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Post by Baja Blaster on Jul 10, 2013 7:15:26 GMT -5
So a lot of videos I see use various cardboard to craft dungeon tiles, and I was wondering if foam poster board could work as an alternative material for making dungeon tiles out of. I'm thinking about using a combination of DM G's modular methods with some of Scotty's decorating methods. Are there any pitfalls to the poster board like having a poor tolerance to hot glue, or possibly not being able to cut curves into it as easily?
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thedmg
Room Planner
Posts: 327
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Post by thedmg on Jul 10, 2013 7:25:00 GMT -5
In a way foam board is better, but in other ways it is worse. 1. It is more expensive than free 2. Some types of foam core will react negatively to spray paint 3. Like Polystyrene it may shrink when you use hotglue
I may be wrong, so if so someone please correct me. I have not used it extensively as it is expensive.
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Post by dm1scotty on Jul 10, 2013 8:33:26 GMT -5
To tell the truth I have not used it much as it can be very hard to cut and costs cash. The hot glue may melt the foam core also. I have had others say they tried to use it and it warped a lot.
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Post by ashrothedm on Jul 10, 2013 9:27:12 GMT -5
DMG is correct. You could use them for a more solid look to the walls, but you also may not be directly spray painting them.
I can confirm that it does melt under heat, and most give off toxic fumes. That said, it can also be shaped. Foam board can be heated with an iron or over a stove (careful not to ignite it, don't be careless) and bent. The bend will hold. (I've used it in costumes in the past) Most people just score and bend it as far as I know rather than heat it, but you can get the same bend from cardboard with a score cut.
For 2.5D flat tiles, that's not incredibly helpful. As mentioned, it is costly. While I like the double corrugated look and feel of DMG's tiles, it would cut my pizza-box supply in half for me to make my own double corrugated board. The DM Scotty frugal method can't get much more frugal than free cardboard. If money is not an object, you could also use wood, plasticard, plastic, or thin sheets of the foam insulation.
A lot of mold based terrain tutorials I have seen start with a base of cork or foam board. You could do the same.
These are some cons to the foam poster board (cost, heat issues, spray paint corrosion) but what are the pros that you are looking to gain from poster board?
P.S. My tiles are exactly that, a combination of the two methods. I measure out the 6.5 cm grid, and then draw the shape inside of that. That gives an irregular tile, but will still fit in a modular dungeon. Eventually, I'll post images, but right now I'm trying to solve the forest tile issue for 2.5D tiles. None of the methods really sell the forest experience to me. Most still have pretty large trees in the way, or look like upside down trees. I think I might be onto something, and I'll post it up when it's finished.
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thedmg
Room Planner
Posts: 327
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Post by thedmg on Jul 10, 2013 17:18:36 GMT -5
Aah the old tree conundrum. I have been working on a solution... brain hurting...
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Post by leolad72 on Jul 10, 2013 22:57:35 GMT -5
I recently made a dice tower using the foam core. Hot glue worked really well for holding it together (and there was no way to avoid putting glue on the edges), but I haven't put any embellishments on it yet. I would imagine I'll just brush on some acrylic for a base coat. End result as of now is that it's plenty sturdy but cost prohibitive. Cardboard wins this round since I have an entire shop of scrap cardboard at my disposal lol!
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Post by bloodchoke on Jul 11, 2013 0:01:44 GMT -5
Like others have said, regular foam core is a huge pain in the ass to cut and doesn't take paint very well. I made my first 2.5d tile out of it, and though i like the result, it was too much trouble. But I recently discovered that the dollar tree has foam core with paper on the outside, rather than the plastic-y stuff regular foam boards use. I'm using a piece now for a playable building I'm working (very slowly) on and also made a small ruin out of some scraps. I haven't painted it yet, but I'm confident it won't be a problem. When making the ruined building, I also discovered that the paper peals off very easily, leaving only foam that can be textured really easily (very thin though). I'll probably stick to cardboard for most tiles, but I think I may use this dollar tree foam core if i ever make a modular set.
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Post by dm1scotty on Jul 11, 2013 0:49:50 GMT -5
Trees can be a big pain. Get too crazy with them and your table is a cluttered unplayable mess.I prefer the here are a few trees for flavor and this area is dense wood method =)
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Post by dm1scotty on Jul 11, 2013 0:51:05 GMT -5
I have been working on some large trees for an ancient wood....video someday.
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