Floor Plans
In the past I've done full 3D and 2.5D builds, but this is going to be a bit less monumental. All this group has seen is maps drawn on Inkarnate and shown via Roll20. I'm looking forward to showing them another way, and experience has taught me that when players actually see terrain, they interact more with it, like the glow around objects in video games.
I plan to use my trusty Pathfinder mats, with some hand drawn prepared floor plans for special areas. I could print off the Inkarnate stuff, but that's a lot of ink, and I want to show that you don't need fancy software to enjoy the game.
There's also the minor issue of furnishings. I try and have the Inkarnate maps as detailed as possible, but sometimes circumstances (the characters) can change them. It's not much of a problem if it's just moving a chest, but it can be more dramatic, as in the incident where the party deliberately collapsed a ceiling to stop a horde of gnolls. I won't be able to print off new maps part way through the game, so drawing and scenery models are the way to go.
I'll try and draw out a few special encounter areas. Previously, I've used 1 inch squared flip chart pages, but these are nearly gone, and I can't find replacements at a reasonable price. However, I did find a product called "spot and cross paper", used in dressmaking for patterns. This alternates dots and crosses on the vertices of a grid, and it's available in inches. A roll cost me under £17 for 10m on Amazon, and it's better quality paper than the flip chart too.
Scatter Terrain
I've plenty of unpainted Mantic Terrain Crate stuff, which will come in useful, but I've already identified some gaps in what I need. For speed (and economy) I might use some of the Crooked Staff Print and Paste terrain, my limited experience suggests that it should be good.
But what do I actually need?
As always, the goal is to finish up with a terrain set useable for many games.
While it would be nice to do a special piece just for this adventure, I suspect that time is against me, so, to begin with at least, it's going to be fairly generic.
Tombs are a must, there's plenty of exploring still to do in the crypts.
Rubble/rubbish piles are always good, providing some cover if high enough, difficult terrain, great for hiding in or behind and very atmospheric.
Pillars, again good for partial cover and to prevent being surrounded. They also help a large underground space to seem more believable.
General Furniture; beds, chests, tables, crates and barrels. More stuff to add 'realism' and introduce stuff for the characters to interact with. I won't bother with benches or chairs, they can be assumed, and the models tend to get in the way. That said, if they are present, someone's bound to pick one up and hit someone else with it.
Special Furniture, such as altars, weapon racks, torture equipment, tents etc. may or may not be made. It's down to time available. A stone table* could stand in for an altar.
I suppose tombs really fall into this category, but they are such a significant feature of the Abbey, that I couldn't really leave them out.
But enough waffle, time for some actual terrain.
Speedpainted Tomb
Here's a tomb from Mantic's Dungeon Saga game. It's supposed to be for a dwarf, hence the small size, but I think it looks fine. It's really an experiment in using Speedpaints to see if they are practical for getting the Terrain Crate stuff done quickly.
I started with an Army Painter Dark Tone wash, followed by a white drybrush. Then it was a simple coat of Army Painter Speedpaint Holy White. The result is a grey rather than white, but it looks ok.
To add a bit of extra interest I painted the very top section in Vallejo Game Color Hammered Copper and then stippled Vallejo Game Effects Verdigris over it, especially in and around any cracks and flaws.
I really like the result, but I've only two or three of the model, so it's not really a practical choice for the adventure.
I might reserve it for any particular special undead the party meets. Clearly I need to find an alternative for the tombs in the game.
Well, Well, Well
And as a bonus, here's the Dungeon Saga well. I painted one a while back to use in Frostgrave. This one is more experimenting with Speedpaints for Terrain Crate models. Besides, there are wells in the Abbey, should I ever need a model.
Briefly, wash and dry brush just as the tomb, then I picked out various stones with various Speedpaints, including Pallid Bone, Gravelord Grey, Hardened Leather and Sand Golem.
The whole lot was given a light dry brush of VGC Bonewhite to soften the harsh contrasting colours, then a coat of matt varnish, both to lose the glossy finish and to protect the Speedpaints. I worry that excess water (such as a spilled drink at a game shop) will reactivate them causing a colourful mess.
So there's a lot of waffle and my first two minis for the Season of Scenery. There's plenty more (especially tombs) to come.
I'm fitting in the terrain building amongst the mini painting, it's a nice change of pace.
*I suppose the Dungeon Saga tomb would work as a stone table, but it does look rather funereal.
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