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.