1995 terrain feasibility with new Necromunda

spiggie

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Feb 17, 2011
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Hi everyone!

What have you guys found to be the most storage-friendly Necromunda terrain/scenery solution, that still delivers a great gaming experience, is acceptably fast to setup to get a game going, and requires minimal work to get painted? We would be using the latest N18 rules.

Does the 1995 cardboard terrain work with the new miniatures? Because I'm wondering if a 1995 core box filled with painted bulkheads and 2-3 full sets of 1995 core + exp cardboard terrain stored flat is the closest in this regard.

Or perhaps that's just looking back at the way gaming waist 1995 with rose-colored glasses.

Appreciate any advise that can be shared.
 
1995 stuff still works, though some of the very big models may have trouble these days under the 3" walkways of old. There is a modern take on the old card called MetroMorph Terrain. It's a similar effort to set up but is sturdier, thicker card and taller general level height (and doesn't need ANY painting). We've used it at TribeMeets and I have some myself.

I'm sure there are other flat pack options out there. Like you storage was key when I was buying terrain.

OneCoreSet.jpg

(One MetroMorph core set)
 
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The main downside of the 1995 terrain is the lack of line of sight blocking pieces. Most of the bulkheads had holes in them so getting out of sight of those pesky Van Saar plasma guns is really tough. I recall adding a few of the other bulkhead type buildings like the Firebase and Bastion back in the day and they really made it a lot more playable. Sadly those go for silly money nowadays.

Wargames Tournaments have some great MDF kits that can be assembled to pack away easily but are also sadly lacking in the all important line-of sight blocking pieces. You could easily add a few containers or some of the scrap wall pieces for that though.
 
Does the 1995 cardboard terrain work with the new miniatures? Because I'm wondering if a 1995 core box filled with painted bulkheads and 2-3 full sets of 1995 core + exp cardboard terrain stored flat is the closest in this regard.
Yep, you can certainly use the classic card Terrain sets and bulkheads, though as Stoof said, you occasionally get one that’s a bit too tall in its pose for the old bulkheads.

I think they’re a really well designed set and most likely was extensively playtested before they had the plastics cast up.

If you’ve got the Outlanders set too then you get a few extra cool buildings and an armoured bridge, which covers the sides giving players a bit more protection whilst on it.

If you play with layouts you can get some really nice ones with x2 Necromunda sets and x1 outlanders. Any more it’s just a bonus.

Plus any other era compatible kits such as the Bastion, Firebase, Gorkamorka fort gives you even more options.

The main downside of the 1995 terrain is the lack of line of sight blocking pieces. Most of the bulkheads had holes in them so getting out of sight of those pesky Van Saar plasma guns is really tough.
A lot of people seem to ignore the buttresses that came with the sets, they can certainly help by providing LoS blocking detail, practically at the ground level.

On platform it certainly is an issue, though I’m pretty sure that ratio was x2 full bulkheads, x2 X pattern bulkheads, x1 door and x1 gothic windows.

So they did try to include at least a 1/3 of the sprues provided as fully enclosed.

Back to OP: So to that end it’s worth thinking about bulkhead placement when building - then get yourself the all important scatter terrain!!
 
It's still my preferred terrain to play the game. In my experience it also mixes nicely with the newer stuff. Levels don't always match up but I see that more as feature than bug given the chaotic nature of the underhive.

That looks really great. How did you get the Sector Mechanicus railings to work on the 1995 terrain? Did you glue them on to some of the bulkheads?

How many 1995 terrain sets have you used in that picture?
 
Yep, you can certainly use the classic card Terrain sets and bulkheads, though as Stoof said, you occasionally get one that’s a bit too tall in its pose for the old bulkheads.

I think they’re a really well designed set and most likely was extensively playtested before they had the plastics cast up.

If you’ve got the Outlanders set too then you get a few extra cool buildings and an armoured bridge, which covers the sides giving players a bit more protection whilst on it.

If you play with layouts you can get some really nice ones with x2 Necromunda sets and x1 outlanders. Any more it’s just a bonus.

Plus any other era compatible kits such as the Bastion, Firebase, Gorkamorka fort gives you even more options.


A lot of people seem to ignore the buttresses that came with the sets, they can certainly help by providing LoS blocking detail, practically at the ground level.

On platform it certainly is an issue, though I’m pretty sure that ratio was x2 full bulkheads, x2 X pattern bulkheads, x1 door and x1 gothic windows.

So they did try to include at least a 1/3 of the sprues provided as fully enclosed.

Back to OP: So to that end it’s worth thinking about bulkhead placement when building - then get yourself the all important scatter terrain!!
Thank you for the advice, appreciate it.
 
That looks really great. How did you get the Sector Mechanicus railings to work on the 1995 terrain? Did you glue them on to some of the bulkheads?

How many 1995 terrain sets have you used in that picture?
The railings clip right on without glue. They may wiggle a bit but there's usually a sweet spot where they will hold firm. It does help if both pieces are painted. I'm not sure how many sets are present in that picture. I've got a big box of the stuff I collected in the '90s. I usually just pull random bits out and start building. I always run out of table before I run out of stuff in the box. It still holds up well despite all the disassembly and abuse the cardboard has seen over the years.
 
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The railings clip right on without glue. They may wiggle a bit but there's usually a sweet spot where they will hold firm. It does help if both pieces are painted. I'm not sure how many sets are present in that picture. I've got a big box of the stuff I collected in the '90s. I usually just pull random bits out and start building. I always run out of table before I run out of stuff in the box. It still holds up well despite all the disassembly and abuse the cardboard has seen over the years.
Very cool about the railings. I found one of those old Necromunda Hive World Battle Zone terrain boxes. Not sure how much cardboard scenery it contains compared to the Necromunda 1995 box, but hoping it’s at least half or more.

But I’m eager to now test the ZM railings with that kit once it arrives!