10 terrains every Trench Crusade table should have
10 terrains every Trench Crusade table should have
Tables for Trench Crusade should look like a fragment of a world devastated by religious warfare and apocalyptic conflicts. Unlike many other wargaming systems, here atmosphere is just as important as game mechanics.
A good table should be dense, full of cover and narrative elements – so that every battle looks like a scene from a brutal trench war in a dark fantasy world.
Here are 10 types of terrain that should be on every table for this game.
Trenches
Trenches are an absolute staple of the table.
They should:
- create front lines
- provide solid cover
- force players to maneuver
The best options are:
- trench segments
- machine gun emplacements
- destroyed sections of defensive lines
It's good to have several sections that can be arranged in different configurations.
Ruined Buildings
Ruins provide:
- high cover
- observation points
- close-quarters combat areas
The best ones are:
- ruined chapels
- wall fragments
- burnt-out houses
Ruins also create great narrative scenarios – e.g., fighting for a relic hidden in temple ruins.
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire slows down movement and changes the dynamics of battle.
It's best placed:
- in front of trenches
- in open areas
- at strategic points
It's a simple element, but it strongly influences game tactics.
Explosion Craters
A battlefield without craters looks too "clean."
Craters:
- provide light cover
- hinder movement
- build the atmosphere of a bombarded battlefield
A few larger craters can completely change the battle layout.
Destroyed Vehicles and War Machines
Vehicle wrecks are a great narrative element.
They can be:
- cover
- a control point
- part of a scenario
Wrecks also add a sense of scale and brutality to the war.
Sandbags and Barricades
Barricades work great as:
- quick cover
- control points
- fortification fragments
Small elements of this type densify the battlefield, which is very important in skirmish games.
Monuments and Religious Elements
This is an element very characteristic of the Trench Crusade world.
On the table, they look great:
- statues of saints
- shrines
- altars
- reliquaries
Such elements often become the central point of a scenario.
Destroyed Trees
Dead trees create the atmosphere of a scorched landscape.
They work well as:
- light cover
- atmospheric elements
- fragments of destroyed forests
A few such elements make the table look more natural and realistic.
Fortifications and Bunkers
Bunkers are ideal as:
- a strategic point
- a faction base
- a scenario objective
They also provide the strongest cover on the table.
Narrative Elements
These are things that build the history of the battlefield:
- altars
- piles of bodies
- relics of war
- ritual sites
Such elements make every battle look like a fragment of a larger story.
Summary
A good table for Trench Crusade should be:
- dense with terrain
- full of cover
- atmospheric and narrative
The best tables combine trenches, ruins, and religious elements, making every battle feel like a brutal episode of war in a dark fantasy world.
If you're just starting to build your table, begin with:
1️⃣ trenches
2️⃣ ruins
3️⃣ craters
4️⃣ barbed wire
This is a set that will immediately improve the quality of gameplay.