Kickstarter Terrain Week 11/27/2013

That was certainly a long week. Amazing how life fails to stop while you are away from it.

There are eleven terrain related kickstarters going on right now. Some are standard and a few are those special and innovative designs that peek people’s interest.

Lost Dimension Protable Miniature Wargaming Terrain: Ends in 8 hours, at 39% of $4,200
Setting: Generic Fantasy Terrain
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place on board
Material: Unknown
Visual Detail: High Detail, Colour

What you get: Sets of generic wargaming terrain in a variety of sizes, fields, streams, rubble, etc.

 

Gamer Gridz by Nathan Dennison Ends in 3days, at 145% of $3,500
Setting: Theme less Add-on
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: No
Construction: Interlocking
Material: Laser Cut acrylic
Visual Detail: unpainted 3D

What you get: An innovative system that allows RPG players the opportunity to add levels to an otherwise flat board. The clear towers have levels you can snap on giving accurate spaces of elevation for flying creatures.

 

Pro Tabletop gaming Audio Collection Ends in 85 hours, at 110% of $25,000
Setting: Thematic Audio
Scale: Every
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: None
Material: Sound waves
Visual Detail: Imaginary

A truly excellent piece of scenery that you can’t touch, see or smell. Wes Otis’s audio sounds will add depth to wargames and rpgs that normal terrain just can’t touch. From a Dragon’s breathing to a jousting tournament this is one of the best terrains you can add and very special. I have bought his entire library from the kickstarter and I encourage others to support it as well.

 

Battle SystemsTM Sci-Fi Modular Terrain: Ends in 4 days 155% of £21,000
Setting: Ship Corridors/Generic Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Folded Cardstock
Material: Printed pre-punched Cardstock
Visual Detail: Medium Detail, 2D/3D, Colour

What you get: Printed and pre-punched corridors, cryo-pods, and other futuristic set pieces. Perfect for anyone who needs an Imperial Base, Alien laboratory, or Battleship Corridors to set up and play with. Relatively inexpensive and easily set up a good option for science fiction on a budget boards.

 

Map Flats Vinyl Tabletop RPG Mats: Ends in 7 days 85% of $6,000
Setting: Fantasy Generic/Hathonian
Scale: 1” Squares
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place on Board
Material: Vinyl
Visual Detail: 2D, Colour, High Detail

What you get: Flat Vinyl Rooms and buildings that can be laid on a grid board to add detail to rooms. The main advantage is that as they are vinyl they are easy to clean and will last a long time as opposed to laminated cardstock or paper.

 

The Evoker's Path-Fantasy RPG Adventures and Dungeon Terrain: Ends in 11 days at 27% of $2,500
Setting: Pathfinder
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place on board
Material: Plaster
Visual Detail: 3D, Medium detail, Painted/Unpainted

What you get: A set of tiles, lower quality/cost than Dwarven Forge, also a Pathfinder adventure/setting to play with.

 

3D Battle Board for Star trek Heroclix Ends in 14 days 4% of $10,000
Setting: Star Trek/Heroclix
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Interlocking
Material: Lexan/Cardstock
Visual Detail: 3D boards: No colour, no detail just grid/ 2D: Medium Detail, Colour

What you get: Another interesting 3D board, this one is more focused on space combat and providing different playing levels for games and using the pieces as the board itself rather than levels. It will most likely get some very stiff competition from the earlier kickstarter Gamer Gridz which allows more modularity and levels.

 

Labyrinths Customized Modular Dungeon Terrain Ends in 22 days 655% of $2,500
Setting: Generic Fantasy/Dungeon
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place on Board
Material: Excalibur Die Stone & Resin
Visual Detail: 3D, Painted/Unpainted, High Detail

What you get: Tiles and pieces cast from Hirst Arts molds. They have an excellent variety of floor patterns and accessories, unfortunately you have to pledge for coasters at minimum to be able to buy the accessories.

 

Frontline Gaming and Tablewar Megamatt Ends in 26 days 39% of $2,500
Setting: Generic
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place & Play
Material: Unknown
Visual Detail: 2D, Colour, moderate detail

What you get: A Large 4x6 gaming matt in either fields or “blast zone” design that can be spread on a surface and act as a detailed flat playing area for wargames. Nicely portable, damage resistant, and reasonably priced; I have pledged for the Field matt. Their stretch goals are interesting as well.

