What Good is Scatter Terrain?

You've probably heard the term before: scatter terrain. But do you know what it is? And do you need some for your tabletop wargaming board?
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[@WarGamerGirl]

Anything that makes the game table look cooler and more cinematic is okay with me. We play with little army men, for crying out loud. Let's go all out =)

[@tabletopminions]

When I used to play Flames of War, we would spend more time setting up our little village terrain to battle over than we actually would battling. But man, it looked nice. Thanks for watching!

[@mattmiller3191]

Amen!

[@Mikey__R]

Speak for yourself - some of us play with little army women. ;)

[@hellinterface6721]

@@Mikey__R You're missing the point..

[@BTML498]

Wherever you filmed this video, it's beautiful. Do more videos in this one particular spot, with the same camera angle.

[@teh_sid]

You're in luck...

[@tabletopminions]

You’re in luck, as this is in my new studio, with the same lights I’ve been using for a year or so (but in a new configuration) and new cameras, and even new editing software. I’m glad you like it. Thanks for watching!

[@laurapiche5205]

The Dawg I

[@asdfjoe123]

Funny...I was thinking his highlights are a bit blown out and the shadows too dark: Lighting is too contrasty or has been punched up too far in post.

[@PebloNemo]

We use jenga pieces, they are not the prettiest thing, but you can arrange them in a lot of ways, from pillars to barricades, walls or even buildings.

[@jessecruz7835]

That's pretty cool.

[@leostarrs-cunningham8576]

It's like set dressing - great set dressing makes scenes in films and plays so much more engaging. Same for tabletop gaming, and video games!

[@MechaGaikotsu]

Man, I have to ask what kind of mic you use? You sound absolutely glorious!

[@jeremiahbachmann3901]

It is fucking silky smooth. Quality mic paired with great soundproofing in that room.

[@crossbones8956]

Whoa, Mecha dropping in on Uncle Adam?! What a cool surprise !!

[@paulknox505]

For my Shadow War Armageddon games; we found having one central structure surrounded by a ton of scatter terrain worked really well for us. I’ve got quite a few crates and barrels I bought during 3rd Edition 40k.

[@felixstrehl3842]

no joke, i game home from work and started working on some barrels just to make my table look better, turn on youtube, and this was my first suggestion in my subscribe list. i love my life :D

[@cavemanbum]

Not only are your videos very informative and practical, your voice is absolutely mesmerizing and soothing. LOL. Reminds me of watching Bob Ross back in the day: you learn something, and your mind is relaxed at the same time. You should also consider a voice-over career or audio book narration.

[@DaiMongar]

Mantic's "red brick" terrain range from Mars Attacks had some great bits of post-apocalyptic scatter terrain.

[@MrRwohnig72]

Howdy from South Carolina, Uncle Atom. Thanks for the tips to spruce up my old dining table/new game table.

[@triptanous]

That bottle cap idea is genius. Thank you for the idea. It'll go well with my "sprue ruins" terrain I just built.

[@kiblams]

Scatter terrain is indeed what brings it to life, otherwise the battlefield can appear far too flat between the LOS blocking pieces. Great stuff fella! :D

[@joelbentzen6542]

The lighting and aesthetics of the filming in this video are amazing. Also, id recommend checking out the Tabletop Crafters Guild on Facebook, they have interesting concepts

[@Zacarz]

Any chance I could get a quick rundown of your audio set up? Your audio is superb! Just wondering on mic/mic placement/plug ins etc

[@barryslemmings31]

Scatter terrain makes the battlefield look 'lived in' or more geologically/botanically 'evolved'. Patches of gravel, grass, low hedges, cornfields, ploughed fields, minor craters etc. I am all in favour of it! :)

[@wiebeposthuma4686]

Great video once again! I absolute love small terrain pieces or scatter terrain! It is right up there with "having painted models" on your game board. And besides what you and others mentioned about the look and feel and enjoyment of your games it can also be a great "hobby tool". I often try out stuff on (scatter) terrain and or practice on them. This can both be painting technics or building ones (cutting/sawing/gluing that sort of stuff) before going at big, expensive, terrain or models.

[@tabletopminions]

Very good point! Scatter terrain is a great place to try out new paint techniques, like wet blending! Thanks for watching!

