Hasta La Gadget!

Miniatures and figurines are some of the best aspects of tabletop gaming. But if you’re playing a tabletop RPG, you might not be satisfied with the figurines that come with your game or even the ones you can buy online. And while we already have relatively affordable 3D modeling software and 3D printers, it requires a bit of training to use those tools. Hero Forge wants to meet you halfway.

Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, Hero Forge will let you create your own figurines right from your browser. Hero Forge’s web-based creation tool looks a lot like the character creation screen in many video games. Its options include gender, clothes, weapons and poses. Naturally, your character’s 3D model will instantly reflect your choices. Once you’re satisfied you can then order a 3D print of your figurine from the tool itself.

The founders of Hero Forge claim that 3D printing has big advantages over injection molding, one of them being the ability to print on demand. Miniature makers that use injection molding have to make products in batches for the process to be cost-efficient, which means they’ll only make designs that they think are guaranteed to sell. But with a 3D printing service like Hero Forge, you can create and print a miniature even if you’re the only one in the world who’s willing to buy what you made.

Apparently, 3D printers can also pull off aesthetic tricks that are hard to emulate through injection molding, such as interior or recessed details as well as moving parts.

Another advantage of Hero Forge is that you can easily scale the size of your created character. Hero Forge plans to offer three sizes at launch: 28mm, 3in and 6in.

Customers will also have two print qualities to choose from. One is very durable and cheap but not suited for painting, while the other one is more expensive but is very detailed and is suited for painting.

Finally, like many video games Hero Forge will save your 3D models. You can have them reprinted, modified or both as often as you like.

Pledge at least $20 (USD) on Kickstarter to receive a customized miniature as a reward. It would be awesome if the creation tool allowed you to upload your own designs for even more customization. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a miniature that looks just like you?

It doesn’t seem like dungeon masters are going to get their hands on the Surfacescape anytime soon, but Brendon Duncan may have an affordable alternative. His 3D Virtual Tabletop app gives you access to digital maps and creature tokens on your mobile device or desktop computer through a browser.

Aside from helping you visualize your adventure, 3D Virtual Tabletop makes it easy to add maps and characters. If you can copy an image, you can import it to the app, although I’m not sure how well its automatic cropping function works. The app will be available on iOS, Android and Kindle devices, as well as through Mac and PC via a web app.

Some of the other neat features of the 3D Virtual Tabletop include saving the setup of the map, status indicators and fog of war. You can try out demo versions of these apps right now. You can use the final version of the app offline, but if you pay $0.99 (USD) a month you’ll have access to its cross-platform feature. That means you and your party members can see and interact on the same map across multiple devices and platforms. Brendan said the app can handle at least 20 simultaneous users on the same virtual tabletop.

Pledge at least $9(USD) on Kickstarter to get a 1 year (or more) subscription to 3D Virtual Tabletop’s online services. When it launches, Brendan will also setup an online market where you can buy more maps and character images. It seems like a convenient alternative to physical maps, especially since its compatible with different devices. But if all of your playmates have access to a PC, you might be better off with Roll20.

It’s been at least a decade since I last played a tabletop RPG, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are programs out there that augment players’ pens and papers with mice and keyboards. But here’s one that seems very easy to use. It’s called Roll20, a highly customizable web-based virtual tabletop.

I think the best way to describe Roll20 is that it’s an image editor for dungeon masters with a video chat app added on to it. If that sounds intimidating, don’t be. Its tools are mostly straightforward and employ commonly used commands like copy, paste and drag-and-drop. It also has a built-in search engine for assets, so you can go in empty-handed, look for characters, maps and even soundtracks, then setup your play area, all from within the app. It also has a dice-rolling feature that can even show a 3D dice onscreen to all of your party members. Don’t have any tabletop playmates? Don’t worry – Roll20 lets you join public games! How awesome is that? Watch the overview to get a better idea of what you can do with Roll20:

The best thing about Roll20 is that it’s free. The group behind it makes money by selling premium assets like character art and maps, which is entirely optional especially if your DM is awesome enough to make custom art for your adventures. Sign up at the Roll20 website and start building the adventure of your dreams. And your friends’ nightmares.

[via Laughing Squid]