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MODELLING·WHITE DWARF 290

A Tale of Good & Evil: Making a Gaming Board

February 2004·pp. 134–137

THE SHORT VERSION

Steve Cumiskey and Adrian Wood build four modular terrain squares for their developing Gondor and Mordor forces. Planning the hills and crevasses on paper lets the sections work in several arrangements. Polystyrene, grass mat, textured surfaces and slate create varied ground, finished with brown and grey drybrushes that match the models’ bases. Their first games demonstrate how the terrain shapes a battle’s story as well as its appearance.

AT THE PAINTING DESK

Paints in this article

Every named colour below is searchable across the archive.

Chaos BlackDark FleshBestial BrownVomit BrownCodex GreyBleached Bone

All explicitly named paints and finishes are indexed under their historical source names. See the original for mixtures and application order.

FOLLOW A THREAD

Part Two Modular terrain Gaming board Polystyrene Rocks Grass mat

Back to the original

Find this article in White Dwarf 290, pp. 134–137.

This is an original summary. Refer to your magazine for the complete article, rules, images and painting steps.

KEEP EXPLORING

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ModellingWD 290 · pp. 18–24

The Narrative Approach

Paul Gayner explains how a theme can guide army selection, conversions, characters and magic items without requiring an unofficial army list. His own Night Goblin merchant caravan grows from the idea of defending valuable scrap, with monsters, war machines and eccentric shamans supporting its identity. Other examples show how changing a faction’s usual assumptions can produce a distinctive force. Names, personalities and accumulated battlefield reputations then make ordinary games feel like episodes in a continuing story.

Warhammer Fantasy BattlesOrcs & Goblins
February 2004Read summary
RulesWD 290 · pp. 132–133

The Plateau of Gorgoroth

Frodo and Sam must cross Mordor while Orc sentries wander and Gollum follows their trail. The exhausted Ringbearer cannot rely on his normal reserves or use the Ring, making concealment essential. Rival groups of Orcs can turn on one another when Good gains priority, offering opportunities to pass through the patrol. A points-match alternative lets other small forces attempt the escape.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle GameThe Fellowship
February 2004Read summary
TacticsWD 290 · pp. 138–141

The Shadow in the East

Adam Troke assesses Mordor’s heroes and warriors under The Return of the King rules. Mounted Ringwraiths disrupt powerful enemies, Captains supply Might, and Trolls benefit from coordinated heroic actions. Ordinary Orcs, Uruk-hai, Easterlings and Warg Riders fill different roles without surrendering the army’s numerical advantage. Sample forces and advice on banners, cavalry and enemy shooting show how to turn those options into a flexible fighting force.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle GameMordor
February 2004Read summary