Michka's Runelords project (The Final Chapter 4/17)

[DMScotty]

Nice clean work. very effective.

[michka]

Thank you voduchyld. And you're right, red Heads are sexy. At least that's what my wife tells me.

Thank you ashrothedm. I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out. So much of crafting is turning accidents into gold. I learn that more everyday.

and Thank you DM Scotty. Both for the compliment, and for 2.5D crafting. If I hadn't found this new facet of the gaming hobby I might have completely burned out on gaming. 

[michka]

I got some new pictures.  These are from the next chapter of the Hook Mountain Massacre.  We start with the top of Skull's Crossing.  This dam is a major plot point in the campaign.

This was made with a large piece of double layer cardboard.  The edges were covered with manila folder cut into stripes.  I ran hot glue along the edges of the missing gap areas, then added some sporadic areas of sand.  Texture spray painted the whole thing, highlighted the edges and it was ready to go.  It's the most basic 2.5D terrain project I've done so far, and other then a couple of bends in the cardboard that show through the texture paint, I'm happy with the results.  The best part was the gaps.  Since the surface of the dam is wet, with crumbly masonry and missing ledges, anyone who got near the gaps had to make reflex check or fall off the dam.  At one point or another, half the party went over the edge.  It made my evil little GM heart proud.  Thank goodness for Boot of Levitation and the Fly spell.

Here is my version of the cover of the module.  (Those aren't the PC figures. They live at the house we game at.)

After dealing with the Ogres, the heroes had to move on to the main building at the center of the dam.  Here it is...

And here is a shot of it with figures for scale.

I wasn't happy with the building piece.  The ends warped, so it doesn't sit flat.  It might be that I used the cheap dollar store foam core for the bottom, and standard Elmer brand foam core for everything else.  Not positive, but it makes sense to me.  I do like how the rounded protrusions fit over the surface of the dam.  The main problem with both pieces is I screwed up the scale.  They should have been twice as big.  I didn't even notice till we sat down at the gaming table.  The dam works great at this scale, but the building looks tiny.  Oh well.  There wasn't enough happening in the building to justify the construction anyway.  I'm learning to heavily modify the maps in the modules as I go.  Don't get me wrong.  I love the results for the dam.  It's just the building that isn't doing it for me.

The inside of the dam level looks much better, and those tiles lie flat as can be. I'll show those off after I've run those scenes for my group.  I can't have anyone getting any clues.  Oh, and updated doors finally too.

 

[voduchyld]

Like all on this thread, those look great!

Edit: Did you paint those figures? Because the paint job on them is awesome!

[michka]

Thank you voduchyld. Yes, I painted the figures. Before I spent all my time crafting I spent all my time painting. Now I have to choose to build terrain or paint. So many projects. So little time.

[michka]

I finally finished running the basement area of the Skull's Crossing. I got a lot of sculpting done for this one, as well as some new terrain. I really can't explain all of the set up, because I don't want to give away everything. There are still lots of spoilers here, so consider yourself warned. Lots of photos are coming. Lots and lots of photos. Lets kick this pig...

First room: a large pool in the middle, with doors at either end. This pool and all the others were painted like the DM Scotty method, but without the Hot Glue raised areas. the gloss coat was Mod Podge, which was coated with Acrylic Gloss Coat. Oh, and I finally got some new larger doors made. (Hee Hee Hee. Oh look. The party is all split up.)



Suddenly a Skrag Troll bursts out of the water. (It's an old GW sculpts that I just love.)



Room Two: A pair of Pit Fiends on glowing rune circles. Their horns and wings have been torn from their bodies. One is dead and the other is nearly so.



Close up of the Pit Fiend sculpts. I made the bodies out of Super-Sculpey. The ripped off horns and wings, the ears and the tail are all Green Stuff applied afterwards.



Different angle. Sorry I didn't take work in progress shots. I was running out of time and needed to get these guys painted. Not my best sculpts.



Here are details of the room and circles. The Rune Circles were painted on thin cardboard (comic book backing boards), so I can move them to other locations. The raised details in the rooms were a failed attempt at making the rune circles with hot glue. The effect didn't work, but placing the cardboard circles on top of the hot glue gives it a nice almost floating look.



Room Three: An architectural model sits on a raised area across from a pool of water. (I didn't get the architectural model made. There were some serious time crunches here.)



The party hears a sound above. They see a Skull Ripper skitter down a wall. This construct is made from skulls and bones, given life by foul magics. 



I got a lot of shots of this thing. You can tell I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. Here's a shot of the ripper without the terrain.



