World Works Games TerrainLinx: Where to begin?
I have two reams worth of cardstock in my closets. All of them are of various papercraft RPG terrain, and none of them are actually assembled. They’re just sitting there. Doing nothing.
I have a constructed tavern sitting on top of my D&D bookshelf, and a smashed-up wizard’s tower in the closet that got a box of minis put on top of it. Each piece takes a long time to put together, and the two I made, took me about an hour each of cutting and gluing.
Now, World Works Games has introduced some gorgeous new terrain: TerrainLinx.
Four sets have been released so far: Streets, Sewers, Canals and Lost Halls of the Dwarven Kings, a more dungeony set. Additionally, they have a computer program that helps you assemble these things.
The idea behind TerrainLinx is that you can construct these things, placing them on foamcore, and then they fit together like a puzzle. You can have city streets, then put sewers directly below that, adding in canals to the city, and mix in some dungeon elements (perhaps a noble dwarf’s mansion in the city). These aren’t your average papercraft 3d buildings and hallways.
I have Lost Halls, Streets and Sewers, and would love to see them constructed. My problem is, I have no idea where to start, or even if I have the time to assemble all of this. Where do you start with an enormous project like this? Have any of you used TerrainLinx? Have any of you used 3d terrain in general? How do you find time to make cardstock terrain?
While I’ve never gotten into paper terrain I’m busy making some Hirst Arts terrain. With that it’s merely a matter of stacking blocks (at least to get the general idea). After that there is the gluing and painting. Doing it while sitting in front of the TV, and just taking it a piece at a time, rather than trying to do it all at once is really the way to go.
Good luck!
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I’ve started with a small (3×2 tiles street scene). All the big tiles were different to use them in future builds. Some posts and walls to make houses and a bridge across the street.
It is not ready yet, but I hope to make it soon enough. The problem is that I’ve got no printer.
And another thing – it didn’t start to get together till I bought their program – it helps a lot.
Another advice – don’t start with huge builds like a big chunk of a 3-storied city with canals, sewers and dwarven halls beneath. Start small and work from it. Reuse as many piece as possible. Add new as needed.
Hope to see photos of your builds posted.
Snarls-at-Fleas´s last blog ..Age of Conan and my tabletop campaign
Hirst Arts is awesome. It’s also pretty time intensive and can be messy but the same goes for eating crabs. The fun I have had in the past making random items and buildings overpower any negative.
>Have any of you used TerrainLinx?
Yes, both me and my players like it. The only thing that I’ve found as a DM is that if I’m going to swap rooms, it takes a bit to setup so they need to be built beforehand.
>Where do you start with an enormous project like this?
It’s like eating the elephant. Take it one bite at a time. Figure out what you’ll need for one or two rooms in an upcoming adventure. You’ll probably need 6-8 large tiles, some walls and some posts. Don’t try to build the entire dungeon at once. Build a room this weekend, build a different room next weekend. Before you know it, you’ll have enough stock to have two or three rooms setup and ready to go.
> How do you find time to make cardstock terrain?
I usually setup in front of my computer, put on some music, or something that I don’t need to watch and just start cutting. Once you get proficient, you can knock stuff out pretty quickly. Couple hours a night and wham! before you know it, dungeons!
Its not mentioned in the article but all the TerrainlinX sets come with automated “GSD” cut files! What the heck does that mean you ask? It means if you’re lucky enough to own a CraftRobo or Silhouette SD robocutter, the thing will actually cut the freaking stuff out for you!!! All you do is fold and glue things together. That’s a SERIOUS time saver.
Actually the Silhouette SD is pretty cheap these days if you shop around. About the same as an inkjet.