Agent of the Table. A modular journey from a terrain newbie.

[Agent of the Breach]

I have decided to start working in my own Malifaux table; it’s going to be a long and hard way, so I’m going to be updating this thread by stages. Also, I want that this thread can be useful for others that (like me,) never have approached to a project like this, so i’m in full-disclosure mode about the costs and the technics! 

 

 (This thread has adopted the international system of units; be aware, burmans).

 

 1.- Planification.

 

 (I've already have finished this stage, so i'm going a little fast trough it.)

 

One of the things that I had to have in mind when I started with design of the table was that it had to be easy to transport so I could carry it from my house to clubs and stores. I first considered making something foldable, but I wanted to be able to work vertically, so I went with the modular option; four modules of 45x45 that can become a 90x90 table. It wasn't a big surface but I wanted that everything looks solid, so I thought that having some wood connections (btw, i’m not sure about how you call them; we use the words “pernos” or "espigas") on two sides of every module was going to be a good thing. This was my first concept:

 

 

 

 With that in mind, I started to think in the structure of the modules; for what I saw, the b€st solution was MDF for the wood and polystyrene for the filling. I needed to make something like this (side view):

 

 

 

 I went to some stores and check prices for some strips and boards; all the wood would have cost me around 15 € but I was going to also need lots of tools, so before buying it, I went to a local carpenter, show him my sketch and asked him how much would cost me. He told me that he will make me all the wood work for 40 €, so I took the easy way even if was a little more expensive. I also use the trip to get some polystyrene boards for 5 €; I bought much more that I needed because I wanted to be able to make some experiments before start with the real board.

 

 With the modules here, I started to work and filled the gaps with the polystyrene (btw, I cut the boards with a cutter and wasn't the best choice).

 

 

 

 

 

 The next (and the last) thing I have done was start with the planning; I've drawn every single deployment and strategy/scheme location so I can be aware while i'm creating the terrain. The objetive is make a table that can be played nice from every side so I don't get bored of it too soon 

 

 Right now, it looks like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 2.- Theme.

 

 (...)

[Gremlin guy]

I look forward to see what you come up with. Great start with the planning!

[Eldritch Enforcer]

Good job so far.

[sakurazuka38]

Wow nice project!

 

Do you have scketch about what line and circle is for ?

 

For example, what are the little red circle for (on the corner and around the central circle ?

 

And why the central circle is composed of two circles ?

 

thank you

[Agent of the Breach]

 Yes, I've a little key for the colours:

 

 Violet -  Deployments

 Green - Schemes

 Red - Strategies 

 Blue - GG Strategies

 

 The two central circles are for turf and reconnoiter; the second has no marker, that's why it's smaller 

[Demonn Agram]

first off, your plans look cool and I'm looking forward to seeing more!

 

I see you have tabs to "lock" the modules in place. If I can suggest, use magnets - easier and much less likely to break if handled roughly:

this is the idea:

 

LEFT   and RIGHT  - Two poles of the magnets...

 

 

just an idea (hope you don't mind)

[Agent of the Breach]

 That's a really good idea 

 

 I'm afraid about the durability of the tabs and they also make the storage of the modules quite problematic, so, when the first one break, I think that i'm going full with you system