Monster Scenery Peridot Crystal: How to Place Crystals in Wargames
By Over the Brick | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: How-to Guides
A practical, step-by-step method for placing Monster Scenery Peridot Crystals on your wargame board, with checkpoints to avoid common terrain mistakes.
Quick answer
Place your largest Peridot Crystal first as a line-of-sight blocker, then cluster the medium and small pieces around it to create a believable crystal formation. Keep the cluster off the center objective and leave at least one clear approach so the terrain adds tactical decisions rather than dead space.
Why crystal size order matters for line of sight
The Peridot Crystal set includes three sizes: large crystals at 3 1/4 inches high, medium at 2 1/2 inches, and small clusters at 1 3/4 inches. That height difference is your main tool for shaping sight lines. A large crystal can block sight to infantry standing behind it, while small clusters usually only provide cover or decoration. Starting with the large piece forces you to decide what the terrain actually does before you fill in the visual details.
When a crystal cluster is the wrong terrain choice
Crystal terrain works best on boards with rocky or magical themes. On a historical or tightly realistic table, a bright green crystal formation can look out of place. Also, if your group treats all terrain as impassable, a dense cluster can accidentally wall off a flank. In those cases, use fewer pieces or place them along a board edge as a boundary rather than in the play area.
Steps for placing crystal terrain on your wargame board
- 1. Clear the center objective: Place your largest Peridot Crystal at least 6 inches away from the central objective marker. Common mistake: putting the tallest piece directly on the objective, which blocks models from reaching it and turns the center into a no-go zone. Check that both players can still physically reach the objective with a normal move.
- 2. Build outward with medium and small pieces: Cluster the medium crystals (2 1/2 inches) and small clusters (1 3/4 inches) around the large piece, leaving a gap of 1–2 inches between pieces. This creates a formation that looks natural and gives infantry a place to shelter without fully blocking movement. Leave at least one open lane through the cluster so units can pass with a reasonable move.
- 3. Test line of sight from both deployment zones: Crouch down to table level from each player's side and check what the large crystal blocks. If it hides an entire fire lane, rotate the cluster slightly or swap the large piece for a medium one. Common mistake: only checking line of sight from your own side. Both players should agree the terrain creates interesting choices, not a one-sided advantage.
- 4. Secure loose pieces before play: Because the crystals are hollow and lightweight, a stray hand or dice tray can knock them over. Blu-Tack or a small piece of double-sided tape under each base keeps them in place without damaging the table. Checkpoint: lift each piece gently to confirm it stays put during a practice move. If a piece still slides, move it to a quieter part of the board rather than adding more adhesive.
- 5. Mark the terrain type before the first turn: Agree with your opponent whether the crystal cluster counts as impassable, difficult ground, or light cover. Write it on a scrap of paper or place a small token beside the cluster. Common mistake: deciding mid-game when a unit wants to move through it. Every crystal piece on the board should have a clear, agreed-upon rule before deployment.
Product facts
- Monster Scenery - Peridot Crystal: The crystals are pre-painted plastic and ready to use out of the box, with large pieces at 3 1/4 inches high. You can place them on the table immediately without painting, and the large size gives you a reliable line-of-sight blocker.
Monster Scenery - Peridot Crystal - Monster Scenery - Peridot Crystal: The models are hollow, lightweight plastic, which makes them easy to move during a game. You can reposition or remove a crystal cluster mid-game without disturbing nearby miniatures.
