great review, thanks for backing. very interesting to hear your thoughts, the very reason I began this project was due to frustration at how generic every other product was, fascinating to learn that it lacks a generic quality for you. appreciate your comments all the same. happy gaming. Johnny.
Thank you for watching! You have really made some amazing terrain that is truly something special. I was really having trouble expressing how this piece inspired me to work on creating my own terrain. My videos reflect my own journey through the hobby so I am glad you didn't take my thoughts the wrong way. I run games for the public at various places like public libraries and my dungeon crawls require a certain level of "generic" terrain that I can make my own. I am already coming up with a bunch of uses for the sundial. Thank you again for creating something so inspiring!
I love the specific vision of these pieces and they're just so cool! But I've also passed on so many things precisely because that specificity made it difficult to work into the game in the way I wanted. It's an interesting tension.
"Have you ever spent ... money on a Kickstarter and then promptly forgot about it for years?" - Oh YES, I have!!! But I am going to blame the virus for that ...
It's so cool that you have gained faith in your abilities as a crafter! You can deffo craft something similar or something big for your needs. The insides look small, but I would just use that piece in the table as a representation or for an outside battle.. once players got inside I would use Battlemats. You can always use it as "part" of your terrain rather than the focus, and build your city around it. Or it'll be really useful for cool Instagram shots or promo photo's.. The other thing is to consider donating to your friendly local game store. It does look weirdly specific, but maybe lots of different groups could use it for one weirdly specific encounter? Spread the love and get the use out of it by sharing? Also remember that you backed at Kickstarter prices and if you bought it retail yould have spent more! Good to see a mixed review, your content is always great! Thanks. :)
If nothing else make molds of different parts of it. Roof pieces, stone just put hot glue or oyumaru on it. When you go to use it at least you can have crafted buildings with something tying them together.
I love your honesty. It’s a beautiful piece and I loved the video you referenced as well. Function over form/style is a true rule to follow. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of crowding out your minis with decorative, tight spaces (for example, your farmer can’t descend or ascend the steps!). Since not much happens fight-wise at a tavern, but taverns are omnipresent, I think this would be a pretty good stand-in for the Yawning Portal or the Rusty Dragon. No glasses! You rocking the contacts these days?
while i agree with you on the lack of real estate on the inside for play, I do love the look and feel of the outside. Wish I hadn't missed the kick starter and hope they do another production run. I see these as perfect for a mid-level town like Saltmarsh or other port town. A little old and worn down with half attempts at repair.
As a single building, that works great as a specific location. A specific shop, home, etc for a specific npc or set of npcs. I wouldn't pass it off as the standard home of a place or anything.
It funny you mention how "specific" and non-generic the buildings are. That's exactly what I thought when I decided to not back the KS. It does look amazing though.
That is exactly how I felt when I first saw the Savage video--excellent and amazing but too specific for me. I love stuff that looks fairly historical. That allows me to "blend/use" different styles more. I can collect/build terrain from different sources over the years and use all of them together. Miniatures with ultra specific looks tend to frustrate me. It's hard to use them convincingly with other minis/styles. That guy really just wanted to unleash his very own, specific "world look" from his love of quirky fantasy. If you like very specific worlds like: Labyrinth, Tim Burton, Dark Crystal, etc., then you well may wish to delve into that artist's world look. But then you are invested with that look for years--unless money, storage, or endless time crafting different looks is not an issue.
Yeah exactly I love to use stuff that looks sort of based on historical stuff as well. Not in any like really authentic way. Yeah it's hard to describe but just you know I like stuff that's just vague enough that it kind of all fits together.
I can understand the specificity of the look and aesthetic. I guess you could use one set piece as a kooky wizards tower on the outskirts of town. Or make the specificity of design work into one of your stories. It would visually stand out on the table and may lure adventurers in.
I remember these from quite a while ago. Having a kickstarter take long enough that your backers forget about it might not be the best business strategy.
