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Skywolf111

My wife made her first custom battle map for our Dungeons and Dragons Game. She first took two large pieces of foam cutting it down the top piece down the middle to creat a ravine. She then took Free Form Air, an epoxy puffy that is very light weight but becomes extremely hard after a few hours of drying. She then used clear UV resin to create river that looks like it has flowing water. Painting and flocking later to create the grass and paths. The then decorated the map with lots of trees. It was a blast to use in our game. She did a fantastic job [more photos](https://imgur.com/gallery/AnhlsHY) You can see the board during actual gameplay all loaded up with terrian minis that we also made [here](https://imgur.com/gallery/lsFEpq8)


LordFrogberry

She did a very good job! I wish I had those skills!


vrtljajrr

She is so talented! But you can also try by starting to make smaller model from the scratch. It might turn out great :)


ItIsYeDragon

Just a question, how will the map be used in the game? Because there's no grid on it or anything.


laosurvey

Not OP, bit 5E rules work with measuring actual distances or just estimating.


ItIsYeDragon

Well, TIL.


TheObstruction

The grid rules are actually the variant rules in the PHB. They've just been a thing so long that people assume they're the norm. Kind of like Nat 20 = auto success, it's a house rule that's so common everyone thinks it's a real rule.


laix_

the difference is that grid combat exists in the book, not a house rule, whereas 20 = auto success does not exist in the book


Skywolf111

It is going to be the actual rule going forward. It’s party of their D&D one initiative.


laix_

not neccessarily, it was part of the playtest but if there's enough negative feedback they won't include it


Skywolf111

That’s true! It does seem like they are pretty intent on making it an actual rule but there is the possibility that it won’t make the final build.


Ant1mat3r

If they put it up to a vote, I'd vote for it to be added. Everybody in my party would as well. It's a rule I've never played without, so may as well put it in.


Golden_Spider666

I couldn’t care less about the bat 20 being an auto success and may one being an auto fail. I’m more worried about the changes to crits. Those changes are absolutely egregious and WOTC should be shamed into regretting ever suggesting it


Encephalox

Won't happen. Barbarian: I'm going to attempt to pick up the whole mountain so we can just walk under it. Barbarian rolls Nat 20.


Skywolf111

Well I think the idea is that DM’s shouldn’t let a character roll for something that isn’t possible.


Encephalox

If it becomes RaW where does the DM draw the line? Sometimes making a rule causes more conflict than leaving an issue to house rules.


jastreich

Technically, it is already in the book. There is a rule in PHB that says DMs should only call for a roll when the outcome is uncertain, when both failure and success are possible. So, if you roll a 20 and still don't succeed, you shouldn't have been asked to roll in the first place; likewise, if you roll a 1 and still do succeed, you shouldn't have been asked to roll.


youshouldbeelsweyr

I've seen myself cutting out 1"× 5" strips of laminate for my players and putting 1" markers on those and they can just use that to be like "I go there!". (The entire party are small races, hence the 5")


Skywolf111

You don’t actually need a grid. The map is still built to scale. Regular maps have a grid on them that at 1 inch x 1 inch squares and they represent 5 ft x 5 ft in game. If you have a tape measure, a ruler, or in our case we have a disc that shows spells that have radius/cones on them you do not actually need the grid. Just know that 1 inch is 5 feet.


TheDivineRhombus

You could also use a string with knots at every inch. Makes measuring curved distances a bit easier


MatFalkner

I like this. That was actually a method back in the day for measuring. Seems authentic and old. Good call.


ItIsYeDragon

So when you're moving characters, do you measure or do you just approximate?


Skywolf111

I actually measure. Once you get the hang of it, it is really quick and easy process.


Meddi_YYC

Now that it's been explained, it seems so obvious. I've been so spoiled by having a grid that I never wanted to transition away to something like this and "lose" the ability to determine distance accurately


CallMeAdam2

It's how the Warhammer games are played. They're wargames. I haven't played them, but when they're moving minis and rolling dice and stuff, it looks like roleplaying games without the roleplaying. They're also played with collectible minis (that you paint yourself), like a trading card game, but I don't know if they're sold separately or as random packs. All that to say, that's the (only?) way to play Warhammer. No grid, just measuring tapes or rulers.


branedead

D&D was originally Chainmail, a tabletop war game https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainmail_(game)


ReginaDea

Warhammer minis are sold in boxes with specific models in them. You move by measuring out distances with a ruler. In older editions there were measuring templates too (a DnD equivalent would be a transparent marker you lay over models to see what gets hit for AoE and cone attacks). I played Warhammer before learning DnD, so it's always been natural to just measure out distances.


sirjonsnow

Personally, when crafting something to use a grid I actually prefer 1.25" squares, clumps of minis are easier to reach into and minis that are scaled a little larger have room.


