The Ultimate Debate on DIY vs Store-Bought Terrain

Dungeon's & Lasers: Encounters
gamefound.com/projects/archon...
Want cool terrain for D&D but don't want to craft it? In this video, we explore the reasons why you may want to augment your crafting or skip it entirely and just buy the things you need instead of DIY crafting them.

[@trikepilot101]

Largely for the algorithm: Print and paste is a great way to have good looking stuff with minimal talent, time and expense. It mostly uses the printer you probably own anyway.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Also making/using 2D terrain and map using just a normal printer can work to espelcly if you are mostly a 2D digital artist.

[@iout]

4:39 “Only a Sith deals in absolutes” “You’re absolutely right” Hang on just a second now…

[@banana4scale]

I started making tiles and decorations for DnD and ended up going through all the steps in the end it can be expesive, but the process makes it worth it, I love it

[@KRANGisKRANG]

not even joking im 13 years old rn and I got into d&d 4 days ago and I am now printing my own miniatures with a resin printer and making terrain from foam. I love this hobby and want to do it for a long time!

[@bryal7811]

1:34 This sums up the rabbit hole so much. If you dive into this hobby, you may not get everything in said order but you eventually get them..

[@Geordiecrafts]

congrats on the awesome sponsor, their stuff is amazing! I'm a crafter for life but sometimes it's nice to buy some pre-made items for the things I don't enjoy making as much haha

[@KnarbMakes]

Some things just arent worth crafting, haha

[@Geordiecrafts]

@Harriet Craig I've definitely had that experience. That's why selling my work has never been a goal for supplemental income, people just don't want to pay it haha

[@kgoblin5084]

So... Rabbit holes aside it has to be said that for the most useful starter pieces of d&d terrain, which would be tiles & dungeon pizzas, crafting it yourself is still probably cheaper than buying it. A lot of the kits Knarb recommended also require assembly or at least painting... Which I'm not sure that isn't leading to crafting. Less work on your part to be sure, but it's still going to potentially lure you into buying resin 🙂. For true buy-it-&-done options, look for cheap, flexible dungeon tiles & mats; preferably something that is whiteboard marker compatible. &/Or get a bunch of wooden blocks. One thing for sure... For gods-sakes avoid those terrain starter sets that give you a block of foam and a hobby knife, because those are a total ripoff. You can get 3x the material on your own at 1/2 the price

[@KnarbMakes]

Oh yeah absolutely, most things you will need to paint yourself or have to pay a ludicruous upcharge for pre-painted stuff.

[@brianahawkins8124]

Very incredible!!! If you create Casita in a dollhouse size for barbie's, Disney hasbro dolls, monster high, ever after high, any doll I would gladly buy it. See you next time.

[@WeltenbauerClub]

Starting as a dm this upcoming wednesday. Thanks for reminding me that i dont need to build stuff myself 🙈😅

[@KnarbMakes]

Good luck! And yeah take a break sometimes.

[@HacksawsHobbyBunker]

Great advice. I had someone tell me once that playing rpgs with minis and terrain was the "incorrect" way to play. I still don't understand how my figures hurt them, but whatever. They are free to do whatever they want.

[@hyosworld109]

I really like using mdf kits as the "bones" of my creations.

[@lordscan1047]

dont forget the handcraft skill factor, someone without talent like me, makes the crafting curve very steep, but that doesnt mean i wont get where i want, with practice, lots of it.

[@euansmith3699]

Knarb Makes the world a better place. Thank you for your continued efforts. 🤟

[@SteveFamine]

Fantastic video and grats on the sponsor man!

[@mrgunn2726]

Great video Knarb! You answer the make vs buy question, it is not about the cost of materials, it really boils down to the value of your time, because time is money. If spending money on terrain, so you can spend your time doing other things maximizes value for you, awesome! Then again, if you like crafting and have a limited budget, then spending your time crafting may be of more value. I love watching your videos, but I do not ever see myself buying a laser cutter. Heck I have Campaign Cartographer 3+ and I hardly use it, (shut up internet, I can figures it out, I am too smaat!) :P Thanks again for sharing!

