LoS blocking terrain?

[Exilyth]

For being "the third army", terrain sure doesn't get enough love outside of model kits.

 

New players tend to put their budget into building their army, which doesn't leave them with enough/any money to invest into terrain kits.

 

Back during 3rd edition, GW put out a publication on terrain building that was really great: aside from goblin green styrofoam hills, it had stuff like making trees from wire, creating walls from sticks & stones, tips on what terrain features to use for what kind of planet and various ideas for making buildings from toilet rolls, thick paper, styrofoam, drinking straws and other household items. I wish they released an updated version of that - could even show how to use the terrain model kits in such a project to create some impressive terrain centerpiece. The gist here being various terrain projects from simple & cheap using household items up to the terrain building masterclass.

 

To stress the importance of terrain, GW could e.g. print various terrain templates (maybe even some of the old cardboard buildings from 2nd edition?) onto the inside of packaging. That would make for reuse of packaging material and give players something to put on the table until they can afford better terrain.

 

 

As for LoS blocking - that depends on the gamesystem, e.g. WH40k needs at least some sight cover for both armies, while f.e. necromunda tends to benefit from multilevel buildings and a mass of relatively open walkways w/maybe a railing here and there.

 

 

 

edit:

I just remembered that the necromunda starter box and the 'first strike' spacemarine vs deathguard beginner box can be reused as terrain: one is a hive corridor, the other looks like three munitorum containers.

[MegaVolt87]

Yes the move away from GW being pro scratch build terrain, to expensive terrain kits which are good quality has seen a decline in overall terrain quality and density definitely. GW could realistically cut its terrain prices 40-50% and still make money via an increase in sales to a similar mass units turnover like how McDonalds works. Won't happen though, GW is loath to add much value, cheaper prices because they see themselves like a prestige brand more than mass market. 

[Sherrypie]

Funny how I've been having quite a bit of fun with universally available -1 to hit from being in any way obscured, getting +2 to cover saves (and my main opponent plays guardsmen!), terrain slowing assaults down (while being the heretic who likes to charge!) and everyone always hitting on natural 6's... oh yeah, that's because those are just some of the official GW rules for terrain that actually have a proper impact on the game. Shock! Horror! (Cities of Death to be precise, which get even better with a bit of house ruling.)

 

Stop playing on empty boards, put a proper board together with plenty of variation with hard LoS blocks, open kill zones, unclimbable ridges, dangerous rivers and whatever else that tickles your fancy. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it pleases your eye, makes sense as a place and breaks up the battlefield so that everyone is forced to maneuver. Terrain is the third army and anyone not using it as such is shooting themselves in the foot. It's your game, time and fun, own it.

[MegaVolt87]

Funny how I've been having quite a bit of fun with universally available -1 to hit from being in any way obscured, getting +2 to cover saves (and my main opponent plays guardsmen!), terrain slowing assaults down (while being the heretic who likes to charge!) and everyone always hitting on natural 6's... oh yeah, that's because those are just some of the official GW rules for terrain that actually have a proper impact on the game. Shock! Horror! (Cities of Death to be precise, which get even better with a bit of house ruling.)

 

Stop playing on empty boards, put a proper board together with plenty of variation with hard LoS blocks, open kill zones, unclimbable ridges, dangerous rivers and whatever else that tickles your fancy. Doesn't matter what it is as long as it pleases your eye, makes sense as a place and breaks up the battlefield so that everyone is forced to maneuver. Terrain is the third army and anyone not using it as such is shooting themselves in the foot. It's your game, time and fun, own it.

 

Haven't the Urban Assault terrain rules changed how the cities of death rules would work from the main rulebook though? I really should get Urban Assault at some point. 

[Sherrypie]

Not sure how they are in Urban Conquest, but at least in Chapter Approved 2018 the CoD rules are basically -1 for target not being completely visible (50% for vehicles), nat 6's always hitting, +1 cover for softer things like hedges or barricades, +2 cover for proper buildings, getting extra AP while shooting from above your target, extra movement for using roads properly, bunch of stratagems and so on. Lots of funky things.

 

Mixing in some bits of the core book CoD rules like flamers and grenades working better indoors is also cool, specifically because it does encourage flushing your opponent out with storming actions and close quarter firefights. Promotes interesting movements, helps models to actually survive in relevant numbers until the end of the game, looks great, denies gunlines. What's not to like?