooden coffee stirrers make great timbers. You could grab a handful from the local Starbucks.

Cardboard shipping tubes work for towers and storage tanks.

Mix a little Spackle or wallboard compound with your paint to give it some texture.

[mightbe]

Good stuff, man!

At our shop we have a whole set of Crystal/Ice World terrain that's insanely well done. I'll snap some pictures the next time we get it out.

[Bad Buddha]

More fun stuff!

Made from Foamcore board. My favorite 40K piece!

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6141/gothicfyk4.jpg

Back of the same piece. Nice place for a heavy weapons squad!

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8793/gothicbqv3.jpg

Nice stepped hill for archers or musket ranks. Room for a cannon or stonethrower on top.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/23/hillsij7.jpg

An outcropping to break up the board for GorkaMorka. Includes obligatory 'shrooms.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3084/shroomsln4.jpg

[vuk]

Good stuff! I've always wanted to do stuff like that (not that I play the table-top stuff, I just think they're really neat). Unfortunately I lack technical skills. I'm more likely to glue my face to my shoulder or saw off a hand than actually put something together. Still, I'd like to try one day.

I always wondered if they have some good sites online that have step-by-step tutorials. I know GamesWorkshop's website has a few. Anyone know of anymore?

[Press Ninja]

Great stuff! I love the mushrooms in the latest picture.

What armies do you play? I know you said your son plays Empire, but I haven't seen any indication of what you play as?

[Bad Buddha]

Great stuff! I love the mushrooms in the latest picture.

What armies do you play? I know you said your son plays Empire, but I haven't seen any indication of what you play as?

WHFB: Orcs & Goblins
WH40K: Orks
Necromunda: House Orlock
Blood Bowl: Greenskins

I don't win very often, but the Orcs/Orks are always entertaining even if they lose disastrously! (Especially if they lose disastrously! ;))

My son plays
WHFB: Lizardmen, Tomb Kings, Empire
WH40K: Tyranids

[Press Ninja]

WHFB: Orcs & Goblins
WH40K: Orks
Necromunda: House Orlock
Blood Bowl: Greenskins

I don't win very often, but the Orcs/Orks are always entertaining even if they lose disastrously! (Especially if they lose disastrously! ;))

My son plays
WHFB: Lizardmen, Tomb Kings, Empire
WH40K: Tyranids

I love the Orcs, or Orks if you prefer the 40k terms.

I play

40k; Space Wolves, Eldar
Fantasy; Vampire Counts, Lizardmen

I wish my local shop had more of a specialist games group, but we don't. I'd love to get in on some Necromunda or Bloodbowl. I guess I'll have to settle for the Bloodbowl game when it comes out.

[shunoshi]

I wish I had people around me that would put the time/money into it. I used to play:

WH40K: Dark Angels
Necromunda: Escher

[Evewalker]

Nice terrain!

Here's a shot of a Normandy-style beach assault table I built for TempleCon 2007. It's a lot of fun to play on, and several scenarios for it has been designed around it since it's debut. It's since gotten a lot of improvements, including a net to allow infantry to scale the cliff face and also movable tank traps and other debris for the beach.

http://www.templecon.org/09/images/stories/gallery/2007/tc07124.jpg