Grinning Skull Studios New Release: LARP LAB Historical Reference: 1910 label catalogue, printabe resource!

Hello there, yes, long time no see, or post for that matter! I have been very busy of late, doing allsorts of stuff, so haven’t been posting for a while, something that I intend to remedy in 2020, but I digress…

Please take a look at our LARP LAB Historical Reference: 1910 Label Catalogue, printable resource for creating your own turn of the century props for gaming, budget movies, theatre, unique gifts and more, limited only by your imagination, get your printer and put it to use!! Download now from DriveThruRPG!!

A picture speaks a thousand words, so if that’s the case….

You can get your copy from DriveThruRPG here at: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/297815/LARP-LAB-Historical-Reference-1910-Label-catalogue

and if you want to check out our other hobby titles (we are now at almost 300!!) please go to: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/8807/Grinning-Skull-Studios

Thanks everyone! Have a great Crimble and a festive and exciting new year!!

Grinning Skull Studios October Release Round-Up

Well, as the saying goes, better late than never, indeed we are a few days late in posting the mammoth load of Grinning Skull studios publications that were released last month. I actually think that it’s a new record here, which also leaves us only 31 releases left before we hit 200 Grinning Skull publications in total! Quite a milestone, which I’m pretty confident will easily get smashed to take us over this before 2018 is upon us!

I’m hoping that by the end of 2018, we can get to 400, which would be very cool a target indeed and something I’ll be seriously trying to get to! anyway, enough about the future, let’s talk about the past, hop in my metaphoric time capsule with me and let’s explore October…

First up are two titles for use with those of you who play any sort of Apocalyptic RPG. Aimed at the zombie genre of play, but easily put to use for nuclear aftermath type games, or any other end of the world themed game. Check them out here:

(DriveThruRPG)

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223014/100-Useful-Scavenged-Items-from-a-Zombie-Apocalypse?src=hottest_filtered&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223015/100-Useless-Scavenged-Items-from-a-Zombie-Apocalypse?src=also_purchased&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

(RPGnow)

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/223014/100-Useful-Scavenged-Items-from-a-Zombie-Apocalypse?src=hottest_filtered&coverSizeTestPhase2=true 

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/223015/100-Useless-Scavenged-Items-from-a-Zombie-Apocalypse?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

Now one for those fans of Steampunk, and introducing a brand new author who I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of in the coming months, Aaron Canton, brings us 100 Airship side quests. You can check it out here:

(DriveThruRPG) http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223759/100-Airship-Side-Quests-for-any-Steampunk-RPG-Campaign?src=hottest_filtered&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

(RPGnow) http://www.rpgnow.com/product/223759/100-Airship-Side-Quests-for-any-Steampunk-RPG-Campaign?manufacturers_id=8807

October’s Pointless classic title is 100 B-Movies, ideal to fill in background fluff in modern settings, It’s a Pay What You Want Title (as are all Pointless Classics) so technically free to download, although the more generous of you out there can donate a bit (if you want, you don’t have to!) as a special way of thanking us for our kindness at making these available this way!

(DriveThruRPG) http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223736/100-BMovies-playing-at-the-Movie-Theatre-for-all-Modern-RPGs?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

(RPGnow) http://www.rpgnow.com/product/223736/100-BMovies-playing-at-the-Movie-Theatre-for-all-Modern-RPGs?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

Number three in our very popular Riddles series focuses on riddles with a modern theme, ideal for all sorts of contemporary games and RPGs, why not even as a fun way to test your mates for the odd hour, 100 riddles 3, complete with answers are available here:

(DriveThuRPG) http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/223170/100-Riddles-Volume-3-for-all-Modern-RPGs?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

(RPGnow) http://www.rpgnow.com/product/223170/100-Riddles-Volume-3-for-all-Modern-RPGs?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference title series is a new line, collated to help bring some authentic atmosphere to many different RPG & LARP games. From alternate history, Cthulhu, Steampunk, modern horror and more. These titles have proved to be well received and with much more in the works, we are sure there are a few that you’ll get some use from. All material is taken from the historical record and Public Domain.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Antique Maps of Great Britain, Poster Map Collection.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Antique Poster Maps of Europe Poster Map Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Antique Poster Maps of London Poster Map Collection.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Antique World Maps- Poster Map Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Victorian Newspaper Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Airship Plans Poster Collection.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Astronomy Poster Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Botanical Poster Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Circus Plans Posters Collection: Clowns

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Circus Posters Collection: Clowns

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Medical Anatomy Poster Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Scientific Poster Collection Vol 1.

