Introduction
Welcome to my little corner of the internet!
For more years than I care to admit—whenever my other work permits—I have been working on my passion project: Three Plains.
The following will explain what Three Plains is and how I plan to develop the game. Furthermore, this document will serve as a working roadmap, meaning I’ll keep coming back to update it—marking my progress, tracking developments, and outlining new plans moving forward. So, if you want to keep an eye on how things are progressing, this is the place to do it.
Three Plains and My Aims
Three Plains is an old-world fantasy tabletop wargame. My inspiration for starting this project was Warhammer Fantasy, a game I loved playing while growing up.
Just like Fantasy, Three Plains is a tabletop wargame played with miniatures. Two or more players battle against each other using six-sided dice, a tape measure, and cards.
However, while Three Plains has similarities to Fantasy, it is also quite different:
- Three Plains is set at a 15mm scale instead of 35mm, like Fantasy.
- Although hero units are powerful, they cannot win battles alone. Players must use their cunning and deploy their regiments wisely, as the true strength of an army lies in its ranks, not just its champions.
- The game is completely free. All rules are available as free PDF downloads, and all models are print and play, meaning you can print and assemble them yourself.
- There is no black powder weaponry, as the world is set in an earlier period of development. Think of an ancient, bronze-age setting, and you won’t be far off.
Road Map
As I’ve worked on Three Plains, I’ve looked back at my earlier work and felt that some aspects were falling short of the mark. So, I’ve decided to revamp the game—this new edition will be called Three Plains 4.0.
However, that doesn’t mean I’m starting from scratch—most of the models, rules, and playtesting are already done.
I’ll be kicking things off with the Orcs.
🔄 = To Do | ✅ = Done | 🛠️ = In Progress
🛠️Orc Codex – In Progress
The good news is that the layout and rules are mostly finished, and I have already completed one read-through. I’ll be starting my next one soon. Every so often, I’m adding in new artwork, header art, and footer art.
I also have one new short story to finish. I realised that the Snorts (Orc females) take a lot of the spotlight, as they are the rulers of the Orcs. So, I thought it would be nice to write a short story focusing just on the lads—no girls or Snorts allowed!
Rule Changes:
- Troll Carnage and Siege Models have been cut.
- The Carnages didn’t feel necessary—I didn’t think the Orcs needed yet another monstrous killer rampaging around the battlefield. The Orc army is already quite brutal in that regard.
- Similarly, I feel the same way about Iron Sides (a super-powered Orc chariot). Why would you take a normal chariot when you can take a better version? I’m still undecided on this, so we’ll see.
- Siege battles didn’t work well in playtesting. Honestly, siege games felt boring—there wasn’t much for players to do, and it takes a lot of effort to create something that people might quickly lose interest in.
You can check out the Orc Codex HERE if you want to learn more about this faction.
🛠️Orc Models – In Progress
As mentioned above, I’m revamping all the Orc models.
🛠️Units – In Progress
- 🛠️ Grunt, Blue Orc, and Saw Drummers and Banner Holders – 1/3 Done
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Hand Weapons & Shields)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Hand Weapons & Shields)
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Spears & Shields)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Spears & Shields)
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Great Blades)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Great Blades)
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Great Hammers)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Great Hammers)
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Two Hand Weapons)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Two Hand Weapons)
- ✅ Orc Grunts (Clubs & War Nets)
- ✅ Armoured Orc Grunts (Clubs & War Nets)
- ✅ Orc Archers (With & Without Light Armour)
- ✅ Grunt Slingers (With Shields)
- ✅ Orc Noms
- 🔄 Blue Orcs (Two Hand Weapons)
- ✅ Blue Orc Slingers
- ✅ Orc Saws (Two Hand Weapons)
- 🛠️ Orc Saws (Great Blades) – Working On
🔄War Machines:
- ✅ Grunt Chariots
- 🔄 Iron Sides – Under Consideration
🔄Beasts:
- 🔄 Tabers & Their Piper
- 🔄 Giant Wolf Spiders & Their Orc Masters
- 🔄 Black Land Trolls
🔄Characters:
- 🔄 Iron Mothers
- 🔄 Big Daddas
- 🔄 Young Bulls
- 🔄 Insaneos
- 🔄 Nutters
- 🔄 Hags
- 🔄 Runts
🔄Herlanceian Codex & Models
Just like the Orcs, the Herlanceians will be completely revamped. However, their codex doesn’t need as much work—it mainly needs streamlining and new artwork, as the faction is already in a good place.
If you want to learn more about the Herlanceians, you can be clicking HERE.
🛠️Updating the Three Plains Rulebook to 4.0 – In Progress
From time to time, I’ll tweak the main rules, but my main focus right now is the Orcs.
Once the Herlanceians are updated, I’ll also revamp the main rulebook. However, the rules themselves are solid, so it’ll mainly be a visual update and a grammar/spelling check.
🔄The Outcasts – The Undead
By far, whenever people ask me which faction I’ll work on next, the most common request is:
“When are you doing the Undead?”
So, the next army list I’ll work on will be The Outcasts!
Alongside this update, Three Plains Rulebook will move to 4.1, incorporating new rules to support the Outcasts.
The Outcasts will be a Necromancer-based army, featuring:
- Skeleton Warriors
- Wights
- Vampires
- Zombies
- Ghosts
Although we’ve brainstormed multiple Undead factions before (like The Restless, Vampire Clans, and even a standalone Zombie faction), I think it’s best to release an army that incorporates a bit of everything to keep everyone happy.
🔄The Golden Masters – The Elfs
Last but by no means least, I will be working on revamping the Elfs, also known as the Golden Masters. Their Codex is already in a solid place, but their models all need updating.
That’s the plan so far—thanks for reading! Let me know what you think, and as always, feel free to share this post and if you want to support me in my edever, you can at Patreon.
Dave