Kickstarer Laser Cut Terrain *Uber cool*

[Dusty27]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...a?ref=category


Drool!

I can't wait to get home and order some. Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?

[Yodaking]

He needs to heroscape hex specifications.

[robbdaman]

Originally Posted by Yodaking

He needs to heroscape hex specifications.

If he's smart he'll stay away from doing so. Litko used to have heroscape hexes but pulled them because Hasbro insisted. They have been pretty protective of the interlocking method. Another interlocking hex terrain of the same size MIGHT get away with it but it would have to be a new way of locking together.

[Yodaking]

I didn't mean he should make actual hexes. Just make stuff that fits on one of our hex boards nicely with a correctly sized hex pattern on the floor.

[Ghostship]

How do the guys who make Lego compatible blocks get away with it?

[robbdaman]

Originally Posted by Ghostship

How do the guys who make Lego compatible blocks get away with it?

The functional design of the basic brick is considered a matter of patent rather than trademark law, and all relevant LEGO patents have expired. Hasbro's patent will expire though design patents last 14 years from the date granted so I would guess another 8 years or so.

[Ghostship]

Fundamentally it's a dovetail joint.
I have no real understanding of patent law. Wouldn't there be some kind of allowance for the dovetail having been in use for centuries?

I would expect the terrain type, distinctive sculpted texture, and the printed pattern to be all very protectable. I have less of that expectation about the dovetail joint.

[robbdaman]

For that specific design no, its specific for the product Heroscape. Another design could be made as I said before but it could not interlock to Heroscape terrain without violating the patent. Once that patent expires though it'll be free game as there is precedent with Megablok and Lego.

[Porkins]

To be patentable (I have 7 patents) the idea must meet two requirements (there really are more requirements...for example, it has to be producible. So I can't go patent the idea for warp speed 9 hyperdrive engines because I can't produce them):

1. The idea has to be novel when applied to the field in question.
2. The idea cannot be obvious.

So a dovetail joint apparently had not been used in wargame toy boardgames before. The patent office has reviewers that are organized by field of study and are supposedly experts. So the guys that work on patents for boardgames are supposedly experts in the field of boardgames, while the guys who work on patents for automotive engines are supposedly...well you get the idea. The problem is that, despite being experts, the patent clerks don't always correctly identify patent claims that have either already been patented or are not really patentable (ie - they are not novel or are obvious).

This is why patent lawyers have jobs, to argue with the patent clerks over patent claims and patentability, prepare the applications, etc. I think it's pretty boring stuff...really hard to read patents without falling asleep. But I'm not a lawyer, I'm an engineer...I guess a lawyer might think differently.

[samthegoat]

When will these be available?
And when they are, how much will they be?
if they're too expensive, I may make my own on my schools laser cutter.
samthegoat

[A_Train]

Maybe a bit beyond what you may desire, but there are too companies that create terrain for this now.

http://www.sarissa-precision.co.uk/ Has some great items. I recently ordered a lot of their city block set for my ATZ campaign. Check out their System infinity for some Sci Fi terrain that may have uses in Heroscape.

Also check Demo's Laser Cut Design More focus on buildings there, but they have some terrain items that could work.