RPG 3D Printed Terrain - Is It Worth It

As a brand new Dungeon Master delving into the world of tabletop gaming and miniature terrain creation, I was eager to explore the realm of printing dungeon tiles on my FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer. In this video, I share my journey and insights gained from printing a thrilling cavern encounter using my FlashForge Creator Pro and complex models from Printable Scenery.
Join me as I take you through the process to see if 3D printing dungeon tiles is worth it.
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Links:
Printable Scenery - www.printablescenery.com/
Hatchbox Grey Pla - amzn.to/2KQHVC2
FlashForge Creator Pro - amzn.to/2Zg2eOd

[@rodsawhite]

I really appreciate someone going through print time and material because as you stated no one ever addresses this and I don’t have a baseline before I start throwing money around. Cheers!!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Happy it was helpful. The funny thing is... I sometimes forget that I can "just print that". If you have a 3D printer, you sometimes have to remind yourself you have a 3D printer instead of buying things. It's weird but true for me. All the best!

[@user-Adam72]

A very good discussion; it was nice that you discussed the practicalities in terms of time and cost as it relates to a hobbyist rather than a full time KZbinr.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thank you for that input. I know it's frustrating for me to watch a video and think... well... if I only had that really expensive tool it would be easy. I'm a very DIY person and I try to be conscious of the cost of things. Hobbies should be something anyone with a little bit of disposable income and a smidge of ingenuity should be able to enjoy. I'm really excited by the availability of 3D printers that are truly within the reach of more and more people. Only if laser cutters would come down in price a bit more ;)!

[@bevsartsandcrafts715]

@@RandomMakingEncounters totally agree. I’d love a laser printer but far too pricey for me 🙄

[@JeffreyRiggs]

@@RandomMakingEncounters A $150 3d printer would work great like a 2nd hand ender 3... I just had an ender 5+ on hand as an xmas gift to my oldest son 2-3y ago and he has not used it yet.. I have used it a lot... to print ryobi tool holders for my wall, photography equipment stuff for a friend, some HO train stuff and now onto the dungeon.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

@@JeffreyRiggs the prices continue to drop! For a lot of terrain, you really don’t need super detail… it’s a quantity/quality balance and inexpensive printers are very capable. Cheers!

[@kojakdurham]

Yeah, what I like most about dungeon tiles, and why I printed a bunch, is that you can force a party into single file arrangement, etc., during exploring or combat, and it makes it easier to visualize where everyone is on the map. I've printed a bunch of OpenForge 2.0 stuff, but just bought practically everything that Fat Dragon Games has produced as part of their recent kickstarter campaign.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

One hundred percent! It’s a much more tangible experience. Since I made this video, printers have become much faster and far more reliable as well. Quicker terrain with less print failures! Thanks for the comment and happy gaming!!

[@G5rry]

Just found your channel. I have never tried making miniatures, but it looks like something I’d really enjoy. You seem like a really good teacher and I’m sure the subscribers will come because of that.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

3D printing has really opened up a world of possibilities. There's still a bit of a learning curve but it gets easier every day. I only wish we had it when I was a kid! It might have honestly changed the direction of my life. Thanks for the comment. Cheers!

[@BeegtymeRawkstah]

3D printed masters + Silicone Molds + 50/50 Plaster-Quickcrete mix casting = Fast Infinite Dungeons, Scatter Terrain, & Furniture for pennies.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Yes indeeeeeeed! If you're going into mass production mode, 3D printing is a fantastic way to create the master. Real mold making silicone has a price associated with it but, if you make enough casts from your molds, it's worth the investment-especially for small items like tiles! Might be an idea for a video!! Thanks for the comment.

[@DKarkarov]

WELL SAID!!! People keep forgetting, 3d printing is not for making a product. It is for making a solid prototype, then using that to make a mold, then making a cast for the real thing. The only catch 22 in this case is the open lock system might be very hard to demold.

[@p4rsec]

Karkarov i don’t see any reason 3D printing should be considered “”just”” for prototyping. not everyone is interested in spending the money to make molds and casts of things, nor dealing with the mess and whatnot.

[@DKarkarov]

@@p4rsec You do realize in general making molds then casts is not much more expensive than buying 3d resin, and is actually significantly less clean up involved? Also UV 3d print resins tend to not be durable, heat resistant, etc etc. Unless you are buying the far more expensive ones. Can't 3d print resin with a metal powder outer coat, or multiple mixed in colors, or things embedded into the print, etc etc etc etc. There is a lot you can't do with a straight 3d print that you can do with a mold of a 3d print. Not everyone is just printing gaming terrain and minis.

[@p4rsec]

Karkarov i’m quite aware of that. my point is that you made it sound like the only use for 3D printing was for molds, which is very gatekeep-y

[@allsport547]

Just purchased my printer on boxing day. Thanks for this video! It was exactly what i was looking for after looking for terrain for my D&D game. I am also a newish DM (2 years) and I was tired of drawing my own maps. Keep up the cool videos man!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Nice! Happy Boxing Day! It's a bit of a time investment. However, the tiles are pretty rugged so they'll probably last longer than the pyramids. All the best!

[@thelousygitarist6830]

one tip if your letting them grey, prime spray them black, than heavy drybrush grey over it. as finishing touch you can do a little white drybrushing for more details. and for protection for sticky cheetos fingers, you can use a Mat or Gloss coating over it. (Gloss for the dew effect on the caverns or something)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Cheeto fingers and/or pizza grease for sure! Thanks for the comment and tips. I haven’t done any tile painting videos… there are a ton out there but I have some ideas. All the best!

[@schemingdmandpc621]

Great video all around! Honestly surprised you don't have more subscribers already as the video quality was too notch and the info on point 👌 Thanks for making this and stay awesome! 👊

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks! I appreciate it. Making vids is time consuming and I'm kinda suck at promoting myself. I'll keep on making though! :)

[@mythrando]

Thank you, great video. Has me even more interested in 3D printing terrain!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It's worth trying out for sure. There are great free files to play with before feeling the need to buy anything... other than the printer. Best of luck!

