RyanSauce
Cardboard Collector
Hey there!
Posts: 2
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Post by RyanSauce on Jul 13, 2014 8:28:56 GMT
Hey there everyone, I'm new to this forum and hope this is the right place to post this kind of thread. I've been playing tabletop roleplaying games for almost 4 years now. I have recently moved so I no longer will be able to play with my main group. I have a group of friends here who are interested in trying out a tabletop roleplaying game, long story short I have been nominated to be the DM. This is a lot to take on, a big responsibility and my main concern is to make sure that my players have not only a rich story, but also a visually alive world to play in. I have a little experience painting miniatures, so the concept of "do it yourself" crafting at home doesn't scare me. I'll be watching as many of the videos on the youtube channel to get ideas and inspirations.
What I wanted to ask from all of you, is what should I get as far as purchasing needed materials to get some game boards, maps, terrains started. Any tips or advice for someone new to DM'ing. I guess in other words is what is a good "starter kit" for a DM like myself who wants to create as much of the maps and boards as possible. I am literally starting from scratch. So any advice or information helps.
Thank you all for reading this, hope to become an active member on this forum and youtube channel. Thank you all for your time!
-RyanSauce
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Post by Jason on Jul 13, 2014 8:37:49 GMT
Welcome! Other than starting with some double corrugated cardboard. The best answer to your questions would be found on YouTube. My suggestion would be to go to YouTube and search for the channels DMGinfo and DM'SCraft and start from the their first videos. I know that DMG's first or second episode covers materials, and if I remember correctly DMScotty has something similar. That is a good starting point.
My advice is don't get overwhelmed by crafting, and make what you need for the game you are running at the moment. You will have a collection built up in no time.
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Post by thedmg on Jul 13, 2014 9:08:22 GMT
Here is the playlist from the beginning: All DMG EpisodesOr video DMG#001 on materials...
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RyanSauce
Cardboard Collector
Hey there!
Posts: 2
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Post by RyanSauce on Jul 13, 2014 9:49:42 GMT
Welcome! Other than starting with some double corrugated cardboard. The best answer to your questions would be found on YouTube. My suggestion would be to go to YouTube and search for the channels DMGinfo and DM'SCraft and start from the their first videos. I know that DMG's first or second episode covers materials, and if I remember correctly DMScotty has something similar. That is a good starting point. My advice is don't get overwhelmed by crafting, and make what you need for the game you are running at the moment. You will have a collection built up in no time. Awesome! Thanks for the info and advice!
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Post by sgtslag on Jul 13, 2014 13:44:26 GMT
I am going to go directly against the grain here... RPG's started out as "theater of the mind". I would devote my energy towards developing the local game setting (local town/village where PC's start out; local NPC's they will interact with; local culture, etc.), first, along with the major plot lines, and the first few adventures. I would get my game up and running, first, then I would work on the visual props for the games. Truth be told, D&D started out with not a lot of physical props, with Gygax's, and Arneson's games. Many thousands of players skip the visual stuff totally, and have fantastic games, according to their players... Do what you like. As a 34-year veteran DM, my advice would be to work on the setting, first, then work on the physical props. But that is just my opinion -- worth exactly what you paid for it. Cheers!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 14:48:46 GMT
I am going to go directly against the grain here... RPG's started out as "theater of the mind". I would devote my energy towards developing the local game setting (local town/village where PC's start out; local NPC's they will interact with; local culture, etc.), first, along with the major plot lines, and the first few adventures. I would get my game up and running, first, then I would work on the visual props for the games. Truth be told, D&D started out with not a lot of physical props, with Gygax's, and Arneson's games. Many thousands of players skip the visual stuff totally, and have fantastic games, according to their players... Do what you like. As a 34-year veteran DM, my advice would be to work on the setting, first, then work on the physical props. But that is just my opinion -- worth exactly what you paid for it. Cheers! I second that. The game substance is the hardest part. Get that set, then go for the fluff.
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Post by gnomezrule on Jul 13, 2014 16:34:50 GMT
I love the crafting aspect here and at the table but first and foremost knowing what I will be running in the game and making the personalities vibrant and weave together a believable livable world.
