Saturday 20 December 2014

More free/low-cost products released this week...

As the title of this posts indicates, CSP has another two products available for download this week...

* * *

The first of these is a new map-pack that depicts the interior of an Elven Temple:


This one is done in the same style as the Fortress map-packs (not the new 'into-the-city' range), and contains a pdf file featuring both a labelled and unlabelled version of the map, as well as separate image files (scaled at 50 pixels per square) that can be used with VTTs.

The Elven Temple map is available from RPGNow & DriveThruRPG for just $1.

* * *

The second product is a new character sheet for the Age of Shadow...



...which, as you can see, offers an alternative to the one featured in the back of the AoS core rule book.

The Age of Shadow character sheet is available for FREE from RPGNow & DriveThruRPG.

* * *

And finally, I'd also like to say a big thank you to everyone who purchased the Dungeon Monthly compilations earlier in the week. At the time of writing, they are sitting at number 3 & 4 in the DriveThuRPG charts (and got up to number 2 & 3 at one point) - which has been a pleasant surprise to say the least!

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Dungeon Monthly Compilations

If you've been following my 'dungeon monthly' posts over the past couple of years, you'll probably be aware that, as well as being generic geomorphs, each year's worth of maps can also be pieced together in a specific way to create a huge level of an ever-expanding mega-dungeon (i.e. all 12 of 2013's maps form level 1, and all 12 of 2014's map form level 2).

So, with that in mind, I'm pleased to announce that each of these dungeon levels are now available as bonus map-packs over on RPGNow & DriveThruRPG.


However, unlike the original 'dungeon monthly' versions, these maps are supplied as: 
  • A pdf version of the entire level (supplied as parchment style handout).
  • A large (50 pixel per grid square) jpeg image of the whole map - with a dark background.
  • A large (50 pixel per grid square) jpeg image of the whole map - with a white background.


So if you're planning on running a mega-dungeon in the near future (or would simply like to show your support for the 'dungeon monthly' project), then you can pick up both of these products for just $1 each.


Sunday 14 December 2014

Furniture for the 2.5d dungeon...

I think it's been well over a month since I've made anything new for the 2.5d dungeon ...and so this weekend I thought I would remedy that (and take a bit of a break from all the writing I've been doing lately).


As you can see from the picture above, it's time to add a bit of furniture to the dungeon ...and if you want to have a go at making something similar yourself, HERE's a link to the pdf file that contains the two 'wood textures' that you'll need to print out before you get started.

MAKING THE TABLE

STEP 1. The first thing you'll need to do, is cut out the tabletop from thin (single corrugated) cardboard, and the legs from thick (double corrugated) cardboard.


Obviously the sizes involved will depend upon the size of table you want to make, but in this example the tabletop is 1 & 1/8 inches wide by 1 & 7/8 inches long. For the legs I've cut a strip that's 2/8 of an inch wide (i.e. roughly the same width as the cardboard is thick), that I've then cut into half inch long pieces.

* * *

STEP 2. Next, you will need to cut out a piece of the 'wooden planks' texture (from the pdf file provided) that is big enough to cover (and wrap around) the table top.


* * *

STEP 3. Then glue the cardboard to the underside of the paper, and cut out the 'tabs' that will fold around the sides...


...and glue the tabs in place.


* * *

STEP 4. For each of the table legs, you'll need to cut out a piece of the 'plain wood' texture (from the pdf provided) that is big enough to wrap around the circumference of the entire piece...


...and glue the texture in place (note that all I've used up to this point is a cheap glue-stick).


* * *


STEP 5. Once you made the tabletop and all four legs, all that's left to do is glue the legs in place with a hot-glue-gun.




MAKING THE BENCHES

STEP 1. To make the benches you'll first need to cut out a piece of thin (single corrugated) cardboard for the seat, and two thick (double corrugated) pieces of cardboard for the legs.



In this example I've used a piece 3/8 of an inch wide by 1 & 6/8 inchs long for the seat, and for the legs I've used the same (2/8 of an inch wide) strip I used for the table legs - but this time I've trimmed them down so that they are slightly shorter than the width of the seat.

* * *

STEP 2. Just like when making the table, we'll need to cut out a piece of the 'wooden planks' texture to cover (and wrap around) the seat, and also a strip of the 'plain wood' texture to go around the legs...


...but note that this time, we're using the legs in a different orientation - so the paper needs to be wrapped around in the opposite direction (i.e. around the longest sides of the cardboard, as shown below).


* * *

STEP 3. At this point you should have all the pieces to make one bench...


...which just need to be glued together with a hot-glue-gun.


* * *

And that's all there is to it!

However, you'll notice that the very first picture also shows a little shelf in the background ...and this was made in much the same fashion as the seat of the bench - except that it uses the plain wood texture for both sides and all 3 shelves, and that you have to make sure that you use enough of the textured paper to wrap around the entirety of each piece (so as to not leave any cardboard showing).

