03/29/2026
It’s been one of those stretches where real life decides to roll with advantage—work, obligations, and everything in between stacking up faster than an over-ambitious encounter table. Hobby time has been scarce, and the desk has looked more like a staging ground than a place of progress.
But despite the chaos, I managed to carve out a few solid pockets of time this week, and I’m happy to say that a handful of lingering projects are finally finished and off the table. There’s something deeply satisfying about clearing space—both physically and mentally—and seeing completed minis where there used to be half-painted potential.
Even better, knocking these out means I’ve checked off another goal for the year. That always feels good—not just progress in the moment, but momentum that carries forward into whatever’s next on the list.
It wasn’t a massive push forward, but it was meaningful progress. The kind that reminds you why you keep coming back to the hobby, even when life tries to pull you in a dozen other directions.
This week, I finished two more sets of the Druid Circles, which felt like a big step forward. I used the newer stone technique I’ve been working on, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. The process is a bit more involved, but the results make it worth the extra effort.
I start with an overbrush of a dark gray to build the base texture, then layer in subtle color variation using a makeup sponge. After that, I drybrush with a lighter gray to pick up the edges and bring out the detail. Once that’s set, I apply my homemade blackwash to tie everything together and add depth, followed by a final dry-drybrush with white to really make the stone pop.
The end result gives a much more natural, weathered stone look—something that feels right at home on the tabletop.
Both of these sets are now finished and added to the Etsy store stock, which is always a great feeling. Not only is the project complete, but it’s out there, ready for someone else’s table.
The trees in the background are new as well. They’d been sitting on the table for a while, half-finished and taking up space, so I finally decided to just bite the bullet and get them done.
It wasn’t a big, focused project—more of a “clear the backlog” kind of effort—but finishing them up freed some much-needed room on the workspace. And honestly, there’s a certain satisfaction in knocking out those lingering pieces that have been quietly waiting their turn.
I also wrapped up a full dungeon tile set built from XPS foam this week. It’s not my best work, but this was one of those projects where the goal was simply to get it done—and sometimes that matters more than perfection.
Part of what slowed things down was filming the entire process. Setting up shots, adjusting angles, and making sure everything was captured added a fair bit of time, but it should make for some great content later on, so I think it was worth the tradeoff.
That said, I’m really happy with how the stone texture turned out. The overall look has that worn, natural feel I’m always aiming for, even if the set itself didn’t come together quite as cleanly as some of my previous builds.
Realistically, though, I probably won’t end up using these tiles much. I’ve grown pretty attached to using UDT, and I’ve also got a solid collection of 3D printed tiles that are just easier to pull out and run with. Still, there’s value in the process—and every project, even the imperfect ones, adds something to the toolbox.
I also painted up a set of cavern pillars for myself, sticking with my usual Underdark color theme. This is a scheme I keep coming back to—I just really enjoy the mood it brings to the table.
The process is pretty straightforward but effective. I start with a midnight blue base, layer in some darker blue tones for depth, and then finish with a light blue drybrush to pick out the edges and texture. It creates that cool, dimly lit feel that really sells the underground environment.
I’ve always been drawn to the Underdark as a setting, and these pieces fit right into that aesthetic. They’ll definitely see some table time the next time the party decides to venture below the surface.
I also wrapped up another YouTube video yesterday, covering everything I managed to complete this week along with a look at all the other projects currently taking over my crafting table.
And there’s a lot.
Seeing it all laid out really puts things into perspective—half-finished builds, ideas in progress, and a growing queue of “next up” projects waiting for their turn. It’s a bit chaotic, but in a good way. There’s no shortage of inspiration, that’s for sure.
Now it’s just a matter of working through the pile, one project at a time.
Also, just a quick reminder—the unpainted DungeonSticks are still available in my Etsy store at 50% off with free shipping through the end of the month. After that, they’ll be officially retired and won’t be coming back to the shop.
If you’re a newer DM, or just looking to expand your terrain collection without breaking the bank, these are a great entry point into modular terrain. Simple, versatile, and easy to customize, they’re an affordable way to bring more depth to your tabletop. Link below.
All in all, a solid week of progress—projects finished, space reclaimed, and just enough chaos left on the table to keep things interesting.
Keep on gaming!
2026 Goals Progress
- Minis Painted: 152/150 – COMPLETED
- Large Models / Terrain: 7 / 6 – COMPLETE
- YouTube Videos: 5/ 24
- Game Reviews: 4 / 4 – COMPLETED
- Games Played (TTRPG + Board Games): 0 / 4
- Thursday Drop-Ins Created: 3 / 12
- New TTRPG Systems Tried: 0 / 3
- Shadowdark Mini-Campaign Sessions: 0 / 3
- Shadowdark Release on DriveThruRPG: 1/ 1 – COMPLETE