It's a common question without an easy answer:
How much terrain should actually be on the table?
As with many things, the answer is complicated. In this case the answer changes depending on what game you are playing.Â
A battlefield with a specific layout designed for large scale battles will be far too open for a skirmish game. Likewise, a dense urban battlefield filled with ruins and walkways works great for a low model count skirmish game, but is unusable for a ruleset that expects large firing lanes and more open movement.
Ultimately there isn't a universal 'correct' amount of terrain. The goal is to create a battlefield that supports the game you're playing and lets all players enjoy the game to its fullest.
Always Start With The Rules
Many modern game systems provide official recommendations for terrain placement, dimensions, and density. Some competitive formats even publish exact terrain layouts that are used across tournaments and events.
If this is the type of game you are playing, this will be your starting point.
Competitive play is less about creating the most cinematic battlefield possible and more about creating a fair one. Consistency matters, and players should be able to move from table to table with the expectation that the table setup is as fair and balanced as possible.
These tables are perfect for what they are designed to achieve, a fair and predictable setup for both players. Don't expect them to be particularly elaborate or inspiring, though.
Skirmish Games Love Dense Terrain
Smaller-scale skirmish games, on the other hand, thrive on elaborate terrain layouts.
When you're only controlling a handful of models, every inch of movement, every shot fired or sword swung, is critical. Terrain creates opportunities to maneuver, hide, flank, and ambush in ways that you simply can't on an open table.
It's not just about the amount of terrain either. If you have loads of terrain flanking the outer edges of your table, and an open killing field in the middle, the game suffers. Choices don't matter as much, and the sense of engagement dwindles.Â
Dense terrain ultimately creates more engaging games. Players have to think about routes, positioning, and risk rather than simply drawing line of sight across the table.
Line Of Sight Is More Important Than You Think
If you want to improve your battlefield, and therefore improve your games, block line of sight. Get big terrain pieces, and slap them down right where they will be the most inconvenient. Â
Line of sight blocking terrain prevents ranged units from dominating large portions of the table. Movement becomes much more meaningful, and the point and shoot mindset disappears. Â
Good terrain is about giving players options. It creates firing lanes, but also covered advances. It provides areas of safety mixed with areas of risk and reward. It doesn't matter if that terrain is ruined buildings, rock formations, industrial structures, dense forests, or towering fortifications. What matters is that players get to interact with the battlefield, instead of ignoring it, and that is what makes for memorable moments on the tabletop.
The bottom line is when you block line of sight, your game becomes more dynamic, more involved, and more fun.
Verticality Rules
Terrain isn't just about looking across the battlefield, the most memorable tables make you think about looking up and looking down. This is especially true in skirmish level games where the extra focus on model positioning really matters.
Towers, hills, castles and bridges on a fantasy themed board look great and add an extra element. Your Sci-Fi table packed with walkways, platforms and multi-level ruins adds to both the visual impact and enjoyment of a game. Thinking tactically in three dimensions is more fun, and more challenging.
Don't think your table needs to look like futuristic megacity or a sprawling fortress to benefit from verticality either. Just a few elevated positions mixed with line of sight blocking will completely change how a game unfolds.
Scatter Terrain Is The Glue
Large terrain pieces usually get the attention, but scatter terrain is often what makes a battlefield work. Filling the empty spaces between larger structures with small bits and bobs makes the table feel lived in and realistic.
Scatter terrain has practical benefits too. Tables built entirely around large terrain pieces often end up with predictable firing lanes and obvious kill zones. Scatter terrain defines movement lanes, breaks up open spaces, and creates tactical decisions throughout the game.
Scatter terrain is what transforms a table from a functional one to an immersive one, and that should be the goal when you build out your terrain collection.
The Right Balance
Looping back to the original question, the right amount of terrain will always vary.
Competitive games often benefit from carefully balanced layouts that follow established guidelines based around fairness and rules compatibility. Narrative games let you push towards denser and more thematic battlefields. Skirmish games shine when terrain limits line of sight, creates multiple movement paths, and encourages players to use the battlefield creatively.
Personally I will always lean to the side of slightly more terrain rather than less because the best terrain and the best tables are the ones where players find themselves playing with the terrain, not just on it.
When it's time to build out your table, I hope you explore our Fantasy Terrain, Sci-Fi Terrain, and Scatter Terrain collections for inspiration!
- Dave @ Sigmarite Boutique