[@ronraducanu9633]

For the game Infinity, scatter terrain is absolutely mandatory. It is inherent in the strategy of the game especially because long lanes of line of fire which really bad. Setting up the board is almost as important as how you actually play. Lots and lots of scatter terrain options, or make them!

[@blueg6demon371]

We are big proponents of the Gospel of the Chest High Wall.

[@josephskiles]

Personally I have always used coke caps for bases when they are not provided with smaller models. I have found so many uses for old coffee creamer containers , everything from guard shack, windmills or even the basis for large hills or stairs. Thanks for the video as always Atom, I love going back over your old videos while working on models ( a unit of grot stabbas for my night goblin horde army right now).

[@LeeGinSing]

Wow, nice stage lighting! Seriously, very professional!

[@bitzbox]

I think scatter terrain is just as important as the larger terrain pieces. Certainly improves the look of any game board

[@jaredjjacobs]

I was lookin at my paint collection, and noticed that empty citadel pots are probably a great option!

[@WylochsArmory]

For me 80% of the enjoyment of a game is the scenery, not the "game" itself.

[@primozimo3041]

How do you avoid air bubbles in watered down paint when brush stroking? And how do you get rid of them? I have to blow on them if they appear as i stroke.

[@krisdog88]

Loving the studio / Nerd Bunker! I love making scatter terrain. It's more fun than buildings, etc. to make (for me anyway!).

[@swedishgamedev]

Inspiring as always! Fun fact; “variate” is actually a word in Swedish = “variera” so I got what you meant 😅😊

[@Kili121416]

On my list is skips, rubbish bins, chicken sheds, greenhouse, hay stacks, market produce, cows, pigs, etc

[@finnon7460]

Very nice set that your filming in. Hoping to see more! :D

[@davedogge2280]

I have a few gripes, I love scatter terrain but Games Workshop got rid of some excellent ones that they sold for Warhammer 40K which are even featured in their 8th edition WH40K rule book with their own rules i.e. the 'Battlescape' and their 'Quake Cannon Craters', I even think that they have a photo of them in the rule book; I managed to get one of each though. Same thing for Flames of War and their excellent Small and Large Pinewoods now unavailable, I bought as many as I could when stocks were low. I'm starting to make my own static terrain now with 'clear glue', and electric metal static plates to make short grass stand up which I can glue on a base with artificial bushes etc.

[@mariusloesch820]

cleaning the table up is actually very easy if you are using a gamemat. just pick up the lichen, and then pull up the edges of the mat to collect the gravel or whatever in the middle. Then you turn the entire thing sidewards into a container. Done.

[@jonaslongmusic9539]

Your voice is so relaxing. Love the video!

[@joshmccarthy9605]

Loving the new studio!

[@frankelee]

Scatter terrain is awesome. Scatter terrain gets to the very point of engaging with tabletop miniature games in the first place.

[@Kubrzesz]

Is it possible to provide either names or links to the websites with those bits? I'd certainly would like to have a look at them

[@cmedalis]

www.miniaturemarket.com/table-top-miniatures/supplies/tiny.html

[@cmedalis]

www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/terrain-crate.html

[@SmittyM14]

I think scatter terrain makes or breaks a good gaming table. I've even used vehicles from my miniature collection as scatter terrain for parked vehicles.

[@cardboardcritique]

Your audio is sublime. What microphone and set up do you use?

[@tullaris07]

I like the new background.

[@migpasuronx1667]

Tabletop Minions. Im new at this hobby and Im having a few issues with painting. I didnt know I had to put the brushes in water constantly and some citadel paint got dryed out on the brush :( I still can not find some fluid to strip the paint, I tryed alcohol, KH7, turpentine...but nothing. Pls how should I achieve it? :'(

[@illsthaprophet]

As it turns out 'variate' is a real word

[@dr.v645]

var·i·ate ˈve(ə)rē-it,-ˌāt/Submit noun another term for random variable. - Google Dictionary

[@Rathammergames]

I love that lamp!

[@morteforte7033]

One cannot under estimate the power of well made terrain..even if it's a Pringles can..as long as it's a decently modded and painted one!.. I honestly always love it when some one does something a tad different.using 40k, for example, it's always blasted out gothic buildings...I'd love to see someone make terrain for something more mundane...like farmland..maybe rows of crops..a busted down serventor tractor.. a beat up metal out house.

