Micro Art Studio/other terrain recommendations?

[Zargar]

Hey guys,

In general I don't have a lot of time, but money is less of an issue, so I don't want to build my own terrain. I prioritise painting my army when the creative spark strikes. I've been looking at some of the stuff from Micro Art Studio to help make my table a bit nicer on the rare occasions that I get to play. I've only been looking at stuff online, and its pretty hard to evaluate which pieces are worth it and which ones are not. Does anyone have experience with some items that are nice for Warmachine? The things I value are

1) Usability; intention is to use it most games and it needs to add value to the experience
2) Looks; must fit the steampunk setting
3) Value for price
4) Material (resin preferred, able to transport preferred, stuff that doesnt break preferred).

Experience with items from other places also welcome, this is just what I had been looking at. I currently don't have any terrain.

Thanks a lot,
Zargar

[Ravenwood]

The Boxes, Barrels, Walls, Rivers & Stone houses by Pegasus that the war store sells are amazingly good for the price & quite durable. Ready to go, right out of the box. I like them & they have held up quite well.

[PG_Farseerixirvost]

Yup. I have those Pegasus cottages too, and they rock.

HERE is a link to a ton of terrain options. I find that Pegasus Hobbies (in the "Other Terrain" section of that link), War Torn Worlds (recycled tires helping save the planet, one game at a time...), Gale Force 9 (not in that linked list), and some of the Ziertedes stuff are all great, and all are pre-finished.

About a year ago, I spent about $125 USD and got enough to cover 2-4 WarmaHordes tables rather nicely. Got:

4 of the Pegasus Hobbies (PH) cottages - two of THIS and two of THAT
1 of PH's Castle Wall Ruins
2 of PH's River Sets (one is 40" long, so just 8" short of crossing a table)
1 War Torn Worlds (WTW) 15mm Hill Set - admittedly a bit to short so they won't provide a elevation bonus, but at least they break up the monotony of the tabletop
several WTW "Outcrop" like OUTCROP A and OUTCROP B (I did winter tables, WTW products come pre-finished in several themes)
1 WTW Rocky Pool


Basically, if all you need is some things for a single table, you should be able to get really good and durable stuff for $50-$75.

[Zargar]

Awesome replies so far, thanks a lot. I will probably get some of those cottages... While I'm not too fond of terrain that is a complete block, they look really good esp if you have a few. I also really like the scenery pieces linked, thanks for that.
Does anyone know these? They seem expensive but nicer than marsh or brush. Do they look good?

[R Gordon 1028]

I have seen one of the cottages and it looks fine, but as you say very blockie.

As far as hills and forests go to TheTerrainGuy.com. He is here in Dallas and his hills are very nice but its his forests that excel.

They are a rubbery substance and the trees are pin mounted and can be moved anywhere on the hill/base. the trees are not stuck in one location so if yo need to move a figure to exactly there, and there is a tree already there just pull the tree from the base and stick it in another place. the rubbery substance reseals and never shows holes. I have had a set of these forests for over 2 years and not one sign of way.

The hills and forests edges are sloped and very playable. He has different heights and they can be ordered as stackable

He also sells stuff at 10% or more discount. He has 1 of he cotteges on his web site listed at $14.95

Just checked the website of theterrainguy.com and the hills are made of EVA foam and the trees are called pin-a-tree, check it out

[PG_Farseerixirvost]

While I'm not too fond of terrain that is a complete block

They actually aren't that big. I'm at work so can't measure mine, but from memory, I'd say they're maybe 4"x6", maybe 5"x7". So they don't take up a huge foot print. One or two max on a table gives a nice suggestion of a low-density farmstead or hamlet without seeming like an urban nightmare. Plus, at ca. $14 each, two houses for <$30 is a nice deal.

DO NOTE: those Pegasus Hobbies cottages are some kind of plaster-like substance. You mentioned wanting "portability." The War Torn Worlds stuff can be bent almost in half and thrown across the room and it'll bounce right back good as new - those Pegasus cottages, not so much. BUT, they are still very sturdy, I'm just saying if you get them, keep the boxes they come in for transport purposes.

[PG_Farseerixirvost]

They actually aren't that big. I'm at work so can't measure mine, but from memory, I'd say they're maybe 4"x6", maybe 5"x7".

Wow. Way over-estimated that. Small one is 2.5" x 4". The large one is only larger in the 2.5" dimension, and not by much, but I didn't dig that one out to measure - probably 3" or 3.5" x 4".

[Zargar]

lol I want to play Warmachine against you... those guesses at distance would serve me real well!!

[PG_Farseerixirvost]

I'm a half-inch out way more than I'd like to admit...

[patox]

If you can find them, the Conflix Imex Fantasy buildings are nice, pre-painted, durable and affordable.

Privateer Press needs to start making terrain.

[PG_Pake]

Privateer Press needs to start making terrain.

General IK terrain, not faction specific terrain.

[Mustakrakish]

If you can find them, the Conflix Imex Fantasy buildings are nice, pre-painted, durable and affordable.

Privateer Press needs to start making terrain.

nope.jpg

there are plenty of people in that market right now, at best they could license it out (again) but demand that the pieces are a) playable and b) affordable.

[Zargar]

Ok I'm getting close to putting in the (larger than i meant to) order, thanks for the advices everyone. I did order a zuzzy mat already and cant wait for it to arrive

I have one question, does anyone know if the Techno Bridge works with the Pegasus River?

Also if there are other ideas out there or good/bad experiences with certain terrain pieces, I'm all ears still I checked the stuff at theterrainguy, thanks for the recommendation, but unfortunately they are out of stock on all the recommended hills and forests :/