2012: The Year of Terrain UPDATE #1

The first 2 tables are well underway!  We’re playing catch up from January as the schedule for our year long project was set at the end of that month.  So right now 2 tables are being built simultaneously to get us back on track.  Speaking of “tracks”…

January Table #1 – Khador Abandoned Rail Depot has been assembled and primed and is ready for painting.  It includes both inlaid and modular tracks, hoists and control centers for cargo transfer, 4 refuse piles, a water tower, custom-converted “palette-jacks”, 4 rail cars (1 Tanker, 1 coal car, 2 flatbeds – 1 carrying old Warjacks) and a fully converted steam engine complete with armor and Khador emblems.  Phew, that’s a lot of stuff!  OH! And we almost forgot…don’t working street lamps sound cool?  We thought so too.

February Table #2 – Imperial Alloy Recycling Facility build is starting this week.  You may have seen our large crane piece on the gaming table in previous weeks.  Well it’s getting an overhaul along with all the junkyard pieces and some new pieces as well.  The intent will be to make a large multi-tier junk mound with the crane on top.  The crane will include a large scrap magnet to which it will be loading material into a crusher.   The crusher will have large bay doors that can be closed to walk over or opened to use for cover.  Tire barricades and other solid scrap obstructions will also be available for cover.

We plan to include a full array of scenario rules for both of these tables should players want to add a little flavor to the game.  We’ll also have small prizes or awards for those that defeat an opponent using these rules in various ways.  Achievements!!! *ding!*

Not your cup of tea?  Perhaps these first 2 tables are not what you’ve been craving to fulfill your gaming desires?  Perhaps they aren’t themed in the genre you enjoy?  Well take a stance my good man (or woman)!  Join our message boards and access the TBS Tabletop Terrain message board located under the Tabletop Gaming header!  Voice your opinion, lend your ideas and if you feel it’s warranted – lavish us with compliments!  We await your replies!

In general, overall improvements in terrain quality and functionality have also begun.  TBS has purchased 4 cases of coniferous trees in varying sizes to make better forests for Fantasy and Sci-fi game fans alike.  Specifically, Bachman SceneScapes Spruce and Pine trees (see photo) in heights of 4″ to 10″ are currently being re-mounted on metal bases with the trunks cut down to better fit our use.  These metal bases not only help keep the tree standing upright due to a lower weight distribution, but also allow us to magnetize them to Tommy’s highly-praised Forest Bases (see photo).  We’re extremely proud to state that these new forests are some of the best we’ve seen to date.  They are pleasing to the eye.  The scale is much more accurate to the models.  They are completely functional due to the ability to remove the actual trees leaving a flat surface to measure and move across.  They are the tabletop gamer’s forests, not just slapdash railroad modeler’s terrain.

We hope you enjoyed this first look at “2012: The Year of Terrain” from The Battle Standard and we look forward to seeing you at the gaming table soon!

(Special thanks to the terrain crew… Jay Hyland & Bob Seitz, We wouldn’t be able to do this without your help!)