My 2.5d tiles for D&D 5e starter set "Cragmaw Hideout" (Possible spoiler)

[Chargeit]

Not sure if this is considered part of this forum or not. It does fall into the whole "RPG" thing, so, I'll post it.

 

 

 

 

2.5d tiles for "Cragmaw Hideout from the D&D 5e starter set... Don't think I'll be making the rest of the dungeons like this since this one took me about 2 weeks to get done. Came out great though. Can't wait to use it.

 

This was my first go at 2.5d tiles. It was a learning experience. I will be making more tiles in the future, just not recreations of published dungeons. 

 

 

[Doramos]

I like it a lot. I've been tempted to dip into making 2.5 terrain but can never find the time.

[Chargeit]

I like it a lot. I've been tempted to dip into making 2.5 terrain but can never find the time.

 

It isn't so bad... Unless you try and recreate something like this. That was time consuming. Making your own tiles for large encounters isn't so bad. I was able to make the roads for the first part of this adventure in a hour or two. 

[seej]

I've never heard the term 2.5d, but I love the concept. You've opened a whole new world (cue song) for me. Those tiles are awesome.

[scorpio616]

Looks good!

 

One reason why I don't make whole dungeons is that if the area is small enough to fit on the table at once, it's small enough to be one encounter as soon as the PCs make noise.

[scorpio616]

I've never heard the term 2.5d, but I love the concept. You've opened a whole new world (cue song) for me. Those tiles are awesome.

This guy is the one who popularized the term. It's a method of simulating 3 dimensional dungeons on a semi flat surface. 

 

[Pingo]

So ... like a map with extra modeling?

[Chargeit]

Yea, DM scotty is where I got my information on building 2.5D tiles. The guy is a DIY d&d genius. 

 

It's amazingly simple. Really all you need is some cardboard, hot glue gun, a blade, cheap black walmart primer (I use whatever is cheap 0.84 - 0.99 cents a bottle), something for textures such as rust-oleum stone texture (though not as needed), craft paints (cheap stuff), and some really cheap brushes. I guess you also need a space to do it and the motivation.

 

But yea, the investment isn't huge, but the results speak for themselves. I mean, that was my first attempt at 2.5d and it came out pretty sweet. I did mess up in a few spots... My left most room is nowhere near the correct shape, and I incorrectly did mud instead of stone at the start of the cave... However, the end results are pretty damned nice. 

 

I can't wait to do this for smaller projects. Such as large encounter rooms. 

 

 

Make sure to get a glue gun that fit large sticks. I was burning through 4 or 5 sticks a tile using a mini. Now, a stick lasts me 2 tiles at least. A mini is still good to have for smaller details.

 

I picked up a bulk pack of Solidbonder Economy hot melt glue sticks "7/16x10" at 110 sticks for something like 20 shipped. I used maybe 6 of them making those tiles. 

 

I also picked up their 60 watt glue gun with adjustable temp. I set it to low most of the time to avoid bubbling glue. So, 60w seems to be plenty of wattage for doing this. 

Edited May 13, 2015 by Chargeit

[Lidless Eye]

Great work!  I recognized the area immediately.

[Blubbernaught]

Great work.  I like the 2.5d terrain style, really.  It takes some work, but it's not like it's wasted after the face.   Most of the stuff you can use again sooner or later, in some way or other.

 

The DM Scotty 'Next' method is something I like a lot less.    A painted cork mat with walls you lay out as needed... which is fine, but, seems an unsatisfying compromise (But is more flexible/reusable/less time consuming to produce).   

[Chargeit]

Great work.  I like the 2.5d terrain style, really.  It takes some work, but it's not like it's wasted after the face.   Most of the stuff you can use again sooner or later, in some way or other.

 

The DM Scotty 'Next' method is something I like a lot less.    A painted cork mat with walls you lay out as needed... which is fine, but, seems an unsatisfying compromise (But is more flexible/reusable/less time consuming to produce)

 

Without a doubt reproducing that map took time/effort. I came close to giving up about half way through. However, I could already tell that it was going to come out pretty sweet, and, I had put so much time into it by that point that there was no going back. 

 

I'm not a fan of the Next method. It seems pretty forced if you ask me. I'd go for battlemats, or, a mix of prefab and custom 2.5d. However, if it works for someone it works for them. It's just not for me.