All Game Terrain Review

Basing is a fun subject for me, as I tend to love it. Basing helps set your models apart on the table. Through a combination of paints, glue, sand, gravel, foam, tufts, you can enhance a great paint job and add a lot more intrigue to your pieces on the table.

Sometimes, basing can take a huge chunk of time if you sculpt rocks, features, or add materials to build up a base in order to lift a model off of the "ground". In competitive display painting, basing is just as important as the paint job itself, and at the highest levels, you'll see elaborate basing schemes, carved plinths, and the sense that the "base" is just another part of the total piece itself.

But for most folks, you just want your models standing on something far more interesting than a black plastic base, and that's where I think All Game Terrain fits perfectly.

They sent me a kit which consisted of several products, including basing paint, three different glues, and a variety of sands, grass, and bushes. Each package is effortless to use, as each package has a nifty guide on the back with instructions of how to best use the product. For example, the EZ Bushes require some trimming and cutting, then using the Game Tac in order to attach them to a base, or trees, providing both bushes or a vine look. For the ground cover, like the grasses or sands, you would use the Super Seal glue (which is like a watered down glue) applied with a spray bottle. Then, by blowing grass mixture on a model, or pouring sand on a base, you can easily affix the materials to a base.

I did this on my entire Legion clone army, and what I opted to do was to make a mixture.  By taking several sands and grasses and mixing them in a spare container, I had a perfect mix. I then used the Game Tac (more of a traditional glue) along with an old brush in order to spread the glue around, and then it was a matter of pinching and sprinkling my custom mixture on each base.

Once you lock down a rhythm, army basing is fun and easy. Hitting all of the bases with some Super Seal (delivered via pipette) was easy and fun.

For some terrain elements, I took some of the included All Game Terrain bases and attached some Legion beacons that I figured could serve as objective markers. I then repeated my process, but went in layers. This allowed me to build up material on the bases, and with a few washes, I was able to produce some attractive pieces in 20 minutes.

I only have a few criticisms. One is the packaging. All of the pieces I was sent for review came in non-resealable packages, which means there will be a spillage risk. I used sandwich bags to make up for this, but in an industry where competing products exist with resealable containers, this is a miss for me.

The "rocks", which are pre-weathered, are very cool, but are limited in shape. I find that when I'm thinking about making rocks, I prefer cork or other materials that are easy to shape. Unfortunately, I believe if I broke apart one of these rocks, it would shatter into many pieces.

But that being said, these are an excellent choice for army basing, terrain building, and if you don't have time to make a creative base, you can use these products to help bring your projects to life.

All Game Terrain is definitely worth a shot; pick some up at your local gaming store, and I promise you won't be disappointed.