When word came down that we would be demoing Rivenstone at Adepticon 2022, it fell to me to make an eye-catching scenic game board for the event. This board needed to meet a few requirements while still creating a scene worthy of being part of the world of Venn. With this in mind, I set out to make a board capable of traveling safely to and from the convention, while remaining visually interesting and a playable gaming surface.
Creating a Plan
I chose to use premade artist boards to create 4 main tiles that would puzzle-piece together, making a full sized 3’x3’ seamless game board. Once I had a solid base to work from and a plan on how it would all fit together, I got to work slicing and dicing foam to make a cracked, rocky landscape. I wanted to convey that these lands have gone through a magical apocalypse that has left large scars on the landscape. This could not be a typical barren apocalyptic waste though; the magic cataclysm of the rivenstorm not only destroyed, but also warped and changed the landscape, causing all manner of magical growth. While it was a destructive force, what remained was more verdant and alive than before.
I also kept playability at the forefront of my planning. When working on a wargaming board, it is important to keep things relatively flat, while ensuring there are enough visually interesting flat or low elements to tell a story.
The Build
I started by cutting my main shapes from a large piece of 1.5” thick pink foam. There are many ways to work with XPS foam, and while I do use hot wire cutters for precision cuts and angles, for natural shapes, I mostly work with a sharp snap blade for cutting and carving the foam.
With the main shapes cut and test fit, I began carving the rocks that would form the edges of the deep cracks. I started by deciding on a style of rock and then made sure that all the lines formed natural-looking shapes and angles. Randomness is key when working on any natural scenery. If you are not careful when carving or sculpting anything natural, it quickly becomes repetitive-looking and artificial.
With the main rock features carved, I focused on the texture of the ground itself. I wanted to create the remnants of some civilization from times before, so I decided on half-buried flagstones and foundations. It always helps to have reference material when working on any creative project; for this part of the project, I looked at overgrown Greek and Roman ruins.
To make the flagstones, I used a hot wire table to cut thin strips of foam, which I then textured and cut in varying sizes to create a patchwork flagstone look.
Up next was filling in the gaps and texturing the ground itself. I used Durham's Water Putty, which is a powder that you mix with water to make a plaster-like filler. I used this product to add some durability and to build up the boards. With the base layer down, I used playground sand and small rocks to add texture to the game board. Then I sealed everything with a watered-down coating of wood glue applied with a spray bottle.
With the main part of the build complete, it was time to prime and paint the board. I used a mix of hand painting, airbrushing, and dry brushing to complete the paint job. I wanted the rocks to be bright but still have a worn and lived-in feel, so I painted blue and green undertones.
Finally, I added some greenery to the board. This is the stage that really defines the feel of the board. When working with flock and static grass, I treat it like painting; I start with a base layer of flock, add a midtone of static grass, and finally add some highlights with things like grass tufts. Just like the rock carving, randomness is key. Natural features do not have perfect spacing or groups of even numbers. Our brains are good at picking these things out and recognizing them as being unnatural.
With the greenery placed, this piece is finished. Thanks for joining us!
Like this terrain? Take it home! Click here to preorder a Shattered Fields neoprene play mat from our BackerKit store.