[@KnarbMakes]

Right on Mr Gunn, spend your time and money wisely on the things that bring you joy!

[@asafoetidajones8181]

Right. I have a low income, but plenty of time, access to many tools and lots of talent. I can make nicer, cheaper terrain for pennies quicker than it would come in the mail for dollars. I tend to assume everyone else is in the same situation and wonder why people ever buy. But I guess more successful people have more money and less time so it makes sense for them.

[@AvrilLasagna21]

great video, great advice! and I agree the journey is the most fun !

[@AvrilLasagna21]

@Harriet Craig this is very true... bittersweet. Keep your favourites on the display shelf but some stuff you know that you're okay to send back to whence it came haha :)

[@danielramsey6141]

Finally there’s a video that talks about this issue! Thank you so much! Edit: it also does not solve this issue, and honestly it’s an issue that can only be fixed by the DM in question.

[@CCMinis]

If only there were a way to buy more time for crafting! Great video Knarb

[@KnarbMakes]

Right on. Thanks for watching Nick

[@DiceandDungeons]

We love 3d printing and painting our dungeons & dragons terrain, dungeon tiles, and miniatures. Fun hobby!

[@tomusannonymous]

True, I loved making my own terrain when I was younger and had no money for all the little extras you can get. So back then it was the cheaper option. but now, all those extras that are cheap individually REALLY ADD UP (since I can't help myself) and then it takes a lot of time to build it on top of that. I found an fdm printer is cheaper and quicker overall. But I've since fallen out of love with it because it can have so many issues and the prints aren't that enjoyable to paint. I much prefer the high quality of resin printed scenery, although I have to print it out bit by bit. Feels bad though I have a bunch of stuff for manual terrain building and I don't use most of it anymore and all that stuff cost me a lot.

[@BENBOI_1]

NOICE! good video as always. ( that slightly different audio sinc is bothering me though)

[@KnarbMakes]

Tried a new way of recording, and need to find why that happened. The audio says its synced in the program, so i thought it was just in my head

[@reneesteeves3698]

ohhh...Archon sent you some hills?!!! niiice

[@Packless1]

...once we had a guest-GM, an architecture-student who told us, why he WOULD NOT play tt-rpg with models... ...he told us, that he once had a group, that didn't appreciate his efforts at all, when he once drawed a plan of a temple (it was in the early 90s, before CAD-programs and PCs were widely available) so he did the whole drawing by hand, including the fine details like the column-capitals in greek-roman style... ...it took him weeks to finish the handout... ...and the party watching it for a few seconds: "...yeah, nice, lets loot it and then burn it down...!" ...i can understand, why he was p****d...! 😠 P.S. ...i like nice handouts...!👍 ...that's how i came to worldbuilding...and 3d-printing...!

[@waynedaly100]

Its well worth it if you have the time and enjoy it, I buy stuff but I also make stuff so it balances out, and I enjoy making terrain a lot more than painting minis lol

[@DarkFire0421]

How do you find places like that ? Do I just type In nerd dungeon in my area to see what pops up or is there an underground rail road or gypsy hideout like in the hunch back of Notre Dame that takes a mape made of jewelry and a secret knock ? 🤔

[@KnarbMakes]

Search for "makerspace in XYZ city" and see what pops up? Basically what I did.

[@hervebuteau169]

Well said!

[@timothyyoung2962]

Never used terrain in any of my RPGs, since most of them are open world sandbox style games with interconnected plots, it would be nearly impossible to have all the terrain for every possible occasion. Dungeon hacking or set plots in set locations maybe, but my games rarely playout like that. Now I usually make my terrain for our mini games like Stargrave or This Is Not A Test. Which is much easier and more practical.

[@theJellyjoker]

I'm going to start making and selling terrain parts soon.

[@MichalKaczorowski]

If you don't have time but have money: buy. If you don't have money but have time: make.

[@House-Atreides]

Holy shit GW! $100 for a wall I can make with $1 kebob sticks!! Please people….flip to One Page Rules and stick it in their eye! Nice vid Knarb as always!

