MAKING TLON PATREON: bit.ly/MakingTlonPatreon2 MAKING TLON MYMINIFACTORY: bit.ly/MakingTlonMMF2 Fabio says hi and thank you :) check out his stuff, it's perfect for what we do! Anyway… MASK SAFETY A few things we work with require good ventilation, a mask, or both. HOT WIRE CUTTER When using a hot wire cutter, solid ventilation can be enough. Open windows, and a desk fan next to the cutter that blows towards the window is enough in most circumstances - but if you struggle with this, or can smell it consistently - I would recommend wearing a filter mask (links in the equipment list). The white smoke given off by the cutter is primarily CO2 and water vapor, which are far less harmful than other common art products like aerosols and paint thinners (or hairspray). The toxic values are far less than wood-smoke, which contains tars, resins, creosote, and acetic acid. IF you burn the xps foam, rather than melt it, it gives off black smoke. This is toxic. Make sure you turn the cutter off if not cutting, and try to remove foam stuck to the wire with some scrap foam, rather than letting it burn up. CUTTING/SANDING FOAM When cutting or sanding foam, you want to be wearing at least a dust mask (though a filter mask will do) to avoid breathing in the dust. Always make sure to hoover up this dust once you're done. GROUT Always wear a dust mask when using grout, ventilate the area, and hoover it up once it settles. It is basically cement, you don't want to be breathing it in! On a side note, try to wash your hands in a bucket and throw the water out, rather than washing it down the sink. A small amount probably wont do anything, but in excess in theory it can cause problems (again, because it's basically cement!) GLUES AND SOLVENTS Many things we use regularly (even home use) give off nasty fumes of some description - superglue, polystyrene cement (plastic glue), liquid latex, among others. For the most part, we don't work with these things for an extended enough period for this to be a problem, though following safety labels on products is of course important :) As a general rule, I throw anything that 'smells' into this category - some are mostly harmless, but I aim for better safe than sorry! Basic ventilation (opening a window) will usually be fine if working with them for a short period, but IF you intend to spend hours using one of these materials I would recommend solid ventilation, adding a desk fan, or even using outside. MAGNET SAFETY: Don’t use around small children or animals, if ingested these can be dangerous. Never let very strong magnets slam together, especially thin ones. They can and will smash under a lot of force, and then become very sharp, highly magnetic shrapnel. Not good. Easy to avoid though, just take care. NICKLE STRIPS/STEEL CAN TIPS AND SAFETY: Nickel and steel is safe enough to use if you're reasonably careful, I used to cut most of mine from steel can lids with scissors, though now I use nice smooth nickel strips. Made sure you're wearing thick gloves when cutting and handling, I use some woodworking gloves. If you want to make doubly sure the metal isn't sharp, use a metal nail file along the edges to round it off. DIRT GROUT MIX RECIPE: Full guide is shown in the basing minis video :) Brown and black unsanded tile grout Dirt cooked in the oven and filtered through a sieve. You want to grind this dirt up with some kind of improv mortar and pestle into smaller grains - it doesn’t need to be dust like the grout but should be otherwise pretty small. I strain it through a sieve to get rid of anything too big. The ratio you want here is going to depend on the colour of your local grout I just mixed in a bit of black at a time until the colour darkened down to match the original dirt. I ended up with about a 4:2:1 ratio of dirt:brown grout:black grout I now add 1/2 a ratio (shot glass) of natural earth yellow pigment to make the reddish tint go away, without turning it grey by adding more black grout or grout mix. I added this to 12 dirt, 8 brown, 4 black grout. So its more like adding 1/8 of a glass to the minimum ratio shown above (4:2:1 then 1/8th of pigment) DIMENSIONS AND TEMPLATES: Templates available on Patreon here: Sloped wall foam blocks: 2"x1.5"x3" - I used double stacked 1" foam (which is usually slightly thinner) and trimmed it down. If you split 1" foam in half and then stack, it'll end up slightly too short sometimes. Floor tile beneath the block: 3x2x0.5" Column: 3/4" x 11/16" (its slightly thinner on the front facing, so it didnt overlap the arched grates too much :) Arched column top: 3/4" x 2.5" x 1 and 3/4"
Just joined your patreon, these videos are awesome. I wasn't able to find the texture rollers in the welcome pack though? Am I looking in the correct spots?
@@kcuthbertson1990 there should be one in the questgiver and multiple in the noble patron one - are you looking on myminifactory like I mention in the pinned post on patreon?
Have you ever considered buying a 3D scanner? You could make a version of all your basic pieces, just without magnets in the magnet holes. You could actually upload them as 3D printable files. And we could all have these beautiful modular tiles and pieces. Even those of us who aren’t so crafty.
I’m not so crafty, but I am considering a 3D printer when they become a little more user friendly. You could keep making all your personal terrain out of foam. An keep your videos coming. But maybe even have a my mini factory page that has all your own personal work on there for purchase. I’d love to be able to buy your patreon or something and get to have 3D files for this terrain.
