Episode 13 : Books, Scrolls & Potions (dungeon terrain)

In this episode we'll be taking a look at how to make bottles, candles, books, and scrolls for use with roleplaying games and miniatures.
Note that you can download the pdf file that contains all the textures used in the video here (note that it's also an affiliate link):
www.drivethrur...
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Also note that all of the textures that I've created so far can be found here:
www.drivethrur...

[@eddyh6907]

Thank you so much for sharing your tips these are honestly some of the best and easiest ways to get the looks I want for my players without having to spend hundreds on Minis you're amazing never stop

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

No problem (and don't worry, I've still got lots to do :) ).

[@Thelilgoblinguyunderyourbed]

This was released on my birthday!(6yrs ago though)

[@bearfan0216]

Dude I absolutely love your videos, these little decorations have really elevated my player's immersion into my game

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks ...glad to have helped in some small way :)

[@stevepickering5978]

Love the way you did the books the detail is brilliant.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks :)

[@FioreFire]

The process for the bottle and candle is total genius

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. They are a bit fiddly to put together ...but the bottles have ended up decorating a lot of my scatter terrain pieces :)

[@minekid58]

absolutely brilliant my guy awesome stuff the textures are a life saver

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. Hope you can put them to good use!

[@AlexBabcock-hw9iz]

Seen several ways to make books and scrolls bottles and jars but always enjoy a new way to do something. Really like the way you craft great channel hope to see much more.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Cheers!

[@chadbooth]

Incredible work, as always! The amount of detail you can achieve is fantastic, and I enjoy crafting these pieces for my game. Keep up the great work!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks ...good to hear that you're having fun with this stuff!

[@chadbooth]

You keep making them, and I'll keep using them in my game. :) I'm also looking forward to your next Tips video. Using the existing textures to make even more stuff is very helpful!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Check the community tab for a pic of something I've just put together ;)

[@gregsurber2813]

These are some (fairly) simple little details that can add a tremendous impact to the overall look and feel of a set. Thank you for sharing. I am in awe of your skills!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

No problem. glad you like 'em :)

[@WylochsArmory]

Love your style

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

:D really glad to hear it ..the channel probably wouldn't exist at all if I hadn't watched most of the stuff that you guys (i.e. the TCG) have been putting out over the years :)

[@stevesmith5963]

Never tired of seeing your creativity my Friend!! Keep up the great work!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Cheers! ...and yeah, I have no intention of stopping any time soon (there's still so much to do :D ).

[@davethepak]

It is amazing how you get such great results from methods that you make look so simple. Excellent work sir.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks!

[@vurrunna]

Goodness! The amount of detail in these pieces is incredible. So simple, yet so full of life.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. Hope you can put them to use!

[@jamie69murphy]

I think this might be my favourite video of yours yet. These look so useful. Possibly my favourite solutions for mini books and bottles that I’ve seen. And I’ll definitely be using those table cloths. Thanks for everything you’re doing!!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

No problem, glad you like 'em :)

[@enbytiousmusic]

gosh i love this simplicity of your textures! I am rly blown away of the simplicity and the final look of it! just... wow! thank you for your work!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

No probs :)

[@emilylindstrom724]

Best DIY books and candles I've ever seen for terrain.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Wow, high praise indeed. Thanks!

[@MrJonesArt]

Subscribed so fast! Great tutorial.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks for the sub!

[@christophercox5566]

I love all of the textures you've created but this one is simply the most amazing to me. The simplicity of the bottles and candles and books are fantastic. D@mn! these are just genius! Would love you to do something with food and platters of food for taverns or textures of piles of fish for boxes, veggies, etc. for open market places.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Hmmm.... I'm not sure how I could do individual food items in this style ...but a full plate graphic (like the one that features on one of the 'treasure bases' of this file) might work.

[@jamie69murphy]

Yes I think the food would have to be part of the printed texture - and then use your hoke punch / curving technique to make them into bowls and plates.

[@christophercox5566]

