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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 24, 2015 19:49:22 GMT -9
So, I'm running my 4e group through a heavily modified (and chopped up) "Tales from the Infinite Staircase" 2e Planescape module. And you all know by now that I love me some staircase kitbashing for playability and sheer aesthetics. And this module contains the mother of all staircases... So, I know I'll reuse some of my older stuff (it's kinda bashed up from storage, but that just becomes a player obstacle. What I want is my dream staircase: Easy to construct, has mini-compatible treads, can be made to look like it's floating in space, and - oh yeah - FOLD-FLAT! I can dream can't I? First I thought Leggos - but then I had a brain flash - there was paper terrain before there ever was a robocutter.... Popup books. And sure enough, single-sheet pop-out staircases are commonly available. Here's one that I kitbashed some textures on to last night - see what you think. Those stairs are one sheet of 8.5"x11" paper (I added some optional support in later.) Here's the pattern and the actual sheet, you can print it yourself and cut/score and fold to get the same result. And it FOLDS FLAT! Forgive the rough build, I'm still figuring it out - but even this build is good enough to use in my game! And the sheet doubles as a 2D tactical map. Here's the back where you'll notice the supports I added - clear boxes and side inserts (which come out and fold flat as well!) I made the cutfile first (attached), then used it to make thin lines for my textured version, which I cut and scored by hand to get smooth edges. Needs more work, but next up I'm going for other designs as well as a 17"x22" version that will be almost 11" high! Popup Staircase.studio3 (109.69 KB) |
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Post by cowboyleland on Jan 24, 2015 21:20:56 GMT -9
Sure looks like this should have be included in the book. I don't know how else one is expected to game on the illustration on the right without it. Great work!
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Post by Tooncraft3D on Jan 25, 2015 6:13:30 GMT -9
excellent work!
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Post by shintokamikaze on Jan 25, 2015 7:09:04 GMT -9
Looks good, but I have no idea what it is
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 25, 2015 13:57:11 GMT -9
Looks good, but I have no idea what it is A floating staircase? Anyway, I'm working with some more designs I found on the intertubes...  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build prototypes by Oracle Omega, on Flickr Cutfiles included below. Both are a single sheet of paper. I'm likely to scale the latter design up to 22" x 17" by adding more treads and/or staircases now that I can see the technique more clearly. Before that, I'm going to try my hand at a simpler popup staircase model... Popup Staircase II.studio3 (80.19 KB) Popup Staircase IV.studio3 (92.64 KB) |
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 25, 2015 14:39:40 GMT -9
I'm getting it. Here's a simple .5" riser version:  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase prototype, .5" risers by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase prototype, .5" risers by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase prototype, .5" risers by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase prototype, .5" risers by Oracle Omega, on Flickr (81.75 KB) Next I'll try .25", which should be 28 treads on a single 8.5x11" page... |
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 25, 2015 15:47:52 GMT -9
Ok - I tried .25" risers and treads - here's the results...  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build, simple with tiny treads and rise by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build, simple with tiny treads and rise by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build, simple with tiny treads and rise by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, popout staircase build, simple stairs with trimmed back/rail by Oracle Omega, on Flickr (109.24 KB) I like the rise, but the treads are really too small for figures, they tend to slide out and then pull a Legolas sliding all the way down... Don't be fooled by the pictures, to be used with minis these need additional support: a solid back and or sides for the big open areas. That last shot is balancing precariously somehow. And I'll be playing more with the railing - you can cut away too much (like I did) but it might provide real estate on the page for supports or something. |
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 25, 2015 16:20:10 GMT -9
That's the ticket! This is another one I'll be hand cutting out of 17"x22" It'll make a 12" rise over about 20" and should be pretty impressive (it doubles as a backdrop)! This prototype has all the features I want for a combat-centric threatening staircase. Popup Staircase III - Low Risers.studio3 (90.04 KB) |
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Post by shintokamikaze on Jan 26, 2015 6:02:16 GMT -9
A floating staircase, I did meen what system and scenario is it used for?