Grinning Skull’s Historical Reference Series: Vintage Zoological Poster Collection Vol 1.

3 Collected Bundles of the first title releases are also available at a discount where these titles are sold!!

The series so far can be seen over on our Drive Thru RPG and RPG now Publisher store pages:

(DriveThruRPG): http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/8807/Grinning-Skull-Studios/subcategory/24344_28857/Historical-reference

(RPGnow) http://www.rpgnow.com/browse/pub/8807/Grinning-Skull-Studios/subcategory/24344_28857/Historical-reference

Finally we are happy to report we now have a publisher page on Drivethru Comics, here we intend to publish classic comic cover collections and reprints from the Public Domain. The first are The Skeletal Spectres Vol 1 collections, 5 3×3 A4 print at home posters in one PDF, plus each of these covers is also available in 5×5 A4 sized versions, and the massive 8×8 A4 posters! Make sure you have some ink in  your printer as the big ones are going to take some printing (If you prefer, just use black ink for a B&W cheaper version, or better still, use someone else’s printer!!)

All these are available at the new DriveThruComics Publisher page: http://www.drivethrucomics.com/browse/pub/8807

Also, I almost forgot to mention this 13 title collection of Dungeon themed titles (I missed it off last month I believe) which can be purchased at both DriveThruRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/222655/Grims-Fantastic-Dungeon-Collection-Bundle-BUNDLE?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

and at RPGnow: http://www.rpgnow.com/product/222655/Grims-Fantastic-Dungeon-Collection-Bundle-BUNDLE?src=newest&coverSizeTestPhase2=true

Also, check us regularly for new titles and news!

Crowdfunding Spotlight: 28mm Renaissance Skeleton Army Miniatures Kickstarter

It might not surprise you that, here at the Grinning Skull, we like all things skeletal. So, it would be rude to not include these babies here in Crowdfunding Spotlight.

These figures are brought to you by Skull & Crown, a name that’s apt considering the subject! As you can see the inspired skeleton designs, lifted as if from the pages of the old woodcuts, paintings and engravings from the renaissance period. Also there is a distinct old skool vibe to them too, most definite thumbs up for both points!

These actually tempt me to get out my paints and minis  right now and do a bit of painting (although I always seem to have 10,000 things to do before I could even consider doing so…) taking out all my available skelly minis to get painted like I promised myself weeks ago…

You can get involved and check the figures out in more detail by clicking on the pictures or this clickky here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/23535743/renaissance-skeleton-army-28mm-miniatures-for-game?ref=category

Keep your eye out for these guys in the future!

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4xD: But hey Mr Grim, I wanna’ game my dungeon in 15mm….

So, outside of the Grim’s Dungeons of Doom tutorials, I think I needed to have yet another sub-set of brain fart articles to cover other aspects from time to time, so here is 4xD (which stands for Dungeon developments, discourse and dialogue) in which i’ll be babbling on about my gameworld Plexus (which I wouldn’t mind developing into something cool) as well as future dungeons of doom related PDFs I’m making, and other similar themed stuff I’m planning that doesn’t fit into the main articles.

Today I want to address 15mm dungeons and just how we can adapt these techniques to suit that scale rather than the usual 28mm.

To be honest, I mainly game in 15mm and not 28mm, unless it’s WFB I don’t really have any minis in that size beyond that, so when I began this, I seriously considered going 15mm as well. I do have quite a few 15mm fantasy adventurers, but were lacking on monsters, so it was kind of a reversed 28mm situation (Where as I have plenty of monsters, yet hardly any adventurers) What swung the decision in the end was the sheer scope and availability of fantasy minis in the scale, otherwise I’d have gone smaller just for space saving.

Anyway, but just how many of these techniques I’ve been detailing? So enough of my rambling, and lets shift scale.