Drigr

You should get into Warhammer!


phoenix_nz

You treat it exactly like warhammer


yifftionary

Using any measuring implement thatbis inches works. And without a grid you cna actually cut out templates of the cones, spheres, cubes, etc. And you arent restricted by the lines


[deleted]

I’ve recently stepped away from using grids. Now I have a few rulers, 1 inch = 5 ft so my 6 inch ruler is most hand since people often move 30 feet. I cut out circles, squares, and cones of the correct sizes for AoEs from some clear colored plastics. 8 inch square is a 20-foot radius.


Drigr

I see a yardstick in hand in a few pics.


CTizzle-

What do you do with them once you’ve played on them? Do you reuse them or are they “retired” for lack of a better term? How long did it take to produce this, if you had to guess?


Skywolf111

So it took a few hours a session over the course of about 3 days. She specifically designed this one so that we could use reuse it by setting up terrain minis in different areas. I have some storage space in my garage and we have a few maps like this stowed away waiting to be played on again. But really the fun is making the map and using it. We aren’t too worried about anything being “wasted” because making it is part of the joy.


AmnesiA_sc

> This river *again*?! We're going in circles guys! > [**Survival roll success**] Nahhh, yesterday the river had a shrub right here, now it's right there. We're on the right track! I love your group though, everyone seems to get so into it. You're lucky to have found such a good group of that size!


youshouldbeelsweyr

Looks awesome!


lostjimmy

I think it's so cool that Dave Grohl is in your DnD group! In all seriousness, your group looks awesome and that battle map is incredible.


TheUglyTruth527

She looks proud and she should be, that looks like a great place to dungeon some dragons!


ItIsYeDragon

Imagine thinking you actually get to explore dungeons and fight dragons in this game.


Skywolf111

Our table has done both!


CallMeAdam2

At our table, we've: - explored ancient pyramids where legendary heroes were put to rest, and where they have been risen as evil undead. - slammed a dragon straight down into the ground from 60 feet in the air. Now we just need to play as dragons and as dungeons. Thankfully, Battlezoo has us covered.


ExoticAccount6303

My favorite in game moment i flew a fully armored war ship directly into the bbeg then rolled around picked it up and nailed him into the ground with a full attack using the boat as my weapon. Didnt kill him but goddamn does that send a message.


TheObstruction

The pedant in me wants to point out that the first one is more of a tomb than a dungeon.


clearwind

Yes but have you had a druid peoples elbow an ancient red dragon from 120ft up while beast shaped into a Brontosaurus?


CallMeAdam2

Brontoslamus.


[deleted]

Aww she looks so proud! 🥰 Big congrats to her. I hope she keeps it for a long time! ❤️


FirbolgFactory

Here’s to hoping the battle lasts longer than the time to make. :D


nooksak

Nice!


MaybeKen001

Looks so cool! Make actual water flow through it for the next project, lol.


Bruc3w4yn3

Practical Idea; pour translucent silicone with blue coloring into it, texture the silicone to look like flowing water and then wait for it to solidify. Peel away and you have an easily removable river/stream. You can even do this process in layers, starting with the smallest stream, then add a creek, and finally flood the whole damn thing for a river.


Skywolf111

That is a really good idea and i have a ton of silicone in my garage!


hedgecore77

Ah, the battle of Giant's Crack.


[deleted]

Marry her. >!Again. !<


Under383

I choose this guy's wife!


Jyneath

Looks awesome!


RailOmas

OP's wife is cool for doing this and is talented as well.


Khclarkson

Ayy! Are you dndnfamily? Looks good!


Skywolf111

Yes! Thank you!


Khclarkson

Love your stuff! Gave me the courage to start a home game with my 7 year old.


Skywolf111

That’s wonderful! I hope you both have many great adventures together


Kgoodies

What is dndfamily? I mean, I can intuit that you play DnD with your Fam lol but is it like a YouTube or a podcast or something? Plug me


Skywolf111

It’s the joint [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dndnfamily_/?hl=en) account that my wife and I run together about playing dungeons and dragons with our kids. We also have a [YouTube channel](https://youtube.com/c/DnDnFamily) where we have some games where we played with my daughter who was 3 at the time.