Here is a work in progress shot of the Ripper. The main body, claws, tail and legs were made out of Super-Sculpey. The legs were sculpted around brass rod bent into the leg shape. This gives them strength enough to support the body. Originally the tail was attached, but it broke off a number of times, till it was pinned in place. Green Stuff was used to add details and hide mistakes and such. The 'fangs' on the tail are two BBQ skewers cut down to size and driven through the snake-like head. The snake head was my creation.



Underside shot. This part was never seen in the game. This thing is still very fragile. One of the problems with making it out of Super-Sculpey. Even if it was made of metal the legs would probably still brake.



Room Four: Another large pool.



As the heroes crawl out of the water to investigate the box at the other end, a series of Buzz Saw traps spring out of the floor. (This room was empty in the module. I hate crafting empty rooms, and I really wanted to make some DM Scotty Buzz Saws.)



and a final shot of the whole Skull's Crossing basement action play-set. (Figures sold separately.)



I hope people like this. I really hope I haven't used too many photos. Let me know what you think.

[Alexis]

It looks absolutely amazing! Well done! Everything looks so detailed and the floor really looks great. I would love to do dungeons that way but I got absolutely no way of storing that much stuff. Thats why I rather went for the modular 2.5D next system.

[DnDPaladin]

very nice work, like and exalt incoming !

[dragon722]

Cannot ever have enough pics and story elaborations here in this Realm. We patiently await the next installment of the epic story and props....like waiting for the next episode of a series lol  Karma coming your way!!!

[SpielMeisterKev!]

Howdy,

Feb 19, 2015 17:30:10 GMT michka said:

I really hope I haven't used too many photos

Really...what were you thinking?

Unless, of course... EXALT BUTTON!!!

Dude mo' pictures, mo' better,

Kev!

[michka]

Thank You Alexis, DnDPalidin, dragon722, and SpielMeisterKev!. I'll be sure to post lots of photos from now on.

Alexis, I made these larger pieces after making a bunch of modular tiles for Fort Rannick. I ended up doing more work reconfiguring the fort to fit my tiles then I did making the tiles in the first place. From now on I'll make tiles close to the original maps, but keep them generic enough to be re-usable. I find lately I'm saving room by selling off all my old 3D terrain, still in the boxes, that I never got around to building and painting. That's another one I owe the 2.5D community.  

[DMScotty]

Thanks so much for the share

[vestrivan]

Great thread. And a superb skill!

[Meph]

Love the precision on your cuts. It all looks so neat. I tend to rush things and get sloppy at times. Your stuff looks top notch. Good job.

[johnp]

Michka...wow!!! Hadn't seen this before now. Absolutely amazing, all of it. Love the sculpts, you really got talent and the painting, oh, I wish I could paint like that. The details are incredible and frankly, I'm scared of what you will bring to the MiniWar this month. Come to think of it, I feel the same about the Craftwar. Stunning work, but not enough pictures;-)

[pedrodevaca]

Huzzah Michka!!!  EXALT!!

I also fell in love with the scorpion skeleton construct thing-a-ma-jigger of DEATH from the RotRL AP. Such a cool creepy monster it needed a mini that could do it justice. And you Michka, using only ash, dust and the 'zap-zap' of a few creative synapses have breathed life to this excellent monster. You are indeed a true Dr. Frank-N-Furter of sculpey. I can see it chittering down the wall as we speak!

[michka]

Thank You DM Scotty, vestrivan, Meph, johnp and pedrodevaca.

DM Scotty:   I wouldn't be doing all this if it wasn't for you.
johnp:   Coming from a miniatures contest winner, that's some compliment. Your video for the Craftwar Warrior was really very well done.
pedrodevaca:   The Skull Ripper is just too cool. I know I made it way, way too big, but it sure is intimidating at that size. Thank you for the compliment. I always wanted to be a Sweet Craft-vestite from Craft-sculptural Craft-ylvania.

[DnDPaladin]

i feel depressed now... you got my name wrong but all the others right...

more photos please !!! 8)

[milojaggerson]

Sweet tiles and gorgeous brush work! I really like the water feature - it looks so inviting for a parched adventurer in need of hydration. Then... SPALOOSHA!!!Monster attack!

Really enjoy your work. Encore! Give us more!! Exhalt!!!

[chiefsgtbradley]

Wow, i freakin' love your work, all of it. I've played this adventure path once starting at Skull's Crossing and we've done it with battlemat and dnd-minis. It was quite fun but i wish i've played it with your awesome and amazing work. Many thanks for the flashback. You rock, Sir! And of course Karma for your great effort!