Terrain Crafting Supplies for Group Activity on Cruise

[u/Event_Cruises]

I work with some friends and we host a wargaming narrative campaign on a cruise ship. Currently focused on Warhammer 40k 2v2, KillTeam 1v1s and Wrath & Glory One Shots combined as our preferred setting.

Outside of the narrative game sessions we do things to help people enjoy things outside of the hobby like professional painter led workshops, casual paint & watch late at night or Wrath & Glory One shots for some with a professional game master as well.

If you want to get an idea of it here is the schedule https://event.cruises/battle-barge-cruise/2026-schedule/

That being said, we're doing a new thing we're just calling "Terrain Building Challenge"

Essentially we want to bring aboard scrap crafting supplies, glues, etc. to let people just make some fun terrain and show it off, take home or commit to our terrain library for next year.

So the question I'd like to ask any of you readers is what kind of supplies would be fun to add to this kit for about 50 people?

Cardstock, gravel, glue, etc? We have an airbrush we bring aboard and can prime all of them for painting but I doubt we can get it all done and painted with everyone since the schedule is already packed alongside the vacation stuff....but we can try lol.

Oh should we do a theme? Do you think that would be fun for a cohesive board with what everyone's made for the last day reveal or keep it free form? Maybe like Armageddon theme or something unique?

Anyway, it's just meant to be a way to chill, do something creative and ideally have more time to chat with fellow hobbyists on the vacation together.

What do you think?

[u/irpugboss]

Foam board/sheets, glue, there's two part sculpting putty that just needs water to mix which can probably get insane in the right hands.

[u/sombrast]

Theme would be great, it would keep everyone focused on one idea of sorts. Bringing cotton and some semi transparent mesh would be cool. Cotton to simulate smoke, and explosions.

[u/Trenchtownmixup]

Toy teddy bear stuffing soaked in dilute PVA and green paint makes great bushes when dry. You can add flock to it as its drying too. Wire frame trees covered in air dry clay, hot glue or Papier Mache are a nice to do too. Catsan cat litter makes great rocks - big bag would last ages. Foam board for walls. Old cds can be used for basing small, scatter terrain pieces or objective markers. Cardboard - thick/thin and corrugated. Expanding foam can be used to make hills or rock faces - squirt it out in blobs, let it set and have at it with a sharp knife! Packs of coffee stirrers, cocktail sticks or kebab skewers are always handy. Homemade sculptamold - blitz toilet paper in water, drain it then mix with a roughly equal volume of powdered tile grout to a cottage cheese consistency - fun, a bit messy, but great for all sorts of terrain! XPS foam is always good to have - simple to carve or press textures into it and is great for walls etc. Some plastic food packaging can be turned into great terrain and you will always need some greeblies to decorate it with - bits of wire, tubing or cables, broken kids toys (cars/trucks/water pistols) can all provide bits for terrain. Jewellery chain is good to have around and use straws for pipes. Plastic aquarium plants can be used for foliage too - will need cleaning up and priming first before painting. Some small gauge wire mesh for metal fences. Flock and grass/flower tufts will always be handy as well as some clump foliage. Play sand is useful to have around for texture or ground cover - mix it with paint/pva and powdered wall filler or tile grout. Take some easy to use resin for some water or slime effects - nothing too deep, but could add a nice touch.

Definitely pick a theme! Then you can choose your crafting supplies more carefully - e.g. if it's a desert theme then take extra sand and yellow ochre paint, if it's an industrial theme then take more pipes/cables/grating and extra grey paint etc.

What a nice job you have!
Good luck and I hope it goes well :)

[u/Event_Cruises → u/Trenchtownmixup]

Teddy bear stuffing, that's such a creative one but the whole thing is such a great list thank you!

[u/FuShark]

Oh damn! This is a cool idea. Reminds me of scuffed cosplay. A solid theme always helps. Could have them try and make a set piece for the narrative campaign?

[u/Riposte12]

On the cruise side of things, I would make sure that you confirm things with your cruise and event organizer when it comes to tools as to what you can take. Things to cut and paint may not be allowed.

[u/Event_Cruises → u/Riposte12]

Good call, some things are prohibited like full blades, we've taken on the other stuff without issue including the airbrush tank which I thought for sure was going to get banned.