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Post by darkslayer on Jul 13, 2014 18:21:13 GMT
I am going to go directly against the grain here... RPG's started out as "theater of the mind". I would devote my energy towards developing the local game setting (local town/village where PC's start out; local NPC's they will interact with; local culture, etc.), first, along with the major plot lines, and the first few adventures. I would get my game up and running, first, then I would work on the visual props for the games. Truth be told, D&D started out with not a lot of physical props, with Gygax's, and Arneson's games. Many thousands of players skip the visual stuff totally, and have fantastic games, according to their players... Do what you like. As a 34-year veteran DM, my advice would be to work on the setting, first, then work on the physical props. But that is just my opinion -- worth exactly what you paid for it. Cheers! This is very true. My game group has been playing dnd together for about 6 years, and we had little to no visual props. We had some miniatures to show position relative to each other and monsters, but that was it. I only recently found crafting , and its great, but its not absolutely necessary. Crafting and terrain tiles are more of an added bonus to the game. My dm still uses little to no props, as this game is meant for those who can use their imagination and sort of play out the "movie" in their mind. I would focus on making the world around the players first by writing ideas down. A dm is usually a good writer. And remember, the fun is the most important part! Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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DM Michael
Paint Manipulator
Preparing for 'In the spider's web' part of LMOP
Posts: 169
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Post by DM Michael on Jul 13, 2014 23:17:39 GMT
When I first got into DnD 25 years ago, all we had were minis for characters and monsters. No dungeon modules or dungeon dressing, nothing. At start we would just draw the dungeon on a small pad of graph paper, as we moved through it.
When the group grew to 5 or 6 players, this approach wasn't practical anymore. It usually ended up being the DM and one or two other players doing all the exploring and the rest of the rest of the group just occasionally rolling to check for traps, and generally just waiting for the fight to break out. To overcome this we bought an IKEA glass picture framing thing, 40x60 cm and filled it with some hex paper. We would then draw the dungeon on the glass with whiteboard markers. Afterwards we could wipe it all off. We played DnD for several years this way.
The funny thing is most of the players and the DM were also model makers, so if we wanted to make stuff we could. We knew how.
We only made a model once. I remember the episode where the DM and one other player had spent the entire afternoon making a model of a castle we were invading. It was a bust. It was a big 3D model and you couldn't see inside. It was fragile and clumsy .They never did anything like that again.
The newer versions of DnD rely more heavily on grids to measure movement, so I would say it is harder to play without grids. But it can be done.
Graph paper is really all you need. I only do all the crafting because I like doing it.
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Post by grinningskull on Jul 13, 2014 23:50:30 GMT
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Post by darkslayer on Jul 14, 2014 4:20:22 GMT
that fake grass is a great idea! i just ordered some free samples! five for free from builddirect.com for usa customers! thanks for the tip grinningskull
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Post by Jason on Jul 14, 2014 4:33:37 GMT
that fake grass is a great idea! i just ordered some free samples! five for free from builddirect.com for usa customers! thanks for the tip grinningskullAgreed! Thanks for the link, I just scored some as well.
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Post by darkslayer on Jul 14, 2014 4:40:51 GMT
No prob i hope they get here fast though, i cant wait to try this out!
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Post by grinningskull on Jul 14, 2014 7:53:25 GMT
No prob i hope they get here fast though, i cant wait to try this out! Not sure how fast they will be delivered where you are, but here in the UK they were here within a few days!!
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DM Michael
Paint Manipulator
Preparing for 'In the spider's web' part of LMOP
Posts: 169
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Post by DM Michael on Jul 18, 2014 0:12:53 GMT
When I started out crafting 12 years ago, I would only use cardboard, paperboard, normal paper, white glue and sand. Occasionally I would use expanded polystyrene. The paperboard is mainly cereal boxes.
Since then I thave begun using lots of other things: - MDF for basing the pieces. - Foamcore for thin walls. - Grout for texture. - Balsa wood. - Firework rocket sticks. - Modelling paste (for filling and water) - Tooth picks, barbeque skewers, matches. - Paper board tubes. - Hot glue. - Sprues. - Pizza box lids (for pantile roof) - fake fur (for thatched roof) - Copper wire. - paper clips. - plastic meshes. - plastic cotton tip rods.
EDIT: I meant kebab skewers, not barbeque skewers. Sorry about that, I am Danish.
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