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Author Topic: Dwarven Forge...  (Read 5257 times)

tenbones

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Dwarven Forge...
« on: September 13, 2021, 06:54:15 PM »
Galactus help me... I may be getting into Dwarven Forge.

So I retooled some of the rules for Savage Worlds Pathfinder to fit closer to 1e Greybox Forgotten Realms (It's still a work in progress but I've done quite a bit). And we've been playing and it's fun as hell. We even broke out the battlemat and figures... and the snowball got rolling. I found myself using the Chase Rules and we're doing running skirmishes with goblin hordes in the forests... and soon we'll be dungeon/cavern-crawling... and while I've resisted it for years, I started taking notice that most of our combats on the battlemap were *well* within the constraints of even the Dwarven Forge starter kits... barely. And I suspect that's largely for simplicity's sake for the mat.

My thoughts are if I were using Dwarven Forge set-pieces - my players would naturally start doing *more* within the constraints of the battlefield, and it would be more dynamic (and immersive).

I'm actually painting figures again and having some of my players over to the palazzo on Friday nights for grilling and painting (can't paint without beef in the stomach it's a Texas law). So I'm seriously considering picking up Dwarven Forge stuff in the very near future.

I'd like to hear any and all opinions on where to start? Painted or unpainted? Storage? Should I buy used? Any issues I need to know about?

My current plan is to pick up two sets of the Cavern Core megapacks then build from there. Once I have enough for all the underground crawling I'll start working on the Dungeon and Wilderness then City stuff in that order.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2021, 06:56:52 PM by tenbones »

Mithgarthr

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2021, 07:06:28 PM »
Just start building your own stuff... it's way cheaper. :)

Over this past weekend I built these two raised tiles and the elevation change tiles for and upcoming game for specific rooms I needed for that adventure, but that match up with my other modular cavern and dungeon tiles.









I really do love using terrain... combats get way more tactical and inventive (being able to visualize the space helps players think more in 3D with their actions, I've found), and there's nothing better than pulling out a new big build for a wicked boss fight or something to get oohs and aahs from your group.



tenbones

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2021, 07:27:50 PM »
I am that guy. But I got a LOT going on right now.

I'm designing a game for publication, work, family, GMing, plus picking up painting figures again. I simply don't have the time.

I do have to say - I LOVE those for risers and I could see myself doing some ghetto-versions of those until I bought more DF pieces. So you're giving me some good ideas already.

Side note - did you paint those minis? great work!

Shrieking Banshee

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2021, 07:34:11 PM »
Id suggest start slow. Try out Fat Dragon Cardstock dungeon tiles. Way cheaper (you can start with a free sampler), and its a good way to test the idea before devoting a bunch of money on solid tiles.

They don't take nearly as much money or time to build (its akin to the effort of painting minifigs).

If you have access to a 3D printer and a skilled print technician you could do the same thing but with printable 3D tiles.

Its less glamarous but it doesn't cost a ton of money per tile.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2021, 07:39:16 PM by Shrieking Banshee »

Mithgarthr

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2021, 07:35:07 PM »
Yeah man, I feel that... work, two kids, two games, writing the follow-up to my last module (https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpress.com/2021/09/09/no-artpunk-entry-7-the-valley-of-karaccia/)... I rarely have time to craft anymore. To be honest, the only reason I got this built was because I forced myself, haha. I'd been sitting at about ~80% of RC2 done for the last couple of months and have been struggling with writing/design block for the final big. I figured if I physically built the encounters, then writing it out afterwards would be easy. (It worked, BTW, I've gotten a couple of pages banged out just today for it.)

What's rad about DF though is you can buy the sets to have your basics covered, then you can just craft set piece rooms yourself. Definitely a huge time saver if that route's taken.

And I did indeed paint the minis, thanks!! :D

tenbones

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2021, 07:35:44 PM »
Id suggest start slow. Try out Fat Dragon Cardstock dungeon tiles. Way cheaper (you can start with a free sampler), and its a good way to test the idea before devoting a bunch of money on solid tiles.

They don't take nearly as much money or time to build (its akin to the effort of painting minifigs).

If you have access to a 3D printer and a skilled print technician you could do the same thing but with printable 3D tiles.

Now you're going to get me into 3d printing? You think if I got into 3d printing I'd stop at making dungeon tiles?!??!?!

I'll check out Fat Dragon!!! thanks for the tip!

GeekyBugle

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2021, 07:42:36 PM »
Id suggest start slow. Try out Fat Dragon Cardstock dungeon tiles. Way cheaper (you can start with a free sampler), and its a good way to test the idea before devoting a bunch of money on solid tiles.

They don't take nearly as much money or time to build (its akin to the effort of painting minifigs).

If you have access to a 3D printer and a skilled print technician you could do the same thing but with printable 3D tiles.

If I had the money to buy a 3D printer or access to it I would go this route:

https://www.thingiverse.com/devonjones/collections/openforge-2-dungeon-stone-series

https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:dungeon_tiles

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=dungeon+tiles&dwh=685c9dd21d6015d&type=things&sort=relevant

https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:dungeons_and_dragons

https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:dnd_miniature

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?sort=relevant&q=dungeons+and+dragons+miniatures&type=things&dwh=35e2af7fa6357e&page=1

Just saying.

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Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

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palaeomerus

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2021, 07:42:54 PM »
It sounds a little bit like you are getting into  skirmish gaming with rpg elements or some narrative laid over the top.

Maybe look up the old Savage World "Showdown" rules if they are still around.

