Rules and Inspiration

RULES

Iv given myself a few ground rules for the tiles:

1. Each tile should have 4 levels.

     Level 1 - The sewer

     Level 2 - The ground

     Level 3 - Buildings

     Level 4 - Catwalks

2. Each tile should be self contained, as in, you need to be able to traverse all 4 levels within a single tile.

3. Modular means modular. Each tile will have two sewer outlets on each side, aligned so that no matter which way round a tile is rotated the sewer will continue, be it a canal, a storm drain, a manhole, etc.

4. The buildings should serve a purpose in the world. A bit of narrative to the scenery always helps with immersion.

5. The level 4 catwalks/buildings should all be at the same height at the edge so that they will connect should their tiles match.

6. No large open spaces. This is a settlement long forgotten by the authorities, no one is going to be cleaning or maintaining nice open spaces. 

7. No large flat surfaces on buildings. Looking at my current terrain and others in my research, having large flat areas on a side of a building just makes it look like cardboard box, which leads too...

8. DETAIL. Its the details that sell a piece, and as such I want a lot of detail. Litter, cables, grates, rubble, rubbish bags, bins, sub-boxes, laundry, graffiti, etc.

9. The rule of cool. If it looks cool and Im happy then Im going to go with it.

10. "They're not so much rules as guidelines" - Captain Barbosa

INSPIRATION

As stated in the previous post, I have been inspired by the facebook Necomunda terrain groups to build these tiles. I have got a good idea of what I want, but feel that a mood board or at least a few pictures from the terrain that has inspired me will give the idea of what I am going for.

One of my favourites has to be Shibboleths Sumptown. Every time I see those tiles I can recognise them instantly. I love the non-parallel nature of the tiles, a thing Im gonna struggle with as I'm neat and do like the things Im working on to sit 'nicely'. 

I also really like the work of Simon Laveuve. I love his use of rubbish, graffiti and plant life to give his pieces a real lived-in flavour.

Here is an album of headnhalf ilikepaintinglead terrain pieces. His use of water and all round grime is outstanding. His painting is great as well, as its not all one flat colour as first perceived but lots of subtle variants with some great little highlights. I adore his sewer tile and really hope my sewers can be half as good. Its good that he shows the before pictures of the sewer tile as well as it really helps show how he did it.