Review of Epix Haven AS : 28mm Prepainted Miniature Terrain : Freestanding Tower

Every high-level wizard or ominous necromancer needs their tower. Epix Haven AS has released their 28mm prepainted tower for roleplaying, miniature wargaming, and other 28mm use. The tower levels measure across about seven inches at the base, and nine inches at the terrace (top floor). The height is about ten inches without the flagpole, and just over fifteen inches with. Each floor is removable and highly detailed. I particularly like how the terrace and third floor have "murderholes" (machicolation) for the defenders to pour hot oil or drop refuse onto attackers. The floors include a grid of one-inch squares for gaming.

Terrace and Far Shot

Each level is octagonally shaped. The play area of each piece differs, with the largest on the "roof" being six squares across, and smallest the first and second floors, which are four squares across. The third floor is five squares across. While the first floor's door is painted on, each window and "murderhole" of the other floors is a separate hole. The entire tower -- including the undersides of the second through fourth floors -- is painted, washed, and drybrushed in greys and white. Up close, some of the paint strokes are streaky, but, from a tabletop distance, the effect is superb. The first floor is felt-lined.

The staircase is -- and isn't -- the best part of the tower. The staircase is cleverly designed, highly detailed, and removable from the tower. At the top of the terrace, the flagpole, which is just under six inches, can also be removed. The stair design is in the center of each level, spiraling upwards to the roof. Each staircase section inserts into the lower one, and is supported by each level of the tower. This lets you remove a staircase section if you need more space on a tower level. On the staircase, you can see the individual bricks of the center of the stairway, and the steps themselves. The staircases even have some molded wear from years of use. However, since each floor is only four to six squares in diameter, the two inch wide staircase takes up quite a bit of gaming space. Also, if you remove a level, you may need to re-insert one or more of the stairway pieces to get the stairway to fit properly in the model. Like the rest of the model, paint job is a little streaky, although this isn't noticeable from tabletop view.

First through third floors

I should say that I'm always looking for additional ways to use these models for more gameplay. The first floor by itself could be used as a tomb or other resting place. The second and third floors could, as floorplans, be used for castle towers, or rooms of a church. The window holes look quite similar to alcoves and recesses in walls. I've also used the tower for the four floors of the Conan the Barbarian "Tower of Khitai" expansion set.

The tower comes unfurnished, and you may want some dungeon decor depending on your resident inhabitant's tastes. For an evil necromancer, the pictured unpainted grey resin pieces in the pictures are from Secret Weapon Miniature's Malice RPG Starter Set, which contains many skeleton and skull-themed pieces.