As D&D increasingly goes digital, Dwarven Forge brings focus back to the tabletop

polygon.com:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and other tabletop role-playing games suddenly found themselves at a crossroads. Should they stop their campaigns, pausing months or years of continuous play, and wait things out? Or should they make the jump to digital formats — virtual tabletops like Roll20 and One More Multiverse? Some who made that jump may never go back, but others simply can’t wait to gather around the table once more.

Nate Taylor, chief creative officer at Dwarven Forge, hopes that when groups do gather together in person that they consider playing with his terrain — arguably some of the most beautiful and sturdy tabletop gaming accessories around. Founded in 1996 by classically trained sculptor and painter Stefan Pokorny, Dwarven Forge is well known in gaming circles as the gold standard for TTRPG terrain. Visit any major convention, from PAX to Gen Con, and you’ll see its booth from a mile away — elaborate scenes featuring ornate underground caverns, bustling city streets, and towering castles.

Now the Brooklyn-based company is launching a crowdfunding campaign for a lavish new set of completely redesigned terrain. The Kickstarter for Cities Untold: Lowtown runs now through Feb. 28. Polygon sat down with the team to learn more.

While competitors like WizKids and Tabletop World can be less expensive to own, Dwarven Forge terrain is far more robust and intricate. The secret is a proprietary PVC compound called Dwarvenite, which is sturdy enough to stand on while also delicate enough to be hand-painted — either by fans, or by the experts at Dwarven Forge. The results are incredible.

“Affordable is one of our challenges,” Taylor told Polygon in a recent interview.