Post by onethatwas on Jan 14, 2013 14:37:37 GMT -5
OK, so we all know that DM Crafting is generally speaking cheap as dirt. However, because some may be unconvinced, I wanted to do some cost analysis to show how cheap it could be. I'm going to sample out a few of the pieces I've done and break down the cost in as easy a way as I can (there is some rough guesstimation, since each tile varies on paint requirements, and each person uses a different amount as per their own personal technique).
OK, here is the general formula that I use to break it down (For those who aren't mathmatically inclined and don't know where to start to get some break down for themselves):
Supply cost/tiles or pieces made with single supply unit=cost per tile
eg:
Spray Paint (Black)/7 tiles=cost per tile
Add the sum of all costs together, and you have an average for each tile or piece. Again, each piece has a different cost. An alternative is to add the cost of all your supplies together first and then divide but each supply has it's own use limitations, so it's better to do it the other way.
So, here's some examples from my own crafting. Note that I round up the cost for easy analysis and to give some wiggle room for budgeting:
-Dungeon Tile (Approx. 9X9 inches*)-
Supplies:
Spray Paint (Black) $1.00
Spray paint textured (Stone Grey) $9.00
Cardboard $0.00 (Cost to purchase is $2.50...I checked)
Acrylic Paint (Black for shadow) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Grey for highlight) $.60
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long) $2.00
Breakdown:
Spray Paint (Black)/12 tiles=.09
Spray Paint Textured/16 tiles**=.57
Cardboard...seriously, $0.00
Acrylic Paint (Black)/40 tiles=.015. Seriously, this cost is so far out there it's ridiculous. i'll round it up to an two pennies for cost analysis purposes. Also, this is on the "worst case scenario" end. I'm sure you can get 60 tiles out of it, so the cost is actually less.
Acrylic Paint (Grey)/40 tiles=.015
Hot Glue Sticks/16 tiles**=.13
Total cost=$.85
Less than the cost for black spray paint, and, if done right they look ungodly expert. If you consider selling them you could easily make $3.00 (if you know where and whom to sell them too)...so a 200+% profit.
-Evil Tree-
Supplies:
TP or Paper Towel roll $0.00 (You shouldn't calculate the cost of this item due to it's other household usefulness. Also, you can get them for free from your buddies)
Sticks/twigs. Go outside an get them. They're free. $0.00
Cardstock. $0.00
Spray Paint (Black) $1.00
Acrylic Paint (Dark Brown) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Pewter Grey) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Ivy Green) $.60
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long) $2.00
Breakdown:
Spray Paint (Black)/15 trees=.07
Acrylic Paint (Dark Brown)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Acrylic Paint (Pewter Grey)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Acrylic Paint (Ivy Green)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long)**/10=.20
Total cost=$.33
And these I know I could sell for about $4.00. I've had offers.
* denotes that this is an average on size
** denotes that this is supply that has alot of varied usage...some tiles may use less or more, so the actual number may go up or down on cost....but only by a few cents usually.
So, just a few. Fee free to do your own cost break down for stuff you did. Keep in mind that some items will require more cost than others (I averaged the size of my dungeon tiles to show the cost break down for each).
This is a good way of showing how ungodly cheap this hobby is and how much you can get out of it for just a little up front cost.
OK, here is the general formula that I use to break it down (For those who aren't mathmatically inclined and don't know where to start to get some break down for themselves):
Supply cost/tiles or pieces made with single supply unit=cost per tile
eg:
Spray Paint (Black)/7 tiles=cost per tile
Add the sum of all costs together, and you have an average for each tile or piece. Again, each piece has a different cost. An alternative is to add the cost of all your supplies together first and then divide but each supply has it's own use limitations, so it's better to do it the other way.
So, here's some examples from my own crafting. Note that I round up the cost for easy analysis and to give some wiggle room for budgeting:
-Dungeon Tile (Approx. 9X9 inches*)-
Supplies:
Spray Paint (Black) $1.00
Spray paint textured (Stone Grey) $9.00
Cardboard $0.00 (Cost to purchase is $2.50...I checked)
Acrylic Paint (Black for shadow) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Grey for highlight) $.60
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long) $2.00
Breakdown:
Spray Paint (Black)/12 tiles=.09
Spray Paint Textured/16 tiles**=.57
Cardboard...seriously, $0.00
Acrylic Paint (Black)/40 tiles=.015. Seriously, this cost is so far out there it's ridiculous. i'll round it up to an two pennies for cost analysis purposes. Also, this is on the "worst case scenario" end. I'm sure you can get 60 tiles out of it, so the cost is actually less.
Acrylic Paint (Grey)/40 tiles=.015
Hot Glue Sticks/16 tiles**=.13
Total cost=$.85
Less than the cost for black spray paint, and, if done right they look ungodly expert. If you consider selling them you could easily make $3.00 (if you know where and whom to sell them too)...so a 200+% profit.
-Evil Tree-
Supplies:
TP or Paper Towel roll $0.00 (You shouldn't calculate the cost of this item due to it's other household usefulness. Also, you can get them for free from your buddies)
Sticks/twigs. Go outside an get them. They're free. $0.00
Cardstock. $0.00
Spray Paint (Black) $1.00
Acrylic Paint (Dark Brown) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Pewter Grey) $.60
Acrylic Paint (Ivy Green) $.60
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long) $2.00
Breakdown:
Spray Paint (Black)/15 trees=.07
Acrylic Paint (Dark Brown)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Acrylic Paint (Pewter Grey)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Acrylic Paint (Ivy Green)/35=.02 (Rounded up)
Hot Glue Sticks (Mini Long)**/10=.20
Total cost=$.33
And these I know I could sell for about $4.00. I've had offers.
* denotes that this is an average on size
** denotes that this is supply that has alot of varied usage...some tiles may use less or more, so the actual number may go up or down on cost....but only by a few cents usually.
So, just a few. Fee free to do your own cost break down for stuff you did. Keep in mind that some items will require more cost than others (I averaged the size of my dungeon tiles to show the cost break down for each).
This is a good way of showing how ungodly cheap this hobby is and how much you can get out of it for just a little up front cost.