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[Jadael]

http://www.indiegogo.com/Terrablox

This is a project I've been working on for a few weeks and trying to make a reality.

The idea is explained more in depth on the page, but it should be pretty self explanatory. These are just concept renders, I'm prototyping several different designs, with a priority on making sure they stay together firmly in all directions, so that you can build things such as the tree. I found a local 3D printing place that's making the prototypes for me and as soon as they're done I'll upload video of what they look like and how they work.

I submitted it to Kickstarter, but they rejected it; it wasn't really fleshed out enough and I had no way to show people would be excited about the project. So right now I'm just trying to generate as much discussion as I can, so that Kickstarter is more likely to accept the project. However, I do have donation goal; that's not to actually produce the things but just to put towards the upfront setup costs of setting up the factory. The more donations I get the cheaper the final product will be and the fewer pre-orders I'll need.

The page is not to try and sell pre-orders, so if the idea of charity turns you off just wait until it's on Kickstarter, and please help in other ways like showing as many people as you can

Let me know what you think; the more buzz I get the more likely it will become a real product.

[Jadael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOf5kHZdldQ

Put up a video showing the prototypes and how they link together.

[Strife26]

Yeah, are you really looking to try to get the full 9000? How much are the mold going to run you?

[Jadael]

The mold is going to be at least $7000, and the more of that which is covered by donations, the lower the price will be and the fewer pre-orders I would need for a minimum order.

If I don't get the full amount though, it's still likely they'll get made if I can get it on Kickstarter.

[Strife26]

And how cool is the treasure chest? Is it worth me making another donation?

[breadbocks]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOf5kHZdldQ

Put up a video showing the prototypes and how they link together.

Oh, wow. Those are a lot smaller that they seem from the pictures. I'm not sure whether to be meh on the size, or happy that they are more manageable in size.

Also, that squeak is godawful. Can you find a way to make it not be so bad?

[Jadael]

They have a rough texture because they're 3D printed. The final ones will be injection molded and have a smooth surface like LEGOs, so that won't be an issue.

[breadbocks]

Thank god. I can't imagine having to deal with that.

As for the snap v slide thing, a snap would be preferable, so I can make super structures, or even something plain, like the tree in the OP without it falling into a boring mound,

[ein]

Going to second the snaps and I like the concept of a flat top.
The single large stud may be fine for regular D&D minis, but there's also the tiny sized ones, which fit four to a square, and minis from other games.
I have a feeling I will be donating in the near future.

[Max White]

+1 for snaps.
I'm just a broke student, with little money or guilt left after my donations to some natural disasters this year, but I will talk to my DM, and see if he has any interest. This is a good idea though! Geeks love table tops, and building/painting stuff. Kudos for making one support the other.

See if you can get noticed by any of the big table top guys, if they buy you out, you will be set for a long time.

[breadbocks]

Alternatively, you could flesh it out a little more, get the company official, and and try to go on one of those "pitch your idea to billionaires and pray they don't shred it" shows for the publicity, and if you get lucky, a pro businessman at your side to make it all profitable.

[frightlever]

Um. I don't really have anything positive to add but that's kinda my point. Before you spend too much money on this you might want to ask whether anyone is really going to want to spend a couple of hours building a tabletop dungeon/whatever before gameplay can even start, particularly when the granularity of the playfield is going to look very unattractive compared to the figures being used. I know Minecraft is popular right now but...

There are already a ton of magnet building blocks for toddlers that would probably serve ALMOST as well as these, but with smooth/printed surfaces.

Anyway, I know I'm peeing on your dreams here but I'm honestly not trying to be nasty to you. It can be very easy to become focussed on the details and miss the big picture.

Personally I always favoured the self-cast plaster of paris moulds for making terrain.

[Jadael]

Well, that's exactly why I've got threads like this on a bunch of D&D related forums, and why it's going on Kickstarter instead of coming out of my pocket. Overall, though, the response as been very positive.

People like the abstractness compared to diorama style terrain, the size, and you're the only person I've seen suggest it will take "hours" to assemble a dungeon.

There are a lot of building blocks, you're right, but I searched high and low and couldn't find any that were one inch and could hold a mini on top. I was surprised, really.

So all those combine to make me think it probably has a chance of working.

[Sensei]

3x3 lego studs = 1 square inch. Love 'em for DnD, but any lego dungeon takes a long time to set up.

Anyway, I think you should try giving them a surface that can be written on with dry-erase markers.