Great video, as always! I think you raise an important point when you talk about the creator's vision, and how very specific it is. It's important to get stuff that works for your personal vision of how you want your game to be. I think I personally could've gotten a lot of use out of these buildings, but only if I had enough of them, so I could use their modularity. But in the end, these are too pricey for me. I think in the end I'll just craft my own 100% modular buildings. ;)
I backed this kickstarted too and had the same opinions as you. Luckily, I had enough forethought not to buy any of the buildings because their unique styling. However, I opted for the ruins and walls but having received the items, I find myself with a little buyer's remorse as the ruins don't see to as playable as I hoped. They also don't seem to stack all that well leaving me question why it is I purchased the medium and large dungeon bases.
In a city, you often have a more original house, designed by a guy who wouldn't conform to cookie cutter standards. I think this would be it. I still have this dream of creating a huge city diorama one day, and I wouldn't mind this type of house in it. Thanks for showing me!
It's a weird feeling when you recognize the same royalty free music from another video. In this case, I can watch the beauty shots in the middle of the video without hearing Erin from Dwarven Forge explaining she paints the Shrine of Sysuul so fast because she is part snake. 😅
It takes a long time to get the end product from a KS. Your needs and interests change over time. It’s not uncommon to regret funding a KS. That’s part of the game.
I always enjoy your videos. It was cool to see your unboxing of this kickstarter terrain, and I like your candid, honest review. However, I am not sure what it was you didn't like about it. Not enough footspace for your minis? Was the style of the architecture too jumbly? (It almost is a bit cutesy to me, though overall it's cool.) The foundation (dungeon?) level seemed a bit sparse on real estate for figurines, and I would have felt let down about that. You were saying that there was this and that you'd have done differently nowadays? Can you you give a few specifics? I dig your style, and I just wonder what you're looking for now in sculpted terrain pieces.
I have backed a few Kickstarters , that after receiving I regret buying. Whether it is the quality or the size irregularity (they say 28 mm and it is very small) or it is in pieces and the way to put it together is terrible :( I have backed quite a few that I have been super happy about.
I get what you're saying, but wouldn't this blend decently for any medieval fantasy town? I've also been playing Planescape: Torment lately and it reminds me of the structures in that, could go well in a Planescape setting.
@@Blandco Buddy I know you are always looking for a good deal on miniatures and board games. It a re-release on Kickstarter with a limited quantity of American shipments available, which they are pushing out in July of this year. Something like 110 miniatures for $165... Not too bad... Considering some of the minis are larger and the details is crisp... Just figured I would send it your way in case you were interested
Would the top floor (or even the top two combined) look terribly out of place on a table as set dressing for a city street encounter? Or the bottom foundation on its own as a basement encounter or some ruins? I agree though, all three parts together is a pretty massive structure and certainly has a unique aesthetic.
Just don't back Kickstarters, period. Why give some stranger or corporation an interest-free loan in the hope that - years later - you might get some product? If you must buy something, just buy something that actually exists.
great review, thanks for backing. very interesting to hear your thoughts, the very reason I began this project was due to frustration at how generic every other product was, fascinating to learn that it lacks a generic quality for you. appreciate your comments all the same. happy gaming. Johnny.
Thank you for watching! You have really made some amazing terrain that is truly something special. I was really having trouble expressing how this piece inspired me to work on creating my own terrain. My videos reflect my own journey through the hobby so I am glad you didn't take my thoughts the wrong way. I run games for the public at various places like public libraries and my dungeon crawls require a certain level of "generic" terrain that I can make my own. I am already coming up with a bunch of uses for the sundial. Thank you again for creating something so inspiring!
I backed the stl Kickstarter all in. It's all amazing John. I'm 3 days into a high quality fishing lodge print now.
I love the specific vision of these pieces and they're just so cool! But I've also passed on so many things precisely because that specificity made it difficult to work into the game in the way I wanted. It's an interesting tension.
