Large/Double Doors, Super Thanks, and Curved Passages

 As you can see in the picture below, I've recently been working on an idea for a larger doorway (one that works in a similar way to the archways - in the sense that the whole piece acts as a kind of 'clip-on' that covers two adjoining walls).

(from concept to completion)

And because the whole 'steps and frame' assembly is the most time consuming part of this project - I decided to make the doors as separate/removable pieces - so that they can not only be used to represent open and closed versions of these doors, but it also enables us to insert different door designs into the frame ...for a bit of added variety.

Anyway, as usual, I have a video showing how I made them over on youtube (if you're interested in checking it out):

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In other news, the 'super thanks' feature has just become available for the channel...

...and, while talking about money/donations/subscriptions/etc. can be a bit of a touchy subject (I normally try to not harp on about my Patreon etc. during most of my videos), it is an unfortunate necessity - and so I've decided to enable it (just in case folks would like to support me that way ...as every little helps).

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And, if you've got this far, then here's a quick preview of something that I'm working on at the moment...

...which is basically, just a way of making curved passages that are better suited for 'two abreast' situations - as the normal grid doesn't work all that well for these kind of tiles ...as can be seen in the comparison images below:

(though you can, of course, assemble them either way - depending on your tastes).

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Anyway, that's it for this update. I hope you are all safe and well, and thanks for your continued interest in all of this nonsense of mine :)

Three new videos this month!

It's been a productive month so far - starting with this video - where I turn one of those cheap(ish) nail varnish/polish stands into a miniatures display:

...and here's a picture of it 'in action' so to speak. And I have to say I rather like it (I've actually got a couple more on order, now that I know that it works :) ).

In addition to that, there's also been a new episode of the Print & Paste terrain...

...which features a few gargoyles (that can be used as dungeon decoration ...or even miniatures at a push).

And that has been followed up with another 'tips & tricks' episode - where I make a decorative plinth for these gargoyles to stand upon:

And that's not all. I've also started work on an idea for a large decorative doorway:

...so imagine a 'stepped base' that spans the wall between two tiles (in much the same fashion as the recent 'archways') - and there being a couple of different types of door to choose from.

So yeah, I'm keeping busy as usual ...and still finding time to mess around with some of the new Army Painter 'speedpaints' - which I'm having mixed results with if I'm perfectly honest :S

And since I don't have a game this week, I might jump in the voice/video chat on Discord this weekend (probably Sunday around 6 or 7 pm UK time) and do some more experiments. So feel free to stop by and join me if you're also at a bit of a loose end!

River tiles for the tiny terrain

Just a quick message to say the I've just released a 'rivers & streams' expansion for the tiny terrain.

And, as usual, you can find the (pay-what-you-want) pdf file over on DriveThruRPG.

Hope you like them :)

Hidden Stairway (with working 'door')

 Just a quick post to say that my latest terrain video is out...

...and that the accompanying (PWYW) pdf file is available over on DriveThruRPG (just put a zero in the little box if you want to pick it up for free ;) ).

Anyway, this was a fun one to build (even though putting the video together was causing me all sorts of issues), and I think this 'mechanism' can probably be put to other uses - like some kind of sliding wall decoration for example.

So yeah, I see further experimentation in my future ;)

Dungeon Build Along Project (finished)

At the beginning of the month I announced that, during the course of January, I would be filming a dungeon 'build along' mini-series - with the aim of showing folks how to make a simple dungeon layout using some of the print & paste techniques.

So, if you want to watch the entire series over on YouTube, you can find the complete playlist (containing all six bite-sized episodes) HERE.

And if you're interested to see what can be made with just 4 printouts and a bit of cardboard... well, here's the resulting mini-dungeon:

And it's my hope that this little series will be a good introduction for folks who are new to the idea of using terrain in their games, while at the same time allowing me to re-do a few things that were covered in some of my earlier videos (which haven't aged all that well if I'm totally honest :) ).

Alternatively, if you've been following the regular episodes for a while, but still haven't got around to making anything yet - then this might be an ideal project to get the ball rolling.

Anyway, whether you decide to have a go at making this dungeon or not, here's hoping that the mini-series provided you with a few new ideas and/or reminders, and that it will be a good example to steer people towards when they ask 'what should I make first?' (as a little dungeon is always a good place to begin - right? :) ).

A quick tidy results in some new terrain.

I don't know if any of you have a similar problem, but I have the bad habit of keeping a lot of my offcuts (from the print & paste terrain) - just in case I might need them at a later date :S

Well, I recently decided to have a bit of a clean out, as the amount of junk I was saving was getting silly. And, as you can see in the next picture, there was quite a lot to be thrown away (luckily most of this can go in the recycling bin).

Anyway, I did decide to keep a few things (like a half page containing a 'wood' or a 'stone' texture - as they're always useful), and I also spent a bit of time assembling anything that had enough parts to make it complete ...like the chests, books, and crates that you can see below:

Now, the original plan was to simply throw most of this into a 'bits box' of sorts (for use in future projects/builds) - but as you can probably tell, I didn't stop there, and last weekend I spent a few hours chatting/streaming on Discord while creating a few bits of scatter terrain from some of this junk.

And here's the resulting pieces:

So, as you can see, there's a large treasure hoard, a pile of torches, a huge axe (for a giant or similar), and a bunch of 'supplies.'

And I have to say that it was fun putting it all together - so I guess hoarding all of this junk did kinda pay off in the end (though it's not something I'd recommend ;) ), as I now have a couple of new terrain pieces that don't actually look too bad.

Anyway, it continues to be a busy month - what with the 'build along' project in full swing, online games to prep, maps to be drawn, and 101 other ideas that I want to get started (not to mention getting sidetracked with little projects like this), so I'll leave you with a (crappy phone) picture of something else I've been working on...

...a really old GW model that I rediscovered. This poor fella had been sitting up in a dark attic without any paint splashed on him for many an long year - so I thought I would rectify that!

Better late than never right?

Dungeon Build Along

Hello all ...and happy new year!

With it being the start of a new year, I thought it would be a good time to start work on a little 'build-along' video series ...one that's aimed at getting folks (back?) to the crafting table (i.e. new year's resolutions and all that).

So, if you've been tempted to give the 2.5D dungeon a try - but have never got around to it - then this might be the gentle nudge that you need* ;)

(*because, let's be honest, I've got quite a few videos out now - which is a bit of a double-edged sword - because if you're just discovering the youtube channel for the first time, the sheer number of episodes might be a little bit off-putting/overwhelming).

Anyway, the plan is to release 5 or 6 short videos (around one video a week throughout January) ...thus creating a little stand alone mini-series - one where I build (and encourage folks to build along with me) a dungeon from scratch.

So, in the first part (above) I'll just discuss the tools and materials that you'll need to get started ...then in part two I'll make the first couple of tiles ...and so on.

With any luck some of you guys who've been following the channel for a while might also like to build the dungeon along with me ...as I think it will be a fun little community project.

That being said - this is going to be a rather simple dungeon ...and it will all be built just using the four pages (one printout of each) featured in this (FREE) download...

...and, like I say, whether you're completely new to this kind of thing, or if you're a long time crafter, then I'm hoping that it will be a fun little project to get the year started!