[@KnarbMakes]

It's one of the weaker sets they put out, haha... Was an easy cherry pick to illustrate a point. Some of their other stuff is at least a lot more detailed.

[@Zack_Wester]

for me I would say buy terrain that looks like it will be difficult to make yourself. like this statue of a heroic character might be better to buy the model from X then trying to cut one out of a foam board. that medieval cottage that unharmed make it yourself (if you can even find one for sale in a store).

[@mysticusfreeze]

Tons of libraries have 3d printers!!!

[@jarenalfred66]

do you get a free leshey mini? I couldn't find anywhere that it said that on the site?

[@KnarbMakes]

Yeah, I believe it was offered to those who followed early. Not sure when that ended if it's not offered anymore. You do get a full Tarrasque now with every pledge it seems.

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

Dungeon Pizzas!!!!

[@FrankyDCrafter]

You have to take advantage of everything around you.

[@gettingpolitical]

Is it a debate though? I think if someone can afford 3d printed terrain great go get it. I've been making all my buildings, terrain, etc from cardboard since 1989. It's cheap, I enjoy making it, I'm happy with what I use. Yes I have 3-d printed buildings and foam buildings as well. But I prefer the DIY, both are great and as long as those playing with them enjoy the atmosphere built it's all that matters in my opinion. Either option works for me in the long run as they both can help bring the world alive.

[@soledude]

👍👍👍

[@onlynerds4950]

Crafting can be fun.....buying stuff? well

[@Gauldame]

On the time thing Several of my friends have told me "If you buy the terrain you end up saving money because time is money." Me "how is buying the terrain saving me time?" Them "It's premade and painted and..." I'm going to stop you right there Me "No it's not." ... I have literal gigs of 3d files for terrain from the Solgood kickstarter for feeding people in Ukraine...but I have to print them (en masse and my print plate is only so large), clean them, sand and cure them, prime them and paint them. I have been gifted rather nice terrain kits. Which (many) are still in pieces because I have to prep them, cut them out, assemble them, prime them, and paint them. How is this different from making it myself? I'm still confused, because the "premade" take me the same amount of time as doing it myself. If it was a completely made, painted and set up scenario that's different. But it's not. It's still crafting it. And if it was completely done? Jesus, the pricetag on that would make GW pop a Jimmy Space boner.

[@KnarbMakes]

The stuff you make yourself needs to be painted too. Assembling a kit is way faster than making the equivalent building/design from scratch... unless you've uncovered some sort of secret cheat codes that I want to know about....

[@LightsLuck-]

Dwarven forge comes pre painted. My time is definitely worth more than the time it would take to craft a Kickstarter mega pledge worth of equal terrain. Shit, my time is worth more than the money I'd save buying it unpainted and painting myself. I'm sure as hell not going to hand craft something from scratch.

[@bunnyonabunwithagunnicepun5689]

GW™©® Moment lol

[@solid_jr]

Wait... rpg's, terrain and toy soldiers is nerdy? When did this happen? Sorry, I'm just learning my friends and family might think I'm nerdy.... ouch... you need to make a video about how to boost the average gamers cool factor... (is that even possible) And have you noticed that your players look a lot like you?

[@solid_jr]

Oh and if you ever feel the urge to toss any terrain into the bin, let me know... I'd buy your terrain any day of the week. Assuming (safely) that your prices are better than GWs, that is. Especially your cathedral.... man, it broke my heart seeing you recycle that beauty.

[@KnarbMakes]

Haha, will do! And don't worry, I think nerds are now the cool crowd anyway.

[@samsowden]

Diet coke is vile, so, no?

[@briankito1655]

Sir, you are certainly cheating at crafting with your fancy laser. And I say this from a place of complete and utter jealousy, so you know it's true.

[@cap10dave]

Come buy some board from the dollar store

[@tbecker403]

What kind of monster drinks Diet Coke? I’m out, bro. UNSUBSCRIBE!!!

[@KnarbMakes]

Only professional stunt players