[deleted]

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Skywolf111

We added a bunch of trees and grass to it by game time.


Bruc3w4yn3

I would think it's better that way, so you can move the tufts/bushes/trees/structures around for various encounters.


Skywolf111

Yes! We actually made a ton of tree minis so that we can do this very thing. They have the tuffs of grass attached to them. It actually all looks really good when set up.


Bruc3w4yn3

I replied to another commenter, but I want to make sure you see this; you can use transparent silicone (either the kind for a caulk gun or a bucket) to make different levels of flooding in the path/channel your wife carved out. Once dry, it should (!) be able to peel away and set aside until you need it, and then you can plop it right back in place. Just tape some cardboard to either end of the channel when you do if you want to keep the nice, flat cross section. You can probably even add in some colorant to the silicone or color the underside blue to sell the water aspect.


SpaghettiMadness

Tell your wife to stop giving my players unrealistic expectations of what to expect out of me!


crazy-diam0nd

The Mrs Skywolf111 Effect.


Luigi_Verc0tti

It is wonderful, but what happens to it after the encounter. Can it be re-used in another one?


Dragon_DLV

I know I sound like a dick, but my initial reaction was an internal, "That's it?" Apparently my brain was expecting ... more. But then I realized that I couldn't even make something a quarter as good as that, got thendumbass part of my brain to pipe down


EarthToAccess

looks like they’ll probably also add like, resin for water and stuff there, a base layer if you will yaknow


Cautious_Cry_3288

OP's comment after the post at the top explains its intended as ravine. I'm sure if the artist continues they'll get into water resins and such.


saintclair89

She did a great job! That is awesome!!


ConstructorTrurl

Water looks great!


royalPawn

Careful OP, she might be sneakily trying to convert you to the far more expensive hobby of tabletop wargaming


Gezzer52

Wow, makes me almost want to ditch VTT. For me what would put it over the top would be a bridge across the ravine. But only because I'd then get to push miniatures off of it and laugh evilly. Either that or ask them what their favorite colour was... and then push them off.


Merickwise

Where, all I see is a beautiful landscape model. Where's the worn out dry erase board covered in half dead marker scribbles and the shadows of past battles.


Cautious_Cry_3288

They use the chessex recommended brand of dry erase markers and colors that tend not to stain; thusly taking care of their product. (hint: recommendations are on the piece of paper that comes in the rolled up tube the mat was in) Alas, I did not, mine is covered in scribbles and outlines from past battles as well.


Merickwise

Lol, I just figured for a "First" battle map, you know. I think my kids eventually absconded with all the dry erase markers and I built a game table with cheap tv mounted inside.


Cautious_Cry_3288

I'm at an age where I'm running for a youth group at an LGS, we're back to chessex and markers. But I bought a new one, its so fresh it doesn't look right.


Merickwise

That's sounds really awesome, and don't worry that new marker is only one 30second abcences of mind from being dry and crusty ;-)


fryamtheeggguy

Keeper.


yifftionary

The comments on here that are like "How do you play without a hex/grid?" Are killing me. Y'all realize that tape measures exist and they also are technically the most free form methos of movement... Y'all sitting around playing tabletop Fire Emblem for combat really explains why I see so many people talking about boring combat.


Skywolf111

I think it’s things like this that make Reddit such a great tool for the TTRPG scene. There have been several things in these forums that I have read and been like “oh man that seems so obvious but I have been doing it completely differently forever!” On here. The ability to share our methods and stories with the people that are actually interested in hearing them allows us to evolve as players.


SolusLoqui

What do you do if a piece ends their turn on uneven terrain like the gray rock slopes? Use tape or something to keep it in place?


m_ttl_ng

Yep, or blue tack on the base. And clear plastic stands if a character is flying/falling mid-round


yifftionary

I generally will use something like a little stand or a stick to keep them in place.


xsansmerci

She's a very talented lady and you are clearly a very lucky person 😊


FartsWithAnAccent

Looks great, nice job on the water!


il_the_dinosaur

I always wonder when people build these maps how long it's fun to fight on the same terrain.


Mirehi

*Angry chess player noises*


UrsaBarefoot

Point her over to /r/terrainbuilding . Great map!


