Fat Dragon Games - E-Z Dungeons Basic Set: Review

[adamx20]

This is a review that is coming out in the next issue of Knowledge Arcana, Issue #11. The magazine article will contain pictures of the set in action! I do recommend this set to anyone who wants to build dungeons for minatures use but cannot afford models - Or for those who can even!

Dungeon Delve – Quarterly reviews of game products
This quarter we review Fat Dragons Games E-Z Dungeons Basic Set.

The E-Z Dungeon Basic Set is a complete set of printable miniatures terrain for any RPG, war game, or miniatures game. After getting the basic set into my hands I was very surprised at the level of detail involved in each miniature.

The basic set comes with a collection of walls, some mossy and some not, for use in creating rooms and hallways. A couple of floors are included in the set as well, each with an inch square grid that works perfect in all miniatures lines. The set also includes a collection of dungeon furnishings, which is my favorite and includes various chests and boxes and also sconces for the walls.

I read through the forums tips and tricks for a better idea of how to put the models together. The Fat Dragons Team recommends using card stock paper which is something I didn’t have. The team also recommends using a sticker paper when printing the models, and again this is an item that I didn’t have. Going with regular printer paper and some tape I embarked on creating a solid set of dungeon miniatures.

The Adventure Begins:

I started my dungeon with a Wall that measure 4 squares long. What better place to start a dungeon then with a wall, right? Feeling the true dungeon master I print out the wall and set to work cutting the wall out. I realized there would be a problem in keeping the model when it is finished – the model would collapse. It is a good thing I am a crafty person though. I decided to fill my model with packing Styrofoam I had left over from other internet purchases, so I grabbed a sharp knife and began shaping the foam into the shape of the model. I spent roughly a half hour putting the wall together. When it was finished it stood taller then my miniatures, a proud epitome for any dungeon set on a table.

After the wall was complete I was quiet pleased with the finished product. I had a wall that was the perfect size for any miniatures game or any RPG game that involved miniatures, and the product cost far less then other products on the market. My dungeon was not complete, however, so I set forth and printed some furnishings that would be found in my dungeon.

I printed out a box and a chest – the largest of each and began cutting away. The chest is in high detail and a bright red color with silver fixtures. Perfect! I again filled these models with Styrofoam to make them solid and each took me also around a half an hour to complete.

Still not complete I created a few more basic features. I printed a model for an L-Shaped corner and a model for a wall that was 3 squares long, this one had moss on it. The L-Shaped corner took a little longer to complete, around 45 minutes total, while the other wall took another half an hour.

To complete the illusion of a full dungeon I printed some floor and added a sconce to the large wall. This was exciting! The model looked realistic enough, and each model complimented each other quiet nicely. I will admit the L-Shaped corner is a little smaller then the walls. I then grabbed a few miniatures from my Games Workshops toys and took some pictures.

Fat Dragon Games E-Z Dungeon Basic Set is a high quality print out version of resin model terrain at a much lower cost. The staff’s recommendations are clearly present to make the models sturdier during play time, but they are also recommendations that allow for quicker time to play and a lower level of difficulty. I recommend this though – don’t go without reading the forums and picking up some tips and tricks.

My recommendations for making E-Z Dungeon Basic Set are [snipped . . check the issue!]

Final consensus: The E-Z Dungeons Basic Set receives 5 out of 5 Swords for game playability and 2 out of 5 shields for difficulty level. This is a great set to print out and then watch a movie while putting it together before your next game.

 

[JustKim]

I guess I'm not familiar with the KA review system, does the low rating for difficulty level mean you consider the difficulty level a detriment or that it's not very difficult?

 

[adamx20]

Something I just started. The lower rating of shields the less I would stay away from the product.

This one is a rock star though!! I'll admit it takes some time (*1 shield) and it takes some crafting skills. But the crafting skills are basic Kindergarten skills so (*1 shield).

I've been thinking of all the ways I could put this set to use and I thought of just about every way possible. Board games (Heroquest and Heroscape), RPG's (any and every), Miniature games (again - any and every), and they make good dioramas too.

I think I am most excited because I get the whole set for $12! No longer do I need to look at the expensive resin models and think - man that would be awesome to play with! - I can just print it out.

EDIT: I wanted to point out that I've never played Heroscape - it's just an idea that sprung in my head while playing with the set.

 

[SavageRobby]

I love cardstock terrain. Inexpensive, good looking terrain that is light to carry and fun to put together.

I haven't put together any of Tom's (Fat Dragon's) cardstock terrain sets yet - just the tiles - but I have put together some of his space stuff. He's got an awesome cardstock fighter jet that looks a lot like a Viper, and it looks really slick on the table.

