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How to Make Tabletop RPG Tiles

In role-playing games such as "Dungeons and Dragons" or "GURPS," players take on the role of a character in a shared story. Some versions of these games use miniatures on a map to help players keep track of the situation during play. You can buy map tile from manufacturers such as Dwarven Forge or Wizards of the Coast, or you can make your own using inexpensive materials from your local home improvement center. Set aside an hour for each tile set, which you can build using basic tools most people have at home.

Things You'll Need

Melamine board
Jig saw
T-square
Gray permanent marker
Dry erase markers

Instructions

- 1
  Cut down your melamine board to a size that fits your table. Standard size for melamine is 24-by-48 inches.
- 2
  Draw a grid on the melamine using the T-square, ruler and pencil. A one-inch grid is standard for many popular RPG and miniature standards. Consult the rules manual or manuals for your game to confirm your scale.
- 3
  Redraw the lines of your grid using the gray permanent marker. Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the ink to dry.
- 4
  Copy the maps for the scenario you want to run onto the melamine. Use the dry-erase markers. Stick to the bare-bones structure of the map.
- 5
  Concert the finished map into tiles by cutting it into sections that correspond with sight lines you would expect in the scenario.
- 6
  Add detail to each individual tile, including repairs to any smudges that occurred during cutting.

Role Playing Games