[@MrPoporucha]

I made my own diy 3d printer, which reduces the initial costs EVEN MORE (I'm kind of an inventor freak myself, nyeh-heheh! )...and I must say that 3d printing tech is a life saviour in the long run. I'm up to FIVE dungeons, caves and scattered terrain sets right now (I'm also a 3d modeler, so I don't even have to spend that much on bought models), and in the middle of printing my first full city/town sets. It's amazing how much it adds to the experience, and players (specially new-commers to the hobby) really appreciate it. For those that are in the doubt, I will not say them to "go fetch some bucks and buy a 3d printer NOW", but I'd like to recommend them to inform themselves about the technology and make an informed decision on it. I will not lie, you're really lucky to not have any inconvenient with 3d printing up to date, since it can be a real pain in the buttocks sometimes.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I actually started by trying to build a RepRap from a kit-laser cut ply and threaded rod!! It was one crazy build and never quite printed as well as I would like. It was a great learning experience though and taught me that these printers are actually pretty understandable as a technology goes-iPhones they ain't. I'm amazed at how the prices have come down and, as a maker, there is tremendous power in the ability to fabricate complex objects for work AND play. Thanks for the comment and keep on with your freaky inventing!

[@davidprice875]

I've just got into wargaming and started looking at terrain. I have been 3D printing for some years and this was very helpful video, thanks for putting in the effort and sharing.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for watching! Terrain literally sets the stage and, for me, is a big part of that world -building. Welcome to the gaming family!

[@StacyInLove1]

Wonderful... but I would love to see this video updated to today.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Funny you should say that! I'm working on an update that looks at printing now that there are printers like the X1-Carbon. Hopefully it will take me less time between videos. I've been a bit of a slacker! Cheers!

[@Maulus]

This helped alot! As a DM i was willing to up the experience for my players even more, i already have a SLA printer and requested them to design their characters so i could print them, we spend a sunday afternoon not playing but painting the mini's, i started inkjet printing battlemaps after that, which was a huge raise in immersion for them, it just takes a ton of heavy paper and alot of ink, since i now have an Ender 3 V2 and i dont want to rescale every map i find printing a modular map would save me tons of time and resources! Thank for the review!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I hear ya! I followed those same paths. I was designing maps I could print but the ink and paper started to get outta hand. Tiles seemed like the way to go but there’s an investment in time and a new set of skills. Thankfully, printers are getting more reliable and faster which is great for gamers everywhere. All the best!

[@JeffreyRiggs]

I am now printing tiles as well. I am going for a very large and universal layout. I do not want walls attached to the floors so I have to do them separate as well. This will be a long process and a few rolls of pla will be used. It may cost me $100-$200 in pla but I am looking at replicating sunless citadel dungeon. I am printing a .28 low quality and it is perfect. Still, yes, we are talking about 15h for a good section.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

NICE! That's really the great thing about printing your own... you can print exactly what you need to build the campaign. All the best with your project and have fun in the Sunless Citadel!

[@ryszard_]

Thank you, this is all very useful information. I was unsure whether printing tiles and scenery makes sense but after learning about your experiences with printing times and slicer settings I got to printing my first set!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

There are a lot of ways to optimize. It all depends on how much detail you want to capture and how capable your printer is when it comes to high speed printing. 3D printing really is a skill and an art. I truly appreciate people who have it really dialed in. All the best with your project.

[@3DPrinterAcademy]

Great vid! If you use a larger nozzle you can print almost twice as fast, but there is some sacrifice when it comes to detail

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for sharing the tip. I just recently moved to an Adventurer 4 where nozzle changes are much faster and tool free. It makes popping in a larger size for faster printing more attractive! All the best!

[@bcw1nc865]

Talking about creating, you've created quite an elegant stache good sir

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

LOL! Thanks! I think 3D printing is easier. Cheers!

[@gabojill19]

It is a pain in the ass but spread out over a couple of weekends it is pretty feasible and saves you a ton of money aaaand adds flexibility that no purchaseable tiles can provide.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Agreed! I also think printers will continue to get faster and more accurate. Even if you shave 20% off of the print time, it makes a huge difference and it just gets more and more compelling to DIY. You're spot on about flexibility! If you buy tile sets, you're always going to be short on that one corner or wall and would either need to buy more sets (good business model) or kludge a solution (total immersion breaker). Happy printing and happy gaming!

[@deathcometh61]

I did an estimate on my tiles before I started. It's about 0.35 to 0.50c for the basic tile and base. Walls add about 0.15c so corners are about 0.25c. My walls are short and all infill is 15%. I use open tiles 2.0.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

What filament are you runnin’?

[@deathcometh61]

@@RandomMakingEncounters A PLA I got off amazon. Its was a bundle of 3 for like low $40s. Something cheap to learn with.

[@reverendfawkes6138]

I always try to print as much scenery as necessary while in the writing phase of my campaigns. Thankfully, my players throw in a little cash every session for food/drink and other costs, which also covers the filament. I guess the most frustrating part for me is actually painting the scenery. If you start by presenting raw-print tiles, then the players will be grateful. However, if you start with _painted_ tiles, they'll expect them *all* to be painted. As a hobbyist, I don't have the time to paint every tile. At least I don't have to cut, glue, and paint foam.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Totally with you on this one! I just finished video with some painted scenery and it was really tedious... and it was ONE WALL. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so it's hard to give it a couple of coats and call it done. I'd rather spend time on my characters and keep the terrain raw. Thanks for the comment and happy gaming!!