 

Games and Gear Battle Boards Ends in 27 days 235% of £35,000
Setting: Generic Themed: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Scale: 10-28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Snap ties/Place & Play
Material: Unsure looks laser cut wood
Visual Detail: 3D, painted, moderate detail

What you get: Large battle boards that can be laid out and games played on. This is a long Kickstarter at 45 days so they are only halfway through now.

 

Terrain Pig: Better Wargame Terrain! Ends in 34 days 43% of $1,000
Setting: Generic
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Place & Play
Material: Unclear
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, High detail

What you get: This project is trying to produce 7 different terrain types to go with 7 different tables. Your pledge will give you anything from a 2 story building to some swamp pieces. With a run time of 54 days this is one of the longest kickstarters going which can lead to a lack of urgency sense. It will most likely succeed but we won’t find out until it’s time for the new year.

one week hiatus due to life

I got married this weekend and am in the airport waiting for the second plane flight.

I will return in a week.

Terrain Kickstarter Week 10/25/2013

Modular Fortress will be doing a terrain related kickstarter list every other week from now on. Exceptions include interesting or noteworthy kickstarters.

There are eight terrain related kickstarters going on right now. This seems to be the magical number when it comes to terrain kickstarters. Whenever one ends a new one is starting.


Castle Ravenstein - Role Playing Game Castle Map by Seahawk Productions: Ends in 22 hours, at 429% of $1,000

Setting: Generic Fantasy Castle

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: No

Construction: Printing

Material: Paper/Digital

Visual Detail: High Detail, Colour

What you get: A set of digital files that gives you the layout of a castle and all of its levels. The backer is then responsible for printing them out. Comes with 2 versions, one is a furnished castle and the other is bare.


Laser Cut MDF Terrain for Wargames by T.J.H Models: Ends in 42 hours, at 52% of £10,000

Setting: Generic Modern/Sci-Fi

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: No

Construction: Interlocking and Magnetic

Material: Laser Cut MDF Wood

Visual Detail: unpainted 3D, Low Detail

Another in the line of the laser engraved wood and the second attempt at funding for this project. This set allows a person to make walkways, corridors, and catwalks that can be stacked up high to make 3D areas. Based out of Britain.


High Quality Miniatures Terrain - Bases, Buildings, & More Ends in 53 hours, at 21% of $3,000

Setting: Generic Terrain

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: No

Construction: Interlocking and Glue

Material: Laser Cut MDF, Wood

Visual Detail: unpainted 3D, Low Detail

Another in the line of the laser engraved wood, this project focuses on buildings such as bridges, a harbor, and others. Also available is bases and the like. This one was not very well advertised and most likely won’t succeed.

 
Living Dungeon Tile Set 02, Sci-Fi 3D by Complex 77: Ends in 7 days 55% of £350

Setting: Ship Corridors

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Printing & Glue

Material: Printed Paper

Visual Detail: Medium Detail, 2D/3D, Black & White

What you get: A PDF file which contains ship segments very similar to the 3D sci-fi segments supplied by Hirst Arts or Dwarven Forge. You back and get a colour pdf file which then is printed out onto cardstock and glued/taped together.


Pad of Hexagonal Content by Peter Regan: Ends in 9 days 359% of £300

Setting: None

Scale: 7mm Hex

Stretch Goals: None Shown, but claims to have them

Construction: None

Material: Paper

Visual Detail: 2D, Unpainted, No Detail

What you get: A pack of 7mm hexes on A7 paper to draw on.

 
Capital City Epic Sci-Fi Map Pack by Matt Francella: Ends in 10 days at 156% of $6,000

Setting: Sci-Fi/Star Wars

Scale: 1 inch grid

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Unroll/Unfold

Material: Plastic

Visual Detail: 2D, Medium detail, Colour

What you get: A set of map packs with a 1” grid. The 1^st is of a city but they have added an “Ice Fortress”, Academy, cantina, and more.


Infinite Crypt: Modular Terrain for Underworld Architects by James Wallbank Ends in 13 days 75% of £6,000

Setting: Generic Fantasy/ Underworld, Crypt

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Interlocking/Glue

Material: 3mm Wood

Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, moderate detail

What you get: This is definitely one of the more interesting terrain kickstarters to date. Like so many others it uses laser cut wood, but instead of being a series of gantries and fortifications the pieces assemble into a dungeon environment; a modular dungeon design system. Easy to store and transport, it appears well designed.  Keep your eye on this one.