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Post by cowboyleland on Jan 26, 2015 6:05:51 GMT -9
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Post by shintokamikaze on Jan 26, 2015 6:06:15 GMT -9
The designs look great, but if you used foam board and hot glue you could have it like the top right pic, only supported by the back wall
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 26, 2015 7:58:45 GMT -9
These were prototypes. I have textured the big one and will definitely be using some backing material.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using proboards
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Post by oldschooldm on Jan 28, 2015 15:36:56 GMT -9
Look - something large and folded flat!  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr Flip it over?  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr And pull down on the base...  [/url
Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr Viola! It's a popup staircase 40 treads high and completely playable for RPG scale! Insert the little end piece for support under the stairs and you are ready to go:  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr The source file is gigantic (heres a compressed 25% version)!  22x17-Simple-Celestial-Staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr I'm so looking foward to using these models with my players - expect lots of live-play pix in a few weeks. :-) Ta ta for now!  Infinite Staircase, 40 tread pop-up celestial staircase by Oracle Omega, on Flickr |
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Post by mesper on Jan 28, 2015 16:34:51 GMT -9
Awesome, some pics are simply breathtaking - even if still not finished IMHO already one of the best gaming scenery posted here!
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Post by cowboyleland on Jan 28, 2015 16:59:50 GMT -9
Beautiful work. I hope the game fulfills the promise.
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Post by shintokamikaze on Jan 31, 2015 5:10:40 GMT -9
Wow, that looks fantastic, great job mate,.Is that 28mm, I was thinking of trying some fantasy stuff in 20mm their are some good 1/72 fantasy plastics now, any ideas on an easy to learn system?
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Post by cowboycentaur on Feb 6, 2015 0:46:02 GMT -9
incredible work, very awesome! I need to figure out how to incorporate a stairway like that into my campaign.
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 6, 2015 8:15:09 GMT -9
Wow, that looks fantastic, great job mate,.Is that 28mm, I was thinking of trying some fantasy stuff in 20mm their are some good 1/72 fantasy plastics now, any ideas on an easy to learn system? It's D&D mini sized: 1" = Human Scale (commonly known as anything between 25mm and 30mm) :-) The pattern scales arbitrarily, and is dirt simple. Even though I prefer using a digital cutter, I wanted a giant one so I manually cut and scored the 17x22" one by hand. It was easy - the size required additional support, hence the matt-board. I'll probably build another more complicated model next week, these intrigue me so much. |
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 6, 2015 8:18:14 GMT -9
incredible work, very awesome! I need to figure out how to incorporate a stairway like that into my campaign. So many easy ways to re-texture it. :-) Add floor, wall and treads (and even a texture for the support wall) and wallah. This gives me an idea - who would be up for me making my first kit for sale on RPGNow? "Infinite Easy Fold-Flat Staircases" or something like that? [Would I be crossing some forbidden line, from master-builder to vendor? Would the vendors here stop loving me? :-D ] |
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 6, 2015 13:17:01 GMT -9
I would include the first one you posted (with the switchbacks and landings) and maybe texture the white models you posted Jan 25 at 5:57. There would be great variety then.
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 12, 2015 0:37:26 GMT -9
Popup Staircase IV.II.studio3 (102.74 KB) Here's a new version of staircase IV (Mark II) - The Switchback one. It how has my "standard" .25" rise 1" wide treads. Took some adjustments, but I love it! This is a single sheet of 110# cardstock with no additions whatsoever! Cut, fold, and play!  Popup staircase IV, mk II by Oracle Omega, on Flickr   Next up, I think I'll do a interior texture treatment for this one. I have some ideas to make it have no non-tread holes and stuff... A totally new approach to paper terrain minis. Popup Staircase IV.II.studio3 (102.74 KB)
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Post by mproteau (Paper Realms) on Feb 12, 2015 3:37:50 GMT -9
If one were hoping to print textures on the stairs... do you think you can still fit registration marks in there somewhere? It looks like it'd be too close to the edge.