(note that I hope to have another tutorial for the little bits & pieces on the shelf at a later date)

Monday 8 December 2014

Dungeon Monthly (December 2014)

Here is it ...the last geomorph of the year...



Hopefully you've enjoyed all of these 'dungeon monthly' maps ...or better yet, managed to put some of them to use in a few of your games!

* * *

And if you're looking to use any of these maps with a VTT (or similar), then don't forget that unlabelled versions for all of these maps can be found in the following G+ albums:



Friday 28 November 2014

Black Friday / Cyber Monday Deal

It appears to have rolled around to that time of year again, when everyone is looking for a great deal on their favourite products. And seeing as how I usually run a sale of some description myself, I though that I would offer something a little different this year...

So, if you're looking for a bunch of maps to help get a new campaign started, then I've bundled a whole host of different map-packs together for this black-friday/cyber-monday special...


In this bundle you'll get a large campaign map, two fortress maps, a huge dungeon level, five city houses, and seven wilderness maps ...and all for just $9.99 - which is just one third of the normal price!

Saturday 22 November 2014

More dungeon tiles and a product bundle...

I'm pleased to announce the release of a new set of Basic Dungeon Tiles ...and also a product bundle for the Into the City range...

* * *

Basic Dungeon Tiles: Expansion Set 4



Basic Dungeon Tiles: Expansion Set 4 includes 12 new tiles that can be used to create large (multiple-page) dungeon rooms of various shapes and sizes.

-an example layout using tiles from this expansion set alongside those from previous sets -

As is usual with the Basic Dungeon Tiles range, Expansion Set 4 is a pay-what-you-want product - so you can pick it up for free - or pay as much (or as little) as you like!


Into the City Bundle



If you've been thinking about picking up a few of the building maps from the Into the City range, then you might be interested to know that you can purchase them all in this $4 bundle (that's 33% off the normal price).

And if you want to sample the Into the City range before deciding whether to purchase or not, then remember that you can download Map 0 for free :)

Monday 10 November 2014

In the pipeline...

If you've been following me on the various social media sites then you've probably got a rough idea of the kind of things I've been working on recently - but if not, here's a quick look at what's to come...

Dungeon Encounters

This booklet is being written for the Age of Shadow system (being the 2nd encounter/adventure booklet for the AoS).

- maps of the encounter areas -

As you can see (and as the title suggests), this one is more dungeon based than the last one ...though I'm writing it in such a way that each encounter area is pretty much self-contained - but with an overarching theme (so that they can also be linked together).


The (yet to be titled) Village map-pack

This map-pack will contain a map of a small village (that might also have some AoS background material included - similar to the current 'Fortress' map-packs) ...with detailed maps of all the major buildings - done in a similar style to the 'Into the City' range...

- interior maps completed thus far -

...except that this time, each building has been given more of a dark-age appearance (making them suitable for human settlements in the AoS setting).


More 2.5D/papercraft Dungeons

I've also got a few more ideas for things to add to the 2.5D dungeon...



...so there should be more (free) pdfs & tutorials coming later this month.


More 'Basic' Dungeons

Another product line I hope to expand upon before the end of the year, is the pay-what-you-want dungeon tiles...



...with the aim of introducing larger (multi-page) rooms, using tiles similar to the one pictured above.


And on a personal note...

And finally, I'm (once again) trying to make more of an effort to reduce my pile of unpainted miniatures...

- my box of plastic 'fantasy' stuff -

...and so far (rather than buying yet more miniatures) I've managed to kit-bash a few miniatures together to use as the 'half-breed spies' featured in one of the adventures in the 'Encounters in the Northlands' booklet.




* * *


And that's it for now. There's a couple more things I have on the go ...but I'll not bore you with those just yet :)

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Dungeon Monthly (November 2014)

Here's the penultimate geomorph of the year...



...also note that unlabelled versions for all of these 'dungeon-monthly' maps can be found in the following G+ albums:


Thursday 30 October 2014

A little Halloween treat...

As some of you might know, a couple of years back I made a creepy map of several barrows/burial-mounds for the Into the Wilderness range ...and released it as a little Halloween Special.


Well, since it's that time of year again, I thought that I'd make the map available as a FREE download until the end of the month ...and all you need to do to get it, is click on THIS link (which will automatically put it in your basket for $0).

But that's not all ...and as a little added bonus, I thought I would draw the interior of the barrow at the bottom of that map (i.e. the one with an obvious entrance) - which will no doubt have something creepy lurking inside...
 
(note that you can also download a pdf 'battlemap' version HERE)

Hope you like 'em!

Monday 27 October 2014

Making Sacks & Barrels...