I'm thinking more like what jamie69murphy is stating, different sets of printed food on a plate and then the hole punch method or manually cutting into a larger circle size like the width of the big shake straws. I was also thinking, like meat textures that could be glued to thin cereal box and then cut out into steaks (should make the scale thickness close), or roasted turkey skin crumpled up and molded around small pieces of plastic straw or piece of foam like you did with the rocks, then triangles of turkey legs glued to the sides. Other colored textures to make glasses, goblets, tankards. For the marketplace, Ex: a texture of fish lying the same way like displayed by a fish-monger. Cut that out and glue to the top of a piece of foam, then use the wooden texture to wrap/glue around the remaining foam to look like a crate. You could do this with any type of packed foods or veggies. Or a pig, deer, or bovine carcass to wrap/glue around a piece of foam. The foam would need to be carved by the crafter into a rough body shape. Once done and hung from a wall, looks like a butchers store. Wrapping/gluing could be done for bulky veggies like cabbages, lettuces, bunches of carrots, grapes. Larger circlets of printed apples, oranges, grapefruits could be molded over a curved piece of rounded foam or paper and then dropped on top of one of your barrels. This video got the gears in my head turning on smaller stuff. The candles and bottles method-making you devised is genius to making flat print go "3D". And don't start me on decorating a home or cave with rugs, tapestries, paintings, mirrors, or animal skins, leathers, straw, etc. The simplicity of taking a colored piece of printed paper and wrapping/gluing to a form is limitless thanks to your talents. Remember most of us are sitting 3 feet away from the tabletop so the detail of exact form isn't necessary. Our brains fill in the rest. Round blob of brown with two triangular cutouts glued to the sides = chicken or turkey. Browned meat texture wrapped around a straw and capped at the end with brown meat texture a round roast. Circlet of sliced meats glued over a slightly curved piece of foam core = platter of meats.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I doubt I'll get around to all that any time soon, but there's some nice ideas there to add to the (ever expanding) to-do list :)

[@christophercox5566]

All in one fell swoop was not my intention. My intent was to share the ideas that kept popping into my head due to this video jump starting my OMG factor. I do appreciate you adding ideas to your to-do list. Again, I extremely value your creativity and greatly appreciate the efforts you bring to this community! Thanks, thanks, thanks!

[@MegaKemper]

These are good, and I like the way you present. You come off as a friendly, humble dude.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Glad you like 'em ....and thanks for the kind words :)

[@anthonyhargis6855]

Damn! The thought put into the pre-planning of these creations is just incredible. Absolutely outstanding Chris!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Sometimes the ideas and prototypes can take a while to get to a stage that I'm happy with (i.e. to make things as simple as they can be, while still looking OK) - but I enjoy the process ...and I (usually*) like the final results. *occasionally there's stuff that just doesn't work ...but you never get to see those ;)

[@anthonyhargis6855]

@@CrookedStaffTerrain Never show your failures. Viewers will begin to think you're not perfect. ;-) LOL

[@emirhanbhn]

You're a genius man!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I don't know about that. I'm probably just a guy with too much time on his hands :) :) :)

[@emirhanbhn]

@@CrookedStaffTerrain You help out a lot bro! Keep up the good work :)

[@OverkillJOE1]

Absolutely wonderful!! I love these videos, so helpful!! Keep em' coming!! 😄

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. Will do!

[@JohnGunter_Johnprime]

WOW! Great terrain pieces! Great way to make candles, books, etc!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Cheers!

[@Centinull]

Love this series. I'm slowly converting my dungeon terrain to more and more of your stuff.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Glad you're enjoying the vids! :)

[@smgeier]

You never fail to impress with your ingenuity and creativity! Keep up the good work, man! Love your stuff!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks ...it's always good to hear that folks are following along and like what I'm doing :)

[@svenpietersen9814]

Love your work. Please keep it coming. The books and table's will go very well with the cupboard and shelves textures. I am sure you can make a nice wizards library or study.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks, and yeah ...I have no intention of stopping any time soon (I'm having too much fun with stuff!).

[@TheLoremistress]

As always fantastic video. As a suggestion for those who want to make lots of books a pdf of just the book components would cut down on wastage

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I'll look into adding a second page (of just the books) a little later on :)

[@jacobhope6164]

Love this video. These little books, scrolls, etc. are so useful!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Glad you like them. Some of the bits are a bit tricky - but I think they work well :)

[@iang6243]

Awesome vid! It's unbelievable how fast your channel has been growing, I think I subbed around 1 to 1.5 months ago, and you had around 150 subs. It just goes to show how talented you are!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. I did secretly hope to get 500 subs (or maybe even 1000 if I was lucky) by the end of the year ...but it looks like it might be closer to 1500 (which is pretty amazing :D ).

[@jamie69murphy]

And deservedly so. I think your style is pretty unique - and a great blend of old school 2D artwork and modern 2.5/3D crafting.

[@iang6243]

@@jamie69murphy Yes I agree, before I came across Crooked, I couldn't find any tutorials that were really simple and did not involve using paints and wood and that sort of stuff, I think Crooked is doing an amazing job in making everything look good and be simple to do!

[@SimonLasone]

Awesome! I will try those out as soon as I can! Thank you!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Excellent. If you get chance, let me know how you get on :)

[@noveltystylus6703]

It's adorable

[@kevinm3428]

Truly genius! These are very helpful and inspiring. Thank you!