 
Impudent Mortal's 28mm Near Future/ Sci Fi Tabletop City Ends in 19 days 138% of $3,000

Setting: Generic City: Future or Modern

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Maybe

Construction: Interlocking/Glue

Material: MDF, Acrylic

Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, moderate detail

What you get: A city made from pieces of MDF cut out with a laser engraver. The pieces I find the most interesting are the clear acrylic “Holographic Billboards”

 

Fantasy Worlds by Acheson Creations Ends in 26 days 39% of $2,500

Setting: Generic Fantasy: Cave/Underdark

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Place & Play

Material: Resin

Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, moderate detail

What you get: The terrain portion of this kickstarter consists of 3 mushroom clumps and a mushroom house. Good for Mycanoids and Smurfs. There is also a well done bridge that would be good for heroic last stands.

Dwarven Forge Arrival

From the deep mines of California my shipment of Dwarvenite has arrived. What struck me was how small the box was. It was 12x9x5, much smaller than I had expected considering the packaging all my other tiles are in.

The box itself weighed over ten pounds and was packed to the brim with my shipment.

5 Painted sets, the most sorrowful room of them all, a nice bag to carry it all in, and some accessories to pretty up the dungeon.

I am a little embarrassed to say that I can't actually remember what I had ordered and will need to check my receipt to ensure correctness, however what is here seems right.

I am going to need to get myself a set of boxes to separate and store these parts in to make them more useable. The pieces are packed in their tight and solid. No damage is immediately obvious.

The paint job is excellent and will go really well with my existing sets. I will post a side by side for comparison when I have the chance.

 

A nice letter of thanks from the Dwarven Forge. It really is the little touches that make things great.

 

I look forward to making the special room of sorrows with these components.

I only had time to open up two of the boxes, one regular set and the den of sorrows. I will open the other boxes and check through them to make sure there aren't any errors, missing pieces, or other issues that may sometimes arise.

Overall my first impression is that these are great and they will go excellently with the rest of my collection.

Stay tuned I will be using the map maker program that was part of the release to design a dungeon layout to take best advantage of these pieces. For fun's sake I will add in my other DF tiles if time allows and see what I can turn out.

Eagerly Awaiting Dwarven Forge

I received my FEDEX tracking confirmation that my set of the Dwarven Forge Kickstarter is heading from California to me right now

I will be looking forward to unboxing and setting up the massive dungeon once the pieces are here. Reviewing the pieces has been something I have been looking forward to for months and the prospect of combining it with my existing collection brings that eagerness to a boil.

Miniature Kickstarters 10/18/2013

As it is not easy to play on beautiful terrain without some models to use, I will be alternating every week between terrain and model/miniatures on kickstarter. I will be occupied this weekend so I am posting it a little early.

Pewter Ponies - Miniature ponies for table-top gaming by Stewart Lawrence Powley: Ends in 28 hours, at 239% of £3,000

Setting: Fantasy Ponies

Models: Animals(sort of)

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Pewter

Visual Detail: Moderate Detail

What you get: A very novel and amusing project. A horde of ponies based on the popular My Little Pony franchise. For copyrights sake everything has a slightly different name but everyone’s favorites are all there. For £85 you can take the lot of them home with you.

 

Darklands: First Edition by Mierce Miniatures: Ends in 29 hours, at 573% of £20,000

Setting: Fantasy Britain

Models: Humans & Monsters

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Polyurethane Resin

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get: An impressive new line of games from Great Britain set in a dark fantasy world after the fall of the Roman Empire. Not just humans but monsters as well are represented in this game. Great for enthusiast who want some mostly historical models as well as those looking for more fantasy forces and a new game.

 

Scout Ship Miniature Kit by Bombshell Miniatures: Ends in 5 days, at 86% of $10,000

Setting: Generic Sci-Fi

Models: Space Ship & crew

Scale: 1/48 & 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Urethane Resin/3D printing

Visual Detail: Moderate Detail

What you get: A 1/48 scale spaceship and her 28mm scale crew plus other individuals. A unique concept to start with, however I feel that what would have been more interesting was rather than create 28mm scale crew would have been to focus on the ship itself. There are sci-fi models galore available. You can only get a basic ship kit and that’s it for the mainstay of this kickstarter.

 

Fairytale Games: The Miniatures Campaign by Alexander Lim Ends in 6 days, at 521% of $25,000

Setting: Fantasy: Myth/fairy tales

Models: Humans, Humanoids, & Monsters

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Urethane Resin/3D printing

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get: A very creepy set of models. Alexander Lim has taken Once Upon a Time and made it dark. This line of models features mostly western stories with a few eastern thrown in. The fairy tales we were told growing up show up but with a dark twist, such as the fanged nutcracker and zombie Hansel & Gretel. Very cool, I have personally pledged.

