Custom HA Molds

In the last couple months I've been creating custom molds from RTV Silicone.

I started with a small mold of shields, and then some custom bases.

Finally I progressed to larger molds of the HA fieldstone and cavern floors.

I've come to the conclusion that, if I didn't have kids, I would stick strictly to the HA materials because I like to custom-do most things to suit exactly what I want. However, with two kids under 5 running around there's just not enough time to devote to it (sucks that I'm also a perfectionist). So I'm going to buy a few sets of Dwarven Forge and see how that goes. I'll let you know how I make out.

Overall I love the HA molds , and building etc but part of my larger gripe is that they are too bloody small. It takes eons to have enough of anything to build your shit. That's just the reality. So, in order to change the situation I recommend learning about and creating your own molds (from the outset) from the HA blocks (Bruce Hirst doesn't have a problem with this) to increase your block production.

Also, I took a few of the single floor blocks and carved out some puddle pits - to later puts some drops of resin water after painting etc (pics shortly).

You can see from the pics below I used lego blocks with a bead of Aleene's Tacky glue along the edge. Don't chince or you will have leaks and waste material. I find that glue takes an overnight to dry. I also glue down the pieces with the same glue. I use the small lego blocks 1x2 or 1x4 to ensure equal spacing inbetween.

Before and after you mix and pour your RTV you need to make sure your surface is level or you will have a lopsided mold and that will mean headaches when you pour it later.

I use the motor from a baby bouncy chair to power my shaker table - works great. Leave that on until you don't see anymore bubbles rising. You can see a few bubbles in the next pic.

The last two pics are of my molds in action, one devoted to cavern floors and the other to fieldstone floors.

This is the basic process. If you have questions fire away. I use Mold Max 30 and Excalibur diestone plaster.

Dwarven Forge

I'm curious how many of you own, or play in a game with, the Dwarven Forge terrain?

As you know I've been using my Hirst Arts fieldstone dungeon. I'm happy with it, but I'm finding the production process more of a labour than a labour of love.

So, if you are familiar with the Master Maze or Caverns sets can you tell me about the quality of the pieces? Do they chip easily? Obviously they look great, but I'm interested in the durability.

Also, what sort of financial commitment is there for a decent set? 1000 bucks or more?

Northern Reaches: Gygax Birthday Edition

The members of Red Box Niagara will gather together tonight for a special Gygax Birthday Edition of The Barrowmaze.

In other news I took the Gygax quiz, I did not use google, and I spelt one incorrect.

Greg Gillespie took the Hardest Gary Gygax Quiz in the World and got 50%!



You are a Gary Gygax Swashbuckler. You are cunning in the ways of Gary Gygax. You've probably been to Gen Con once or twice, and if I searched your house, I bet I'd find a Gary Gygax autograph, a humorous D&D-related T-shirt, and/or a stack of Dragon magazines.

Paladin Code: You completed this quiz without using Google.

Northern Reaches: Session 19

We are banging out sessions left and right lately, which is great to get my Barrowmaze dungeon off the ground.

Session 19 involved random encounters with Coffer Corpses - and a near TPK.

Check it out, feel free to leave comments here.

Northern Reaches: Session Reports 17 and 18

We've been bashing on with our Northern Reaches sandbox campaign set within the megadungeon known as The Barrowmaze.

You can check them out here: Session 17 and Session 18.

John Carter Trailer!

The new John Carter trailer looks pretty swank.

Check it out.

Citadel Three Stage Adventurers

I'm in the home stretch looking for citadel three stage adventurers.

I've narrowed my list down to five. Can anyone throw me a bone?

I'm missing the mid and high-level human magic-user (top). The mid-level druid (center left), the high-level female cleric (center right), and the high-level elf magic user (bottom)

I'll trade or buy.

Thanks!

The Caverns of Thracia

I've been reading The Caverns of Thracia with much enjoyment.

I'm looking over it for ideas for my own game. It's nice to see some of the things I'm doing already contained therein, as well as giving me some new ideas.

Judges Guild materials weren't on the shelves of the gaming stores of my youth, so I find it interesting to look them over.

I'm curious have you ever played, DMed, or read a good game-report of The Caverns of Thracia?

Thoughts on a Couple Subjects

First, Happy 4th Of July to all our American neighbours!

Second, against my better judgement I saw Transformers 3 last night. I won't reveal spoilers but I will say this: How do I get those two hours back? I seem to say that after each Transformers movie. The first was a big commercial for Ebay, the second was just terrible, and the third is just dreadful. Plot holes, stupid scenes, overt patriotism where it just wasn't needed. Transformers is the only movie series that can take cars, women, and guns and make a clusterfuck out of it.

Third, I just finished reading the "pathfinder is outselling 4E" thread at enworld. All I can say to that is - great! I don't play pathfinder and, due to a desire to get away from 3.X crunch I never will, but I like how they do what they do. It's a pretty straightforward recipe for them. Let WotC make an important decision on something and then do the opposite.

Again, have a great holiday!

Dominion Day!

Happy Dominion Day!

Yes, I prefer the old flag, the old national anthem, and the old name.

If Trudeau was alive, he could bite me.