[@S_R231]

Such a fantastic service/series. Kris you are a very clever gent. My only gripe, it’s me not you!,is that you don’t edge you cuts with marker pen… but that on me 🤓

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks for the kind words :) Also, one of the nice things about these is that folks can go the extra mile and do things like that if they want to (I'm just showing the basic technique here :) ...but I admit, I'm also a little lazy ;) ).

[@DebbieBuckland]

your stuff is wonderfully awesome

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. There's still lots more to come :)

[@jesternario]

Very interesting. I admit I had to watch the candle part twice because I wasn't paying attention and missed it the first time.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Yeah, I probably did rush the candle explanation a little bit - as it's pretty much the same technique as the bottles.

[@JBGarrison72]

Best tutorial ...ever!

[@tinaprice4948]

I need to redo my little tables now, those were amazing!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks, and yeah - I'm quite pleased with how these turned out :) :) :)

[@ArmageddonUnlimited]

Great vid as always mate! Keep up the good work! :)

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks!

[@clymdodds1020]

You genius! You paper maniac! Glorious!

[@dedeturner9643]

Wonderful idea with the bottle!!! I've made beads that way.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Glad you liked it :)

[@rumleech]

Wow! Doing this fine work is gonna play merry hob with my eyes but I'm itching to try it out.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Yeah, this is probably the most fiddly stuff I've attempted (and some of the stuff is a bit fragile) ...but it does look nice on the table :)

[@WakkasLove]

So super cute

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks :) (these are still some of my favourite pieces).

[@michaelrobinson5179]

Great work.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks!

[@davidwalker1130]

All the Print and Paste are great. This one is my favorite. Has anyone tried to seal these with a spray coat or PVA?

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Someone sent me a few pictures a while back ...and they had coated their stuff in mod podge, and that seemed to work OK. Though I'm a bit wary about it - for fear of the ink running/smearing.

[@davidwalker1130]

@@CrookedStaffTerrain Ink running was my concern also

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

When I get a bit of spare time I might give it a try on a test piece and let you know how I get on.

[@davidwalker1130]

@@CrookedStaffTerrain Let the community know. Any chance you may be working on a way to hide corrigation? I will be tryings some. I hope will work.

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I don't have any plans to hide the corrugation (as I'm more of a speed-builder ...and expect the tiles to get a bit worn/battered during play - so I don't like to spend too much time on them) - but you could cut the walls to size first, and then wrap them in the wall texture, as that would probably work :)

[@collinporter1406]

Can’t wait to try this one

[@tomyoung9834]

Just amazing!

[@bomberman64rodriguez41]

Looks so good

[@RadekG]

Those Books are brilliant - not "nothing special". Thanks!

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. Glad you like 'em :)

[@johndavis1548]

Awesome work again young sire , will you be adding more themes to this , like markets, apothecaries, bakers , forges , taverns etc ? lol asking for a friend lol :)

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Thanks. And regarding other stuff ...I don't really have much of a plan for where this is heading long term :) ...most of the time it's just stuff I could use in an upcoming game of my own, and other times it's an experiment to 'see if this works' after an idea has popped into my head. But saying that, there are a few things that I want to work on next (once again, for a few adventures/encounters I've got planned) - so there's plenty still to come.

[@Garrettcadams]

Hey, just a thought here, do you think you could get the effect of a lit candle by making the end part that is currently burned out black a flame red color? Would the effect still come through?

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I did try something like that, but I couldn't get it looking right. I'll no doubt give it another try in the future :)

[@Garrettcadams]

@@CrookedStaffTerrain Fair enough! the burnt out look still looks great.

[@Metalface123]

*chuckling*"and eh"

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I do say that an awful lot :) :) :)

[@kallelfiori9767]

5:05 why u didn't show this technique before ??!!, that probably would get my fingers saved from get burned

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

Yeah, I was having a bit of trouble myself ...but lying the glue gun on its side really helped :)

[@AlexBabcock-hw9iz]

Amazing when you have one of those Now why didn't I think of that moments.

[@alexandreferreira8346]

How not to love it?

[@MrDenyRj]

Dude U are the best ! Some chance to teach us a curved walls ? =DDD

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

I've not tried any yet ...if I do, I'll be sure to share my results.

[@richardace2955]

need to make some taller candles like 2 additional heights

[@CrookedStaffTerrain]

There's some slightly larger ones in the modifications/requests pdf (and a couple of different colours too): drive.google.com/file/d/17tUUoezvYyLkNLwKq6SxOh69hVJrMcX_/view?usp=sharing