Interesting kickstarter - chemical-free tabletop wargames fog machine

[FramFramson]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/realgamefx/fog-monster-mini-fog-machine-for-tabletop-games-an?ref=recs

It uses unadulterated water. Of course that will make it useless to those of us who have terrain which would be substantially damaged by prolonged levels of high atmospheric moisture, but for those of you using plastic/resin terrain and good varnish sealing on all surfaces, it's certainly a neat idea.

It's the sort of thing I would have thought I'd call stupid, but is actually kind of neat.

[AndrewBeasley]

I can see this getting used at shows!

Wonder if a snow version is in the works

[Connectamabob]

It's an ultrasonic fogger/mister, only in a box so you can pipe the fog in a specific direction.

It is cool, buuuuut you can get ultrasonic fogger units for 10 bucks*. Put one in a plastic box with a pipe flange on the side, and you've got one of those for like 15 bucks, tops.

For a moment I was hoping they'd found a way to make run on batteries instead of having to be plugged into a wall, but on scrolling down, nope, it's still corded.

*I have one I got like 15 years ago after seeing one in a bonsai display at a local restaurant. It is very impressive/nice looking, but as the KS notes, it WILL dampen everything around it. The fog is just water vapor, and it condenses on whatever it touches. Definitely make sure you don't use it with anything that might warp or smear or dissolve or mildew if wetted.

[N.C.S.E]

It's an ultrasonic fogger/mister, only in a box so you can pipe the fog in a specific direction.

It is cool, buuuuut you can get ultrasonic fogger units for 10 bucks*. Put one in a plastic box with a pipe flange on the side, and you've got one of those for like 15 bucks, tops.

For a moment I was hoping they'd found a way to make run on batteries instead of having to be plugged into a wall, but on scrolling down, nope, it's still corded.

*I have one I got like 15 years ago after seeing one in a bonsai display at a local restaurant. It is very impressive/nice looking, but as the KS notes, it WILL dampen everything around it. The fog is just water vapor, and it condenses on whatever it touches. Definitely make sure you don't use it with anything that might warp or smear or dissolve or mildew if wetted.

Cheeky beggars, thanks for the heads up, I was considering acquiring it for my own projects, but it appears Amazon is easily the way to go.

[nic-e]

I have a usb powered ultrasonic humidifier that i use when i sleep. It attatched to any standard waterbottle and cost me about £10 on amazon. Leaves no residue and can be piped through tubes to act as a mini fog machine.
I also have an ultrasonic pond fogger that can cover a 4x4 area rather nicely and concealed in a water tub in scenery.

[FramFramson]

See, now this has me wondering what other ordinary $10 items can be re-packaged and sold to wargamers for ten times the price? 

[Reed]

Thanks for pointing out the existence of these cheap ultrasonic foggers, I'll consider to buy one in the future. It's amazing how they usually try to charge us 3 or 4 times the price of an item because they did essentially a repackaging (Army Painter's Quickshade e.g., you can get the same stuff housemade for a fraction of the price)

[beefcake]

Yeah I have one of those for my kids. It really helps with coughs in the night. Rigging up some hospice would easy enough, plus as mine is shaped like a giant cow it could be some giant idol great idea though, I hope they do well out of it because it is nice and unique.

[carlos marighela]

See, now this has me wondering what other ordinary $10 items can be re-packaged and sold to wargamers for ten times the price? 

Anything in the Army Painter range for starters.

As for the fogger thing, I can't really see the gaming appeal unless you are planning a game centred on glam rockers.

[Dr. Zombie]

I completely fail to see the wargaming use of this.

I can see it perhaps being handy for setting a stage to take photos of miniatures.

But for actual wargaming where you move minis around and dice, counters and rulers fly about. I just don't think you would get much effect of it.

And I would worry what the extra moisture would do to my scenery. I think the paint on minis would hold up fine but cardboard and wood might very much be affected by it.

I don't think any picture no matter how cool and atmospheric it may end up is worth all ones terrain boards warping.

[Connectamabob]

I reluctantly agree. The part of me that still loves and is fascinated by old school practical FX loves it, but the part of me that is logical thinks there's maybe too many practical problems. In addition to the moisture issue (which, lets be honest, is kinda significant: how many of us would be screwed by "no paper, cardboard, MDF, or PVA" terrain restrictions?), there's also issues of lighting and visibility.

In some of those video demos, the fog is really high and thick ('cause it's being constrained and concentrated by dungeon walls), to the point where it looks like it could easily create visibility/readability issues. Small figures being "lost", having a hard time keeping track of what direction figures are facing, getting figures mixed up between turns, not being able to see small/low terrain that'd impede movement (like a crate or a barrel or a chair), etc.. Not a problem in an open setting like a graveyard or a rolling moor, but in courtyards, sewers, ravines, etc.?

Also having to run a cord for it. IMO it's too easy to imagine a cord getting jostled as someone walks or leans around the table, resulting in terrain (and possibly figures) getting yanked out of whack.

[DS615]

See, now this has me wondering what other ordinary $10 items can be re-packaged and sold to wargamers for ten times the price? 

Anything GW or GF9 sell are good examples.
Some Woodland Scenics stuff as well.
Slap the term "miniature", "hobby" or "scale" on anything and the price triples at least.

If you're looking for fog on the table, use dry ice.  No damage, looks cool.  Cool it off and it hugs the table.

[beefcake]

However the idea would be great if you were producing some rules or a gaming magazine and wanting some atmosphere for the photos.

[nic-e]

See, now this has me wondering what other ordinary $10 items can be re-packaged and sold to wargamers for ten times the price? 

The worst one I ever saw was at work. We were sent a free sample of luxury modellers scale precion diorama brick dust.
It was a TINY bag of actual brick dust on some fancy packaging.
RRP £7.99

[carlos marighela]

The worst one I ever saw was at work. We were sent a free sample of luxury modellers scale precion diorama brick dust.
It was a TINY bag of actual brick dust on some fancy packaging.
RRP £7.99

I dunno. Just think what you would have paid for a brick, a four pound mallet and a zip-lock bag.

Try Army Painter glue. It's only six times what you would pay for a somewhat larger bottle of identical PVA at the supermarket.