 

Reaper Miniatures Bones II: The Return of Mr Bones by Reaper Miniatures: Ends in 10 days 6030% of $30,000

Setting: Fantasy: Generic & Pathfinder, and some dark modern/western thrown in

Models: Humans, Humanoids, & Monsters

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Proprietary Bones Resin

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get: The team from Reaper is back with another massive kickstarter. This time they are focusing on monsters and humanoids, but with plenty of regular heroes as well. $100 will get you over 160 models for your collection and over 100 models that can be added for a price, with more being unlocked as the numbers go up. Reaper has simplified the pledge method and manager. Do not miss this.

 

Shadowsea: Conquest of the Underlands by Anti-matter Games: Ends in 15 days 99% of $20,000

Setting: Fantasy: Themed

Models: Humans, Humanoids, & Monsters

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Polyurethane Resin

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get: A series of fantastical steam/magic punk style models with an emphasis on underwater/amphibious battles. Very detailed and original models and factions.

 

Chibi Asian Adventurers Miniatures W Ninjas & more by Impact! Games: Ends in 17 days 103% of $15,000

Setting: Asia

Models: Humans…..maybe and some monsters

Scale: 30 & 50mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Plastic Resin (Spincast)

Visual Detail: Low Detail

What you get: A set chibi (huge heads, small bodies, big eyes, small mouths) figures from Asian history and culture.

 

Dawn: Rise of the Occulites by Eagle Games: Ends in 22 days 168% of $25,000

Setting: Original

Models: Alien/Monstrous Humanoids

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Plastic

Visual Detail: Low to Moderate Detail

What you get:  A board game and series of bulbous aliens/creatures with a single large eye. The tribes have been divided by certain features pertaining to nature. A neat little board game.

 

Elven Adventures Box Set by Stone Haven Miniatures: Ends in 23 days 654% of $5,000

Setting: Fantasy

Models: Elves

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Pewter

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get:  Stonehaven has grown a little since their previous dwarf and gnome kickstarters. They are reaching to greater heights with their Elven models. For $35 you can get one of their elven caravans or you can get the entire crew for $150. Another Kickstarter not to miss.

 

Sulphur 32 mm Tabletop combat Game by Terragnosis: Ends in 23 days 42% of £5,000

Setting: Post Apocalypse

Models: Humans, Mutants, & Vehicles

Scale: 32mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Urethane Resin

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get:  Slightly larger than most, bands of human survivors, vehicles, and mutants battle it out.

 

Mars Attacks The Miniatures Game by Mantic Games: Ends in 23 days 654% of $5,000

Setting: Sci-Fi

Models: Humans, Aliens, & vehicles

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Plastic

Visual Detail: High Detail

What you get:  Those wacky brain aliens from the movie with Jack Nicholson and others are back in this board game with plastic aliens and the humans trying to survive.

 

Frozen Rampage Hockey League Miniatures Game by Rusty Nickel Miniatures: Ends in 25 days 9% of $20,000

Setting: Sports

Models: Humans & Orcs

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Material: Plastic

Visual Detail: Moderate Detail

What you get:  Blood Bowl on Ice

 

 

Terrain Kickstarter Week 10/12/2013

Modular Fortress will be doing a terrain related kickstarter list every other week from now on. Exceptions include interesting or noteworthy kickstarters.

There are eight terrain related kickstarters going on right now.

Warboard, the innovative gaming mat by Steve: Ends in 11 days, at 128% of £8,500

Setting: Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Scale: 28mm & 15mm

 

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Unfold

Material: 2mm board

Visual Detail: Colour, 2D, High Detail

What you get: A fold out setting board to play on to provide a stylized base for terrain and troops. The details are flat but well done and provide a nice alternative to a single coloured piece of wood or floor. One of the key features is that they are easy to pick up and transport folding up and storing in a transport box which comes with your pledge.

Mystic Hobby Resins Transparent Miniature Bases by Mystic Hobby Resins: Ends in 11 days, at 31% of $1,200

Setting: Generic

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Glue/None

Material: Resin Molds

Visual Detail: 3D, Painted, Medium Detail

What you get: Molded bases that try to give the impression of lava, blue ice, and silver/white ice. A simple design and a relatively good deal for the price; these base pieces can add some style and quick unity to an army or a group of models.

