My group just started the descent into the Dungeon of the Mad Mage, so I thought I'd try my hand on some dungeon tile crafting to get them a little more immersed into it.. at least until they get to the levels of the dungeon where creating a 3d environment as the environment is presented in the adventure, is probably going to be really hard... :)
Inspired by guys like Wyloch, BMC, DMScotty and the well know crafters out there, I came to a mix of ideas from several of them, and of course the commercial products out there.
Like Wyloch, I stepped away from a 1 inch square to a slightly larger size to accommodate for both potential walls, ánd a miniature, on each square, although for me it's all metric here, so I make 3x3cm squares, in 2x2 tiles. It roughly adds up to the same anyway. I also kept all walls and other features low enough to not obstruct each player's view but still have a nice 3D environment.
But instead of cardboard for the tile faces, I chose all foam-core with one layer of cardstock underneath. (pizza-box) And the walls are also just foam-core on its own, I found I didn't really need to strengthen it further, as when it's painted and sealed with PVA, it's pretty sturdy. But very lightweight too, although it seems to not move around as much as I feared. But I have an old whiteboard of a nice big size, that I could cannibalize and then use one 'sheet' of it flat on the table, and if I'll superglue a small magnet underneath/inside each tile, it'll be like fridge-magnets, but on the table. So far though, it seems to hold up when you don't get too rough around the table.
I wanted to do it with a minimum of materials and consumables, and just basic tools. It costs nearly nothing, all in all. There's much more planned in furnishing, special tiles, pillars, secret doors, traps, whatever they'll come across in the campaign and I've already learned a lot for the next batch, about what I'd do slightly different. :)
Anyway, I'd love to see what you think, thanks in advance for checking it out! Here are some pictures, could have put it together more tightly, but oh well... :)
When you use your dungeon tiles, do you only place the portion of the map the PCs are able to see and then add to that? It looks like a great aid to both immersion as well as battle coordination.
Yeah, I basically only really put it down if there's a fight or some other main interest in an area. And usually that would move into adjacent areas too, so I then add that what they can see as they discover it. Most parts of the dungeon in this campaign don't really need an actual representation on the table, so then I just tell them what they see, or make a quick little sketch on a small whiteboard if needed and show them a global layout so they can get it in their mind's eye a bit better and smaller encounters that aren't really worth the time setting up the tiles, I'll just do on a gridded battlemat.. usually with some 3d elements put on it as well.
And yes, it does wonders for both those things for sure. :)
Hi everyone,
My group just started the descent into the Dungeon of the Mad Mage, so I thought I'd try my hand on some dungeon tile crafting to get them a little more immersed into it.. at least until they get to the levels of the dungeon where creating a 3d environment as the environment is presented in the adventure, is probably going to be really hard... :)
https://i.ibb.co/BfSxn8R/20190615-214006.jpg" alt="">
Inspired by guys like Wyloch, BMC, DMScotty and the well know crafters out there, I came to a mix of ideas from several of them, and of course the commercial products out there.
Like Wyloch, I stepped away from a 1 inch square to a slightly larger size to accommodate for both potential walls, ánd a miniature, on each square, although for me it's all metric here, so I make 3x3cm squares, in 2x2 tiles. It roughly adds up to the same anyway. I also kept all walls and other features low enough to not obstruct each player's view but still have a nice 3D environment.
But instead of cardboard for the tile faces, I chose all foam-core with one layer of cardstock underneath. (pizza-box) And the walls are also just foam-core on its own, I found I didn't really need to strengthen it further, as when it's painted and sealed with PVA, it's pretty sturdy. But very lightweight too, although it seems to not move around as much as I feared. But I have an old whiteboard of a nice big size, that I could cannibalize and then use one 'sheet' of it flat on the table, and if I'll superglue a small magnet underneath/inside each tile, it'll be like fridge-magnets, but on the table. So far though, it seems to hold up when you don't get too rough around the table.
I wanted to do it with a minimum of materials and consumables, and just basic tools. It costs nearly nothing, all in all. There's much more planned in furnishing, special tiles, pillars, secret doors, traps, whatever they'll come across in the campaign and I've already learned a lot for the next batch, about what I'd do slightly different. :)
Anyway, I'd love to see what you think, thanks in advance for checking it out! Here are some pictures, could have put it together more tightly, but oh well... :)
With Kind Regards,
Fred
Those turned out really good!
My Digital Gaming Table on Nerdist and Polygon
Thanks very much!! I appreciate that! :)
I would love to do this, however, the second my players saw it they would demand this for every map.
My Digital Gaming Table on Nerdist and Polygon
Hahaha, yes, that is a worry of mine too. :D
Then again, demands can be met with the evil grinning dungeon master method.. and it's consequences.. :)
Hi again folks,
I've made a few new bits (well a lot of new bits but of a few new types lol)
And I set up a little mockup again to show the new stuff. Here's some pics:
When you use your dungeon tiles, do you only place the portion of the map the PCs are able to see and then add to that? It looks like a great aid to both immersion as well as battle coordination.
Hiya,
Yeah, I basically only really put it down if there's a fight or some other main interest in an area. And usually that would move into adjacent areas too, so I then add that what they can see as they discover it. Most parts of the dungeon in this campaign don't really need an actual representation on the table, so then I just tell them what they see, or make a quick little sketch on a small whiteboard if needed and show them a global layout so they can get it in their mind's eye a bit better and smaller encounters that aren't really worth the time setting up the tiles, I'll just do on a gridded battlemat.. usually with some 3d elements put on it as well.
And yes, it does wonders for both those things for sure. :)
cheers!
This is absolutely incredible! Love it! Great work.