FREE - Papercraft - Short Collapsed building Base 02 - Craftrobo / Silhouette

From The DM Files

It would seem that many people enjoyed the first post so I'm going to continue with the series, and I found a unique box for this installment!  

This box was an advertisement for a electronics provider.  It is unique in that the box collapses for easy storage, or perhaps even a pit trap! Take a look at this video:

The .svg file for illustrator/craftrobo/silhouette vinyl/paper cutter can also be downloaded and can be thrown into a browser window and printed out on cardstock, recommended 110 weight, so those apps / devices aren't necessarily needed to use the file.

The red areas are the cutting areas, the blue areas are the "fold/score" regions. Apologies to the colorblind users, but you can see that the interiors are the folds/scores and the outer areas are the "cut" lines.  

If using illustrator and the vinyl/paper cutters the file has two layers, a "cut" layer, and a "fold" layer, to make things easy to use with those devices.

The pattern image is left empty on purpose, however you can easily copy paste images on the pattern in any image manipulation application, like photoshop, print out the images and then run them through the cutting device or construct by hand after the fact.  This way you can customize it to your own liking, kind of similar to my other bookcase files you can find here! 

I Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by! Also, don't forget to +1/Like, Share, Comment, and Subscribe where accordingly!

FREE - Papercraft - Short Stubby Building Base 01 - Craftrobo / Silhouette

From the DM's Files

My girlfriend threw away some makeup boxes, which I observed to be sturdy little boxes and I thought could be used for the creation of some nice cityscape terrain or other such terrain for use with any rpg game.  You could even combine various boxes together to get some unique shaped buildings.  So I created a outline of each and added in some areas where you fold to create a nice little "box". This is the first box...  

Resize to meet your gaming needs!

The .svg file for illustrator/craftrobo/silhouette vinyl/paper cutter can also be downloaded and can be thrown into a browser window and printed out on cardstock, recommended 110 weight, so those apps / devices aren't necessarily needed to use the file.

The red areas are the cutting areas, the blue areas are the "fold/score" regions. Apologies to the colorblind users, but you can see that the interiors are the folds/scores and the outer areas are the "cut" lines.  

If using illustrator and the vinyl/paper cutters the file has two layers, a "cut" layer, and a "fold" layer, to make things easy to use with those devices.

The pattern image is left empty on purpose, however you can easily copy paste images on the pattern in any image manipulation application, like photoshop, print out the images and then run them through the cutting device or construct by hand after the fact.  This way you can customize it to your own liking, kind of similar to my other bookcase files you can find here!

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by!

FREE Sky Tile Texture 8in x 10in

Sky Tile 1in. Grid 8in x 10in
300 dpi

Previously I posted a ocean/deep water tile texture for use as battlemat tiles/hexes and had a request for other terrain types.  My home campaign currently just entered into a demi-plane of air which is why I've been making up "elevation markers" and the soon to be posted "Elevation/Depth" Game Board.  So here are the files for the sky tile texture in a 1in grid, 1.5in grid, as well as a heroscape hex outline and heroscape hex vertices in a 8in x 10in full sheet of paper.  Click on the images and save the full size images and print at 300 dpi from a graphic app instead of from the browser. (rest of the formats after the jump)

Elevation and Depth Marker : How To

I recently posted a "sneak peek" of what I'm using for an elevation or depth marker when my players either cast a flying or water breathing spell and decide to travel up into the air or down into the depths of the sea.  These are used for single figures and are just a quick way to show that a figure is flying or descending into the depths.  I'm also building (and will document later here) a full elevation platform game board using acrylic sheets similar to some other systems out there but again for significantly cheaper.  

After the jump I've included the instructions and materials list of how you can make your own elevation or depth marker similar to mine.  I'll also show you some alternative methods to indicate height or depth if you don't want to go this route.  Though these elevation markers are some nice gamer bling that your players will absolutely love.

Speaking of gamer bling, I also want to point you to another elevation marker system by one Walter C. Napiorkowski, who sells the Dr. Wizard's Patented Elevation Indicator on the Emerald's Emporiums website.  Walter is the inventor, and patent holder, of his elevation marker which uses an laser etched acrylic rod and some colored elastic bands, similar to hair scrunchies. After some initial concerns with my elevation marker (parties associated with Walter jumped the gun and sent a cease and desist order to me thinking I was selling my elevation or depth marker, which i'm not) were put aside, he explained the process of how he came up with the marker and the materials he uses.  Those materials are why it commands a premium price of $10. I have to agree, as Walter uses premium and durable products in his construction of his device.  Walter uses  optically clear, very dense, light transferring acrylic – the same material used in trophies and engraved awards, and one of the few materials that laser etches in "white" rather than just melts.  As noted he laser etches his acrylic rods and the rods have an indication system for 1 to 1000s of units of measure which is very easy to use and read your current characters elevation.  He also sells add-ons for his product.  You can buy various color bands to color coordinate your figure if you so wish or if you have a larger figure you can get add-ons to accommodate those figures. 

I don't own one of his products, so I've no direct observational data to provide but reviewers seemed to like them and if I didn't have a restricted budget I would have purchased a few of these myself.  Also if you do decide to go for the "golden standard" and pick up one from Walter please go to emerald's emporium's website as other retailers take a "chunk" of Walters profits and we want Walter to continue to do what he's doing!

Now for the tutorial on how to create your own elevation or depth markers or use an alternate method if on a restricted budget like myself...

SORD by Myth Merchant Press For Pathfinder

FULL DISCLAIMER: The kind folks over at Myth Merchant Press sent along a code for me to download their SORD PF Ref Document from RPGNow for Free because they liked my Pathfinder Character Sheets so much.  This is a quick review of their product.

Hey Everyone, 

As I mentioned in the disclaimer the kind folks at Myth Merchant Press sent along a free copy of their SORD PF pdf document (System Operational Reference Document : Pathfinder) for use specifically with the Pathfinder Role Playing Game.  While I did receive the document free, I'll believe in giving readers a unbiased and honest opinion on the product.  So If I think something sucks I'll certainly tell you.  Pleasantly this is not the case with the SORD PF pdf.  The short answer is that the SORD PF Document is a pdf that every Pathfinder DM should own.

The goal of the document is stated right in the preface:

My goal is simple:

Speed combat by at least 15 minutes per encounter.

Looking at the SEARCHABLE pdf, its certainly clear that you could create the same document yourself, that is if you had oodles of time...

Blank Cottage Templates

Wizards of the Coast has upon their site a excellent, and more importantly FREE, archive of papercraft models scaled for use with DnD and Pathfinder miniatures (28mm-30mm) and is an excellent resource for creating some nice playing aids and accessories for your campaigns.  Trust me your players will be floored if you whip out the covered bridge section with some nasty beasty residing under the bridge only to emerge when they try to cross!

  

However the problem is all of the models all geared for a generic fantasy realm, e.g. Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, etc.  All are based upon the classic medieval Tudor building style, which is great if that's what you want.  However what if you're playing a different genre say the like recently released dnd 4.0 Dark Sun Setting where buildings are more adobe styled constructions, perhaps a post apocalyptic gama world where stacked cookie cutter buildings are blasted out here and there, or western styled campaign and those houses of the oakies are made of sod, those building might not fit in exactly how you would like. The problem compounds itself further if the players are spending a lot of time in a location or using it as a base of operations.  Also you might be like me and like to tweak the images regardless to add your own flair and style.  

So with that said, I've and created the first, in what I hope is a series, "template" you can use to customize to your hearts content. The first offering are two "cottage buildings", one large (roughly 4in. x 3.5in)  and one small( roughly 2inx2in)...

Lip Style Roof