Planning
How much terrain does a table need?
More than most people think. In modern WWII rules, an empty table turns into two lines of models shooting each other, and the luckiest dice roller wins.
Why it matters
A guest article on Warlord Games' community site argues that terrain matters even more in Bolt Action Third Edition, because long-range shooting no longer has a hit penalty. Without enough line-of-sight-blocking terrain, games turn into static firefights. The writer suggests plenty of buildings, high walls, dense woods and rubble, plus light and heavy cover, and notes the rulebook gives guidelines but the choice is yours.
A starter plan
For a 6×4 ft table, aim for roughly a dozen pieces spread so no long open lane runs across the table. A good first set:
| Piece | How many | Blocks line of sight? | Build guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruined buildings | 2-3 | Yes | Ruins |
| Woods (base plus removable trees) | 2 | Yes | Hills (same base method) |
| Hills | 1-2 | Partly | Hills |
| Hedges or walls | 6-8 sections | Partly | Hedges |
| Craters or rubble | 3-4 | No (cover) | Craters |
| Road or river | 1 | No | Roads |
Our suggestion, not a rule. Agree terrain types with your opponent before the game.
Where to get materials cheaply
- Hardware store: XPS insulation foam board, sand, tile grout, PVA (white glue), cheap acrylic house-paint samples.
- Dollar store: craft foam, scouring pads, kitchen sponges, cheap brushes, coffee stirrers.
- Recycling bin: cardboard, cereal boxes, corrugated card, bottle caps.
- Outside: small stones, twigs, dry sand. Bake stones and sand in a low oven or let them dry fully before use.
Sources
- Warlord Community: Tables, Terrain, Bolt Action, and You — terrain in Bolt Action 3rd edition
Sources checked October 25, 2026. Figures are quoted as the source gives them; where sources differ we say so.