Castle Ravenstein - Role Playing Game Castle Map by Seahawk Productions: Ends in 15 days, at 350% of $1,000

Setting: Generic Fantasy Castle

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals:No

Construction: Printing

Material: Paper/Digital

Visual Detail: High Detail, Colour

What you get: A set of digital files that gives you the layout of a castle and all of its levels. The backer is then responsible for printing them out. Comes with 2 versions, one is a furnished castle and the other is bare.

Laser Cut MDF Terrain for Wargames by T.J.H Models: Ends in 16 days, at 49% of £10,000

Setting: Generic Modern/Sci-Fi

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: No

Construction: Interlocking and Magnetic

Material: Laser Cut MDF Wood

Visual Detail: unpainted 3D, Low Detail

Another in the line of the laser engraved wood and the second attempt at funding for this project. This set allows a person to make walkways, corridors, and catwalks that can be stacked up high to make 3D areas. Based out of Britain.

Living Dungeon Tile Set 02, Sci-Fi 3D by Complex 77: Ends in 20 days 48% of £350

Setting: Ship Corridors

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Printing & Glue

Material: Printed Paper

Visual Detail: Medium Detail, 2D/3D, Black & White

What you get: A PDF file which contains ship segments very similar to the 3D sci-fi segments supplied by Hirst Arts or Dwarven Forge. You back and get a colour pdf file which then is printed out onto cardstock and glued/taped together.

Pad of Hexagonal Content by Peter Regan: Ends in 22 days 355% of £300

Setting: None

Scale: 7mm Hex

Stretch Goals: None Shown, but claims to have them

Construction: None

Material: Paper

Visual Detail: 2D, Unpainted, No Detail

What you get: A pack of 7mm hexes on A7 paper to draw on.

Capital City Epic Sci-Fi Map Pack by Matt Francella: Ends in 23 days 152% of $6,000

Setting: Sci-Fi/Star Wars

Scale: 1 inch grid

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Unroll/Unfold

Material: Plastic

Visual Detail: 2D, Medium detail, Colour

What you get: A set of map packs with a 1” grid. The 1^st is of a city but they have added an “Ice Fortress”, Academy, cantina, and more.

Infinite Crypt: Modular Terrain for Underworld Architects by James Wallbank Ends in 23 days 24% of £6,000

Setting: Generic Fantasy/ Underworld, Crypt

Scale: 28mm

Stretch Goals: Yes

Construction: Interlocking/Glue

Material: 3mm Wood

Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, moderate detail

What you get: This is definitely one of the more interesting terrain kickstarters to date. Like so many others it uses laser cut wood, but instead of being a series of gantries and fortifications the pieces assemble into a dungeon environment; a modular dungeon design system. Easy to store and transport, it appears well designed.  Keep your eye on this one.

Back from Hiatus

I must apologize to everyone for my sudden departure. That pesky thing called life tends to get in the way. In the last few months I left my job, moved cities, got engaged, and will be getting married at the beginning of November. However I wanted to get back into the swing of things and the terrain world has been moving along steadily in my absence.

There are several interesting products around right now and I have received several of my pledges which I will write and review in the near future as well as some big announcements.

Kickstarter Week 5/13/2013

There are nine related terrain related kickstarters going on right now.

Tablescapes was successfully funded and is off our list. We have one new project to replace it at the end of the list.

Brush 4 Hire Barricades and Bunkers by Austin Thompson: Ends in 5 days, at 96% of $9,000
Setting: Generic Sci-fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Glue and interlocking
Material: Laser Cut Wood and acrylic
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, high detail
What you get: Square bunkers and laser walls for individuals to use as fortifications. These are part of the ever growing line of people using laser engravers to make their own scenery. It has been expanded to include a wild west set. The fortifications can be grown and expanded with additional pieces.

Itar's Workshop - Dungeon Tiles By Itar's Workshop: Ends in 5 days, at 478% of $7,000
Setting: Generic Fantasy
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction:Modular, place side by side
Material: Acrylic Molds
Visual Detail:unpainted & painted, 3D, high detail, Hirst
These are dungeons pieces extremely similar to Dwarven Forge's line. They are made from Hirst Master Mold blocks that Itar then molded further and then produced pieces with. Ok for those who missed the Dwarven Forge kickstarter.

Daemon Forge Studios: Wargame and Roleplaying Terrain by Daemon Forge Studios: Ends in 10 days, at 126% of $1,000
Setting: Generic Modern Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals:No
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Indeterminate
Visual Detail:unpainted & painted, 3D, Moderate Detail
A neat little battle set good for those who need some battlefield obstacles such as Dragon's teeth, and revetments. Very simple just purchase either painted or unpainted and lay them on the field.

