I have two pink foam boards and I am not afraid to use them (well I am)

[gamer Mac]

Hi Guys
I have been building a pirate harbour, getting there slowly
Progress so far.


My problem is that I want to build a board to go with it but I am a bit stumped as what to do with it.
I want to use it for a pirate town but I don't know what to cover it with.
I thought about cobble stones but the stuff I bought was very expensive and not very good for large areas.
Used it round this building


I can't decide whether I want it flat or whether I should carve out roads and small dips.
So I am looking for ideas or help.

What I have so far

[Patrice]

Apparently your pirate Town Council has a lot of money to build cobble stones streets on the beach!

In my opinion, one of the main interest of foam board is that you can carve things in it : roads or paths, wells, ponds, a small stream running between deep banks from the other edge to the sea, and a bridge over it, caves under some buildings, a crypt under the church, a small and deep quarry to dig all these cobble stones out (and to throw dead bodies in), etc... All things that we cannot have when we play directly on a cloth on the table.

First thing when I look at your board: I can imagine some small dungeon/jail dug to the bottom of the foam board, just near the sea, with a stone wall and a narrow opening a bit above sea level so that the prisoners/hostages could have a good view on the sea while they await their fate/ransom

[Malamute]

For an inexpensive way to cobble the board pop to Wicks or Homebase and pick up a roll of Wood-chip wallpaper. Many of them are suitable and look surprisingly effective once painted up to represent cobbles.

It would certainly look great with some extra areas like sunken roads, rivers etc. I guess it all depends how much of it you want to take up with buildings. The more houses/shops etc the less board you will see.

Alternatively if you want some height difference how about a raised section  perhaps at the back with steps up or a steep climb up to more buildings, with maybe a fort or governors house.

Its looking great so far and I like the church.  Does it have a bell?  

[OSHIROmodels]

Have a look at 'Zuzzy mats' as they do one with random stone, it comes already very and doesn't look half bad 

Split the whole area up into irregular 'zones' so it doesn't look to samey. A hill with the governors house in one corner would be good, give the board some elevation. A third could be the sunken road idea that is very irregular and the rest up to the dock edge would be stonework.

Looking forward to seeing more 

cheers

James

[gamer Mac]

 Does it have a bell?  

I have not been able to find a suitable one
I am sure I used to have one or two
My trouble with the board is that I can't decide if I want a town board or not. Also I can't decide whether I want fixed loxations for the building or have it so that the buildings can go various places. I am also not sure whether to go with a lot of cobbles or not.
The raised section would look good but I am not sure if it would fit in with the LOTHS scenario, being on the edge of the board.

[Captain Blood]

Looking good Colin - but you need to decide!  
I'd intersperse a few open areas of grass and dirt with a cobbled road or two, and maybe a bit of a cobbled square. Plus a few slightly sunken tracks...
Then you have the flexibility to position more or less buildings in different places - although you're always going to have the same ground plan, so you need to make it sufficiently generic to be flexible...
You can also countersink your sheet road-surface slightly into the foam, so it doesn't stand proud.
Like this...



 

[Malamute]

My trouble with the board is that I can't decide if I want a town board or not. Also I can't decide whether I want fixed loxations for the building or have it so that the buildings can go various places. I am also not sure whether to go with a lot of cobbles or not.
The raised section would look good but I am not sure if it would fit in with the LOTHS scenario, being on the edge of the board.

The raised section need not be permanent, perhaps separately mounted on 6mm MDF, so it can be used or not as the scenario dictate. For my town all the buildings are on their own bases so the town can be set up in any combination. The terrain boards are therefore very plain to allow for this.
 It might not look as good as fixed terrain pieces, but gives total versatility for your games. It's a difficult one, perhaps think practical against aesthetics. Then whichever you prefer will give you your answer.

[Commander Vyper]

I have not been able to find a suitable one
I am sure I used to have one or two

Now's the time with Christmas decorations being sold off for a song, I'm  sure you could find a right sized yule bell tree dec for pence? Nice breakwater's, good Innsmouth inspiration for me.

[generulpoleaxe]

The raised section need not be permanent, perhaps separately mounted on 6mm MDF, so it can be used or not as the scenario dictate. For my town all the buildings are on their own bases so the town can be set up in any combination. The terrain boards are therefore very plain to allow for this.
 It might not look as good as fixed terrain pieces, but gives total versatility for your games. It's a difficult one, perhaps think practical against aesthetics. Then whichever you prefer will give you your answer.

Definitely good advice for a town board (it's the buildings that make it look cool)
Hell, for a town all you need is some plain mdf that the terrain tiles can be placed on (terrain tiles in this case such as mounted buildings, town square and cobble streets/dirt back alley ways.
It also means you won't always have a harbour front in the town as that can be just an attachment.