Adding the Details

Phase two meant going to work on the basic details, to make the board playable.

The ground was the first place to start, since I needed something to put the structure on. The original plan was to run water into the map, hence the bridges, and have it go into a park area. I wasn't sure how it was going to work in the park area. Andria and I discussed having it end in a pond, or running through to the otherside. I finally opted to go with a 4 square wide, straight water way that spanned the four foot length.
I then cut two large strips of astroturf to fill in the grass on both sides. It was quick, easy and painless. Probably the easiest part of the entire map. I also cut the rough pieces for the hill at the same time, just so I could get an idea of how it might look. During this I also put up the stairs and the edging around the top of the structure.
After the glue on the grass dried (basic white glue), I quickly marked in the lines for the shore and water, painted in the water and then sat around watching the paint dry. This was all followed by starting to work on the maps grid lines.

Building the Rough Shell and Duct Taping it

I knew that this idea needed to be done in phases.

The project is broken up into three phases. The first phase was building the rough foundation for the elevated structure. Measurements for height were done in the same size squares as a normal board. The idea was to create an elevation that had been equal to standard movement. So, since each standard square is 1.5", each level of elevation is also done in the same size.
The structure is designed to have three main levels of play. The ground that the structure sits on, a level that was originally supposed to be a "road way" with a couple of store fronts, and then the rooves of those stores. However, there are actually 6 separate sqaures of elevation.
There is a hill on each side of the structure, with there being two separate points of elevation on each. Then there is the "road way" at the next point, followed by stairs that reach each roof top, which is also totally playable.
The "road way" is 4.5" from the ground, or three squares, and also has a bridge. The bridge allows for a very unique addition to standard game play. There are some giant size figures such as Sutur from Hammer of Thor, or pretty much every Colossal size figure that won't fit under the bridge, so you can't play them under the bridge. Also in the cases of colossal size figures (Galactus and Anti-monitor were the test figures) they can't see under the bridge and therefore can't attack characters underneath, unless using ground based attacks such as Quake. Also under the bridge is considered hindering terrain.
The stairs and the hills also add new levels of enjoyment, as you can make attacks on these at different adjacent elevations. There will be more on the special rules for playing on this map to come.
The two main structures were built at two different heights. After all, what's the point of building a three dimensional map if you don't have everything at various levels? One reaches the maximum height of 9", or six squares. The other is 7.5", or 5 squares. Linking the two levels is a second bridge that is two squares wide. Galactus can't fit under the back bridge either, however the Anti-Monitor can.
When I originally designed the map, there was supposed to be store fronts, roof top resturants and a roadway with sidewalk. These plans have changed, but that's due to the way things have worked out so far. However, it doesn't change the gameplay one way or the other, so it doesn't really matter.

Finishing phase one meant duct taping all the seams and corners. It really made a difference in bringing the concept to life for me. It made it all look more real.

How It All Got Started

This is the only picture that contains pretty much everything I used, or I'm still using to work on the map.

This is the story of the first Heroclix 3D map. At least it's the first one that I know about.

I started talking about building a three dimensional Heroclix map back in the early part of this year (2010). It was a lot of talk, and some great ideas ran through my head. Ideas about bridges, multi-level structures, simulated grass, and a lot of obstructed views from every angle. Well, this idea started spreading around through my talking about it. The next thing I know it starts becoming a bit of a legend. My friend Grayson told me about a conversation with his friend Shawn, who own's Rogue's Gallery, the best comic shop in Windsor, Ontario. It seemed that he was pumped about this guy that was talking about building a 3D Heroclix map, and he couldn't wait to see it when it's done. That is if it ever got built.
That was the spark, the deciding moment when I said, "Screw it, I'm going to build this thing."
I went home and told Andria the story that I had heard from Grayson. We decided that since I was about to have a week off work, due to minor surgery, I might as well use the time to work on the map. So I don't go mad with boredom.
I was now off on a quest to find all the materials I was going to need to make this map. I had multiple wood boards in my basement already, to use as the main surface. I grabbed one that was 3x4 feet, figured out that it would make a map that had 24x32 squares (A standard square is 1.5"), which means it's bigger than any official clix map that I know of.
My original plans were to hit up Windsor Hobbies and buy model train set supplies to do all the details on the map, but once I actually got there and priced stuff I decided to make some changes. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.
The first thing I did after finding the wood board was go out looking for materials to build the structure. I knew how I wanted it to look, I even drew a design for it using graph paper, so I had actual plans to work from. I also knew that I wanted to build the structure out of styrofoam insulation board. I hate the idea for enviromental purposes, but it is the most durable, light weight, easy to cut material that I know about.
I went out looking for construction sites, where I might be able to find and scoop up some large scraps to use. I had no clue what I was doing and didn't want to spend too much money on something I could easily fuck up. However, there isn't a whole lot of construction going on in this dead end city.
That was a bit upsetting. But on the way home from the bike ride Andria and I were taking, to hopefully find materials, we came across Rona, and they were still open at 7:55pm on a Sunday night. It was a sign. The two of us quickly, trying not to run because the store closes at 8pm, went down to where the foam board was and grabbed a monsterous 4x8 foot sheet. I only use the term monsterous, because walking home with it and my bike was a bit of a nightmare. Big light weight boards are easily blown around by the slightest breeze. What is normally a ten minute walk, quickly doubled.
I also bought 24 feet of that fake grass you often see on back poarches, I refer to it as cheap astroturf. Although I later discovered, while measuring to cut, that the size cut was closer to 36 feet. Woohoo!! This was bought on a later day, but also at Rona. Also in the week long process of buying all the materials Andria and I decided on what to pick up at the hobby shop as well. We went with fall-coloured foliage, light grey ballast stone, water effects glue, model railroad sidewalk, and model hairpin fencing.
All in all, before I did anything more than build the rough shell of this map, I was around $100 in the hole. But, I can say that it has been worth every penny.

Note: I do make changes to the odd change to each article published, from time to time.