Hi guys

Im gonna order some plasticard for use as basing for various terrain pieces Im planning.

So how thick should the basing for terrainpieces be? Is 2mm good? Is 2mm difficult to cut with a regular knife (carpetknife type thing is all I have)? Will 1 mm do? Any risk it might warp?

Happy for any advice from all the expert terrain makers out there!

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"We are the sword of fire with which the Traitors shall be cut down."

1mm isn't sturdy enough - it bends and the basing all comes off eventually.

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http://www.troublemakergames.co.uk/
Epic: Hive Development Thread

2mm would be better, but I try to use MDF for maximum strength, durability and added weight (stop it moving)

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[b][color=#FF00BF]Chief DreadKnight Apologist[/color][/b]

I second the suggestion to use MDF.

For the strenght and durability required for terrain basing plasticard is too expensive and option.

MDF does a great job.

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Epic- A version of the game with even smaller models that is often dominated by titans which are vehicles the size of a large building and have the ability to pwn...everything. There is also infantry, whose only function in Epic is to provide valuable traction to Titans walking across snowy paths.

MDF?

Edit: Right, I used Wikipedia... and I assume youre not referring to the Maryland Death Fest heavy metal music festival, so I guess its a type of fibre board  

Problem with those would be that Id have to use a saw to cut them wouldnt I?

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"We are the sword of fire with which the Traitors shall be cut down."

2mm thick plascard if fine, and you don't even need to cut it; simply score it and then bend gently. The card will snap cleanly along the score line.

As for weight, I guess it depends on what terrain you glue onto the card? If any pieces are hollow, you could always fill them with sand before sealing and gluing them down to the base for added weight. Buying a strip of roofing lead and making rubble from it to add to your terrain also adds weight easily.

If you want to stop terrain sliding easily over your table (and I assume your table has some texture to it), why not stick a peice of self-adhesive velour to the underside of the terrain base? It will 'grip' the table much better that way. Velour is better than felt for this as it is thinner and doesn't go bobbly with use.

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Quote: (Warhead @ 08 Mar. 2009, 10:33 )

*...Blinded by awesomeness, Warhead can't see the keyboard to type his overwhelmed feelings of wonder... He hits emergency "too cool" button!...*

+++EMERGENCY! THIS IS TOO COOL! DROPPING RAY SHIELDED BLAST DOORS+++

Medium Density Fiberboard, wood-like   , you can also get some metal sheets(but you can´t cut this with a knife), because plasticard is so expensive...

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Epic Armageddon in Spanish: http://www.box.net/shared/aii6v2xqu3

See my terrain thread. I use both 1mm and 2mm plasticard as bases.

1mm is fine if it's not a very large piece. If it is then you need to go with 2mm. If I were you I'd order some of both. 1mm is a lot easier to cut and work with, while 2mm makes for a nice solid showcase base  (but is somewhat more expensive obviously).

And I don't know what people are talking about as far as "sliding off". I've never had any problems.

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-Malakai

"You'll never understand how much watching other people's pain gets me off, hearing their screams and knowing that I have the power of a god." -Velvet Acid Christ

@ Malakai:

Depending on your table surface, some lightweight terrain is easy to nudge or knock when moving or placing a model near the edges of it. If the terrain piece warps the base even slightly, this effect can be exaggerated.

In a game where careful model placement is important, it can be very frustrating to have terrain move like this.

I don't imagine most folks' terrain slides around like a puck on an air-hockey table though!  

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Quote: (Warhead @ 08 Mar. 2009, 10:33 )

*...Blinded by awesomeness, Warhead can't see the keyboard to type his overwhelmed feelings of wonder... He hits emergency "too cool" button!...*

+++EMERGENCY! THIS IS TOO COOL! DROPPING RAY SHIELDED BLAST DOORS+++

One of the bonuses of plasticard, that I have found, is that it doesn't warp. That's why I use it.

As far as knocking terrain around on your table, well Epic terrain is usually small by definition and that sort of comes with the territory.

I might bump my terrain a bit but sliding around? Na. Never had that problem, and I have a pretty slick gaming mat I play on.

Besides, I don't think I'd ask someone to play a second game with me if they were too clumsy not to treat my terrain and models with care.

It's true that 1mm plasticard is thin and lightweight but don't forget it is a base and you'll be adding some weight to it.

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-Malakai

"You'll never understand how much watching other people's pain gets me off, hearing their screams and knowing that I have the power of a god." -Velvet Acid Christ

Both true, and why I too use the stuff for basing...

I also use the 60mm Titan bases for trees - they work very well and save me cutting circles out of plascard. The tree bases can sit on a second flat base used to denote wooded areas, and that allows the tree bases to be (re)moved if needed to place models.

I suppose a similar system could be used to place rubble and internal walls within a ruined building , but you'd still be able to (re)move them to place models.

Hmm, sorry Brother-Captain Parzval, didn't mean to stray off-topic.  

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Quote: (Warhead @ 08 Mar. 2009, 10:33 )

*...Blinded by awesomeness, Warhead can't see the keyboard to type his overwhelmed feelings of wonder... He hits emergency "too cool" button!...*

+++EMERGENCY! THIS IS TOO COOL! DROPPING RAY SHIELDED BLAST DOORS+++

Hideliho!

I'd suggest glueing a 1mm and 2mm plasticard together for use as a base. With the 2mm the lower one, there shouldn't be any warping at all.

I don't like MDF myself, because of the warping effect....

cheers,

I use 2mm plasticard, and sand the edges down to a gentle bevel for non-building pieces.  For building pieces, cutting out the plasticard to be the same size all around the edges of the building can give you that raised sidewalk look.

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Set phasers on "fun"!

Thanks for your input everyone!

Looks like its going to be 1 mm. Mainly because I get twice as much at the same price! I will be making fairly small pieces, to start with at least. If I happen to be unsatisfied with it, I guess Ill have to order some 2 mm.

Most important for me is:

1. material doesnt warp
2. easy to cut
3. cheap (plasticard seems expensive...)

The weight doesnt seem that big a problem imo.

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"We are the sword of fire with which the Traitors shall be cut down."