For the longest time I was builing modular pieces.

I used floating walls with my foamcore floor pieces (pro masterboard). But the setup and breakdown was a pain. I began to use more 2D tiles as they were easier to ship and store.

Lately I have begun building "sets". Rooms that are complete. Walls, mounted to the floor, some props glued to the floors etc. I find that while we are using the same set, it is faster to setup and play.

Oddly enough, the players prefer this. They get used to a familiar piece of terrain and enjoy the strategy that terrain piece offers, even if the overall board layout changes.

I have been doing this with the Derelict II rooms that Mel puts out and will be doing the same with First Light.

They look like mini diorama sets but are great in gameplay. It's still modular, the rooms and hallways are mounted on foamcore and are attached to the pro-masterboard. So my overall layout can change, but I can place my brig or med center side by side or down a long hallway apart from each other.

What do you guys do?

I have also switched to making "Set Pieces" as opposed to a Master Board with floating excessories.

It makes it easier for gaming - especially in Multiplayer Miniature Games where you are moving lots of models around and the Wall / Door sections can get knocked about.

The downside to Set Pieces is storage and carting the necessary pieces to our Friday Night Games at our LGS.

Even with the storage and transporting hassles - I very happy with how the set pieces work out. And they do look very impressive when they are layed out on game nights.

Cheers
Junk Runner

Hmmm, I generally build models then work an adventure around them.

Then again, I only use WW terrain for wargaming or for special events. And I tend to come up with multiple scenarios for the same model. Two are likely to be wargames, and the third and/or fourth is RPG.

Both of the models I have of the Maiden are used for a lot of games, my steam Maiden is already showing wear.

If I follow through with my Mordheim mechanations then I will use the boards for multiple games as well.

The Auld Grump, Mordheim Thursday!

I will definitely have to check out Mordheim Grump. For as much as you talk about it, it must be a great game!

I am debating about making a few "convention sets" that will have WWG models mounted permanently and using minis and a scenario to demo games at conventions. They will be a pain to store but will be easier to carry to cons than the multiple plastic boxes I use now...

I do some of each. I'm building set pieces with D2 too (thats the only way you really can with that set, IMO). With WWG stuff, I build modular terrain, but usually with a set piece or two in mind.

My players love the terrain, but complained a little about difficulty of moving miniatures in crowded dungeon settings. So, rather than using all 3D scenery, I'm moving to some 2D base tiles (using DJ) for a lot of my needs, but still using WWG props and some 3D scenery for emphasis. That is the direction I will continue to go, I think.

But, some things are purely still 3D - the Abbey, for example. It was built with modular pieces (easy to disassemble), but with that specific build in mind, and all 3D. The CastleWorks pieces I'm working on are using a similar philospohy. There is also a fort I'm designing (using Skull Cove) that will be purely 3D, although the interiors of both CW and SC buildings will likely be 2D.

I'm looking forward to seeing FL to see how I'm going to use/build it.

I have been going for set pieces that can be put together to form various layouts, in a modular form so far, but with FL depending on what is in it i might go more Madien like, i.e. This is a ship, with a set layout out and go not at all modualr with it. like make the inside in be done, maybe have a few sections that can change to allow for SW Falcon like ships (the YT series is very modular, and if i can get a way to put sections that can go on or off, i will to mimic that ship and allow for the PCs to change things.)

Here is a photo of the "fireball" template I use. It's based on a 20' radius burst. I used transparency sheets to print it and one of Denny's Lava Textures as the image. There is a visible crosshair in the middle of the template to assign a target point.

Thumbnail to larger picture