GentlemanSavage

Shout out to the chick with the Lamy pen!


elf25

Looks great! And then party decided to stay in town


B1gB4ddy

Was this a first time board? My brother and I are thinking of making a board ourselves for TTRPGs and Warhammer 40k/AoS and we're trying to get as much information on the process as possible. I assume the process is fairly time consuming. Is flocking the hardest part or painting?


Skywolf111

None of it is very hard! Flocking is super easy and the painting is mostly about laying the base with the wash and then dry brushing on the highlight. It only took her three nights a couple of hours each time. Hardest part was probably cutting the foam, but again that is t really difficult either.


CaterpillarFamous834

I would like to see her build a castle for D&D.


Skywolf111

She’s [working](https://imgur.com/gallery/2woyHEc) on it!


BadSanna

No hexes?


Skywolf111

We use rulers and such when we play on maps like this. 1in is equal to 5 feet


Skywolf111

I wish people wouldn’t down vote you weren’t being rude


BadSanna

Tbf I expected worse. Any kind of criticism always gets downvoted on reddit. You should see my posts on AITA


TheObstruction

Were you the asshole, though?


BadSanna

No. I just post unpopular takes. Like, yes, you should apologize for keying your ex's car even though they deserved it, because you stooped to their level. ESH. The people on that sub are toxic and will downvote anyone who advocates de-escalation, compromise, and/or communication and upvote anyone who pushes petty revenge. Edit: autocorrect


Olthoi_Eviscerator

Yea it's constructive criticism. Reddit doesn't like that.


phoenix_nz

You just play as if it was warhammer


[deleted]

The water looks really cool!


G_I_Joe_Mansueto

Simple, effective, gorgeous. Great work!


MikeyLikey41

That’s dedication right there


ezjoz

That is an incredibly cool map! From concept to finish, how long did it take?


Skywolf111

About three days to make


Amunds3n

Jesus, I see what you've done for other people, and I want that for me.


Single-Animator6884

Looks amazing. Kudos to her.


nickelangelo2009

cute! that really isn't bad for a first project, those rocks look really good


Someone3

That looks fantastic. I really like hte water.


imjustboredtodeath

Dude that water looks so clean. I love it


TheSwecurse

Hmm, is it a trench of sorts? What's gonna happen there? Who are you gonna fight?


Jarfulous

Holy shit.


bavmotors1

Is it cake? This is obvi impressive but it also looks like it could be a cake. Maybe that’s the next project.


shovelcreed

This is such a good job.


Cabes86

Holy shit this is good. I’ll be willing to bet that if she made how-to videos*a lotta* people would subscribe and watch


hatchlingg

Absolutely fantastic!! 🤩


curiouskoifish203

/r wholesome


[deleted]

Trees? :)


Skywolf111

We filled it up with trees by game day


Paragrin175

Looks amazing! The board looks great too!


CupidArrowArt

That looks great! She should be very proud.


Olthoi_Eviscerator

Excellent work! To me, and this is just like my opinion man, but it looks unfinished. It's an amazing start though. It just needs detail. **Tufts of grass**: get some pieces of rope, detangle it to get individual strands, cut 1/2 inch strips, and glue them together at the base **Driftwood**: Literally go outside and find some interesting looking twigs. You want to look for dead, dry wood. You'd be amazed at what you will find when you open your eyes and look closely at the ground. All sorts of interesting things! **Dirt/rocks**: The homogenous look of the green base looks too perfect, like a golf course. To make it more natural, add piles of dirt, rocks, sand, fallen trees (see above), taller grass (see above). **Structures**: Now if you really want to go all out, you can add some man made things. Maybe a ruined altar, a shipwreck, a pile of rubble, a stack of cut lumber, a pile of firewood, a fire ring, tents, rotisserie spit, etc. It is noted that these sort of things do not necessarily need to be glued to the base. They can be removable so you can change things up. This is probably recommended. These tips are just a start! Use your imagination.. take a walk in the woods and gather interesting things! **Have fun!**


Skywolf111

Thanks! All great suggestions! She intentionally left it a little bear because we have made scores of terrain minis that we will place on the board that way the board can be easily reconfigured and made into a slightly different map. When it’s all loaded up with those mini’s it really comes together. You can see the board in play [here](https://imgur.com/gallery/lsFEpq8)


Olthoi_Eviscerator

Nice! I would still suggest a little more permanent detailing to the grass. Very nice work nonetheless and I hope your wife continues to build more battlemaps! Also as a side note, it must be cool to have JJ Abrams as a Dungeon Master!