I bought a lot of Dwarven Forge's original vinyl tile shortly after their Kickstarter delivered at a garage sale. They were very cheap. A guy's girlfriend was obviously making him sell them. I felt bad but I bought them. I gave them to a friend who was thinking of buy them and bought myself some MDF kits and early neoprene map mats instead and a dry erase treated Square and hex transparent overlay. They looked nice and my friend was very happy but they were unpainted and last I heard he was trying to come up with a nice assembly line system that got consistent results between batches. He hasn't brought them out since then so most of them are probably stored in an attic.

I did 3d printing for a while but somehow I did more mechs and tanks type stuff instead of elven towers built into trees and stuff.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2021, 07:45:05 PM by palaeomerus »
Emery

tenbones

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2021, 07:44:21 PM »
Yeah man, I feel that... work, two kids, two games, writing the follow-up to my last module (https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpress.com/2021/09/09/no-artpunk-entry-7-the-valley-of-karaccia/)... I rarely have time to craft anymore. To be honest, the only reason I got this built was because I forced myself, haha. I'd been sitting at about ~80% of RC2 done for the last couple of months and have been struggling with writing/design block for the final big. I figured if I physically built the encounters, then writing it out afterwards would be easy. (It worked, BTW, I've gotten a couple of pages banged out just today for it.)

What's rad about DF though is you can buy the sets to have your basics covered, then you can just craft set piece rooms yourself. Definitely a huge time saver if that route's taken.

And I did indeed paint the minis, thanks!! :D

Prince of Nothing - you have excellent taste sir. R. Scott Bakker is insanely good... but not something I recommend to those without durable sensibilities, heh.

GeekyBugle

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2021, 07:44:40 PM »
Id suggest start slow. Try out Fat Dragon Cardstock dungeon tiles. Way cheaper (you can start with a free sampler), and its a good way to test the idea before devoting a bunch of money on solid tiles.

They don't take nearly as much money or time to build (its akin to the effort of painting minifigs).

If you have access to a 3D printer and a skilled print technician you could do the same thing but with printable 3D tiles.

Now you're going to get me into 3d printing? You think if I got into 3d printing I'd stop at making dungeon tiles?!??!?!

I'll check out Fat Dragon!!! thanks for the tip!

Worth checking and the PDFs are PWYW in DTRPG https://www.youtube.com/c/CrookedStaffTerrain
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell

Mithgarthr

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2021, 07:46:01 PM »
Yeah man, I feel that... work, two kids, two games, writing the follow-up to my last module (https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpress.com/2021/09/09/no-artpunk-entry-7-the-valley-of-karaccia/)... I rarely have time to craft anymore. To be honest, the only reason I got this built was because I forced myself, haha. I'd been sitting at about ~80% of RC2 done for the last couple of months and have been struggling with writing/design block for the final big. I figured if I physically built the encounters, then writing it out afterwards would be easy. (It worked, BTW, I've gotten a couple of pages banged out just today for it.)

What's rad about DF though is you can buy the sets to have your basics covered, then you can just craft set piece rooms yourself. Definitely a huge time saver if that route's taken.

And I did indeed paint the minis, thanks!! :D


Prince of Nothing - you have excellent taste sir. R. Scott Bakker is insanely good... but not something I recommend to those without durable sensibilities, heh.

Well then, be sure and read his review there of my shit.  8)

Shrieking Banshee

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2021, 07:48:06 PM »
If I had the money to buy a 3D printer or access to it I would go this route:

It is a hassle though. 3D printing takes about as much effort as assembling and painting a Warhammer minifig. And Im a guy with printed 3D terrain (well a little bit anyway).

tenbones

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2021, 07:49:15 PM »
It sounds a little bit like you are getting into  skirmish gaming with rpg elements or some narrative laid over the top.

Maybe look up the old Savage World "Showdown" rules if they are still around.

I bought a lot of Dwarven Forge's original vinyl tile shortly after their Kickstarter delivered at a garage sale. They were very cheap. A guy's girlfriend was obviously making him sell them. I felt bad but I bought them. I gave them to a friend who was thinking of buy them and bought myself some MDF kits and early neoprene map mats instead and a dry erase treated Square and hex transparent overlay. They looked nice and my friend was very happy but they were unpainted and last I heard he was trying to come up with a nice assembly line system that got consistent results between batches. He hasn't brought them out since then so most of them are probably stored in an attic.

Yeah it's definitely that. But....

I figure DF will be a lifelong commitment. They're practically indestructible and I'll definitely use them if I buy them. All the new stuff from DF is made of their composite material that others have said are super strong, and they have magnetic inserts. Of course you're paying for that production.

Money is less of an issue for me (unless I go hog wild and start dropping thousands in - which I'm not going to do with my other hobbies needing supporting heh), but I do care about quality and longevity. These bad boys will get some use.

If I had a *significantly* cheaper option that didn't require my own precious time, that measured up in quality I'll definitely consider it..

Shrieking Banshee

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #13 on: September 13, 2021, 07:50:48 PM »
If I had a *significantly* cheaper option that didn't require my own precious time, that measured up in quality I'll definitely consider it..

I have used services before that 3D printed stuff FOR me. Depending if there is one nearby, that could be a good way to get the parts you want without needing thousands of bucks.

GeekyBugle

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Re: Dwarven Forge...
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2021, 07:55:17 PM »
If I had the money to buy a 3D printer or access to it I would go this route:

It is a hassle though. 3D printing takes about as much effort as assembling and painting a Warhammer minifig. And Im a guy with printed 3D terrain (well a little bit anyway).

Not to mention the space to keep all the 3D stuff. My print and paste tiles and my 2D printed standup miniatures take very little space plus it's very cheap.
Quote from: Rhedyn

Here is why this forum tends to be so stupid. Many people here think Joe Biden is "The Left", when he is actually Far Right and every US republican is just an idiot.

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

― George Orwell