[@Zombologist83]

Really appreciate your thoughtful breakdown. Very helpful for those of us on the fence about 3D printers for this purpose. I think you may have talked me out of a printer for this reason, but helped to reinforce a resin printer for minis.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm working on a quick video comparing printing on a standard FDM printer and a Bambu Carbon X1. I'm still on the fence about printing dungeon tiles. The X1 is arguably the fastest consumer printer out there and it's still (spoiler) 54 minutes for a single wall tile. If you're OK with the goop that comes along with resin printing, it amazing for miniatures. I print just about every figure for my projects. I also love my FDM printers for more than just gaming. I recently printed a three-axis camera slider and it turned out great. I think there are faster ways to make tiles and there are some great companies out there making affordable sets. I could easily go either way. All the best!

[@swdw973]

Amazing now with the newer hi speed printers like my bambu. Depending on what your original printer was, it would now take 1/4 to 1/5 the time to print with the new core xy printers, like the Bambu, Creality K1 and others.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I have a comparison video on the Bambu teed up. I got completely sidetracked on other things so I feel really behind. The newer printers are really making 3D printing increasingly attractive for day to day stuff. I was sooooooooo painful waiting for one tile to print. Thanks for the comment and all the best!

[@robcarroll42]

Have been thinking about this to step up our gaming nights. Your video helped us all make the decision. I am buying an Ender 5 Pro tomorrow. Lots of browsing and reading reviews and watching reviews. I think it will suit us the best. One of our group is talking an Elegoo Mars Pro so he can print off our characters. Love all the new tech to keep pen and paper healthy. Thanks for the video, was a GREAT help.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

So happy to hear that! I have a Flashforge and a Mars and love what I can do with both. The good news is there are some really talented people out there making a lotta cool things for us to print. Paper isn't dead but I found that creating the major set pieces... the boss battles... can add a lot of extra fun. All the very best!

[@robcarroll42]

@@RandomMakingEncounters So day 2 with my new Ender 5. Lots of misprints but learning fairly quickly. Getting help from Facebook group and youtube. Already printing terrain, now to get it to clean up a tad more and not use raft's and i will be golden. Keep up the good work, your videos inspire people to go beyond their norms. Worked for me.

[@d36class]

Thank you for this vid! I was on the fence on which type of printer I would want and what I would prioritise printing, thanks to you I realised terrain and maps is my biggest interest!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm really happy you found it helpful. I want to do more videos on tiles and terrain. Printing is the most custom approach and you will never find that you're one or two tiles short of what you need... just print more. It's not for the impatient though and there are always costs associated with printing. Having said that, being able to print real stuff is pretty sci-fi! All the best with your projects and happy gaming!

[@mscandlex]

loved the vid and your quality is top stuff. Keep at it and please do keep sharing :)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for the encouragement! Comments like this keep me going!

[@SteinerSE]

Using Prusa Slicer (and some others) you can print with different layer heights. Print the bottom 6.8mm as coarse as you like, then only the last few layers with the textures with 0.1 for a quite fast print with best possible visible surface quality. Only works well for the floor tiles though, not so much for the walls (But I guess you could do the bottom 6.8mm of those too coarser)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I’ve toyed with that a bit but great tip! Varied layer heights is a great way to optimize time. Thanks for sharing!

[@CameronForrester]

Just ordered my ender 5 pro with intent to use it to make dungeon tiles and random items that aren't too intricate. I appreciate this info. Thanks a lot.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

All the best! I’m always finding things to print and I think you’ll find that you can get some pretty detailed objects with FDM printers. Have fun!

[@Morlock5K]

A really well put together video, with some cool info. I'm very new to 3d printing but just like you am an impulsive buyer. I bought a dirt cheap Anet A8 and it is fairly rubbish. It's got wooden supports rather than acrylic and so many of my prints fail. Due to this I have just today ordered a creality CR10 V2 that should arrive near my birthday next week! I'm really looking forward to it's huge build area so I can pump out tiles and then can start D&D with my daughter and eventually my son when he's a little older. Thanks again for the video and you have a new sub!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for watching! It’s a fantastic family game. Quality time and imagination... hard to beat. All the best!

[@Ozgood13]

I have been doing plaster for so long and the cost of the printer is far less than the molds I have bought over the years, The plaster to buy and ship is a bit much and all in all this seems so much easier to afford and the models are no where near as fragile. I am looking into the Ender 3 and thank you for all the great info.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm glad this was helpful. I also build dioramas and pour a fair amount of plaster rocks but nowhere near the amount you need to build out a dungeon. It's kinda crazy how many tiles you end up needing. These are probably a bit lighter too and can be dumped in a bin at the end of the day. All the best if you end up with that Ender. It's a very popular printer and people seem to get great results with it!

[@lstormhammer]

About to jump into 3d printing myself, thank you for pointing out that once you pay for a model's plans, the cost drops off as you repeatedly print that model.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

For terrain tiles, the savings can really add up. I think the biggest real investment is time.

[@wayner396]

Thanks you for this. Great video. Terrain is one of my favorite parts of the hobby. I borrowed my friends 3D printer but was really put off by just how long it took and how many failed prints I've had. I still want to get one eventually but I think I'll wait a bit as the quality and time were not quite what I was looking at.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It does take some getting used to. I'm really all about immediate gratification (sadly) and having to wait hours for a print makes me a little cra cra. I just have to remind myself to not go stare at the printer willing it to go faster. I let it do its thing and I go do mine. It is frustrating when there is some failure of some sort... filament jam... something lifts from the bed... supports that didn't work out like you thought or you didn't put in cuz that overhang didn't look that bad. It does get better and the technology keeps getting better, easier, and cheaper. Honestly though... I still love building terrain with ye olde fashioned materials... foam... Sculptamold... rock... dirt... paint. Very satisfying. All the very best!

[@DiceandDungeons]

It is fun but really can take a long time to produce a whole set for a tavern, dungeon, or whatever...

[@allencunningham9002]

This was a great comparison video and answers all my questions. I'm looking at using magnetic foam floor and cliff tiles while doing my building and more intricate items by print.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I've downloaded some tile bases that use small ball magnets. The files are on Thingiverse and work really well. Magnets kinda rock if you're building terrain on the fly! Cheers!

