Terrain Tuesday - 2.5D Tiles

If you never tried crafting your own tiles, just watch the three videos and see if it doesn't inspire you to try.  They are, conventiently, the first three in a series beginning with "D&D NEXT Dungeon Creation System (DM's Craft NEXT #1)."

Also, "D&D NEXT Reusable Dungeon Floors (DM's Craft NEXT #2)."

Finally, "D&D NEXT Reusable Dungeon Walls (DM's Craft NEXT #3).  And there's more but this should get you started . . .

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadlyto cover
3D tabletop pieces made from foam, felt, and other materials.

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Terrain Tuesday - Printable Scenery

Over on printablescenery.com, check out the terrain they suggest you can make with their various templates for your 3D printers here.

In particular, they have some nifty buildings for a hamlet here.

Finally, be sure to see if some of their dungeon sculpts would fit in with your building plans here.

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadlyto cover
3D tabletop pieces made from foam, felt, and other materials.

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Terrain Tuesday - DRAGONLOCK

Tom Tullis of Fat Dragon Games is no shrinking violet when it comes to being on the front edge of the tabletop terrain industry.  For the last year or so, he's been diligently working on professional, 3D printer models of dungeon terrain and has made them available under the name DRAGONLOCK on OBS sites like DriveThruRPG here.  Naturally, there is a Dungeon Starter Set which is available here.

Also, have a look at his DRAGONLOCK: Dungeon Items 1 here.

Finally, check out the three DRAGONLOCK: Dungeon Expansion Sets here, here, and here.

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadlyto cover
3D tabletop pieces made from foam, felt, and other materials.

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Nostalgia Thursday - Dungeon Tac Cards

Recently, some folks brought up the old Judges Guild product known as Dungeon Tac Cards.  Over on museumofplay.org, they present a nice summary of this product here.

Also, on acaeum.com, they give a full breakdown of each printing of the Dungeon Tac Cards here.

Finally, on the Jeffrey McArthur YouTube channel, he reminisces about this 40 year old product.  Enjoy!

Nostalgia Thursday on MFWARS.com 

Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.

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Terrain Tuesday - Tombs & Dungeons

Over on secretweaponminiatures.com, they have a full line of "Tombs of the Dark Sun" here.

Also, on drivethrurpg.com, Adventurecraft has "Dark Castle - AdventureCraft Dungeons" here.

Finally, on the AJ Pickett YouTube channel, The Mighty Gluestick gives us a "TMG: sculpted dungeon update."  Enjoy!

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

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Terrain Tuesday - Arkham, William Smith, & Sewers

Over on boingboing.net, Cory Doctorow tells us "Model railroader John Ott has devoted years to creating a fantastically detailed, HO-scale recreation of Arkham, the site of HP Lovecraft's horror stories, complete with model railroad engines and historically accurate cars."  Learn more here.

Also, on bbc.com, they tell us that William Smith's "Seminal geology map [has been] rediscovered" here.

Finally, on the Dungeonmaster Mark YouTube channel, DM Mark shows us a "Simple Sewer setup."  Enjoy!

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

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Terrain Tuesday - Agincourt, Plywood Terrain, & Engraving Stryoplast

Over on dailymail.co.uk, check out the photos from the Agincourt exhibit that opened last month for the anniversary at the Tower of London here.

Also, on imgur, there is an album with some wonderful work on plywood tiles and terrain pieces including some shots of the workbench and supplies here.

Finally, on the Hot Wire Foam Factory YouTube channel, they have a video on "Precision Hot Wire Engraving and [Stryoplast] Foam Coating."  Enjoy!

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

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The Sunday Miscellanea - Dungeon Run (2011)

Although I had heard of Dungeon Run (2011) before, and seen it online, I hadn't looked into it very closely and, thus, didn't know the game beyond it's name.  On Sunday at the Gaming Hoopla I got to try it out with my game designer friend Nancy.  With just a quick explanation, since this game will come naturally to RPGer, and with most of the needed information right on the cards (take some time to learn combat), we were off to the races.

The description from Board Game Geek is as follows:

A tale of teamwork and betrayal!

The mole ogre howled out as it collapsed into a bloody pile of rent flesh and broken bone. The aging knight bent over, panting heavily, and gave his dwarven peer an approving nod. It had taken great effort between them both to slay the beast, and they had each taken their share of wounds. But in the end their cooperation had paid off and they both knew it. And then their eyes found the treasure chest sitting in the corner of the room.

They looked at each other. They looked back at the treasure... and then the real fight began.

The game where YOU are the final boss!

Dungeon Run is an exciting dash through a dungeon packed with monsters and traps. Each player controls a unique hero capable of great feats, and whose powers and abilities are upgradable and customizable throughout the game. Players can work together to overcome the perils of the dungeon, or they can betray and sabotage each other as they see fit. Because in the final room of the dungeon lurks a powerful boss with the ultimate treasure - a treasure that turns its owner into the most powerful warrior they can become! Slay the boss, steal the treasure, and then run for your life as your friends try to cut you down. In Dungeon Run only one hero can escape with the fabled Summoning Stone. Don't crawl - run!