There are some other fantastic companies, as well. Along with Fat Dragon, WorldWorksGames is at the absolute top of the heap for terrain IMO, and Ebbles Miniatures is tops for vehicles/mecha/sci fi terrain. Paper Miniatures AT has some very cool off-the-beaten-path sets (a desert series and a very cool Asian temple), Stones Edge has some interesting stuff (but mostly 1.5") and Microtactix - one of the originals in the field - has some plainer, less sophisticated (but cheap!) stuff as well. There is also a free link at WotC that has a selection of nice buildings and towers and things that I always recommend to newer folks (they lack interiors like more recent sets, but they're still great facades).

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

Thanks for the great review! I'm attaching a pic of the E-Z Dungeons Basic Set so people can see some of the items you discuss:

I haven't put together any of Tom's (Fat Dragon's) cardstock terrain sets yet - just the tiles - but I have put together some of his space stuff. He's got an awesome cardstock fighter jet that looks a lot like a Viper, and it looks really slick on the table.

Thanks! Here's a pic of our latest sci-fi ship we released last week:

 

[adamx20]

WorldWorksGames has some nice paper terrain too. Looks like the difficulty level increases on some of those sets - but this looks like a good item to review in a later issue. Not issue #12 though, I already have that review going. Issue #12 I am going to review digitial / online CCG Tables.

 

[Treebore]

I've been a fan of Tom and FDG for several years now. Glad to see someone else excited by the coolness of the product line!

As an FYI, I get my stuff printed on cardstock at STAPLES for a $1.00 per page. I had to do 50 sheets for that price point. I was able to do a variety of pages, not just one specific page of cut outs. Don't know if that is the way it is done at all stores or just the employee being nice.

So back up any FDG purchases to CD, like everyone should in case of hard drive failure, and take it to STAPLES (or wherever you like/want to go) and have them print it out. Tom even has a "printing license" in his products so the stores won't give you any hassles on copyright (the STAPLES employee did bring this up and I had her open and look at Tom's permission statement on my CD).

With 50 pages printed out you can build a small city sized dungeon if you want.


I like working with foam board a little more, using index cards as "filler" for any gaps the foam board doesn't fill completely. I like the foam board because I find it easier to cut out numerous pieces and glue them together for the right thickness, and finishing that off with index cards.

However there are certain wall sections, etc... where foam blocks are more practical/easier to use.

Excellent stuff, and being so involved in putting it together makes you feel very much the "creator" as well.

 

[adamx20]

Foamboard!! I was just using some foam that I had lying around. I wanted to state, since the subject came up, that Card Board can act as a more environmental filler too. Using Foam and Cardboard will increase the difficulty and time spent putting miniatures together.

I also wanted to upload one of the pictures that is going to be in the magazine!! This one turned out pretty good. What you an see is an evil necromancer (Chaos Wizard from Heroquest) protecting his lair from a party of Lizardman (Skink Archers from Warhammer!).

Proper GW Disclaimer.
[sblock]
Fanatic
This web site is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limited.

Games Workshop, the Games Workshop logo, Epic, Inquisitor, the Inquisitor logo, Inquisitor:Conspiracies, Battlefleet Gothic, the Battlefleet Gothic logo, Necromunda, the Necromunda Plate logo, the Necromuinda Stencil logo, Mordheim, the Mordheim logo, City of the Damned, Blood Bowl, the Blood Bowl logo, the Blood Bowl Spike device, Fanatic, the Fanatic logo, the Fanatic II logo, Warmaster and all associated marks, names, races, race insignia, characters, vehicles, locations, units, illustrations and images from the Blood Bowl game, Warhammer 40,000 universe and the Warhammer World are either ®, TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2006, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. Used without permission. No challenge to their status intended. All Rights Reserved to their respective owners.
[/sblock]

 

[Roberto67]

WorldWorksGames has some nice paper terrain too. Looks like the difficulty level increases on some of those sets - but this looks like a good item to review in a later issue. Not issue #12 though, I already have that review going. Issue #12 I am going to review digitial / online CCG Tables.

Well I bought some of the terrains too and I like theme very much. Good details and you can print as many as you like. They have also gds for the plotters included. And 3 different sizes: 1", 1.5" and no grids. For the posts they use anchors and than you put the walls inside. You can stack them too. Here you can find the site: The Official WorldWorks Games Store!, Exceeding Your Expectations One Game at a Time

 

[Zaukrie]

I heartily recommend FDG and WWG products.

The Maiden is one of the great pieces of art in gaming, and while it was hard to put together, it wasn't impossible.

I really like the look of the FDG walls and stone.

That said, both companies, while striving for realism in scale, should think about offering shorter walls. I love 3D terrain, but I need my players and I to be able to see over/around the walls.