[@TheIncarnadine042]

Incredibly helpful video! I am about to get into 3D printing for minis and had the thought of wondering if this was practical. You broke down everything Incredibly well, thanks!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm glad it helped. I have more videos in my head for 3D printed terrain and just wrapped up some castle ruins that took about 60 hours to print. Seemed like a lifetime but they turned out amazing. Happy printing and all the best!

[@dragnridr05]

I am thinking of adding a space for a magnet in each side of the tile, so when people move their miniatures, it won't disrupt the entire structure and helps hold their shapes even better. It would add a little more cost for the magnets and time for gluing, but I would think it would be worth the little extra without having them snap together and having a chance of them to break. You could also print the walls separate from the floor and have them attach via magnets to ease off the print time.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I like the magnet idea. The benefit to the open lock is you can actually pick the pretty large chunks of terrain up. The downside is it adds a lot of complexity to the tile which makes them hard to mold and cast. The one thing to keep in mind with magnets is they have polarity so how you insert them will matter and the tiles might only link together in one orientation? I'm still pondering that. The snap on walls is also a great efficiency. I've seen some systems that use that idea. Best of luck with your imagineering! The cool thing about 3D printers is the possibilities are almost endless for innovation.

[@dragnridr05]

@@RandomMakingEncounters fixing the polarity issue with the magnets is as simple as using Bucky Balls since they are round and snap together in just about any position.

[@tdenton1138]

I've just finally jumped into 3D printing after getting back into D&D and wow it's really the time more than anything. Buying or cobbling together open source sets is the easy part by far and then if you decide to paint that's another time sink with another learning curve to boot (assuming you have no prior experience). Great video from a beginner standpoint which I really appreciate. I've been crushing various playlists from 3D printing DMs, learning Cura setting, finding base profiles, tweaking my Ender 3 (fantastic printer by the way) with test cubes and extruder measurements and and and ... It is quickly becoming an obsession and all I can say is: be careful. It's highly addictive. I've already download months of things to print and am contemplating another printer already! Will I ever even need everything I'm considering printing? Maybe. Maybe not. But it's fun to see all the models come to life. Thanks again!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You've hit the nail on the head. Too many things to print and paint! I just added resin printing to the mix and now it's minis and more. Thanks for the kind word! Enjoy and all the best!

[@bahtgwai856]

I put together my Photon Mono SE last week and I have used 1kg of resin already. It's so addictive! I supported a kickstarter of a Monastery stls, but I don't think I can do it with a resin printer. Seriously thinking of getting an fdm printer just so I can make those buildings. But, it might have to wait.

[@d99x4z4]

Thanks for the video. Those were exactly the points I needed to know! 👍

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You’re welcome. Glad to hear it was helpful. It’s been some time since I posted this one and the technology keeps getting better. I really want to do a speed comparison with a standard FDM printer and one of the newer, faster printers just to see what the difference is. I have a new-ish Bambu Carbon X1 that’s just begging to be raced. All the best!

[@Lexaire]

You're using a fairly expensive printer as far as the hobby goes. Printing that sheet of clips is not something my Ender 3 could reliably do. Also on a budget, the filament can be pretty cheap. $15 a kg or less. But I'm glad you brought up the time issue. It takes a lot of time to print (and paint) your own terrain pieces, especially if you're on a schedule and need to have things ready for the next session. But they're reusable, particularly the dungeon tiles, so it's a great investment.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Great points. The price of printers keeps going down as the quality goes up. At $15 to $20 a spool, filament isn't really that expensive. I just printed a huge Printable Scenery War Cottage. It took a lot of hours but really only cost me about $20. Considering what a nice building like that might cost retail... it's a great deal. Thanks for watching and for the comments!

[@oubobcatsrule]

I'm thinking about changing from an Wanhao i3 Plus to an Ender 3 Pro. What is it about the Ender that can't reliability print the clips? I've heard lots of good things about the Ender 3 and it's quality.

[@scott17601]

I disagree about the print quality of the Ender 3, I'd have 100% confidence that my Ender 3 could bang out the clips with more than enough quality. I'm 100% on board with the other comments about painting and re usability.

[@michael9601]

Just wondering why you think an Ender 3 couldn't print the clips reliably. I just bought an Ender 5 pro and I sure hope it can print those clips.. :)

[@jasonstatham5879]

I found for the time and the amount of filament used, I like using the Dungeons and Lasers tiles. Nice detail, great price and the Kickstarters have a ton of extra bits.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

The time is pretty rough. A bigger nozzle can speed things up at the expense of detail. One thing that all of this 3D printing technology is doing for gaming is allowing people to not only make their own but allow entrepreneurs to design, prototype, and then mass produce cool things for gamers. It opens up options that I didn't have when I was in high school and high tech was grid paper! Thanks for the comment for folks to check out!

[@ClassicTophatGaming]

As someone who also 3D prints dungeons tiles (In resin) I found it MUCH MUCH quicker to print some masters and then cast a mould of them and make them that way.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You are spot on! I was working on a book nook project and needed multiple doors. People kept asking if I could send them a few doors and it ultimately made more sense to mold and cast them. Instead of 4 hours a door... more like 5 minutes while the plastic resin cures.It's a bit of an investment in the mold making material and plastic resin but it really makes a lot of sense if you need to produce a lot of things quickly! Thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback!

[@fredfaour411]

I enjoyed this video. It was full of good information. I want to get a solid setup and have two printers banging these tiles out non-stop. Once my set is complete, I won't need to print anymore unless I just need a single piece for a specific adventure.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Fred Faour that’s the beauty! I had to keep reminding myself that the investment in time is an upfront heavy lift. Then... like you said... it’s just the one-offs and specialty pieces to round out the specific encounter. Thanks for the feedback and comment!

