Iron Gryphon Studio - Ep 47 Dungeon Stairs (cheap and easy foam terrain tutorial for D&D)

Sick of two dimensional dungeons? want to add some depth to those hallways? Well look no further. You need stairs, stairways, staircases, or even just a ladder. These easy to make dungeon stairs are perfect for all kinds of dungeon crawler games. Let the adventurers gain abit of height to fire off some arrows, or maybe throw some unfortunate enemy down them. Or hold a stairwell single handed while the group escapes. Be a true hero...with STAIRS
I did a Patreon thing :) if youre interested in supporting the channel, the best way to do so is to visit my patreon page, and become a member. Thank you in advance to anyone who supports this channel, it really means alot to me.
/ irongryphonstudio
Below is a list of a few links to amazon for the products i use in many videos. Not all of the products are used in every video but they can all be found here for your convenience. Feel free to use these links to further support my channel at absolutely no extra cost to you. Please let me know if any of them no longer work and I can get a new link sorted.
A UK link to Amazon for the Proxxon Hotwire table - www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
A Uk link to Amazon for the Matt Mod Podge - www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
A UK amazon link for XPS Foam board - www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
A UK Amazon link for A Balsa Wood bundle pack - www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
A UK link to Amazon for Wooden Coffee stirrers www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
A UK link to Amazon for Vallejo Acrylic Earth texture paste
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

[@rayrous8229]

Excellent work! I'm especially impressed with the descending stairs.

[@irongryphon]

Thanks very much, it was tricky to show that illusion of depth 👍🏻🙂 thanks for watching

[@malefica1]

Im so happy i found your channel

[@irongryphon]

Cheers dude 😀👍🏻 glad to have you here, thanks for watching

[@Mukundanghri]

I took it upon myself to read, "The Art of Stone Masonry". This book will help you really understand how a stonemason would carve and lay stones.

[@irongryphon]

Awesome, you seem very committed to the realism 😀👍🏻

[@zombielandiii2711]

"bonus simple project" the most original of the bunch! Love your works and above all, love that you always add originality to your crafts.

[@irongryphon]

Haha thanks 😅 I just wanted that bonus project to look as unsafe as possible 😅

[@Tradewindsvintagehi]

Wow! Looks great!

[@irongryphon]

Thank you kindly 😬👍🏻 they always come in handy

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! Still sharing these years after you produced them.

[@irongryphon]

Thank you, and that's very kind of you to share them 🙂 hopefully they can Inspire a few new crafters

[@annaliliana7863]

thanks for sharing, the best stairs I've seen so far....I'm a beginner and I love yours tutorial

[@irongryphon]

Ah thanks 😀 glad you found it useful 😊 happy crafting

[@pascastro9928]

This 2:48 just blew my mind. Such ingenuity!!!

[@irongryphon]

Thanks man 😁 this is now a common a part of my wall crafting process. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@pascastro9928]

@@irongryphon You bet I´m going to search like a maniac around the house for pieces like those lol.

[@katmom49]

Excellent stairs!

[@irongryphon]

Thanks very much 👍🏻🙂

[@TriMarkC]

Definitely have to build these! Thanks for showing how actually simple they can be.

[@irongryphon]

Anytime buddy 😀 I'm glad I could maybe inspire you a little, hope it goes well. Thank you for watching

[@leeperry7068]

Man! Gorgeous work! The final moss effect was especially cool!

[@irongryphon]

Thanks buddy, really appreciate it. I fully encourage anyone to use lots of moss, making it look old and abandoned to nature is very immersive for me 🙂 and one of my favourite tropes for adventuring

[@leeperry7068]

@@irongryphon so, I'm a long time game designer, and was Lead Level Designer on Gears of War... and that was a regular bit of advice for all LDs then, take any level and put even ONE tree in view, and that pop of organic nature will ground damn near anything.

[@irongryphon]

I completely agree, and I know it almost seems like "overthinking" a solution to a problem, but implying time in an environment is a great way to fill lore gaps. Adding a tree is like adding 20 years of nature, moss is like adding months of moisture and abandonment. When a scene is too clean, it doesn't feel right, like there was no time passing before the viewer arrived there...and that feels weird to people.

[@LordSquee]

Stops people from falling down a staircase. That's you; always concerned about other people's safety. Well. You know. After your video about the various traps you can brutally murder someone with. Nicely done, though. Another quality video, mate :)

[@irongryphon]

Haha certain dangers are okay 😅 some others not so much, I don't make the rules 😅

[@TheOokmeister]

Excellent. love watching your videos.

[@irongryphon]

Thanks dude 👌🏻 very much appreciated

[@timyoung9251]

They look amazing I going to make these for my dungeon 👍. I have not checked out your channel but if you have not done it yet you should make like sandy or rocky stairs for cliff sides or mountains

[@irongryphon]

Thanks buddy, I'm sure I could manage some rocky stairs for cliffsides. Thanks for watching, feel free to binge the rest of my videos for more terrain ideas 😬

[@paulbooth1917]

Loving the videos I ve had some great inspiration from them

[@irongryphon]

Thanks dude, glad I could help 🙂👍🏻

[@epiclids]

Magically floating wood planks as stairs seems like the fancier option to me!

