Now that the Skull Pass dwarf army is completed (except the thane, and the dragonslayer and grudge pony that I’ll probably turn into an Anvil of Doom) I’m getting cranked up on my next project. I’m currently working on a Descent game board using the plans on the Hirst Arts website. It is essentially a walls-free modular dungeon, which not only mimics what is in the Descent game, but also solves some of the dilemmas that face GM’s using modular dungeons. Basically, even a low wall tends to crowd miniatures on those classic 10′ wide hallways. This has driven some dungeon-builders into moving to larger hallways and other contrivances. But I’ve become convinced, having gotten quite a bit of mileage out of my own modular dungeon with 1″ high walls, that a walls-free option will prevent a lot of hassle and neck craning, and will also probably be a bit more flexible.

Bruce based his Descent board on corkboard, but a friend of mine put me onto a better product, taskboard. Taskboard is a wood pulp-shaped board that comes in 3/32″ thickness, is easily cut and sanded, is fairly durable, and perhaps most importantly is composed of sustainable wood (versus the nastiness that is MDF board). Taskboard comes in sheets of 20″ by 30″, which as it turns out, is perfect for doing a Descent board.

When you measure it out, you will have one 4″ by 6″ piece left over, which could become another room or, as I did, be given to your children as a reward for not hassling you as you cut the pieces.

Now, I’ve got to cast the Cavern Floor mold 34 times, and the accessory mold 24 times, so I’ll be busy doing that for a while.