[@scott2115]

Outstanding! Thanks - really enjoyed the video.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks! I really appreciate that. I've been feeling like I need a follow up. It's a popular topic.

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

I've gotta bump up the print speed on my next slice. Right now my hallways are taking 9 hours each, 0.2 layer height, no infill (Fat Dragon Games' models). One change I would warn a newbie is that open lock is the way to go! Sure I can use conversion clips with my Dragonlock tiles, but I wish I went with Open Lock from the get go. Second advice, never underestimate how much is enough for you! I have a set of dungeon and cavern tiles the size shown here and it's not enough. So I'm now doubling the size of each set. I aim to have a huge set laid out before my players arrive, all under a sheet, so I can get that Wow factor from them!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Agreed! It's amazing how many tiles you end up needing... shocking really! One of the great things about locking tiles is you can build the set pieces and reveal them as needed. The wow factor is real for sure. Happy printing!

[@Hellfirem4ge]

Great job, hope the channel keeps growing :)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks! So many ideas... video... so time consuming ;). Thanks for the encouragement! It keeps me going for sure.

[@nellen55]

you seem like a fun dm, you got my sub

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks! I just wish I could keep all of the rules straight! It's a lot to keep track of.

[@Cooleocarter]

With stepper motors it’s more accurate if you do full or half steps. So on the ender 3 as an example it’s best to do it at increments of .2, I’m not as familiar with your printer but might be something to look into.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Sorry for the late reply! It's something I'll look into. There are so many factors that go into getting good and fast. Rigidity of the entire printer is a big one too and I think I probably have a little wiggle in there as well. Thanks for the insight and recommendations! Happy printing!

[@mrtendollarman6157]

I dont play table top games. I dont own a 3d printer and/or any miniatures. I have never painted one but I still watched and like the hole video.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Sorry for the late reply. Thank you for the comment. Making videos is challenging. I can talk a lot. I really applaud people who can keep it short and interesting. It’s good to get this input and thanks for watching!

[@michaelstreeto3889]

Ty vid was big help for me as a noob 3d printer just getting into table top games.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You bet! Glad it helped. The world of table top games is really incredible these days. So many options and ways to play. You can still play with nothing more than a pencil and paper or you can create 3D printed dungeons. Enjoy!

[@Xelgar]

awsome video, very very helpful , as i just got back into the hobby!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Welcome back! I think role playing games are better than ever! With all of the tools available you can go from old-school pencil and paper to fully digital! Have fun!!

[@thatguyfromca]

have you thought about using a 3D printed mold of a dungeon tile and then use something cheap and quick like Plaster of Paris to quickly make a bunch of dungeon wall pieces?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I haven't tried 3D printing molds but I've tried making molds out of silicone rubber. I think you could 3D print something that you could pop plaster out of but you'd need to make sure you don't have any undercuts where it could grab. I'd also maybe keep it to thin walls so there was a bit of flex to the mold and coat it so it had a bit of a release. Interesting idea! I honestly realize that I'm not really pushing the potential of 3D printing. I'm gonna keep this in mind the next time I need a mold!

[@PaulKostrzewa]

Very helpful video... I've been printing OpenLOCK Printable Scenery pieces from Terrain Tinker recently and am impressed with how well they look. I also have a small batch of DragonLock pieces and the DragonLock to OpenLOCK adapters for more options.

[@PaulKostrzewa]

FYI, a full build plate on my printer, with a mix of walls and tiles, takes me about 21 hours...

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It's amazing what printers are capable of and it's only going to continue to get better and faster. There's also a huge advantage in being able to print what you need when you need it. There are a bunch of ways to play but there's nothing more immersive than a mini and physical terrain. Thanks for the comment and all the best!

[@alanthomasgramont]

Thanks. It was fun. I've subscribed

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Welcome! Like the name suggest, pretty random at times but I lean heavily towards terrain, rpgs, dioramas, and things related.

[@calvincasaday7690]

Thanks for breaking it down.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You bet! I've been printing some large buildings for a project and really need to do some videos on those! All the best!

[@magichandsx5674]

great video thanks man!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You bet. I'm putting together one comparing printing on a "standard" FDM printer compared to a Bambu Carbon X1. Spoiler, the X1 is faster... but is it fast enough? All the best!

[@louis-philippeberube877]

Great video thank alot but ... What i realy whant to know is how your mini look next to the wall, do the square in the coner still fit a medium size mini/charather ? (Are the wall taking place from the 1' square)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Great question! Sorry it took a minute to get back to you... I wanted to bust out some tiles and take some pictures: kzbin.info/door/NOdYmZqklWKOcKfvU7YI9Acommunity The answer is, as always seems to be the case, it depends. It will depend on the system. However, even within the same company, there will be variation. The pictures are both tiles from Printable Scenery. The standard floor tiles have walls that are attached outside of the floor. The cavern tiles have the walls included within the floor and take up around 1/4" or 6mm. I think most/many tile systems try really hard to keep floor tiles consistent and work to come up with clever ways to add walls without having them take up floor space. Hope that helps! Thanks for the question! Cheers!

[@KrittyKatrite]

Thanks for the breakdown!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for watching! Hope you found it helpful. I'm trying to decide if gamers are interested in terrain or resin printing miniatures... bit of both?

[@KrittyKatrite]

@@RandomMakingEncounters I'm personally into both. Just bought my own resin printer, so I'm excited to learn as much as I can

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

@@KrittyKatrite awesome! Stay tuned. I'm working on a video about model orientation and supports for resin printing. Nothing hyper-technical... just tips to get better prints without a lot of fussing around.

[@Maxwell7724]

I like the video man. You got yourself another subscriber ;)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Welcome to the randomness!

[@ztrek2000]

I use a 0.8 nozzle with 0.6 layer height. I could print out those basic tiles in about 20 minutes. Just giving some helpful advice.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Todd! Thanks! That's the magic of 3D printing... so many ways to slice and dice. Agree, you can put a bigger nozzle, increase layer height, and increase your overall print speed to bang these things out.