[@czrall]

Great lighting!

[@DM_Kat]

Can you add some links on the best websites to buy this stuff?

[@bloodnivel70]

just in time sir

[@josh1674]

Great topic. Can you also do, “How to actually USE terrain in RPGs”?

[@joselugo9946]

hi, can you plz make a video about king of wars?, i would like to hear what you have to say about it . Thanks

[@chorzenfeller5604]

hard and soft cover seems like an interesting game mechanic, it makes it seem far more realistic. Does anyone know which games include rules like this?

[@tabletopminions]

Most recent game I’ve played: Wreck Age by Hyacinth Games. There’s hard and soft cover in that rule set. Thanks for watching!

[@thefermion_]

Necromunda Underhive

[@chorzenfeller5604]

Cool thx for the info I'll have to look into those

[@ReallyBigBadAndy76]

Chorzenfeller Star Wars Legion has “cover 1 and cover 2” which is a similar idea.

[@aidangeis4686]

Bolt Action does as well, it is fairly popular in wwII games!

[@solarslacker]

I find terrain to be the most important thing. Painted terrain does more for the immersion for me than painted minis does.

[@UptownToast]

Loving all of your videos! Keep up the awesome work ;)

[@seileen1234]

I simply ignore every terrain rules in every rulebook. I create a story for the battle and i try to create a "realistic" battlefield, even if is not fair and 100% balanced. For me and my group is far more enjoyable this way and it's fun creating all this little pieces of terrain for that.

[@disasterpiece8868]

Anyone have any recommendations for fantasy type scatter terrain for a person in Australia ? Any decent companies etc

[@batingbunnies]

Sarissa precision, 4ground and TT combat. Idk if they're available in your area but I'm sure you could find them online. Ebay is also great, there's a seller ,WWS games, I think and he has some great stuff

[@Piemasteratron]

Any thoughts on the Gaslands game uncle A?

[@crossbones8956]

I keep the sprues from my vehicle kits and make supply dumps with the extra pieces.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

Lich-en on this side of the pond and like-en on your side.

[@tabletopminions]

I wondered if it was a “which side of the pond you’re on” sort of thing. Thanks for watching!

[@xanthippus3190]

Grettings Uncle Atom

[@redgreen09]

sound good to me will we see more dont know its a given if do

[@arielsanchez465]

Has anyone here used scatter terrain for Shadespire? Some sets look really cool.

[@TheCimbrianBull]

Ariel Sanchez Yes, I have actually. A company called Hexy Miniatures has made a resin terrain set for Shadespire with the title "Shadowspike Ruins Terrain Set".

[@arielsanchez465]

TheCimbrianBull just checked them out. They actually have two shadowpike sets, Reavers and Sepulchral Guard. Thanks my friend 😀

[@krzto]

Scatter terrain is nice, IF it's tastefully done. I've played on some tables where you're knocking over trees and buckets and all sorts of doodads trying to move your pieces where you want. Then there are the questions about what's touching what, height, etc etc... I enjoy fantastic looking tables, but I also want the gameplay experience to go smoothly.

[@joestyles484]

Lichen has a 'K' sound rather than a 'ch' so is pronounced Liken

[@thejacksonbentley]

Hey atom! Great video

[@davidcoots1634]

Scatter terrain... The super cheap 3d printer's jam.

[@manga3040]

2.0 made it worth it beyond thematics.

[@Shidden33]

"KInd of" Counter: INFINITE ;D

[@lutentemedio]

Has anyone counted how many times he said the word "stuff" in this video?

[@solarus2120]

The first pachow doesn't do anything anymore...

[@cwbwoodchip]

Hay Adam I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but you should really go back to your eye doctor and have them fit your glasses to your head that way you don’t have to keep pushing them up eye glasses are expensive I just noticed that you pushed up your glasses about 14 time in a 8 min video

[@demonthault]

cwbwoodchip The eye glasses push is how we know that Uncle Atom is still human, and not a pod person. Or maybe it's the other way around.

[@jeremiahbachmann3901]

People don't use terrain for miniature games? GTFO!!!

[@alexwild1435]

Li-ken 😉

[@Malumbrus]

No offense, but your videos would be better if you showed more terrain and less of you just talking at the camera.