Warhammer 40K: A Look at Terrain

Tables at last years TC at Maelstrom Games in Mansfield

Ever since last years ETC there’s been a lot of back and forth about american vs european terrain trends.  One of the things that took the US ETC team by surprise was the overwhelming amount of LOS (line of sight) blocking terrain.  If you’ve spent any time in the American tournament circuit then you know that uneven terrain levels, especially LoS blocking terrain has been the exception rather than the rule.

Now keep in mind that while we’re talking specifically about the standards of the ETC, we are talking generally about the american competition circuit, so some of the perspectives may not match your local meta game or club trends.  Based on the conversations between last years ETC members and other teams it seems we yanks are the brunt of jokes based on our typically sparse table set ups.  Well what’s the big deal?  Why do we care about terrain anyway?  Isn’t this just a game about little dudes blowing other little dudes up?  I mean terrain’s just there to break up the table a little and add a bit of tactical challenge right?

Well, lets consider a difference in perspective first and then a couple quick points of how the presence of large numbers of terrain pieces or fewer can affect a game.

First, consider the differences in gaming trends to begin with.  In the UK, WHFB (Fantasy) has always had a stronger hold, while here in the states it’s always been second to 40K.  This fact comes into play due to the differences in the nature of each games leniency with tactical precision.  In general, emphasis on the general here people, WHFB is more demanding tactically than 40K.  No before every 40K player jumps from their well worn computer chairs that they’ve laboriously been sitting in while working on the next ork conversion, lets all be honest with ourselves.  I’m a long time 40K player, though I did get my GW start in Fantasy, that being said due to the nature of the game mechanism, Fantasy is less forgiving of tactical flubs than 40K is.  It’s apparent in the rules if you don’t believe me.

Let’s just take a look at movement for a moment.  40K allows squad movement within a space of 2″ coherency between models.  This creates a unique dynamic in terms of how movement comes into play with other phases as well as how the phase can be instrumental to a players success or failure.  WHFB on the other hand uses rigid rank-and-file method of movement requiring pivoting and such, all which composes your total movement distance.  Suddenly movement takes a step up the ladder of critical phases.  This isn’t to say that 40K isn’t a tactically demanding game, far from it.  But, it is a more forgiving game, in general.

So what does WHFB’s tactical level have to do with 40K terrain you may be wondering at this point?  Well more terrain, and especially in reference to LoS blocking terrain (tall, big stuff) directly affects each phase, perhaps most of all the movement phase, immediately increasing the precision required to maximize unit effectiveness while negating your opponents strengths.  Tactical acumen?  Why yes thank you 13th Company podcast, that is the phrase I was looking for.

Now, lets move on to the effect of terrain.  A “typical” competition table set up in the US would have a terrain piece in the middle of each table quarter and usually one in the middle.  Everything’s even steven, you know how competitive we yanks are.  Everything has to be fair…unless you’re the game developer and happen to be releasing codecies for your armies…but that’s another topic altogether.

Club table at US Gamesday 2010, Baltimore

In general the terrain is a standard single level, sometimes more, but most of the table quarter is open creating multiple fire angles and mostly clear paths for the movement of vehicles.  This allows for units like Space Wolves Longfang spam lists to take full advantage of their 15+ missile launchers every round.  Now that’s a good thing right?  Well assuming you’re the one with the missile fetish and not the IG player on the other side running multiple Vendettas and Chimeras, then yeah sure, things are looking pretty good for you.

With the advent of the large skimmer (aka planes with skimmer rules, Why do we have Apoc rules any more?  Anyone?) being incorporated into regular game play, we now have a unique dynamic when it comes to trying to get cover saves with larger vehicles on 8” high stands and a wing span that rivals a Land Raider length.  Now before you scoff and wonder why cover saves are so important, in a world where you can easily field 20 missile launchers or 12 lascannons the AV 12 you likely have on your massive skimmer ruled model (Valkeryies\Vendettas) isn’t going to last long.  So now cover saves are much more important than they once were.  It’s not just a melta meta anymore (try saying melta-meta three times fast)

The running trend in the UK is much more terrain than in the US, and specifically more LoS blocking terrain.  For some reason unbeknownst to the average American, overseas terrain trends are bigger and fuller.  For instance, Cites of Death rules expansion is actively played in the UK, here in the US just try and find someone to even play with you, let alone who actually has terrain for a CoD board.  Again I believe the trend of more densely covered boards is attached to the slower more tactical game play experienced overseas.  I’ve heard some Brits say they’re astonished a 2500pt game can be finished in an hour.  It seems that while there is still a healthy dose of competitiveness in our brothers and sisters across the pond, they have a slightly more “beer and chips” kind of night in mind when gaming.

What kind of terrain does your local club or gaming group use?