Cheap modular terrain

Looking on line for cheap modular terrain systems, I came across this collection of Youtube videos. The DMG. He has adapted the work of The DMs Craft, by DM Scotty, into a method of making D&D terrain that is cheap, modular, and attractive.

So I think I have found my next project. (Remember me explaining that I can switch projects at a moments notice?) I'm going to try to use their combined techniques to build 5" square tiles for my Two Hour Dungeon Crawl campaign. The technique uses cardboard, hot glue, and two paint colors to create very nice corridors, rooms and the like.

My starting goal will be to create about 40 tiles. 10 rooms, 15 straights, 5 turns, 5 "T" intersections, and 5 "4 way" intersections. I'm hoping that will be a decent start and cover most dungeons.

I also plan to experiment while building those. I'm thinking it can be used to create modular city terrain also. One foot square tiles, with walkways and streets that will also allow for drop ins of buildings  I'm thinking trying to build 3 or 4 test pieces will be sufficient to see if the template is workable.

Wish me luck, and feel free to add suggestions.

Further musings on the ideal wargaming table.

The now defunct "Drunken Dwarves" website, hence no link, had the plans for a great gaming table. I unfortunately didn't save the plans, but I certainly remember the overall design.  I intend to recreate that table as well as I can, with a couple of added features I want.

The top is the main part of the design I want to replicate. It is basically a 4 sided box, the inner measurements matching the final desired play area.  An inner lip and bracing provides support for drop in terrain  boards. Those boards can range from fully detailed pieces to flat bases for additional pieces. I plan to use a number of different sized boards, painted several colors, green, brown, black, and blue as basic ground cover for more traditional wargame terrain. I'm toying with the idea of a couple of chalkboard tops, green and black, for variety.

The base of the "Drunken Dwarves" design is of no interest to me. I'll be building the top, with the intent of finding or building a storage system to act as the base.That project is for a later date, however.

The main add-on is to the outer frame. I plan to incorporate a French cleat. That will allow small add-on pieces to hook on. Dice towers or trays, cup holders, small clipboards, all off table yet still conveniently at hand. All of those and more can be designed and built later.

My intent is to build it as a 4x4 skirmish game table, mainly as a proof of concept. Then I'll follow it up with a 4x8 full gaming table.

Now it's time to do the design work for the tabletop. That and photos of the build as it progresses should clarify the design.

The next big project

That title is a small lie. There are actually several ongoing projects a couple of which are large. But none of those lend themselves to much of a blog post. Inventorying and organizing the rules, games, and figures I have are both really ongoing and enjoyable, but tend to be less exciting to read about.

This project is a gaming table. Having lost several of the children to their own apartments, I can finally build a table of my own. First up is the planning stage. I thought I would document my inspirations and ideas here so I can refer back to them as I continue on with the project. And yes, that means the project is in exactly this stage as I write. I'm going to take my time, and create the table I want, so I'll have plenty of time to document each stage ass it comes together.

Having a number of solid folding tables of my own, I'm in no rush to build the base.  So the first item to build will be the tabletop itself.

I came across the table designed at the website "Drunken Dwarves" some years ago. I was lacking the space to copy it, and simply used it to start my own thoughts. Please note, the lack of a link is intentional. That website is gone now, and I've been unable to relocate it. The table was sturdy, well made and had a very modular top. That was the part I wanted to emulate.

I want a 4X8 play surface, that will provide plenty of space to play on. I want a lip around the edge of the play surface to allow me to place modular terrain pieces on the table with no fear of knocking them off. That will require a frame that on it's lower end closely surrounds the table top of the table I'll be using and on the top will crate a frame a 4X8 piece of plywood can fit inside to form the bottom of the play surface section. I envision this ending up as an open top box with sides of an inch or two at most, .

Inside the box, I want to place modular pieces, certainly a few large ones to serve as the base for the terrain to go on top of it, with a solid 4X8 base, modules of 4x4, 4x2, 2x2, even 1x1 will be much easier to manufacture to fit into and fill the space. The base painted green or blue will allow it to be used as it's own base for games not needing extensive terrain. Notice the picture is lacking sizes and scale. That is the next step in the project.

Now, on to measuring, figuring out the geometry, and planning the materials purchasing. Once that is done, I'll write up what decisions are made and updates on the project.