Tree Deluxe

I know - you can't believe you're reading an article on buying trees. Seriously, there are a few things to consider when choosing among the great products out there for your 40k battlefield. You need to consider theme, size, and playability along with choosing what is simply most cost effective.

Theme is important. Do you want something alien and crazy? Or are you working on desert for your Talarn Raiders or temperate terrain for your Cadians?

Whatever the answer, it significantly narrows your purchase choices. Alien type landscape trees really quickly moves you to needing to check out what items are available for fish tanks and reptile habitats. These are REALLY expensive, but can provide some fantastic looking 40k terrain. If you're looking at desert or junk terrain, you have a bit more choice. Again, the pet store will have some great plastic aquarium plants that are perfect for ground cover trees. You'll have to look a bit harder for palm trees and going with Games Workshop's tree set may be easiest. If you're going for more normal terrain - pine trees, oaks, maples, etc... -- Woodland Scenics at the train store is your best bet.

Size is really important on giving the right impression. I think many Warhammer players use trees that are too small. The trees need to be at least five or six times higher than your average model, and I like them to be almost as large as my biggest models. You can get by with a few 3-4" trees, but trees 5-7" are better. The larger trees start to get tough to reach over for 40k scenery. One thing to consider is to mix them up.

Playability is the most important thing to consider for any 40k terrain, including trees. The trees need to effectively block line of sight yet allow you to place your models in and around the trees. I've found placing clumps of three to five trees as single terrain items is sufficient for this. I'll usually use one or two large trees and two or three medium trees. I try to leave enough room between them to easily reach in with my big hands to put models, also being mindful that I don't want to catch model parts in there -- scything talons are a challenge! If you find yourself knocking your carefully placed trees over, try using some blue tac or double sided tape to hold them down more.

Tree Deluxe Pic

Tree Deluxe Image

Tree Deluxe Image

Tree Deluxe Image