Cheap alternatives to Dwarven Forge

[SemperJase]

So the Dwarven Forge dungeon modelling products look cool, but after spending all that money on core books, splat books, dice, battlemats, and minis who has a few hundred bucks to plop down on models?

So what do you use?

Tonight I went with dominoes. I have a set of the white colored double 15's. They worked great. Just turn them upside down and the fit closely enough within the squares. Clean up was a lot quicker too. I really gave the dungeon more of a dungeon feel than the using the wet erase markers we normally do.

 

[Cedric]

I rarely throw down the mini's or a hex map. But sometimes in 3e I do.

It's largely a matter of...do your players trust you to tell them when they can maneuver slyly for that extra AoO. Or do you have players obsessed with tactics that "need" to see the map to keep their sanity.

If not...I just wing. When needed though, I'll draw it out simply and use dice to represent people and monsters.

Cedric

 

[SemperJase]

By the way, gotta give credit where it is due.

I stole this idea from former County of Urnst Triad member Jay.

Thanks Jay.

 

[UniversalMonster]

A kids set of wooden blocks also works very well. Most sets come with some unusual shapes, and you can set up 3-dimensional battles- overhanging ledges, ramps, etc.

A $20 set is large enough to build an entire city usually.

Here's a link to a set on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../102-2207599-2118567?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846

If you get the plain wooden kind you can even paint them.

I also suggest raiding the local craft store. We used polyfiber cushion stuffing to make "fog" and "fire". Construction paper can be easily cut into shapes for lava pools or water.. wax paper looks like ice.

 

[Micar Sin]

If you have some time and don't mind saving cash over a slightly longer term, try making your own: www.hirstarts.com

It takes some practice, but you can make things every bit as good as the Dwarven forge stuff once you've gotten sued to working with it.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

If you have some time and don't mind saving cash over a slightly longer term, try making your own: www.hirstarts.com

It takes some practice, but you can make things every bit as good as the Dwarven forge stuff once you've gotten sued to working with it.

No wonder it you say it saves money over a longer term. . . . the lawyers fees have to be figured in....

 

[Ayrk]

I second the Hirst Arts molds. Nothing beats being able to make your own pieces.

That way you don't end up with a piece you never use and if you need more you can make them fairly effortlessly.

 

[Tsyr]

I'm very fond of printing out models on cardstock and assembling them.

But, then, since I've started to make my own, maybe I'm biased towards them...

By the way, look for a fairly major release of them from me sometime in the hopefully-near future (Production has been delayed while I try to obtain good photos of some things I'm trying to replicate)

 

[JacktheRabbit]

I have found that Jenga pieces are perfect for lots fo things when laying out a dungeon.

 

[SemperJase]

A kids set of wooden blocks also works very well. Most sets come with some unusual shapes, and you can set up 3-dimensional battles- overhanging ledges, ramps, etc.

That is a cool idea.

Originally posted by
Micar Sin
If you have some time and don't mind saving cash over a slightly longer term, try making your own: www.hirstarts.com

These look great. They don't lend themselves to impromptu use though (as with Dwarven Forge). A lot of up front preparation would be needed.