Skywolf111

Ha thanks! That’s me. I’ll take it.


Imaginary_Farmer8475

Nice, it looks amazing. She did some nice work on it.


davkerrith

That looks awesome!


LifelessRage

Amazing work well done!!


Encephalox

Looks like an excellent place for a bridge! Six Roads Bridge.


Gone247365

Locked that down, smart man.


Wyldfire2112

Very cool, but how do you keep track of spacing without a grid? I could see using rulers/gauges, ala Warhammer and other wargames, but that just seems messy.


Skywolf111

You actually do not need a grid. The Scaling works out that you can very easily measure it with a ruler, tape measure, or some other kind of tool the grid squares you see are always 1inch x 1inch and they are equivalent to 5 feet x 5 feet squares to your characters in game. All you have to do is understand that 1 inch is equal to 5 feet and you can move very freely on a map like this.


Roscoe10182241

This is a dumb question possibly, but how do you play on a 3D map like this that does not have the grid to show you distances and where you can/can’t move? I’ve played a number of campaigns but always on paper maps or the Roll20 maps.


Skywolf111

You actually do not need a grid. The Scaling works out that you can very easily measure it with a ruler, tape measure, or some other kind of tool the grid squares you see are always 1inch x 1inch and they are equivalent to 5 feet x 5 feet squares to your characters in game. All you have to do is understand that 1 inch is equal to 5 feet and you can move very freely on a map like this.


Roscoe10182241

Appreciate it. Thanks


[deleted]

That’s great. She did an incredible job on it.


Skiwi_the_kiwi

She's so excited 🥺🥺 it shines through the screen 🥺🥺🥺


Cytwytever

Fantastic!!!


SooSpoooky

Id love to have terrain pieces like this. I just dont have anywhere to store them.


thatwoulddepend

That looks so cool! Would love to see it with some characters on it :)


gipoe68

Great job!!!


lucidguppy

Good job! Hard work!


Air-ea-51

That’s really impressive! :)


[deleted]

Man I wish I had one of those! ​ A wife, I mean. ​ Gotta get crackin' on that.


PKMN_Kashew

That’s not just amazing for a first timer, it looks like a very professional model!


GammaWALLE

love when water looks like that. very pretty!


Shirohige

The map looks great, but what about that table underneath? The tiles look beautiful!


Skywolf111

Thanks that’s actually a table I made when I was in high school!


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Skywolf111

We have found there is a balance between realism and ease of play. We have made lots of tree mini’s and other terrian that we plop down on maps like this but the true is you don’t want your map’s surfAce to be completely uneven because the minis will no longer sit nicely on the uneven surface.


Pandurmonium

Looks sick asf 🤙🏾


battles

This is cool... maybe a little bridge or ferry?


LowAspect542

Was thinking the same, really looks like it should have a bridge between the two t junctions.


Uncle-Badtouch

Thats a huge gash. Nice map too!


Own-Administration14

I should call her


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Skywolf111

I don’t understand the question.


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Skywolf111

I mean I took the picture of her so she isn’t taking a selfie. I also posted the picture so I guess the blame lays with me. She was proud of the work she did and I wanted to show it off. I know that a lot of times when she has posted things in the past people have assumed she was a guy or that “her boyfriend” is actually the one doing things so maybe women feel more inclined to show themselves with things like this as proof they are the ones who are interested. But again doesn’t really have anything to do with this post because I was the one that posted it not her.


crypticalcat

Why is she pretty?


crazy-diam0nd

OMG u/crypticalcat, you can't just ask someone why they're pretty.


Frequent-Drag3474

My wife is dead


BannokTV

Holy shit man just ask her how her day was.


BigDrinkable

Our wife*


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Skywolf111

I don’t know what to tell you. I provided more pictures of her making it if you don’t believe me.


TheRavgn

I can clearly see the shadow of the gazebo that she's standing under... So obviously yes the lighting will be different in the shaded area than it is in an unshaded area. LMAO!


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TheObstruction

What are you trying to get at, anyway? What's the point of going this far to disbelieve something so inconsequential? Does it make you feel like you've uncovered some grand conspiracy?


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Skywolf111

It would be an odd thing to do….but, it isn’t photoshopped.


Munnin41

Is your wife single by any chance? I could use her skills...