Thread: An Open Letter to Austin Miniature Gamers and Shop Owners

Hi All,

I was just surfing the interwebs checking out tournament coverage. One thing that really stood out is how much other areas have stepped their game up when it comes to terrain and tables. I saw some really good looking tables and terrain. Many stores have adopted Fat Mats or similar products. They really spruce up the looks of a table. That got me to thinking about the state of terrain at the local stores. This stuff really takes a beating. Some of the damage comes from normal wear and tear. Some of the damage comes from employees who don't play table top games that are in a hurry to clean up, close the store and get home. It happens, I have seen it. This wear and tear is outpacing any repair efforts that may or may not be taking place.

There has been some argument as to who should be responsible for the terrain. On one hand the terrain belongs to the stores and they do get an indirect benefit from the terrain, which is why they invest in table space and terrain in the first place. On the other, the community has a responsibility to take care of the terrain when we use it. That is the situation as I see it. How do we make things better? What can be done by the stores to make the tables and terrain better? What can the community do to make the terrain and tables better?

Things I would like to see happen:

Terrain days at Dragon's Lair and Wonko's : Both stores have expressed interest in having terrain days. We the community should step up and help. After all we play on these tables and contribute to the wear and tear, no matter how careful we are. Let's support those events when they happen and show up in force. Those of you that have shown up in the past can attest to how much fun we had at these events. Sure, it's work but it's fun hanging out and working toward a common goal.

Terrain storage: Wonko's has a better handle on this issue than DL and as a result has terrain that has held up better. After you play a game, put the terrain up. Don't just pack up and leave a table full of terrain.

If something breaks: Fix it! Most of us carry glue, take a few minutes and repair something if it breaks.

If you see something broken, fix it. If you are sitting around waiting for a game, fix a piece of terrain while you wait.

I would like to see the stores get real Fat Mats, not green yoga mats that don't fit and cause more issues than they solve. Even if it is just one a month eventually all tables will be covered. I know they are not cheap.

I would like to see the table/table toppers sanded to avoid splinters and be painted or stained. This will help prevent splinters and it just looks better.

In short, I would like to see the stores step up and the community step up and take pride in our events and play spaces. We have a great community and great stores that provide a great places to play. I would like to see that improve and be truly world class.

Since playing in the narrative at WGC, where the tables were amazing, I've felt like there was something missing because the terrain and tables just don't look good.

I know the frontline guys will do deals with stores that sell fat mats and give them a break on putting them on their tables in the store. If the stores don't want to get into selling fat mats, I can only imagine they would be willing to negotiate a lower price if ordering more than a few mats in a single order.

What sorts of terrain would you suggest we create at a terrain day. The easiest stuff to scratch build (hills) are in abundance at DL. I think we need more/better large, line of sight blocking terrain, ruins, and forests. If the stores want to front the cost of buying the terrain, I would gladly help put it together and paint it. I've looked at putting together my own table at home and know that good terrain isn't cheap.

Do you know if the stores have considered having tournaments where entry fee would be a piece of "x" type of terrain? A month or two of that should fill in some gaps.

Originally Posted by DandyPandy

Since playing in the narrative at WGC, where the tables were amazing, I've felt like there was something missing because the terrain and tables just don't look good.

I know the frontline guys will do deals with stores that sell fat mats and give them a break on putting them on their tables in the store. If the stores don't want to get into selling fat mats, I can only imagine they would be willing to negotiate a lower price if ordering more than a few mats in a single order.

What sorts of terrain would you suggest we create at a terrain day. The easiest stuff to scratch build (hills) are in abundance at DL. I think we need more/better large, line of sight blocking terrain, ruins, and forests. If the stores want to front the cost of buying the terrain, I would gladly help put it together and paint it. I've looked at putting together my own table at home and know that good terrain isn't cheap.

Do you know if the stores have considered having tournaments where entry fee would be a piece of "x" type of terrain? A month or two of that should fill in some gaps.

Dandy, we have had one really productive day of building terrain at DL in the last two years and one day that nothing really got accomplished. We also built the tables in one day. The community has not had a terrain day at Wonko's, yet.

At DL: Tables need to be sanded, and painted or stained, terrain needs to be repaired and painted.
At Wonko's: Table toppers need some repair and sanding, terrain needs to repaired and painted. Also, Eric said that he possibly has some more terrain coming.

I would like to see the tables at DL finished to the original "vision". We need to add the trim and paint/stain them, but mostly I would like to see the toppers disappear. We built a bunch of brand new tables that all all the perfect height and matched one another. Then someone put the old toppers back on them which now makes them too tall, uneven and just plain ugly.

Originally Posted by Sloth

I would like to see the tables at DL finished to the original "vision". We need to add the trim and paint/stain them, but mostly I would like to see the toppers disappear. We built a bunch of brand new tables that all all the perfect height and matched one another. Then someone put the old toppers back on them which now makes them too tall, uneven and just plain ugly.

Agreed.

Mages sanctum terrain is great. Id recommend getting some from wherever they got theirs.

Originally Posted by Ninjawraithlord

Mages sanctum terrain is great. Id recommend getting some from wherever they got theirs.

Cheeseburger and I built the terrain that wasn't bought there. It's not a question of what to buy and who to buy from. It's about maintenance.

I tried many times to get a terrain day going and ended up fixing a few pieces solo.

Problem is most players (NO MATTER THE FORMAT), say they will show to work on terrain but then have excuses aplenty when it comes time to actually do it.

Officially: Dragon's Lair is under new ownership and has been making slow but steady changes across the store. We haven't quite reached the miniatures section yet but we do plan to take a look at our terrain and are more than willing to organize terrain building events.

Unofficially: Ipersonally want to respond to a few of the points made so I can clear some stuff up.

Terrain storage: Wonko's has a better handle on this issue than DL and as a result has terrain that has held up better. After you play a game, put the terrain up. Don't just pack up and leave a table full of terrain.

This, SO MUCH THIS. If you use terrain that isn't yours please put it up when your done with it. It helps more than anything if it gets put away properly. Your using things that are being lent to you in order to let you have a more engaging and fun playing field. If you owned it at your house you'ed take care of it too so treat the terrain you don't own with equal respect.

I would like to see the stores get real Fat Mats, not green yoga mats that don't fit and cause more issues than they solve. Even if it is just one a month eventually all tables will be covered. I know they are not cheap.

I've done my part to help organize things like this. Someone else's turn. oh and on Fat Mats...DL won't do it, I've tried. They bamboozled me into thinking they were getting em and turned out it was cheapo garbage.

When we ordered the playing mats we were led to believe that they were Larger, smoother, and overall better than the product we received. Trust me when I say that we are already looking into options to make the tables nicer.

And trust me when I say we are just are frustrated as you guys are if not more so as we payed for those mats

Originally Posted by Minus67

Im sorry, but my view is that this is 100% Dragon's Lair's responsibility. I can show up to help but it is part of earning my business.

I strongly disagree. It's both the store and it's customers responsibility to maintain the terrain. The store, as you have accurately put, has the responsibility to maintain tables and the terrain to the best of its ability. But it is also the players responsibility to treat the terrain they get to use for free with respect so that everyone can continue to use it.

Anyways, If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to pm me. Just know that we are aware of the terrain situation.