[@irongryphon]

Less magical, more "planks of wood driven into the brickwork" I'd say 🙂

[@oslamckercher2167]

Wow--thanks!

[@irongryphon]

And thank you for watching 😁👍🏻

[@dartmart9263]

Fantastic video. Keep up those simple from-scratch projects. When all put together they can fill up a table with unlimited possibilities. Don’t change the channel one bit.

[@irongryphon]

Oh I love some modular terrain, self contained pieces that can be placed anywhere, that's my kinda stuff 👍🏻😅

[@nancileslie1431]

Love these!!!

[@irongryphon]

Much appreciated 😀 thanks for watching

[@MusicMadAbi]

Great builds! 😬

[@irongryphon]

Thanks 😊 I appreciate you

[@christophermurray9777]

Well done

[@irongryphon]

Thanks mate 👍🏻🙂

[@Cybearman]

awesome vid and build. Thanks!

[@irongryphon]

Cheers buddy, Thank you for watching 😀👍🏻

[@tattooman3603]

As always, your work is "off the charts" amazing. Simple projects that you end up making look both amazing and anything but simple. The details you always add bring your work to the highest levels and I am a true fan. Thanks for all you do.

[@irongryphon]

Cheers buddy 🙂 thank you for watching. I'm always so surprised at how supportive this community can be, I appreciate every last one of you 👍🏻

[@beardedgoblingaming392]

Looks great man i really should build some more stair

[@irongryphon]

Thanks dude 👍🏻 do it, build all the stairs 😅

[@carrie4910]

😍 i adore the first set of stairs😍 I think I’ll try to make some leading up to a door in a shadow box.

[@irongryphon]

Excellent idea 🙂👌🏻 I approve 😅

[@icemann1037]

Great builds! A lifetime supply of staircase-possibilities, covering every scenario. I said it a couple ot times and i say it again, the attention to detail and the little things lift something rather simple into something awesome! Well done mate

[@irongryphon]

Thanks buddy 👍🏻🙂 it pays to have a supply of barrels and bookcases, crates and candles on standby for projects

[@inspirationforge4578]

okay the Candle in the wall nook was awesome! Great details and as always quality work. Simple build but all the nice little details. thanks

[@irongryphon]

Thanks dude, I find details like that add the human element. They make it feel lived in, the difference between a house and a home 🙂👍🏻

[@el_jesus7746]

the best video for stairs, in all youtube!!!! thanks for the incredible video, congratulations

[@irongryphon]

In all of KZbin? 😀 Well thank you very kindly Sir 👍🏻have a great day, and thanks for watching

[@echodelta2426]

Excellent work. Love the simple wall torch on the wooden stairs and the chain detail on the spiral stairs. Just realized I was one of those unsubscribed. Problem fixed. Just subscribed.

[@irongryphon]

Cheers dude, Those small details add a great human element to the builds 🙂Thank you very much for the sub

[@gregmccormack5709]

I love the range of types that you came up with... they look great.

[@irongryphon]

Thanks bud 🙂👍🏻 they should suit most encounters

[@marciasunman6766]

I look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@irongryphon]

Aww cheers 😀 thank you for watching👍🏻

[@tommcclintock5019]

These all look great! I really like the small details. They really do sell the look.

[@irongryphon]

Gotta add those deets 😅👍🏻 makes everything more immersive

[@DrewBorrowdale]

the little side peace with the wood planks is my fav, its such a great little build :) will be using this for a future goblin dungeon set :D

[@irongryphon]

I like that one too, such a simple way of making stairs. Not all dungeons are fancy enough to afford quality stairs 😅

[@BrushQuill]

These are awesome little builds. The hint of stairs just helps add to the buildings reality. Not sure.if you did, but with the 'down' stairs if you make them narrower as they descend ut adds to the optical illusion

[@irongryphon]

That would have been a cool idea, I didn't do that 😅 maybe next time I will though.

[@artsakari5679]

Really good I think I'll do a cave version of these for my tutorials, thanks for these amazing crafts

[@irongryphon]

You're welcome 🙂👍🏻 a cave version would be super cool

[@creaturescavernscrafting2929]

A very informative tutorial. Really enjoy the ease in creating these. Subbed.

[@irongryphon]

Glad you enjoyed it, I loved making these staircases. Thanks very much for the sub 😀👍🏻

[@lancegritton214]

love the wooden stairs, I will use them on some houses I am making; thanks for your channel!

[@irongryphon]

You're welcome 👍🏻😀 good luck with your project

[@nazrulnadziruddin9641]

Awesome job and thank you for the tutorial. Your work reminded me a lot of Diablo I structures.

[@irongryphon]

You're welcome and thanks for watching 👍🏻🙂

[@ProfessorCharlesPorterfield]

Those are all really fantastic work, and right up my alley with my current build. Excellent work. Thank you for sharing it with us. Cheers!

[@irongryphon]

Thank you very much 🙂 what exactly are you building?

