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I feel as if that verticality is a way to go, but not really in the way you usually would go. if battling in the under hive / lower hives, then something simple could probably work. Like the one of the pictures in the first page, build up a few columns with (3d printed) zone mortalis walls going up towards an imaginary ceiling, maybe add a few walkways between the closer ones, and on you go. Or, use some non ruined walls from imperial buildings and build upwards until it's at a good enough height.

cuts down on the fiddly bits of multiple walkways, gives verticality and a theme to LOS blocking terrain, allows the use of knights and baneblades, and allows for a themed board that is fairly simple in concept.

EDIT: Attached is a board I saw online that uses gigantic pillars as terrain to give the illusion of fighting in the emp's palace while providing line of sight blocking terrain. simple and effective IMO. I dont know how to upload a picture really.

I don't hate the current Necromunda aesthetic of walls and warrens. I see the appeal of those sorts of layouts and I've got a Black Site Vault system that would be perfect for that. However, for those like me who prefer Towers over Tunnels, here's some OG Hive City from White Dwarf.

 Eilif wrote:
I don't hate the current Necromunda aesthetic of walls and warrens. I see the appeal of those sorts of layouts and I've got a Black Site Vault system that would be perfect for that. However, for those like me who prefer Towers over Tunnels, here's some OG Hive City from White Dwarf.

Alright, this is going to sound super heretical but… I kinda don’t like that style of terrain. It’s just platforms. If they didn’t have names over each of them then there would be nothing to tell them apart from other platforms.

Honestly, I prefer hive cities that look like they could be lived in.

(But that is my oppinion of course. I think I just have the problem of visualizing the battlefield with it.

I think the original aesthetic was a result of what was practical at the time--plastic columns and supports and large cardstock floor sections, and anything on a floor (machinery, consoles, etc) is a separate piece. At the time, the "OMG, the table isn't flat!" excitement made up for the rough edges.

I feel the problem with the "platforms and catwalks" stuff is the lack of context. It would make sense if it was literally platforms and catwalks on and around machinery or other buildings. But that would require a lot of decorative terrain building. It would also mess up sightlines and such gameplay wise.

I mean, it could be fixed by having consoles or even cranes and machinery around. Maybe the gang is fighting over a chemical or metal refinery

 solkan wrote:
I think the original aesthetic was a result of what was practical at the time--plastic columns and supports and large cardstock floor sections, and anything on a floor (machinery, consoles, etc) is a separate piece. At the time, the "OMG, the table isn't flat!" excitement made up for the rough edges.

Surely you guys aren't implying that the terrain in the Hive War box is more defined and exciting than the N95 box set? It's just a few, relatively generic walls.

I think both approaches are defined by what the chosen terrain material allows. I find games with elevation and walkways far more fun to play on than barely-3d boards . You can pack allot of that in a box set if you're using Plastic Bulkheads and card platforms.

However, GW seems quite insistent on doing mostly plastic terrain, and you simply can't put as interesting or large a set of all plastic terrain in a box set. GW could have done an upgrade version of the classic hybrid card/plastic style elevated terrain with a bit more definition and modern style to the elements. Battle Systems has shown that such terrain is possible in a modern style but instead we got the rather boring terrain of Underhive and Hive War.

Put another way, both eras had fairly general style terrain in the starter sets and what followed (Built or purchased) was more specific. I just think if you compare the Box Games terrain contents, it's hard to defend the current era as better. And that's before you figure in the massive cash investment required in the current terrain sets to make anything as expansive and multi leveled as the N95 box set.

 Eilif wrote:

 solkan wrote:
I think the original aesthetic was a result of what was practical at the time--plastic columns and supports and large cardstock floor sections, and anything on a floor (machinery, consoles, etc) is a separate piece. At the time, the "OMG, the table isn't flat!" excitement made up for the rough edges.

Surely you guys aren't implying that the terrain in the Hive War box is more defined and exciting than the N95 box set? It's just a few, relatively generic walls.

I think both approaches are defined by what the chosen terrain material allows. I find games with elevation and walkways far more fun to play on than barely-3d boards . You can pack allot of that in a box set if you're using Plastic Bulkheads and card platforms.

However, GW seems quite insistent on doing mostly plastic terrain, and you simply can't put as interesting or large a set of all plastic terrain in a box set. GW could have done an upgrade version of the classic hybrid card/plastic style elevated terrain with a bit more definition and modern style to the elements. Battle Systems has shown that such terrain is possible in a modern style but instead we got the rather boring terrain of Underhive and Hive War.

Put another way, both eras had fairly general style terrain in the starter sets and what followed (Built or purchased) was more specific. I just think if you compare the Box Games terrain contents, it's hard to defend the current era as better. And that's before you figure in the massive cash investment in the current plastic sets to make anything as expansive and multi leveled as the N95 box set

I think the old boxsets were much better as a gaming experience and much more cost effective, but I can see why people don't think they looked as good. Especially when a lot of the old structures appear devoid of purpose and look like multistorey carparks without the vehicle ramps. Making a modern equivalent with GW terrain is leagues more expensive, but it looks much more like an actual structure would with greebles.

Form over function I suppose.

 Haighus wrote:

I think the old boxsets were much better as a gaming experience and much more cost effective, but I can see why people don't think they looked as good. Especially when a lot of the old structures appear devoid of purpose and look like multistorey carparks without the vehicle ramps. Making a modern equivalent with GW terrain is leagues more expensive, but it looks much more like an actual structure would with greebles.

Form over function I suppose.

That's a good observation, I just don't think the comparison some folks are making is fair. Both eras have relatively generic starter sets and in both eras, what followed was more specific. There's lots of examples of N95 terrain with more character, it's just that back then it was expected you would make it yourself.

Ironhands.com ( formerly Necromundicon) still has the old 90s pages up. A nice look back at the sort of things folks were doing for N95 and it's still my North Star for terrain today.
http://www.ironhands.com/necro.htm

 Eilif wrote:

 Haighus wrote:

I think the old boxsets were much better as a gaming experience and much more cost effective, but I can see why people don't think they looked as good. Especially when a lot of the old structures appear devoid of purpose and look like multistorey carparks without the vehicle ramps. Making a modern equivalent with GW terrain is leagues more expensive, but it looks much more like an actual structure would with greebles.

Form over function I suppose.

That's a good observation, I just don't think the comparison some folks are making is fair. Both eras have relatively generic starter sets and in both eras, what followed was more specific. There's lots of examples of N95 terrain with more character, it's just that back then it was expected you would make it yourself.

Ironhands.com ( formerly Necromundicon) still has the old 90s pages up. A nice look back at the sort of things folks were doing for N95 and it's still my North Star for terrain today.
http://www.ironhands.com/necro.htm

There is some beautiful terrain in that link. I've seen some of these before but it is great to see the source.

I agree that the newer kits are far from becessary, but making good-looking terrain is easier with them... if you have deep enough pockets.