.45 Terrain questions

[Ithaquatini]

Hey all, Im planning on getting the .45A rulebook and had a question.  Are most games played on a 2'x2' table?  If not, what size is most common?
Also, im starting to make some jungle terrain using plastic aquarium plants and they are a bit to shiny for my taste, should I paint them (would the paint crack since they are flexible plastic?) or should I just spray them with matte varinsh (which Im thinking would be OK)?
Thanks!

[Operator5]

2x2. 3x3. Whatever suits your purpose will work.

The game was designed with 2x2 in mind. The reason being, most action takes place up close and do players really need to spend 6-7 turns just moving toward one another? That being said, I have run games on 4x6 tables where I wanted several players to race through jungle terrain in vehicles while dodging dinosaurs and hostile tribesmen.

As for jungle plants, I have been hitting mine with dullcote. It reduces the shine. However, I have seen many jungle photos where the leaves do look a bit shiny so I don't find that out of place.

[Wirelizard]

We've often run larger .45A games, our biggest being I think 5'x9', but that was a game full of dinosaurs and insanity with five or six players each controlling at least three characters.

Our usual games are 2x2, 3x3 or sometimes 2x4, even with four-six players. Like Rich said, a small table cuts right to the action.

This one is 2'x4':

Trumpeter Salute 2011: The Amulet of Fire I by WireLizard, on Flickr

Here's one of our 2'x2' setups:

A Jungle Outpost by WireLizard, on Flickr

[Luckyjoe]

@Wirelizard: I really like your 2x2 board. It reminds me a lot of a scene from the Jagged Alliance games.

[Wirelizard]

@Wirelizard: I really like your 2x2 board. It reminds me a lot of a scene from the Jagged Alliance games.

Especially from that angle, it does look a bit like some of those old isometric tactical games, doesn't it? (I played XCom to death, loved that game!)

[Ithaquatini]

OK, Ill start out with a 2'x2' board, and maybe build a bigger one if the need arises.  A smaller gaming area is one of the many reasons I was attracted to the game, no more hauling a truckload of terrain around!
Ill give the dullcote a try when Im at that stage, I just got a temple aquarium piece for the first jungle terrain bit, attached it to a base and got the plants, next stage is to build up the ground around it...
Sweet looking terrain Wirelizard.
Thanks for the advice!

[zalzan]

Try a dark wash over all then a light dullcote. The wash will mostly run off the plastic without the worry of changing the overall coloring of the plants and the dullcote or any clear matte spray will set the wash in place. jungle plants do look good with a little sheen as in nature.
(see my post under pulp -aquarium plants for pictures)

[Operator5]

OK, Ill start out with a 2'x2' board, and maybe build a bigger one if the need arises.

That is the best option. You can always do a bigger board later or, take the 2x2 board and put it with another one. That is how I usually build bigger boards.