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Remember Droskar's Crucible in the Hollow's Last Hope module? Well I got the idea of making a scale model of the Crucible,like 14" by 20", on my free time. Currently I'm trying to figure out what materials I should make it out of, like styroboard, or balsa wood, but I'm new to this, so I'm not sure. Also, I'm a high school student, so I don't have much money, and I haven't figured out my budget yet. Any ideas? I want to make it look good, possibly even to use in our campaign.
Dave the Barbarian
(Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Adventure Path, Campaign Setting, Companion, Modules, GameMastery Maps Subscriber)
Here is my 2 coppers worth for you. I would use a scrap piece of wood for the base. It is heavier and will not warp as easy. Go with fiberboard or something cheap. Usually you can get scrap lumber from Home Depot for dirt cheap, just go to the back of the lumber department by the saws and they have a bin. Ask them to cut it for you 20" by 24". You want a little room around the outside of the building for mini's to walk around. Don't buy a warped board, it has to sit flat. Next you will need some 1" graph paper, available at Office Max and if you can swing $10 for a can of 3M Spray Glue (Home Depot with the paint) it has a low water content so the paper will not warp as bad as a glue stick. Glue your paper to the board and draw the walls with a pencil. Then complete all the detailed work - the benches, tables, desks in color. I would also draw the doors like they would appear on a 2D map (Just like the map on the module). Now I would add the walls using the styro board. Stick to a low wall so you can access the mini's, maybe 2" high to represent a 10' wall. Sometimes you can buy the styro board in strips, otherwise buy a large poster board size and measure and cut from it. You will need a sharp hobby knife (Be careful, cut away from the body, watch your hand placement, safety first). Cut a long length of wall and you can score one side - the exterior side - cut almost all the way through but don't damage the paper on the other side, then snap the wall and you will have a 90 degree corner that won't fall down easy. Glue the walls to the map AFTER you have cut them all and fit them together and AFTER you have drawn on them, if you wish. You can make the tower taller than 2", maybe 4, but just leave on side open so you can access it. Add some hobby sand and grass as desired, maybe paint the water on the map. It will cost you $20-30 all in I am guessing. Good luck and post some pic's!
I actually did build the upper level of Droskar's Crucible. Used mostly World Works Games terrain; specifically Interior Works: Castles & Keeps. Used a lot of bits from other sets like Interior Works: Pubs & Inns and Village Works. Plus some casted bits from Hirst Arts Mold #85.
You can see a lot of photos and how I built it in the links below. Also shot some video of setup, game time, and tear down.
How I built it: (see link for Act III for finished shots)
Pics
Videos
Game Report of Hollow's Last Hope:
Act I
Act II
Act III
Hope this inspires someone to do the same; it's a lot of fun to game on!