[@foley2k2]

I learned a trick from other channels - increase your line width to cut time. 150% of nozzle diameter is what you can get away with at decent quality. Since there are fewer lines, your print time will drop by about 33%. If you have a bowden extruder, listen for missed steps. If you don't hear any, you're good to go. If you do, you may have to bump up the heat on the extruder. I print PLA at 205C.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

@@foley2k2 one of the great things about printing your own is the ability to dial in the setting to meet your personal needs. Some things can be a little on the loose side and look really good... especially if you're going to paint them.

[@budgrandy1035]

A few things!one-i've never seen someone reply to there com.boc like u!thanks!two-i've played for yrsrs (35yrs to tell the truth) well anyway new to 3-d printer(5 days) now A lot better informed on new projects!thanks again!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It's amazing how things have changed... from graph paper and pencil to digital maps. There's still some charm to a more analog approach but 3D printing opens all sorts of possibilities. All the best!

[@robot7759]

Great video. In my experience making those by hand wouldn't even take half the time, including painting. I'll pass 😊 However, might be interesting for figures.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Figures and scatter terrain print really well on resin printers. There's something very rewarding about hand-building terrain. I'm actually kinda with you that I like fabricating... I'm a little impatient when it comes to 3D printing :). Cheers!

[@AKARazorback]

Please try printing these with your resin printer, im super curious how that'd work out!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Great idea! Busting out the camera.

[@AKARazorback]

@@RandomMakingEncounters Did you ever try this? I find this video again and just realise I commented on this way back when haha

[@djanny8951]

thank you for this video :)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You are very welcome and thank you for watching. Printed terrain is a bit of time up front but tons of fun when you have 'em! All the best!

[@cristiaolson7327]

"You'll need a machine that can run 14 hours." *Laughs in the 52 hour terrain print job that is 83% complete on my printer right now... It's addictive. I just ordered a third printer (mid-size resin printer because my FDM is great for terrain but I want extra detail on minis and certain objects). The key is choosing prints that are highly reusable across campaigns and locations. I spent a few weeks sort of steadily building up a cavern and dungeon set, then outdoors, now I'm building up an urban tile set. It does take a long time to print a big job, but my Ender 3 print bed fits 9 tiles comfortably, and it can run while I work, sleep, or carry on with life, so my my actual time invested doing anything is pretty minimal.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I know... silly me. I've gotten better at longer print runs. You really need to have it all dialed in so you don't end up with tangled or broken filament... nozzle clogs... things popping off the print bed... gremlins... Mondays.! It's not really the printer but the little details that keep it all running smoothly. 3D printing does require a bit of learning. Thankfully filament and time are pretty affordable these days! Hope your print run turned out amazing! Cheers!

[@cristiaolson7327]

@@RandomMakingEncounters I've been fortunate to have relatively few printer mishaps, and the ones I did have (clogged nozzle, poor adhesion leading to "spaghetti", delamination), I ultimately traced back to low quality filament. I spent about a three weeks learning as much as I could about my printer while I waited for it to arrive in the post, and I think that helped tremendously with shortening the learning curve.

[@TheOilerfan99]

Where did you find sets of 60 pre-made dungeon tiles for US$50-100? Dwarven Forge would set you back around US$150 for the amount you printed and with far less variety (not counting shipping costs). For we Canadians who would need to pay in US$, it would cost us $200 for your set at a cost of approx. $50 in filament. It seems to me that, apart from the time element, doing it yourself would be far cheaper. Great video by the way!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I think I was either huffing too many filament fumes or it may have been from a site where they would run those Printable Scenery tiles for you... probably the first option. You're right! In the grand scheme of things, printing is the way to go. Now that printers are so affordable and the price of filament becomes more competitive, if you plan on using tiles and terrain, 3D printing is pretty attractive. Thanks for the input and thanks for watching!!

[@lexzbuddy]

Very helpful, thanks

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It looks like you spent some time with the videos. Thanks for watching and thank you for all of your comments. I'm glad you found some helpful content in there.

[@lexzbuddy]

@@RandomMakingEncounters Looks like a good channel you have going here. I wish I had found it earlier. It's like all the stuff I have been learning over several month in one place. The difference being you actually go through everything & that REALLY helps. So thanks mate, great stuff.

[@jimgreene3863]

Well being 2021 after the nasty Corvid mess this gets easier because of RESIN printing being quite a low cost for some really great printers and because of how they work time to print one item is the same as several as long as they fit on the print stage I love RESIN printing

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I’m with ya! I love resin printing too. The best thing, beyond the detail, is that you can load up the printer and the time is determined by the layer height. I can print faster than I can paint! Cheers!

[@McPatMan124]

For tiles like that, if you were really going for speed, a SLA printer would be able to do a lot in little amount of time.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

The real limitation with SLA is bed size. You can load up the plate for sure and speed is a factor of print height. It would be interesting to calculate how many tiles and time to print to get a comparison. On something the size of an Elegoo Saturn, it could be a real time saver.

[@joshuapicaro8726]

That’s cavern at 6:50 is inspiring. My players would love it. Is it possible to create multiple pieces at once? Would you be able to reuse Hess pieces for your next map?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Absolutely! With these tile sizes, I can print multiples at a time. I usually do a bit of mix and match depending on what I need for the particular encounter. The tiles clip together and can be reused-very rugged. Thanks for watching!!

[@gadge75]

Using a Resin based printer would allow you to print multiple pieces in parallel rather than in sequence. FDM can print multiple pieces in a single print job, but it's still one layer laid down to a single piece at a time whereas resin printing can print one layer of ALL pieces in a single exposure reducing your print to time to whichever piece takes longest.