Funny thing Adam savage's video was recommended to me earlier last week
"Have you ever spent ... money on a Kickstarter and then promptly forgot about it for years?" - Oh YES, I have!!! But I am going to blame the virus for that ...
It's so cool that you have gained faith in your abilities as a crafter! You can deffo craft something similar or something big for your needs.
The insides look small, but I would just use that piece in the table as a representation or for an outside battle.. once players got inside I would use Battlemats.
You can always use it as "part" of your terrain rather than the focus, and build your city around it.
Or it'll be really useful for cool Instagram shots or promo photo's..
The other thing is to consider donating to your friendly local game store. It does look weirdly specific, but maybe lots of different groups could use it for one weirdly specific encounter? Spread the love and get the use out of it by sharing?
Also remember that you backed at Kickstarter prices and if you bought it retail yould have spent more!
Good to see a mixed review, your content is always great! Thanks. :)
0:01 - 0:04
You didn't need to attack us like that straight out of the gate man.
Hey we got to have some real talk on this channel.
If nothing else make molds of different parts of it. Roof pieces, stone just put hot glue or oyumaru on it. When you go to use it at least you can have crafted buildings with something tying them together.
I really want to go with my own aesthetic for the rest of my buildings though.
@@Blandco I get that. I liked the shingles on that roof and was just thinking, it would be a way to make a couple buildings cohesive.
I love your honesty. It’s a beautiful piece and I loved the video you referenced as well. Function over form/style is a true rule to follow. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of crowding out your minis with decorative, tight spaces (for example, your farmer can’t descend or ascend the steps!). Since not much happens fight-wise at a tavern, but taverns are omnipresent, I think this would be a pretty good stand-in for the Yawning Portal or the Rusty Dragon. No glasses! You rocking the contacts these days?
No I was just going without glasses that day.
while i agree with you on the lack of real estate on the inside for play, I do love the look and feel of the outside. Wish I hadn't missed the kick starter and hope they do another production run. I see these as perfect for a mid-level town like Saltmarsh or other port town. A little old and worn down with half attempts at repair.
Oh yeah. The thatch roof alternatives would be perfect for that.
As a single building, that works great as a specific location. A specific shop, home, etc for a specific npc or set of npcs. I wouldn't pass it off as the standard home of a place or anything.
It funny you mention how "specific" and non-generic the buildings are. That's exactly what I thought when I decided to not back the KS.
It does look amazing though.
That is exactly how I felt when I first saw the Savage video--excellent and amazing but too specific for me. I love stuff that looks fairly historical. That allows me to "blend/use" different styles more. I can collect/build terrain from different sources over the years and use all of them together. Miniatures with ultra specific looks tend to frustrate me. It's hard to use them convincingly with other minis/styles. That guy really just wanted to unleash his very own, specific "world look" from his love of quirky fantasy. If you like very specific worlds like: Labyrinth, Tim Burton, Dark Crystal, etc., then you well may wish to delve into that artist's world look. But then you are invested with that look for years--unless money, storage, or endless time crafting different looks is not an issue.
Yeah exactly I love to use stuff that looks sort of based on historical stuff as well. Not in any like really authentic way. Yeah it's hard to describe but just you know I like stuff that's just vague enough that it kind of all fits together.
the puppet i just there watching with some sort of intent most likely evil
Kringle is pretty chill honestly. He has been a good friend this past year of being alone.
I can understand the specificity of the look and aesthetic. I guess you could use one set piece as a kooky wizards tower on the outskirts of town. Or make the specificity of design work into one of your stories. It would visually stand out on the table and may lure adventurers in.
Thanks to this channel, I now own not 1 but 2 farmers with pig pre-painted minis. LOL.
It's a now classic mini!
@@Blandco Ran across him on EBay and could not resist. LOL.
I remember these from quite a while ago. Having a kickstarter take long enough that your backers forget about it might not be the best business strategy.
