Modular Tile Patterns
The advantage of using a modular system is that they can be used and reused for multiple configurations and alleviating the need to have many 1 use/specialty tiles. I use a very simple, smaller tile style, with a 2x2" base configuration. It does lend itself to need a few specialty tiles, but those tiles still get reused quite a bit, and they don't use much material. I'd personally rather do that than create large and elaborate single piece tiles that may never get used again. As long as you plan ahead it's easy to bang out more tiles quickly as needed before game day.
Each 1" square on the image is translated to a 5' in-game tile. Walls are 1/2" thick.
My tiles, basic in nature as they are, still allow me to create some pretty elaborate dungeons.
Supplies
Notice: Although I try to update all of my links & prices at least once a month, Amazon sellers may change or remove the particular items or prices since the time they have been listed here. The items I have listed are the best that I have found at the time, but any item matching the general description should suffice for this project.
I've broken these down by size and then by part. In addition, I have added the keywords I used to find these items if you want to do your own searches or in the event that the seller has changed/removed the item listed below.
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Cardboard - $0-6 - I just used the ones from Amazon boxes. Some is a little squished more than others unless you want a pallet. Personally, I think the unevenness gives a dungeon a little more decrepit feel.
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Keywords: cardboard
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Box cutter $4 - I find the smaller ones to be perfect for the shortcuts needed
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Keywords: box cutter
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Ruler, cork bottom (Add-on) $3 or 15" cork bottom ruler (Prime) $5 - Having a new/newer cork bottom ruler will grip the cardboard for measuring and cutting. Do not use a cheap plastic ruler
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Keywords: cork ruler
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Cutting mat $6 - I liked the one in my link because it was large and double-sided
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Keywords: cutting mat
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Glue sticks (30) $10 - You will go through glue pretty fast and so I felt getting the 30pk made the most money sense. And it was by far the best bang for the buck. Save the glue stick tops! They make great pillar tops in Crooked's tutorial on making columns.
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Keywords: glue sticks
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Printer Paper $10 - for textures. Print off Crooked's .pdfs, order them preprinted, or find your own
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Keywords: printer paper
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Fringe Marker $14 - not in the original supply needed list, but I found it very useful for quickly marking cardboard for cutting
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Keywords: fringe marker
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Use to fill in the middle of rooms & for room exits (there's a specialty piece for the gap)
Use to define the boundary of the room. Leave a space for any exits.
Use create the corners of a room.
Example
Passageways
Dead Ends
Halls
Intersections
Example
Templates
There are essentially 2 sets; larger (2x2) & smaller (1x1) tiles for rooms, hallways, and specialty tiles. The easiest way to do this is to figure out how many/what you need on an extra template sheet and use a marker/pen (or do it on the computer) to create a jigsaw puzzle of the shapes in order to minimalize waste. This list is in no way exhaustive.
Tips:
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The white border can be utilized for wall space
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The most common pieces are center, wall, corner, hall
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Keep the templates for further need down the road
Center Pieces
Rooms
Walls
Corners
Special Tiles
Use these to fill the 1/2" gap when creating exits.