Your Terrain Your Style By Jack Mckilligan Fisher: Ends in 12 days, at 136% of £25
Setting: Generic Geography
Scale:Undetermined
Stretch Goals:No
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Polystyrene
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, Low Detail, Low Quality
Low detail hills and walls, very basic that a person could do with a piece of Polystyrene and a heat gun or knife. Based in Britain. They have not backed any and are only here to sell something that can already be easily acquired, pledge with caution.

Laser Cut MDF Terrain for Wargames by T.J.H Models: Ends in 16 days, at 74% of £10,000
Setting: Generic Modern Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals:Yes
Construction: Interlocking and Magnetic
Material: Laser Cut MDF Wood
Visual Detail:unpainted 3D, Low Detail
Another in the line of the laser engraved wood. This set allows a person to make walkways, corridors, and catwalks that can be stacked up high to make 3D areas. Based out of Britain.

Pixel Dungeon Paper Miniatures by Octopus Apocalypse: Ends in 20 days 21% of $800
Setting: Generic Modern
Scale: Special
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Glue
Material: Printed Paper
Visual Detail: Image quality, 2D, Low detail
A printed house to go with printed figures. Everything is pixelated.Good for a fun adventure and relatively cheap.

Wargaming Terrain for the American Frontier by Acheson Creations: Ends in 21 days 80% of $5,000
Setting: Themed Historical
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Plastic
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, High detail
A series of huts, longhouses, and cabins for the American Frontier. Good Terrain to set up on the board, the huts could be used for other locations and times as well.

Deadzone the Sci-fi Miniatures Boardgame by Mantic Games: Ends in 21 days 872% of $50,000
Setting: Themed Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Custom Snap Together
Material: Plastic
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, High detail
A very interesting board game that comes with terrain at certain pledge levels. The terrain is interlocking and can be used to make structures. Has a tie in with Tablescapes as well.

 Magnetic Gaming Table and Terrain by Dustin Weir: Ends in 40 days 4% of $80,000
Setting: Generic Geography
Scale:15 - 54mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Magnets
Material: Metal & plastic
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, moderate detail
For those who wish their models to stay where they are put. This project gives a layer of scenery over a metal plate. By putting magnets on the bases of terrain and models the player will be able to keep their models standing even if not perfectly balanced.

Kickstarter Week 5/5/2013

There are a very large number of terrain related kickstarters going on right now.

Tablescapes- by Secret Weapon Miniatures: Ends in 6 days, at 247% of $80,000
Setting: Generic Sci-fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Clips
Material:Injection Molded Plastic
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, high detail
What you get: A large gaming area. Each tile is 12"x12" and detailed to provide a battle surface for miniatures to fight on. It allows gamers to have a ready to go battle surface that provides detail and scenery. These are some of the best gaming tiles that I have ever seen and their inventory has expanded from a rubbish scape to city streets, and now into fields. Definitely one to watch and pledge.

Brush 4 Hire Barricades and Bunkers by Austin Thompson: Ends in 12 days, at 80% of $9,000
Setting: Generic Sci-fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Glue and interlocking
Material: Laser Cut Wood and acrylic
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, high detail
What you get: Square bunkers and laser walls for individuals to use as fortifications. These are part of the ever growing line of people using laser engravers to make their own scenery. It has been expanded to include a wild west set.

Itar's Workshop - Dungeon Tiles By Itar's Workshop: Ends in 12 days, at 373% of $7,000
Setting: Generic Fantasy
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction:Modular, place side by side
Material: Acrylic Molds
Visual Detail:unpainted & painted, 3D, high detail, Hirst
These are dungeons pieces extremely similar to Dwarven Forge's line. They are made from Hirst Master Mold blocks that Itar then molded further and then produced pieces with. Ok for those who missed the Dwarven Forge kickstarter.

Daemon Forge Studios: Wargame and Roleplaying Terrain by Daemon Forge Studios: Ends in 16 days, at 95% of $1,000
Setting: Generic Modern Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals:No
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Indeterminate
Visual Detail:unpainted & painted, 3D, Moderate Detail
A neat little battle set good for those who need some battlefield obstacles such as Dragon's teeth, and revetments. Very simple just purchase either painted or unpainted and lay them on the field.