[@ProfessorCharlesPorterfield]

@@irongryphon I am making a full build of the old AD&D C1 Module 'The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan' - So lots of stairs :)

[@irongryphon]

That's a big project, very best of luck to you sir 👍🏻🙂

[@norcalonline1]

Dude, these are awesome. I agree that the big one is the best with all the additional set pieces, but the simple one with the floating wooden steps and the ladder is my second favorite. Very versatile and I imagine that they would help the immersion experience on the battle mat. Great job. Cheers, --Bo

[@irongryphon]

Thanks mate 😀 where ever I have those half squares against a wall, I like to fill them with interesting details that won't obstruct play. So crates and barrels are ideal. Those simple stairs were a last minute design idea 😅

[@harrietcraig7817]

And don’t forget about the sneaky ladder on the other side 👍🏻👏😻

[@frankling.robertsiii6811]

Another fantastic video Alan!!! The first build was my favorite, and the second one was very reminiscent of the one Jeremy from BMC had one. However the others were really great, new takes on stairs I hadn’t seen before. Thanks!

[@irongryphon]

Thanks dude 😀 it's very difficult making depth on 1cm thick dungeon tile 😅 but not entirely impossible

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks! Subbed!

[@irongryphon]

Thank you 👍🏻🙂 much appreciated

[@SupeMima]

Hey What a great ideia to make the bricks and texture the walls. :D

[@irongryphon]

Thanks give it a try, it's a great method for making small areas of brickwork 🙂

[@coleenknickelbein8063]

Excellent work as usual!! Where did you get the flowers inside the flowerpot on the 4x4?

[@irongryphon]

Those are just from a self adhesive flowers pack from eBay. Super quick and simple and they go a long way

[@TheSasquatchjones]

nice. I need to find that black xps foam

[@irongryphon]

I found mine on eBay if that helps, it's 10mm thick 🙂👍🏻

[@thomascharters7516]

Good stuff man! Can you post how you make that wash again please?

[@irongryphon]

I'll make sure to put it in a new video for you. But if it helps, it's 3 parts black wash (Vallejo), 2 parts brown wash (Vallejo) and 1 part water 👌🏻

[@thomascharters7516]

@@irongryphon Thanks a lot bud - looked amazing!

[@jean-baptistehautebas2785]

Wow, you're really committing to tabletop tiles. These stairs are so good. I wish i could see your whole setup, but in the mean time I'm sure you'll find another smart and clever idea to reinvent the genre again. By the time you hit episode 100, there will be so much stuff in this dungeon setup. I wish i was one of your player, those guys are lucky, truly. I still do belive that of all the crafter that i saw on yt, you're just the best. :3

[@irongryphon]

Very much appreciated mate 👍🏻🙂 yeah the dungeon is coming along nicely, and taking up alot of shelf space 😅 it'll be nice when I can get it all on the table and use it more often

[@harrietcraig7817]

Hey Alan, I’ve been trying to make my own wash but can’t get it quite right. You’re selling me on the Vallejo so I think I might give that a shot. Do you use the black, brown & rust washes? Do you water them down and, if so, do you have a go-to ratio or do you just add a drop of water until you get what you want for a particular project. Sorry to be so nit-picky (I could experiment!), but I just love the way yours consistently turn out. Thanks!

[@irongryphon]

Heyy 🙂 I mix 3 parts black wash, 2 parts brown wash, and 1 part water. That will usually give me what I'm after, but if it's too weak, I'll add a little extra black and brown and test it out 🙂

[@harrietcraig7817]

@@irongryphon excellent-thanks for clarifying! 😻😻👍🏻

[@kimnobles7687]

Hi, what is the thickness of the pieces of foam? Stairs are so intimidating, so thank you for this!

[@irongryphon]

I believe it was 1cm thick foam that I used for the flight of stairs. It's alot easier to make stairs than you think, the trick is to make them playable, so have room to place minis. Give it a try 🙂👍🏻 best of luck

[@kimnobles7687]

@@irongryphon thank you!

[@christopherdecker4420]

Where do you get your rock stamps for texture??

[@irongryphon]

It's just a piece of hollow styrene rod that was purchased from a hobby store 🙂👍🏻

[@nathanmiller8694]

How did you make the books on the bookshelf

[@nathanmiller8694]

Never mind should have finished the video before asking

[@nancileslie1431]

Are those steps all half inch thick or a fourth inch thick?

[@irongryphon]

Which staircase? The first staircase has steps which are 1cm deep. Hope that helps 👍🏻🙂

[@andytate5670]

Staircases have always been a bit of a bug bear for me, I never know whether to do em realistic or to em some models can be placed on them.

[@irongryphon]

I understand exactly what you mean, steps which are an inch wide will fit models on but the staircase will be a shallower angle and won't look as correct. Shallower steps equals a steeper staircase, it's finding the right balance.

[@artsakari5679]

Yep with the wood design it's great because the base of the mini can hook under the step above

[@_terzi_-3310]

what is the name of the material

[@irongryphon]

You mean the foam? XPS foam (extruded polystyrene). Hope that helps 👍🏻😊

[@jhanlon303]

A needful group of things.

[@irongryphon]

Stairs are just super useful 👌🏻😁 great for adding height to an otherwise flat dungeon