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 12, 2015 4:38:56 GMT -9
Those aren't switchbacks, that is a spiral staircase! There is one of those in almost every tower ever drawn or imagined! Why didn't I realise that before? OK, most of the maps are round towers, but this is a one sheet fold flat that produces a reasonable facsimile for gaming purposes.
Very good work!
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 12, 2015 7:20:39 GMT -9
If one were hoping to print textures on the stairs... do you think you can still fit registration marks in there somewhere? It looks like it'd be too close to the edge. Don't worry. I am texturing that and will make it fit. I've got some leeway. It's not centered yet and there is some room to tighten the walkways. :-) Those aren't switchbacks, that is a spiral staircase! There is one of those in almost every tower ever drawn or imagined! Why didn't I realise that before? OK, most of the maps are round towers, but this is a one sheet fold flat that produces a reasonable facsimile for gaming purposes. Very good work! Thanks. Now you are giving me ideas! BTW, there are LOTS of quadrilateral watchtowers.  |
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Post by eran on Feb 12, 2015 8:04:58 GMT -9
Can you make one that isn't a studio file for those of us without cutters? That is beautiful, and I'd love to be able to use it in my games.
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 12, 2015 11:03:28 GMT -9
Can you make one that isn't a studio file for those of us without cutters? That is beautiful, and I'd love to be able to use it in my games. Absolutely. There will be a PDF with clear outlines. That's how I made the 17"x22" monster. :-) |
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 12, 2015 20:09:14 GMT -9
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 13, 2015 0:14:13 GMT -9
Popup Staircase IV.III.studio3 (182.13 KB) A party of drow have encountered a folded room... They activate the room... Action Shot! So - here's what I did that's new: Since this popup model of a "spiral staircase" has large holes, I decided to do two main things: 1) Print on the back so that figures "inside" the model could be shot without seeing bright white. 2) Printed a second simple sheet, that "fills" the holes with wall and floor texture. This still allows the model to fold flat. Here's some more shots of the completed build: I didn't like how saggy it was, but didn't want to sacrifice fold-flat just yet - so I glued another cutting of the platforms (including the crossbar supports) underneath - which gave me the added strength I needed - without giving up fold-flat. As is this model won't hold many metal minis. It strains a bit with 6 plastic ones. But paper-minis, like we make here are a breeze! Model, Textured and outline model (click through) and Cutfile follow. One last action shot!  Popup staircase, model IB, mark III with texture by Oracle Omega, on Flickr Making textures is NOT my skill, as you can tell. Still - I like where this is all heading. Paper terrain and minis all in one folder. :-) Popup Staircase IV.III.studio3 (182.13 KB)
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Post by oldschooldm on Feb 17, 2015 22:07:52 GMT -9
Even more economy! I got two popup staircases to fit on one sheet of paper - one 2" high at the landing and the other 2.75" with middle landing. Popup Staircase V.studio3 (99.63 KB) I'm betting that by this point, you no longer need to see photos of the plain paper mockups and want to see the textured versions! Since I've already demonstrating that I'm a clumsy oaf who takes WAY too much time to texture models using internet art and photoshop - I decided to kitbash some staircase textures from some well known vendors... [This was a good idea, as I got the texturing done in 1/8 the time.) ANNOUNCING - FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ANY PAGE - TEXTURES FROM WWG and FDG ON THE SAME PAGE! (Thumbnail only to avoid copyright issues...) First we'll look at the Fat Dragon textures mapped to the simple 2" staircase. This is part of a dream of mine: The One-Shot Portfolio adventure model, much like what okumarts has done. I've been poking at making FDG flat for years, and this staircase is another piece in that plan... Next up is WWG's Feisty Friar wall, floor, and staricase textures applied to 2.75" staircase... This has my mind reeling with possibilities - watch out for a new thread in the coming days... Popup Staircase V.studio3 (99.63 KB) |
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Post by cowboyleland on Feb 18, 2015 7:51:04 GMT -9
So awesome!
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