DUNGEON FLOORS- There is absolutely no reason why the exact same technique can’t be used. Other textured  paper is available with smaller mosaic squares that would be more akin to 15mm flagstones but I don’t see why the same dungeon flooring could not be used. Another idea would be to acquire some nice cheap or free floorplans in PDF form and shrink them down 50%-65%

WALL SECTIONS- The same goes with the wall sections, only with slight modification. I would recommend that the only thing that i’d do different is when detailing the texture with card block designs, is that they would scale more if the brick design was shrunk by half. Ok, this would take a little longer, but not that much. Some might also prefer to use a smaller dimension of wood pieces, although I think that this would not be essential. If you don’t want the wood method for your dungeon, consider getting some dungeon building paperkit PDFs and shrinking them by the same percent as the flooring, or for free on the web. There are a good selection that would fit on this site, check the Resources section for lists of free 3D dungeons and similar.

DOORS– The chunky doors are easily done by simply shrinking the door size down only and keeping the rest of the building as is, also don’t forget that 15mm can be found for sale by several mini companies, so that’s an option too without much outlay. Opening doors like in the article are still do-able but a little fiddly, as with anything if you shrink the size. Maybe if there’s a call for it, i’ll do a tutorial for it, however you’ll nee to let me know if thats what you want!

FURNITURE- It’s very difficult to get the same level of detail that you get at 28mm, but not impossible either. If you aren’t ready to micro the techniques I’ve been going on about, you can always buy the dressings in from mini companies if you look around, although this can be hit and miss. Making stuff yourself helps eradicate the frustration factor with buying, only to replace it with more frustration building it! But, hold on, there need be no angst if you think carefully. Beds are easily sorted by shrinking the sizes (use 1 lolly stick wide for single beds, 2 for double beds etc) tables, again shorten the lengths and widths (use thick card as an alternative if it makes it easier) Shelves are something more intricate, swap lolly sticks for thick card, use smaller beads and adornment, sure it’s tricky, but not hard to do. For the books on the shelves, use thinner card too for scale. Books can also be made from the books & scrolls PDF, by printing the kit out at about 50-65% (your choice) and using thin card instead of EVA foam. opening books from the kit may be trickier….

CAVERN WALLS, CORNERS, DOORWAYS AND FEATURES– Cavern walls using expanding foam are easily done as is, or simply change the dimensions to create smaller walls of your desired height/width. It’s exactly the same with the corners and doorways, use as is or create them smaller to suit. Cavern features need no changes, just create them smaller if you need to, otherwise make as normal.

MINIATURES- Just a quick mention about 15mm minis. There are plenty of great companies who produce suitable minis for 15mm dungeon crawling. The only downfall is that you’ll really need to shop around to get the diversity needed for a proper old skool feel. Classic dungeon monsters are hard to find in 15mm, but more and more manufacturers are bringing out these classic creatures. Checkout other scales such as 10mm, 20mm and 28mm for minis that will suit. Pendraken do some cool dungeon monsters that fit well with 15mm. Don’t forget other great manufacturers to get your usual fantasy races and mosters, 15mm.co.uk, Irregular, splintered light, magister militum to name but a few. Adventurers can be plucked from all manner of historical lines at great prices much cheaper than their fantasy couterparts. Shopping around is key.

So, capping off this article, where ever possible from now on I’ll attempt to throw in some 15mm building tips too, for those of you who want to go 15mm (rather than the 28mm I’ve been detailing here). If you would like the odd 15mm dungeon article let me know in the comments about your opinions on the subject and if you’d like to see a few 15mm articles and I might oblige!

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Crowdfunding Spotlight: Miniaturemen’s Cowboy Orc Kickstarter

I haven’t posted any crowdfunding spotlight articles recently, so when I saw these little beauties, I just had to post one.

These wild west style orcs will appeal to anyone who loves greenskins, and if I were playing 40K with an ork army (shame they aren’t in 15mm or I’d be aquiring  some), I’d be wanting a unit of them. They have a decent old skool vibe, and they look the business!

My thinking there will be a myriad of uses for them. They’d make a unique Necromunda gang, or simply for gorkamorka (lots have mentioned it already) I think I’d just like them for the sake of having them, they look so quirky!

So get over to KS to show your support of indie miniature producers and manufacturers, by clicking the link and spreading the word.

28mm Scale White Metal Wild West Cowboy Orc Miniatures by Miniaturemen — Kickstarter.

 

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