Onto the concept for this table though. For a while now I've being playing with the idea of Multi Terrain and how it is for the most part a really overlooked and arguably arbitrary point sink in the game or at least in my META. However something has always stuck in my mind for years and it's this tiny bit of fluff explaining the rules.
Troops with Multi Terrain Skill prepare themselves extensively for every mission, training with simulators or in zones that approximate the location where they will carry out their operations.
That screams ........ HOLODECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So that leads me into what I'm going to try and build I want to make 4 or so interconnecting zones of various types of terrain with area of effects represented realistically on a single table but with a solid overall theme tying it together. Which is a pretty big ask because how do you get Aquatic, Desert, Mountain, Jungle or Zero-G on the same table without it looking like well shit or extremely discombobulated. I mean this isn't Rage of Shitmar where you can have random bubbles with bits of worlds floating about and as much as I love Portal I can't explain Portals in the Infinity Universe very well.
So that got me thinking about about Holodecks and what I thought a near future one would look like. Because let's face it as sweet as the Idea is from Star Trek their Holodecks just take it a touch too far I still want mine to look like artificially created space but clearly designed for training. So robust and kind of bullet proof ... cause you know nothing says real life training like live fire exercises. I knew I would need a core colour that would standout and clearly define what is a solid surface and part of that training area so the users wouldn't try to move through a solid object thinking it was just a 3D holographic display.
My mind went back to my days playing Day of Defeat Source and Counter Strike Source. In particular the Orange Maps series which I never really got at the time because they felt a little cheaty because I was young had good twitch reflexs and was a sharp shooter. These maps favoured me because I could eyeball a uniform so easily against the Orange/Grey background. However! I realise now that this is going to be the perfect kicking off point for my idea. The maps even look a little like what I have planned.
So here is the core image which will drive the project.
Grid pattern will be imparted on anything representing the 3D Holographic parts, solid vertical surfaces will be in Orange and all horizontal surfaces Grey. Which will also show where models can move and climb more or less. I think this is a really solid idea and I'm looking forward to making it a reality.
I've already got some components coming for this table. Neal over at LCC popped up the other day with some test cuts of his DIY Doors B going at a real steal so I grabbed them.
They will be perfect for using as entrances and exists. Which will just be solid pieces to use as Total Cover LoS/LoF blockers. By having 4 of them I open the options up for multiple combinations on the table.
I'm also considering making them the only points where AD troops can come onto the board which would make it even more interesting.
That is where the symmetrical table building would STOP though because otherwise their would be little reason for deployment to matter. I'll divide the table into 4 quarters/quadrants and each would contain its own single terrain effect which will make for some fun terrain work. Forest/jungles and the like, some water features, heights for mountains and best of all Zero-G which I'm thinking floating crates!
Wish me luck on this adventure to come.
