One niche area where 3D printing technology has truly struck a chord is with the tabletop gaming community, and for obvious reasons. The ability to design and manufacture your own terrain, characters, and structures has opened up an entire new world to gamers, and trust us, we’ve seen quite a few innovative 3D printable tabletop wargaming terrain pieces over time. In fact, even major 3D printing companies Ultimaker and MakerOS have recently collaborated to host GAMESMASH, a competition that called upon makers to design and create their own 3D printed tabletop games.
Recently, one group of gaming innovators launched their own 3D printable tabletop RPG on Kickstarter, called Tragedy of Progress, a steampunk-themed miniature game equipped with well-developed characters and 3D printable terrain. The steampunk genre, which typically pertains to the more lavish, steam-powered machinery that was utilized prior to technological advancements, is another that has been revived with 3D printing technology. From conceptual spaceships to 3D printed prosthetics, the steampunk aesthetic provides a unique sci-fi look comprised of metallic gears and bolts.
A group of finished terrain designs
In Tragedy of Progress, players will be able to produce their own main miniatures, weapons, armor, and terrain all from their own 3D printer. The tabletop game will allow gamers to create their own personalized collection of characters, which can be used to compete against or collaborate with other players. The game is built on customization, putting players in control of every character, as well as their equipment, ability upgrades, and the terrain. The team is designing each file to be as 3D printer-friendly as can be, and in the near future, they hope to have pre-made files for specific 3D printer manufacturers. Essentially, their goal seems to be providing a fully 3D printable tabletop game that is easy for the user to print and customize.
Proof of concept character model
Thus far, the Tragedy of Progress team has created a simplistic SAM (Size Approximation Man) model in order to size their terrain and play test their rules. Their plan is to further develop characters and terrain with the money that is raised on Kickstarter. The gameplay will consist of characters that will have varied stats in Cognition, Melee, Ranged, Nerves, Awareness and Stamina, all of which can be further develop through battle. These customized characters will be able to develop personalized roles for their groups, from range support to objective running fodder, Tragedy of Progress’ goal is to create a no limit system where players can create the exact characters they want.
For a $5 pledge, backers will receive the basic terrain pack, which includes 3D printable trees, boulders, and stone walls. From there, higher pledges include more terrain packs, while for $585, you can have your own personalized miniature of yourself included in the game. Upon success of their crowdfunding campaign, the Tragedy of Progress team plans to price their 3D printable miniatures for around $3.50, while add-on packs with weapons, armor, and more will cost around $0.25. Ultimately, I’d expect their Kickstarter campaign to go quite well, as the combination of tabletop gaming and the steampunk aesthetic are both extremely popular, and are also easily replicable through 3D printing technology.
Check out their trailer and gameplay preview below–and let us know if you are backing this campaign, discussing further over in the 3D Printed Tabletop Game forum at 3DPB.com.
