I have heard since coming to the Tampa area, "We can't play, we don't have any landscape". I have found that there are some inexpensive ways to create your own with just 1/4 inch foam and felt. You say 1/4 inch foam: that stuff is not cheap! At a hobby shop, no, but a company that installs carpet throws away more as scrap at one job than you would ever need. Just call them up and ask if you can get some of the scrap pieces; many times they will just give it to you.

Now you have the foam, what do you do with it? Simple, just grab a pair of scissors, and cut the foam in whatever shape you wish; lay the foam on the playing table in layers (normally you will put the smaller pieces on top). You could glue the foam pieces together if you like to play on the same terrain; or leave them separated so every time will be different. Then drape a large piece of green or tan felt over the top, most fabric stores carry 60 inch roles of felt for around $5-7.00 a yard.

I have found that, in most games, all you need is 3 yards. With some blue felt (water), brown cloth (freshly plowed fields) different colors of green cloth ( types of vegetation). That leaves the subject of trees; I will leave that for the next Rebel Yell.

If you want to see this method of landscape, come join us at Macdill AFB's AIRFEST 97 on 3-4 May; and enjoy a good old fight [in miniature, of course].