[@patrickshores4118]

@@gadge75 resin would be incredibly expensive for something like dungeon tiles

[@FineDiceyDesigns]

Good video, what was you type configuration of your 60pieces set? Walls, bridges,…?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm sorry for the late reply. I'm not sure I understand the question. If you're still curious, post a few more details and I'll be better at replying in a timely manner! Cheers!

[@lavvgiver]

Great video. Appreciate you taking the time. ... as an aside, where did you get the Skull and Crossbone wall decor?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

LOL! Made that one... there's a vid if you're interested. The short answer is the skull is printed from a Thingiverse file (with a fair bit of automotive filler) and the bones where some cheap Halloween bones. I made the hat from a chunk of felt. It's animatronic and talks like the skull at the beginning of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Thanks for watching and all the best!

[@1GonzalezAR1]

very helpful. Thank you!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for watching! Glad it helped.

[@wingwalker007]

I’m just at the beginning of your video…. But I’d say no, use wood and xps foam. It is for doors and scatter terrain, but not for walls or floors

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Sorry for the late reply. Printers are getting faster but I'm not sure they're fast enough. Another option is to make master tiles and then pour molds of them and then use some sort of casting material (even something as simple as hydrocal) to pour a bunch of tiles. The thing I really love about DnD and RPG in general is you can be as low or high-tech as you want and still have a heck of a good time. I started playing DnD a million years ago and all we had was graph paper. Thanks for the comment and happy gaming! Cheers.

[@brunao410]

Ty man

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You are most welcome!

[@joshuaclouse7610]

I just got into the hobby about a year ago and I'm having the trouble of just randomly printing terrain. I do like the fdm for terrain, but I feel like I could do building and such a more efficient way. Could you suggest where my wife and I could attempt to make the card stock buildings and such?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

There are a variety of great resources out there. One KZbinr you should check out is Black Magic Craft. Lots of great tips for making both tiles and scratch built terrain. If you’re looking for something a little more 2D, 2minutetabletop.com is a fun resource and I’ve really been impressed with dungeonfog.com. Dungeon fog let’s you build maps and then you can print them out and tile them together on your battle map. Another resource for files to DIY maps and dungeons is roll20.net. They have a lot of great artists that have really reasonable downloads of dungeon art that you can build your own maps and 2D buildings. The only downside to just buying the bits and pieces is you need some ability to put them all together in some sort of software. It could be as complex as Photoshop or even as simple as PowerPoint. I hope that helps a little. Happy gaming!! Cheers!

[@gooner424]

Just came across the channel, great info and thanks for the recommendations. I think I'll give the printable terrain a shot. Do you primarily print in grey? I've been using Black but was thinking of switching.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Ya know... if you end up painting them, I think it makes sense to print them in black. I always start with a dark primer and then dry brush progressively lighter shades of gray and other grunge. Starting with black as your material reduces the amount of primer you need to cover-you just need enough to give it some tooth! Then... you already have your deepest dark defined. I think the gray is nice if you just want a neutral color and don't plan on painting. There are also some speckled "stone" filaments out there that are a little intriguing but they're usually a little on the premium price side. Thanks for watching and happy you came across the channel. I think I need to post some additional printed terrain vids!

[@joey_evans]

Love your caverns! Which set did you end up getting? I can't seem to find the one that matches your display.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It looks like they have changed up their site a bit but I think these are the Open Lock Caverns - www.printablescenery.com/product/open-lock-cavern-tiles/

[@thekittenslayer6120]

Great stuff

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks! More to come. Too many projects... too few hours.

[@mathewcoppola8622]

Just wondering if you ever ended up painting them? If so, what did you use? Getting a printer next month and I'm going to be making some tiles myself.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I have a video on the list to cover painting. I think these would paint up nicely. I zapped 'em with a primer that has a filler in it to help reduce print lines. Nothing special... just rattle-can primer you can get from the hardware store. It sounds like you're already painting terrain so the real trick is to make sure you have a repeatable formula for your painting so tiles stay reasonably consistent from batch to batch. All the best with the printer! It's amazing what things you find to make. I have more to do that time to do it :)!

[@zachchenoweth6622]

Your print times are insanely fast. Mine take about 4x as long as yours...

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I really cranked the settings for speed. It sacrifices a bit of quality but it’s cavern sooooo... not so concerned. I do slow down when doing buildings or dressed stone.

[@python27au]

The problem i have is that there are so many options I don’t know what to do.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Right?! That's the problem with 3D printing. It's so hard to decide what to print first. We were running a cavern campaign so that's what drove me to these. There are a lot of great buildings out there as well if you just want to focus on structures. I wish all of this was available when I was a kid playing in high school. I feel like my life might have been a little different... not much... but a little. All the best!

[@python27au]

Yeah Its kinda sad stuff i dreamed about as a kid is finally becoming real and affordable and I’m getting old don’t have the energy to keep up. Like the dungeon tiles, I’m DMing curse of strahd and I’m looking at all the options for creating the buildings and dungeons it just seems overwhelming. What files do i get that both fit with the setting and can easily recreate the maps? Which are the best walls doors windows? What files go with each other? It would be nice if i could just look through a catalogue and pick out the dungeon/room and there was a zip that had all the files i needed. Cheers mate 👍

[@zhoupact8567]

I am sadly not a good guy to do stuff like this. I have 1 prusa printer I that has a relatively minor problem. I may even just have to change the nozzle for the first time. Although I think there is an issue with the extruder in general. Likely just a easy fix though that I am too lazy and dumb to fix, at least yet. However I even have a 2nd prusa printer that I have only built like 1/10 on and its almost a year since I got it. On the other hand I have a 35 kg of plastic if not more just waiting to be made into stuff. Unfortunately I fell out with my brother or I could probably get help from him with some of that stuff. I may just end up having to try to sell it or something if I can not get my ass to actually fix the darn things. This is why one should have friends into fixing and poking into stuff. "Hey buddy, I bought this dumb printer a while ago, but I never built it, please build it for me. If you do, perhaps you can also fix this one that seems to not work right. In exchange I will let you borrow one of them for a few months and give you some rolls to play around with." >.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I think printers will become more and more user friendly. I hear ya though... when something goes wrong, it can be overwhelming trying to fix it. Filament jams, clogs, bed leveling... so many things to learn. Even though I like some of the things that 3D printing can do, I still really like making things by hand with simple tools and materials... very rewarding. I'm not sure where you're located but you might look into seeing if there are any "Makerspaces" around. You might be able to find a local group that can help on the technical side. Maybe a local DnD group with some members interested in 3D printing. Best of luck! Happy gaming!

