Table Talk - Types of Terrain 

I love the smell of mdf in the morning

An interesting fireside chat today. One option you passed on was pdf full colour prints for cardstock buildings/roads etc and comes with instructions how to put together, should you need it. I have some for Five Parsecs (along with infinity buildings). I also use the plastic pieces from the GW partworks. I have 3d printed and MDF (Sarissa) for wild west. MDF for Ronin. Rigid foam (Tablescape) for fantasy (Frostgrave). There is quite a mixture when you see a nice piece and get it!

I've gone almost completely 3d printed for my terrain collection. The number of options is huge, and painting the pieces is very relaxing for me.

Nice explanation Big Guy!!!! Needless to say this is my Gig. I started as a scratch builder Picked up a scroll and band saw. Then Hirst molds and then filament and resin printers. My garage is PACKED with Good Will buys from decades ago. We sold on eBay for years..Thingaverse is AMAZING but we have a TON of files from myminifactory. Fantasy is my favorite terrain to build. Again GREAT review!!!!!

Very good vid. Good if you to mention the MDF smell as it’s true, some people would be more sensitive to that. I also like it! I’m getting some Black Site Studios stuff soon. Mainly scattered terrain. They have some really unique and inspiring pieces. Fogou Models also has some interesting stuff. I have some of their scatter terrain, made from (if I remember correctly) dental plaster. I’ve stepped away from hard plastic terrain as, as you said, it’s just too expensive. I wish I did have the time for 3D printing. I fear it’s a rabbit hole I don’t want to go down!😅

Atomic Laser Cut Designs is another great source of MDF buildings - and they’re USA based.

Personally there is some deep joy my inner child gets out of using simple cut felt as various terrain. (Fields, lakes, Etc.) Low budget table scatter is near and dear to me. Also, I’m the kind of person that loves painted terrain. But if all homie has is a stack of rule books for blocking line of sight, that’s cool too. I don’t let the lack of hobby funds snuff the hobby fun, I hope others can learn this too. Great terrain can help ‘immersion’ and elevate the game. But in no way is it necessary for a great time at the table.

Cool vid, thanks - I've got a few plastic kits from Renedra (UK company) - they make good 'historical' stuff that can easily work in other settings and aren't eye-wateringly expensive either. Oh, and honourable mention to resin terrain pieces too - I've just finished painting up a set of Roman 15mm town houses (getting ready for Warlord Epic Hail Caesar) and these things have amazing detail, being cast from a mould like plastic pieces but at a lower cost (they have a nice heft to them too). Not as cheap as 3D prints I'm sure, but worth a look as another tool in your terrain box.

I can speak a little to the Battlesystems stuff. I got one of their Cyberpunk Core Sets, which is basically a standalone box of the terrain that comes in their Core Space miniature game on sale last X-Mas. Its a 2x2 neoprene mat with enough one-level terrian to fill it up. Worked great for indoor/urban Five Parsecs games so, I gabbed another set on sale for like $45. I typically play 2x3 so its a ton of pieces. I also 3d print, but the convenience was great of grabbing a box, poping out some cardboard, a little glue on some scatter pieces, and I was playing that weekend. Some of the sets to get a little pricer, and they do have multi level kits. If you can catch them on sale though, quick and affordable way to get a board filled with terrain. 👍

Thanks for the video! iv always felt there was an inverse relationship between time and money for terrain. personally i have three "boards" im working on 1 MDF using Death Ray Designs stuff to have a dense sci fi city board, 1 4 inch hex modular board using STL's from HexHog, 1 giant spaceship using STL's from 2nd Dynasty. i Grew up with my dads board which was all GeoHex so i am a firm believer of no flat tables haha. if i had to start over with all that i know now to have a board im not sure if i would go with but i would definitely want something i could use for a variety of gaming systems.

Mantic Games does some resin terrain too, the have great kickstarters for them but also sell retail...and Terrain Crate

Gcmini is pretty decent for local US for MDF stuff.