This is honestly one of the most meticulously designed DIY systems I’ve seen. I don’t even play D&D (mainly Middle Earth and 40K) but I love seeing your tile system evolve and improve over time. Glad you are back!
Yeah I could see this being used in a Hive City. Parts of the cities could be 10,000 years old and populated by Genestealer cultists or who-knows-what-else.
"Can't imagine myself doing all that even for a living" - Me, a video game developer who essentially does all that for a living Well, at least I don't have to worry about materials Edit: What I *do* have to worry about, as it turns out, is the engine I've been working on for the past five years suddenly deciding to end itself and become non-viable due to a bad corporate decision. Pick your poison, I guess.
That brings up a question from someone that doesn't know the first thing about video game design. Are there any companies or support groups that offer retraining in alternate engines and programs over stuff like that? Or do you all have to figure the other programs out on your own?
@@captin3149 Since Unity decided to unalive itself plenty of software is being developed to help transfer projects over to other engines, especially Godot, which is now getting a lot of attention. There are also lots of tutorials and surely there are forums and Discord servers to help people along. However, all of that only goes so far until you just have to learn on your own, as with any software.
@@rossfreakes3164the former ceo of EA became Unity’s ceo around when the plague began. This was the guy that shoved microtransactions into every EA game he could manage Edit. He is the EA guy whom made their whale phishing monetization model
When the video first started I was struggling to be able to tell if this was a video game developer channel or if these were made IRL. Very amazing looking stuff.
I just found your channel a few days ago, and I've been watching a ton of your content. I have to say, this is the highest level custom tabletop channel I've found, and I'm totally addicted! I don't have a ton of space at my house, but you've really inspired me to get into this hobby, even if only in a small way. I've subbed on yt and Patreon, and I'm eagerly awaiting future content as a newly loyal fan!
Great to see you again, Matt! Also great to be in the archive again! I truly love your designs! I really need to build a hot wire and start working in foam. I also need to get a 3d printer.
I wish I was more handy, I don't play table top games but I loved these tiles! I just want a tub of them to build up a castle like those old Magnetix skyscraper building toys.
Thanks for the reply! I used the wrong word I wish I wasnt so lazy lol, I'm eye up some 3D resin printers right now 👀Most of my projects when i can commit is wood and metal working so I'm slowly gathering tools for this smaller scale :) @@RPArchiveOfficial
I don't play table top games like this. But i still like watching these videos. It's amazing work. So even though i will never use them, i'm still gonna leave comments to feed the algorithm!
If I could recommend a video while you're recovering. You could assemble some of the terrain you already gave done. I'd love to see the environments you can create
I love watching your channel, man! I can’t foresee ever having time to do any of this but it’s so fascinating to watch you create all these awesome terrains.
i LOVE your modular terrain system, so much so ive finally begun building my own... however, i see your Big Bad Beetleborgs, and raise you Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad.
I would like to see modular trapdoors and secret doors, and such, something that can turn or move in such a way to make it usable as a secret door (instead of just removing the block entirely for when it is open)
8:43 There are little wireless LEDs (maybe first made for Gundam models?) that can be permanently embedded without batteries and you add an induction ring to the table surface. One power switch and the whole thing lights up. If this help you level up I’ve done my duty for the day. ☺️ p.s. As a non-tabletopper I did *not* expect to watch the whole video, but the quality and clarity kept me hooked!
I just randomly came across your channel and subscribed before I got through the video. This is awesome stuff! I recently got back into playing D&D and war gamming and I'm already full of inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
Love the video, but has anyone else noticed bro looks like Harry Potter from the Epilogue of Deathly Hollows? Like I imagine after having kids with Ginny, Harry just retired and now does TTRPG hobby crafting and records it for RU-vid.
A question: since this is your modular system that you invented, would someone be allowed to create tiles that follow your system to then sell online? For example, let's say I make a pack of floor and wall tiles using your 3D printed jigs to help make measurements and place magnets (as they are well made and easy to use!). While you would obviously be credited as the creator of the modular system, including links to your patreon and channel and all that, would you be ok with someone selling products that use the tools that you designed? If not that's no problem at all! I'm just thinking about getting into the terrain making business, and was curious about how you would feel.
For these, yes. A handheld one would struggle with the precise angle vertical cuts to make the initial blocks to fit in the jigs, and without Stls wouldn't really be stable enough to use with paper templates... The proxxon is a tool that pays for itself over and over honestly, in avoiding wasting knife blades alone
I have question about the foam. EPS vs. XPS? Is eps any good? Its cheaper. I can get both kinds from the local hardware store in sheets of 240x60cm in thicknesses from 3-20cm. All are relatively cheap. Or i can buy foam from a company that caters to GMs and Wargamers, then the price is high to put it politely. Have you tried regular XPS insulation for bathrooms? It seems like the better deal to just buy a massive block and cut it down to size.