I would have loved to get in on that. I love that art style for the terrain
Great video, as always! I think you raise an important point when you talk about the creator's vision, and how very specific it is. It's important to get stuff that works for your personal vision of how you want your game to be.
I think I personally could've gotten a lot of use out of these buildings, but only if I had enough of them, so I could use their modularity. But in the end, these are too pricey for me. I think in the end I'll just craft my own 100% modular buildings. ;)
I backed this kickstarted too and had the same opinions as you. Luckily, I had enough forethought not to buy any of the buildings because their unique styling. However, I opted for the ruins and walls but having received the items, I find myself with a little buyer's remorse as the ruins don't see to as playable as I hoped. They also don't seem to stack all that well leaving me question why it is I purchased the medium and large dungeon bases.
In a city, you often have a more original house, designed by a guy who wouldn't conform to cookie cutter standards. I think this would be it. I still have this dream of creating a huge city diorama one day, and I wouldn't mind this type of house in it. Thanks for showing me!
It's a weird feeling when you recognize the same royalty free music from another video. In this case, I can watch the beauty shots in the middle of the video without hearing Erin from Dwarven Forge explaining she paints the Shrine of Sysuul so fast because she is part snake. 😅
It takes a long time to get the end product from a KS. Your needs and interests change over time. It’s not uncommon to regret funding a KS. That’s part of the game.
I always enjoy your videos. It was cool to see your unboxing of this kickstarter terrain, and I like your candid, honest review. However, I am not sure what it was you didn't like about it. Not enough footspace for your minis? Was the style of the architecture too jumbly? (It almost is a bit cutesy to me, though overall it's cool.) The foundation (dungeon?) level seemed a bit sparse on real estate for figurines, and I would have felt let down about that. You were saying that there was this and that you'd have done differently nowadays? Can you you give a few specifics? I dig your style, and I just wonder what you're looking for now in sculpted terrain pieces.
Don't ask me how I know that- Blandco 2021
Nice building, you will not have regrets on backing DnL 3 Woodhaven....... lol
I mean Dungeons and Lasers is 100% what I need for D&D right now! A dungeon setup!
@@Blandco Me too, I need sewers, npc miniatures are awesome too.
I have backed a few Kickstarters , that after receiving I regret buying. Whether it is the quality or the size irregularity (they say 28 mm and it is very small) or it is in pieces and the way to put it together is terrible :( I have backed quite a few that I have been super happy about.
I get what you're saying, but wouldn't this blend decently for any medieval fantasy town? I've also been playing Planescape: Torment lately and it reminds me of the structures in that, could go well in a Planescape setting.
Certainly I am having more ideas as I read more comments!
Is that music actually an instrumental version of Brave Sir Robin?!
Hey Blandco my man... Do you have the Dark Rituals:Malleus Malfecarum game..?
No! This is the first time I am hearing of it.
@@Blandco Buddy I know you are always looking for a good deal on miniatures and board games. It a re-release on Kickstarter with a limited quantity of American shipments available, which they are pushing out in July of this year. Something like 110 miniatures for $165... Not too bad... Considering some of the minis are larger and the details is crisp... Just figured I would send it your way in case you were interested
This great, but damn, this needs some work. Its so cool as a Diorama piece :)
I always believe in keep it simple stupid and does it have grids on it.
It looks like a great building. I think you are just having a bit of buyer's regret and that will fade quickly once you get some use out of it.
Now that I have it on the shelf it looks really nice as just a decoration too!
Would the top floor (or even the top two combined) look terribly out of place on a table as set dressing for a city street encounter? Or the bottom foundation on its own as a basement encounter or some ruins?
I agree though, all three parts together is a pretty massive structure and certainly has a unique aesthetic.
I'm not sure what you mean. "Not generic enough.." "doesn't suit my needs". You didn't really explain why or how you would "upgrade" the piece.
Just don't back Kickstarters, period. Why give some stranger or corporation an interest-free loan in the hope that - years later - you might get some product?
If you must buy something, just buy something that actually exists.