[@PehBlue]

Awesome. Can you please pass the link for you scenery? I am trying to find in the site but without success.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You bet. Here's the link www.printablescenery.com/ Unfortunately... or fortunately... I'm not sponsored or endorsed by this company so no discount codes to share. I've had good luck with their models and I think they're pretty well thought out. All the best.

[@xornxenophon3652]

It is very nice, but I think, you would have had an easier time if you had limited yourself to those rock-pillars and the walls, without bothering for the floor of the cave. You could have mixed between printed things and things made our of styrofoam (for the floor of the cavern) or another material. In my experience, printing large parts of floor is not very efficient, when compared to other solutions, like styrofoam or anything similar.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You bring up a great point and I've been noodling it after reading your comment. I think there are a couple of strategies... use the tiles to create the interlocking structure and build up or build the tiles quickly and print the structure. I'm playing with a couple tests exploring both. Honestly... I'm kinda terrible at texturing foam. Thanks for sharing!

[@itismee18]

Do you know Dungeon Blox? May also be interesting for you.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I am definitely going to look that up! Archon Studio just recently sent me a few tiles I've been playing with. I'm thinking about doing a bit of a deep dive into the difference in printing versus buying tiles. There are more and more people selling some great products out there. Tiles feel expensive to buy... but I'm not sure if printing is always a clear winner. All the best and thanks for the suggestion!

[@jeffunderwood209]

Nice Video. Subscribed.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for the feedback. It keeps me going knowing that folks find them helpful.

[@txanton9793]

where did all the comments go

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Not sure?

[@patrick.bastiaensen]

i realy need a 3D printer

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

It's a slippery slope but I find it freakishly handy. You just need to always ask yourself before you buy something, "Can I print that?" For example... I have nooooooo idea why I still buy bases for my figures? I forget sometimes and they would be the easiest thing in the world to print. Prices keep coming down as quality and features go up... :)

[@MrPoporucha]

@@RandomMakingEncounters One of the good and also WEIRD things about 3d printers is that, unlike other kind of mechanical tools, they tend to get better performance over time, given you give them propper maintenance and updates...the little weirdos :V

[@VoidariumComic]

"I could just continue to use them unpainted..." In the name of the God Emperor, Your planet has been sentenced to Exterminatus

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

LMAO! Completely justified... pure heresy.

[@brettstringfellow9352]

Flat Tile, 2 inches square, 52 minutes. Took him forever to finally say it. Go to 12:10 for times. jfc

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

LOL! I constantly try to shorten my videos. I gotta get better at distilling those essential nuggets out of the content. Cheers!

[@spidiemangmail]

how has your experience been on minis vs terrain?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I've never tried to print figures. My particular printer wouldn't have the resolution for minis. Now that resin printers have come waaaaay down in price, I have a resin printer that I use when I really need fine detail and they work great for minis. They can be a little fragile though. I'm still trying to find the best resin that is durable enough for tabletop play but prints easily. Most of the rugged resins I see require warming... probably due to the solids in them that produce the strength. I do love filament printers for larger projects that get use and abuse.

[@merlindraws3616]

I print very nice minis on a powerspec ultra pro, which is just a rebranded flashforge dreamer. it's nearly identical to the creator. Running a .2 nozzle on it and slowing way down. (I usually run at 30, but will sometimes drop to 15 if I really really want it to look good). You will spend about two hours on a medium sized creature and you can see things like buttons. My most recent print was of Crawling Claws, and you can see the fingernails on a hand who's base is smaller than a dime.

[@merlindraws3616]

There are subreddits for 3d printed minis and a lot of people post GREAT figs using an ender 3. I've come to believe that any printer of reasonable quality can make minifigs

[@chrissyoutubechannel8679]

You can’t download from thingiverse free

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Correct. These particular tiles aren’t free. However, Thingiverse does have many free tiles and the “Openlock” system is intended to be a free and universal system for connecting tiles. Printable Scenery does have some free downloads to try out their models. Please note... this isn’t any endorsement one way or another for any vendor. I pay full price for everything and use a bunch of different sources depending on the project.

[@shawnbrunelle5449]

better to make your own, paying for dwarven forge is ludicrous. who do they think they are games workshop?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Quality printers have come down in price so much that it really is attractive to print your own. I get it that time is money so companies have a lot of things to factor in… but you can print a lotta stuff on a pretty inexpensive spool of filament! Cheers!

[@christianninsananda9626]

Great video... I would just like to point you and others to free 3D terrain -- do a search on Openforge on the Thingiverse website. Lots of free 3D stuff on Thingiverse.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thingiverse is a great resource. There are also a lot of free models over on MyMiniFactory and other sites as well. You bring up a great point that the resources are really growing with a lot of great creators on Patreon and spinning up Kickstarter campaigns. The world is our 3D oyster... probably a model for that too! Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@leversofpower]

Scatter not tiles

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I think you’re saying scatter is worth it but maybe not tiles. I agree there for sure. It’s a huge investment in time to print tiles when there are some very affordable tile sets out there or faster ways to crank ‘em out. I’ve been thinking about doing a comparison between printed tiles and purchased. Thanks for watching and commenting! All the best.

[@Athooper15]

Mz4250 on shapeways have a rather large collection of stl files all D&D related. All files are free.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Awesome! I’ll check it out. Always looking for great resources. Thanks for the tip and all the best.