EPS is only good as filler, but it works well for that I buy 50mm and trim down to what I need (usually 1/2"). 25mm can be easier to work with for newbies, but you'll get more waste foam. There are links to where I buy in the UK in the equipment list in the description as well as more info, it can really depend on the supplier, but if you can get it cheap at a hardware store, its usually fine I have not :)
Thanks for replying. I went to the hardware store and it turns out that XPS is not a shelved good. They can order it for me though, if, if i buy a whole colli of 14,4m² 25mm thick or the equivalent volume in either 50, 75 or 100mm thickness. Which is a lot of foam, especially if its not the optimal kinda foam. Question. About the weight? Density? Gage? Pressure resistance? Whatever we call it I can get it in 200, 250, 300, 500 and 700 kPa. Which would you recommend for allround purposes? I dont plan on buying more than 1 thickness or density, again it's a lot of foam. The alternative is the GM series from armypainter, and with that price i might as well get some terrain custom made by professional first world artists. Im still in the planning stages but I am intend on buying into your plans once i feel confident that i can get all the tools and materials needed.
If you want to get technical, also the larger stones at the corners of a wall is caked coining. The stone pattern is called an ashlar pattern. The half columns going up walks are called plasters. Etc... architect for the win! 😊
Hey Matt! I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do. Ever since I was little I always wanted to use modular terrain in my dnd sessions with my friends but could never buy modular terrain cause it was too expensive and neither had the guts to make my own cause I thought I wasn't capable to do so. Thanks to you, I made my first mountainblocks, dungeon tiles and grassland tiles! (Also with no proxxon, Im saving up money for that one so I can make modular houses and city tiles :) ) Thank you so much Matt, you made my dream come true!
That is truly amazing to hear man :) being able to help people like that is hands down the best part of this job! Seriously, so proud of you for getting started man! 😁
I find myself just sitting and drooling at these videos, wishing I was into modeling myself but I really don't have the economy for it right now. Thank you for the content! This slower type of content is really soothing to watch so thank you for making it. 🙂
As a predominately digital mapper, making battlemaps/region maps - seeing physical and scaled builds is so exciting and amazing - especially all the work to make it all seamless to store and customise for various settings. Long-time fan, first time commenter. So glad to see you're back Matt :)
Matt: I love your work and I hope we get past the part where the brain is all fog. ASAP. Cuz I love you work and you're an excellent creator. Thank you.
Matt is just amazing with these builds. What I love most though is the throwaway brilliant stuff like the new corner pillar design with larger corner stones that look so realistic. I'm not someone who's likely to make these big builds and don't have the tools to do so, but that sort of thing can be really great for me. Just so cool. Oh also, thoroughly agree that the scaffold video is highly underrated. It's a great build.
Imperial measures work very well at this scale because they halve repeatedly neatly :) cm fails at 5mm... Plus d&d uses inches, warhammer uses inches, and I grew up guessing cannon ranges in inches 😂
well this was certainly different from what i was thinking it would be but it does give me some insight on how to model dungeon peices in 3d for videogames🤟🏻🤟🏻
Matt, I have to say, you have to have THE BEST builds I have ever seen. Your ingenuity and detail work are beyond outstanding. Your end products are mind blowing. Your videos make me so envious that I have no place to craft and no one to RP with anymore. But I still take tons of notes in hope that someday I will be able to. Thanks for everything you do.
not a actual table top player for ttrpg casue i dont have much irl friends but I absolutly love watching as funny enough I learned a lot as I always struggled with making Modular in general for 3d so this does help in a 3d modeling field to with your parts
your walls have magnets an left one north and one south in that nessesary ore can you just do like on the left both north and right south? i like your fideos they are awsome keep it going
Thanks so much for these awesome videos. You last two are videos are a mighty addition, might even be my new favorites, just because of the modularity when combined with your stairblocks. Cant wait to go adventuring. From sewers to ruined castles to crypts!
Your work is amazing! If I ever have enough space to craft, store and play with terrain and minis, I will surely base it on your videos. Highly relaxing to watch, glad you're back, keep it up, I always enjoy your videos!
Hello, I got an idea that I tought you might like, I've adapted my roller (a bit like yours but I bought them in a shop) to fit a paint roller handle. So I can do large flat piece quite easily ! Otherwise nice video as always :)
It's always a great day to see a new RPArchive video and this one is only after 2 weeks! It's great to see that you're back, I really missed your content
I just saw one of your videos for the first time and I instantly subscribed. I'm really surprised you only have ~89k subs? This is some very high quality stuff, and even though it's somewhat niche, it's still fascinating to watch. I love seeing skilled craftsmen and artists show off their hard work - its inspirational, even across different mediums. At least, in my opinion. While I think TTRPGs are cool, I've only played D&D online with friends (funny enough, they were friend I knew irl, but it was during covid). But I still appreciate this content and it makes me strive to do better in my own type of creative work.