Your Terrain Your Style By Jack Mckilligan Fisher: Ends in 22 days, at 128% of £25
Setting: Generic Geography
Scale:Undetermined
Stretch Goals:No
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Polystyrene
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, Low Detail, Low Quality
Low detail hills and walls, very basic that a person could do with a piece of Polystyrene and a heat gun or knife. Based in Britain. They have not backed any and are only here to sell something that can be easily acquired, pledge with caution.

Laser Cut MDF Terrain for Wargames by T.J.H Models: Ends in 23 days, at 44% of £10,000
Setting: Generic Modern Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals:Yes
Construction: Interlocking and Magnetic
Material: Laser Cut MDF Wood
Visual Detail:unpainted 3D, Low Detail
Another in the line of the laser engraved wood. This set allows a person to make walkways, corridors, and catwalks that can be stacked up high to make 3D areas. Based out of Britain.


Pixel Dungeon Paper Miniatures by Octopus Apocalypse: Ends in 26 days 5% of $800
Setting: Generic Modern
Scale: Special
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Glue
Material: Printed Paper
Visual Detail: Image quality, 2D, Low detail
A printed house to go with printed figures. Everything is pixelated.Good for a fun adventure and relatively cheap.

Deadzone the Sci-fi Miniatures Boardgame by Mantic Games: Ends in 27 days 673% of $50,000
Setting: Themed Sci-Fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Custom Snap Together
Material: Plastic
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, High detail
A very interesting board game that comes with terrain at certain pledge levels. The terrain is interlocking and can be used to make structures. Has a tie in with Tablescapes as well.

Wargaming Terrain for the American Frontier by Acheson Creations: Ends in 27 days 37% of $5,000
Setting: Themed Historical
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Single Pieces
Material: Plastic
Visual Detail: 3D, Unpainted, High detail
A series of huts, longhouses, and cabins for the American Frontier. Good Terrain to set up on the board, the huts could be used for other locations and times as well.

No Models For YOU!

The new Tau codex and release has excited many gamers, including my brother. He went down to his local game store to buy new models and prepare for an escalation league. Only to discover that they will not be getting the models that were ordered.

I took to the web and discovered that this is worse than average.
http://natfka.blogspot.co.at/2013/04/tau-release-due-to-extreme-demand-out.html
In other game stores we find them out of stock.
http://pinsofwar.com/tau-delayed/
Or Delayed.

However at the Local Game store we frequent we find that the order is flat out diverted. The store owner was given his delivery date and information, however he then received what could have only been a bad April Fool's joke except it was really happening.

The Tau models that were on their way to his store that he had paid for were being diverted. Games Workshop had called the driver and had them reroute from his store to the nearest Games Workshop as they needed more and were sold out.

This isn't a case of "we just didn't have enough for you" it's a full on case of "You don't matter".

Games Workshop by all appearances has been trying to factor out Independent Retailers and force all business to their own stores.

Added to this is their new business model of making certain items available only through their own online outlet and forbidding retailer sales online, what you wind up with is a company that clearly cares little about their own fanbase.

I still own several GW armies that I purchased down the years in 40K and Fantasy, as well as several Battle Fleet Gothic fleets. I continued purchasing models up until the well known Spots the Space Marine lawsuit.

For those who don't know, Spots the Space Marine was a novel written by M.C.A. Hogarth. The novel contained the words Space Marine, a term in use for almost a century now. As a result GW claimed that it owned the copyright to Space Marine on everything including E-books, when it in fact did not, and got Amazon to take it down. Games Workshop got shut down hard and showed they have no knowledge of the community or the Streisand effect.

There is also the Chapter House lawsuit underway at this time. This is probably a factor in why the release has been rushed ahead. GW has now realized that they can't keep their audience waiting for over three years for models such as the Doom of Malan'tai and Terigon. The lawsuit revealed that if GW isn't going to make a model for a unit then other companies will go ahead and provide what the customers want.

Kickstarters week 4/13/2013

There are several terrain related kickstarters going on right now.

Venture: Starship Deckplans:  Ends in 14 days, at 311% of $1,000 goal.
Setting: Sci-Fi, Spaceships
Scale:1" grid
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: None
Material: Poster/paper
Visual Detail: 2D printed Image
What you get: Digital images and story, a flat map to use for gaming inside a starship, a model of the starship, and access to their website/webzine.

Dungeons of The Mountain King: Ends in 15 days, at 2947% of $500 goal.
Setting: Fantasy, Dwarves
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Holes and Pegs, glue
Material: paper or card stock
Visual Detail: Image quality but flat
What you get: A downloadable pdf file that you then print out and make your terrain with. You can print as many copies as you want and just pay for each new file. You then card stock together based on plans and can make rooms with it.

