using minecraft to generate wargame tables.

[nic-e]

what the title says basically.
I have been thinking alot about the possibility of using the game minecraft and its wonderful random scenery generation to produce pre planed wargame tables.

If an area of say 60x40 blocks was marked out in the game and each block within that area were represented using a 1" cube of pink foam ,i feel that some amazingly intricate and natural looking tables could be built quickly and with minimal need for blueprints.

What do you fellows think? any potential in the idea?
hopefully i will get a chance over christmas to try the idea out, in the mean time, what do you chaps think? have i gone a little too far along the lazy bridge?

[Dewbakuk]

I don't think a board made of cubes would ever look 'natural'. Or did I miss a step?

[nic-e]

If you look at large hex grid boards you can see how a natural look can be achieved using geometric forms. Think of it as 3d pixel art.


Edit.
Right, back at a real computer.

If you look at the central column in this image you can count it to be roughly 40 cubes high from the water level.
This translates to about 3 feet in 1 inch cubes.whilst this would create a giant piece of terrain it does demonstrate the way that the cubes could be used to create large and natural looking formations whilst still allowing miniatures to be placed on them without toppling over. edges could also be rounded off and vertical faces could be sculpted more to as to take the edge off.

[FramFramson]

Hm! My wife was massively into Minecraft at one point and has a boatload of algorithms for generating interesting terrain.

The problem is implementation. Would you build each table manually with little cubes (and imagine sticking all those together by hand)? Have an entire table printed out in laser-cut sheets? Seems like either would be far too much work or else too expensive.

Doing things conventionally just seems much simpler.

The real benefit would be in the total modularity of the terrain, allowing for nigh-infinite game surfaces. But that already exists for people building game boards with Heroscape hex tiles.

[nic-e]

Hm! My wife was massively into Minecraft at one point and has a boatload of algorithms for generating interesting terrain.

The problem is implementation. Would you build each table manually with little cubes (and imagine sticking all those together by hand)? Have an entire table printed out in laser-cut sheets? Seems like either would be far too much work or else too expensive.

Doing things conventionally just seems much simpler.

The real benefit would be in the total modularity of the terrain, allowing for nigh-infinite game surfaces. But that already exists for people building game boards with Heroscape hex tiles.

The way i thought of is was to measure out the structure ,map it out on the board, then fill all the space with bulky meterial such as paper or foil and then build the cube structure around it.
personally i would use small block and stack them one by one (but i like tedious work ) . I would love to get my hands on a box full of heroscape tiles but finding them can be tricky, and this way seems to offer a fast and simple way to build large and good looking boards with minimal skill.

[S_P]

I saw some great Battletech boards done in 3D with foam hexes, still geometric but very impressive.

[nic-e]

I saw some great Battletech boards done in 3D with foam hexes, still geometric but very impressive.

Some of the battletech boards on the web were what got me thinking about this. (that and watching alot of tobuscus playing minecraft when i should be doing work)

[Cherno]

Some of the battletech boards on the web were what got me thinking about this. (that and watching alot of tobuscus playing minecraft when i should be doing work)

I did some BattleTech hills for the offical mapsets some time ago:

[nic-e]

I did some BattleTech hills for the offical mapsets some time ago:

Those look great. I just enjoy having ALOT of height in my games ,and since i play using standard fantasy minis squares seemed a better choice, and so using minecraft to map out the board or just randomly create it seemed the next step.

[FramFramson]

There was a FANTASTIC set of Mechwarrior hex terrain done by a fellow on Terragenesis. But they weren't modular at all, other than the fact that the larger boards were in 4-6 parts which could be reconfigured.

http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7454lp=95426

[nic-e]

There was a FANTASTIC set of Mechwarrior hex terrain done by a fellow on Terragenesis. But they weren't modular at all, other than the fact that the larger boards were in 4-6 parts which could be reconfigured.

http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7454lp=95426

I was looking at that exact bard yesterday when checking if anyone had done a similar idea.really is a great looking piece of terrain.