Dungeon Run features a randomly assembled dungeon that changes each time you play, as do the monsters you face and the treasures you find. Eight different heroes each with unique options for customization further add to a wealth of game play options. Choose the vicious Tundra Orc and bash your way through everything that stands in your path. Play as the cunning Grounder Wizard and use your magic to cheat the laws of nature. Select the Guild Dwarf adventurer and lay traps to ensnare your friends. There are many paths to victory in Dungeon Run. Win by working with your friends or against them - just win!

The components are good looking and the game is fairly straightforward.  It's definitely a game that looks like it would have been ready for expansions though not much of that has happened in the four years since publication.  It's a fast, fun little game that you should not play with overly-sensitive RPGers who treasure their character more than game play.  Boardgamers who don't mind games where you screw your neighbor will have no problem with this game at all.  It's all very backstabby and timing is crucial.  But right up until the final moment of betrayal, you will definitely need the help of any other players who can be convinced to assist.  It's an interesting dilemma.

The Sunday Miscellanea on MFWARS.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com

not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.

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Terrain Tuesday - LEGO Hogwarts, Iso-Mountains, & Battle Systems

Over on nerdist.com, they tell us "This Massive LEGO Hogwarts Campus Took One Year to Build" here.

Also, on fantasticmaps.com, learn "How to draw isometric hand drawn mountains" here.

Finally, on the MadLadDesigns YouTube channel, check out "Battle Systems: Fantasy Terrain - Dungeon."  Enjoy!

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

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The Sunday Miscellanea - Elemental Evil Boardgame & Dungeons of Dread

You can check out some details on Board Game Geek or on the WotC website but the Temple of Elemental Evil board game releases at the end of this month.

Also, I am not sure when the sale ends but the AD&D 1st Edition: Dungeons of Dread hardback which has reprints of the S-Series of adventures plus additional material is on sale at Funagain Games here.

Finally, see what the Dungeon Delver has to say about those classic adventures, their origins, and that tome in particular on his YouTube channel.

The Sunday Miscellanea on MFWARS.com 

Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics on MFWARS.com

not covered elsewhere or wanting a particular focus.

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Terrain Tuesday - Scenery Manual Review, Hirst Basing, & Waterloo

Over on the TerranScapes YouTube channel. Mike presents a fine video with a Woodland Scenics Scenery Manual Review.  Enjoy.

Also, on Dungeon Studies at deuc.free.fr, there is a pictorial tutorial on how to base up Hirst Dungeon Molds for fast building during gameplay here.

Finally, on The Daily Mail website, check out this magnificent display featuring everything that happened at Waterloo to scale here.

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

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Nostalgia Thursday - Dungeon, the Board Game

Over on Gamers and Grognards, they've posted a brief retrospective on the "40 years of dungeon!" here.

Also on The Other Side, Tim Brannan admits "I am a Dungeon! addict" here.

Finally on my own photo albums, from day three (Saturday) of Gary Con IV, there are some photos of mementos brought to the convention by David R. Megarry, creator of the board game Dungeon!  See more on Facebook here and Google Plus here.

Nostalgia Thursday on MFWARS.com 

Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.

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Systems Saturday - WotC 5E Survey, Dungeon Crawl Checklist, Plus 'A Muse & a Maze'

The Escapist informs us this week that Wizards of the Coast has a new survey to get some new feedback on their Fifth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and they give some idea of what is being asked in the survey questions.  Read more here.

Also, over on Gnome Stew, Matthew J. Neagley writes "The Dungeon Crawl Checklist."  It's his own way of approaching dungeon design and has some good ideas to adopt.  Read more here.

Finally, over on brainpickings.org, Maria Popova writes about Peter Turchi's book A Muse & a Maze in her article "The Psychology of Flow: What Game Design Reveals about the Deliberate Tensions of Great Writing" which can give some insight into how things work the other way around as well.  Find out more here.

Systems Saturday on MFWARS.com 

A look under the hood of various Games, Rules and Systems.

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Nostalgia Thursday - TSR Retrospective

A local Lake Geneva publication, At the Lake, recently published an article looking back at TSR during the 40th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons.

Nostalgia Thursday on MFWARS.com 

Focusing on the roots of current tabletop gaming
with an eye toward the last century and before.

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Terrain Tuesday - Dragon Ridge Dungeons, Weathering, & Three Hearts / Lions Map

Keep an eye on the Dragon Ridge Dungeons Etsy store for listings like "Hand Painted Game Tile Set 34 Pieces for Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Warhammer, Dwarven Forge Earth Stone" here.

Also, over on The Terrain Tutor YouTube channel, there is a recent video upload on "Adding Frozen Snow, Ice & Sludge to your Wargaming Terrain." Enjoy.

Finally, over on the Dragonsfoot forums, there is a thread with some maps that would be excellent for a Three Hearts and Three Lions campaign based on the great Poul Anderson novel.  See more here.

Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com 

For purposes here, the term Terrain is used broadly
to cover 3D and 2D maps, foam, felt, and such.

Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!