How To Make Paper Figures

Johnzo says:

You can also get premade paper figs from rpgnow and other places. Some premade figures are rendered by computer with a lot of dark detail; these don't work so well for me. ([1] is an example of this)

If you don't want to spend on predrawn figures, or RPGNow doesn't have what you need, it's pretty simple to make your own. All you need is a color printer, cardstock, glue, stick-tack, and spare change.

• Oh, and also, some figure images. Since I can't draw worth a damn, I get mine online. Most of my figures come from Patrick Cruciau. Patrick offers nifty figure images for free. He is one of the righteous people. If Patrick doesn't have what I need, I go to clipart.com, which is where I found my monks:

Google images can also be useful here, but clipart is a better bet. Cartoony line-drawn images are the best kind of image for this, as intricate detail tends to vanish on a 1" figure.

• If the illos are side-views (example) then you're all set. If

they're front-views (example) and figure facing matters to you, you'll need to create a back view of each image. I do this in a paint program by just flood-filling the entire image in black to make a silhouette of it and then flipping the image vertically. This is what the Disposable Heroes line does, and it works well.

• Use a word processor to create a two-row table with borders on. Scale your images to the right size (Savage is 1"=6', so I usually make figures under an inch in height.) Put your images in the top table row. Underneath each image, put the corresponding back view of the image. For a side-view figure, this will just be a vertical flip of the image. For a front-view, it'll be the back view of the image that you made in the previous step.

• Print this page on cardstock. Fold along the line between the two rows and glue, then cut the figures apart.

• (Optionally) laminate the figures. You can self-serve laminate for free at Kinkos. My laminated cardboard figs are far more durable than the plastic Mage Knight / D&D figs I use.

• Trim the figures and get rid of big splatches of unprinted cardstock. This is not necessary, of course, but I think it really improves the look of them.

• Use pennies and stick-tack for basing. Or you could buy dedicated basing material, but I've never seen the need for that.

Kademono also suggests

Other great sources are Greywolf's character fonts and Blackwyrm's Cutout Heroes.

Charles Seaman adds

• To make quick images, I've used HeroMachine (version 1.1 is free) with good results
• I typically print the stand-ups on glossy photo paper.
• On the backside, rather than just black-fill, I have experimented with charcoal rub effects and found the result to be more pleasing. This is simply a preference of course.
• When I print nameless combat thugs, I have done different things:
  • Sometimes I print the picture on front and a number on the back (1,2,3, etc to identify each NPC)
  • I've also just put the number on both sides. This is less dramatic, as there isn't a picture, but it is easier for players to verbally and visually identify the NPCs
  • I've also put the image at 50% transparency, with the number over it. On the back I make the shadow 50% transparent, with a number also.
• I have various lengths of 1" diameter clear plastic tubing. By standing the tubing on its end under the stand-ups, I can put things literally in the air.

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