It would seem that creating new stuff for the 2.5D dungeon is becoming a bit of a regular thing for me ...so I'm guessing that you're fairly familiar with the concept by now ...so lets get straight to it.

As normal, the first thing you'll need to do (if you're going to have a go at making a few of these yourself) is print off THIS pdf file.


Click HERE to download the pdf



MAKING THE SACKS

For each sack you'll need a 2" (50mm) square piece of the 'sack texture' (provided in the pdf) and a similar sized piece of scrap paper.


* * *

Next, crumple the 'sack texture' (to give it more of a cloth-like appearance) and scrunch the scrap paper into a tight bean-like shape (as shown below).


 * * *

Then apply some glue to the back of the textured paper (I'm using a normal glue-stick for this) and place the scrunched-up 'bean' roughly two thirds of the way down the paper.



* * *

Next, fold the textured paper over the 'bean' and press the overlapping pieces together. Then, once the glue is dry, cut the sack to the size you require.


* * *

And if the edges of the sack are looking a little too neat and tidy, simply crumple them up a little bit.



ASSEMBLING THE BARRELS

For the main part of each barrel I'm using a piece of toilet/kitchen roll tube that has been cut to 2½" (approx 63mm) long, by 7/8" (approx 22mm) wide.

I also mark a line 1 and 7/8" (approx 48mm) from one end of the piece as shown below.


(note that I like to use a toilet/kitchen roll tube as it's already curved to begin with - which makes the next step a little easier)

* * *

For the next step you'll need to slowly bend the piece around something round (like a pen or a thin tube) - so that it forms a tighter circle. Then, using the line you drew previously as a guide for how much of the cardboard you want to overlap, glue the two ends together.


* * *

Next, cut out a piece of the 'barrel texture' (provided in the pdf) large enough to wrap around the circumference of the cardboard tube, and glue it in place.

 
* * *

To create a lid for the barrel, simply glue some of the plain wood texture (provided in the pdf) to a piece of thin cardboard (that of a breakfast cereal box will suffice) and cut it to size.

 
(note that I like to cut the lid slightly larger than it needs to be at first, and then trim it down a bit at a time, so that it eventually fits nice and snugly in place)

* * *

To finish things off, just fit the lid inside the barrel (as shown below) and drop a little white/PVA glue inside to secure it in place.


* * *

Once that's done, you can use each barrel and sack as individual pieces or (as I prefer), glue several of them to a floor tile (mounted on thin cardboard) and use them as area terrain.


Note that the pdf also contains a texture for the inside of the barrel (as can be seen on the barrel on the right) to allow you to produce a few empty barrels - for a little added variety.


Monday 20 October 2014

Rubble in the Dungeon...

So, my foray into the world of 2.5d dungeons continues ...and this time I thought I'd try something a little different:


As you can see, I've managed to create a nice little rubble pile (that can also be used to represent a collapsed passage) using just paper, cardboard, and a little bit of glue.

And although it looks a little complicated, it's really quite easy to make ...so if you'd like to have a go at making a few of your own, here's how I went about it...

INSTRUCTIONS

As always, the first thing you'll need to do is download and print out the pdf file that I've created for this piece.
Click HERE to download the file.

Once you've done that, simply glue one of the floor tiles to a piece of thin (single corrugated) cardboard, and cut it to size.


(Note that these 2x2 tiles measure slightly less that 2" per side - to enable them to fit in the 2" wide passages a little easier)

MAKING THE BOULDERS

To make the boulders, the first step is to scrunch up a few pieces of scrap paper into vague rock-like shapes as shown below.


(note that I try to keep the bottom reasonably flat - to make gluing them to the floor tile a little easier)

* * *

Then, cut out a piece of the rock texture (supplied in the pdf) large enough to wrap around one of the rocks, and crumple it up - to give it a nice uneven texture.



* * *

Next, apply plenty of glue to the back of the paper, and wrap it around the 'rock' like you would if you were wrapping an oddly shaped parcel (try to do this so that the edges of the paper end up on the bottom of the rock).


Left: an upside down rock with the texture paper being glued in place.
Right: a finished rock (turned the right way up).

* * *

It's also worth noting that if you end up with any little off-cuts (which you most probably will), you can fold/scrunch these up to make little stones.



MAKING THE BEAMS

For the wooden beams, simply cut out a few different size/thickness pieces of cardboard, and enough of the wood texture (provided in the pdf) to wrap around them...


...then cut, fold, and glue the paper in place around each piece.



PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Once you've got several rocks and beams finished, it's just a matter of deciding where you want to place all your little bits and pieces...


...and glue them all in place.



* * *

And that, as they say, is that! :)


Note that if you've not been keeping up with my recent 2.5D dungeon posts, then here's a few links to some of the other stuff I've been creating (with step by step instructions about how I made the various pieces):