Table Design

Laying out a Battlefield 

The CoC rule book provides six missions, ranging from a Patrol action to a full blown Attack on an Objective, but very deliberately rather than providing a scenario map a brief précis of the suggested terrain is provided. This means that each mission can be repeatedly played with the terrain and table layout differing every time. Scenario maps are typically provided in Pint Size Campaigns as these,for the main, are recreating specific actions at known locations. 

One advantage or disadvantage of playing at 15mm, depending on your point of view, is that it allows for more terrain to be used as each terrain piece has a substantially smaller footprint than its equivalent at 28mm while still being played on the standard 6'x4' table. To my mind this allows for slightly more complex or detailed layouts. However I must admit that I find laying out a table challenging as it is difficult to know how much terrain to put down and what is an appropriate and balanced layout. 

Mission Two -The Probe

The terrain guide for this advises "This table represents one force's outpost line. The ground should be terrain typical of the region but should have a limited number of buildings which can be occupied as small observation posts and defensive positions. One or two roads may be present with tracks leading of them."

At present my terrain is predominately for the Normandy region, although I'm slowly building up pieces for the Market Garden area, and so I try and recreate something that looks vaguely Norman when laying out a table based on the numerous photos I have viewed over the years. I have no real methodology for this and first and foremost try for a natural look with a strong visual aesthetic although I generally have in mind the two sides of the table which will belong to the attacker. Once the layout is complete I always ask my opponent if he wants to move anything, although to date he's never done so.

This is the table I put together yesterday for the Probe mission, with the rear and left edges, as viewed, being the attackers potential start lines. Which edge is used and whether the attack will be along the short or long axis of the table will be determined by a die roll before the Patrol Phase is undertaken as per the mission rules.

Two hedge lined roads crossing the map in both axis, with a couple of junctions and smaller tracks, three houses and two barns, along with a small orchard and some fields. Seems to match the Mission Terrain Guide and hopefully is balanced from both the attacker and defenders perspective.

I took the opportunity to draw a rough sketch of the layout for future reference and from this created a scenario style map which will enable me to recreate it in the future. Given it can be played in four directions this offers a great deal of flexibility, and with a little tweaking it can probably be used for each of the six mission types as well, or form the basis for a brand new layout.

And now to see how it plays out.