Dwarven Forge's Game Tiles: Revolutionary Miniature Terrain: Ends in 17 days, at 1297% of $50,000 goal.
Setting: Generic Fantasy, Dungeon
Scale: 25mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Lay side by side
Material: "Dwarvenite" A high impact high detail resin.
Visual Detail: unpainted/painted, 3D, high detail
What you get: Modular construction sets to allow one to build rooms/dungeons in great detail. The pieces are 1" x 1" and very detailed. For a more detailed review please see this review of Dwarven Forge.
I am choosing to support this at the $380 five painted set level

Underground Lasers 28mm modular terrain: Ends in 19 days, at 58% of $8,000 goal.
Setting: Sci-fi but possible to use with fantasy
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Hole and peg/tab interlocking.
Material: Wood
Visual Detail: 3D, engraving
What you get: The pieces are textured wood that have been put through a laser engraver. A base board with holes in it provides the base and then wood walls and floors are added to make a multi-level structure.

East Asian Village for Gamers: Ends in 19 days, at 427% of $8,000 goal.
Setting: Fantasy, Generic Asian
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals:Yes
Construction: Hole and peg/tab interlocking
Material:Painted Wood
Visual Detail:Colour, 3D
What you get: Anywhere from a small cart all the way to an 18" tall seven story pagoda to an entire village. This array of buildings can be constructed and taken apart and provides a perfect setting for any Asian adventures such as LOTFR. The pieces are made of wood and come hand painted and ready to assemble and use.
I am choosing to support this at the $150 village level and eagerly await their success.

Tablescapes- by Secret Weapon Miniatures: Ends in 29 days, at 86% of $80,000
Setting: Generic Sci-fi
Scale: 28mm
Stretch Goals: Yes
Construction: Clips
Material:Injection Molded Plastic
Visual Detail:unpainted, 3D, high detail
What you get: A large gaming area. Each tile is 12"x12" and detailed to provide a battle surface for miniatures to fight on. It allows gamers to have a ready to go battle surface that provides detail and scenery.

Kickstarter Review Policy

Right now there are a dozen kickstarter campaigns going on that are related to scenery and many more that were around from before we started. Our inaugural post was for the Dwarven Forge Kickstart that is already massively successful.

I want to help everyone who is looking to kickstart or crowd fund their terrain. If you are going to launch or have already launched a kickstarter, indiegogo, or other form of funding for your gaming terrain please send me an email at modularfortress@gmail.com

I will maintain a list and section dedicated to these projects so that both the creator and those who do not wish to slug through the rather primitive kickstarter browse tool.

If I like your kickstart a lot I will even write a blog post about what you are doing and any other information that seems relevant.

Kickstarter: Dwarven Forge

Many gamers are very familiar with Dwarven Forge, it is a terrain company started by Stefan Pokorny seventeen years ago, originally known as Master Maze back when I bought my first set. Stefan is an artist/sculptor who is also a gamer(or the reverse).

This makes for the perfect initial substance post as DF is a massive name in the terrain area, right up there with Hirst arts.

The resin(called polystone) tiles they produce are all interchangeable(for a given value of interchangeable) and come in great variety.

The first sets produced were their dungeon sets.

Originally limited to square rooms and straight corridors they have expanded to include angles, curved corridors, narrow passageways, traps, and a great variety followed.

Their second line is the Caverns set.

This set added not just rooms but wide and narrow natural passages and vistas for people to have their models in remote unexplored areas. A river set was added to it that allowed water flows through the dungeon.

Their third line is a quartet of future sets.

The Starter set lets you set up rooms.
The Passage set adds corridors.
The Alpha Expansion adds detailed flooring with removable components
The Gamma Expansion adds chairs and items.

The Final Set they produce is a medieval building set that allows for construction of inns and other interiors for buildings.

This is the set that I want to acquire next for my collection. Unfortunately it is out of stock right now, but when it becomes available I will be adding a couple to my collection.

In this regards I encourage our readers to support the Dwarven Forge Kickstarter for their Dungeon Tiles.

While any of the regular sets will cost upwards of $100 per set the Dungeon tiles are made from Dwarvenite which is much more resilient than Polystone and has lowered the cost of the set. They also come in painted and unpainted so those collectors can expand their dungeons with their own paint scheme.

They are starting out with just the original master maze dungeon sets, but the Kickstarter has already grown to over $600,000 of their initial $500 goal.

It now includes curved walls, angles, and other stretch goals that are unlocked as more money pours in.