Interview with Andrew Askedall of Warlayer Terrain

Warlayer 3D Printable Terrain by Andrew Askedall - Chemical VatsAndrew Askedall is the talent and brains behind Warlayer Terrain.  As I have watched the space evolve at a breakneck pace over the past year, Warlayer has quickly become one of the go-to modelers in my collection.  On a personal note, the original Warlayer Kickstarter is the first 3D Printable terrain Kickstarter I ever backed.  With a new Kickstater right now crashing through  stretch goals, I wanted to catch up with Andrew and ask him about Warlayer, Wargaming, and his latest Kickstarter.

UPDATE: Check out this video by Greg_FL showcasing Warlayer: Orbital Drop terrain.

  • What miniatures games do you play?

I play almost exclusively 40k but I’m looking to branch out into WarMachine. It’s also hard to stay aware from the allure of the new star wars games. The Tau was my first army, I just loved the designs of the riptides and mechs. After several hundred points of that army I branched into space wolves territory which have taken over my fenrisian heart.

  • How long have you owned a 3D Printer or been in the 3D Printing Industry?

I’ve been part of the 3d Printing industry for a little over 4 years and have bought my own printer about 3 years in. MakerBot brought me in as a UX designer and now I now own several.

  • What printers do you use to print terrainWarlayer 3D Printable Terrain by Andrew Askedall - Wall?

I use a few MakerBot Replicator 2’s but the Replicator+ is a real workhorse now.

  • What got you interested in modeling 3D Terrain for print? What was your first model?

This was my first terrain modell. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:725893 I actually had no intention of doing a kickstarter but a few of the friends I play with really liked my table so I decided it could be a good business that could give me more capital to spend on the hobby. It’s a vicious cycle.

    • Do you have a favorite model you created?

My favorite models are the ones that when I see them, it almost feels like I didn’t create it. They look “real”. It is really hard to choose favorites but I think the greeble patterns on the new landing pads are my current loves.

  • What are some of the challenges you ran into, when starting your first Kickstarter with WarlayerWarlayer 3D Printable Terrain by Andrew Askedall - Various Pieces?

I wound up redesigning the whole thing after I already had finished the kickstarter. I had trouble thinking the models were good enough and I really felt indebted to all the backers to provide the best quality kit. The peg system that I use now was like an ah-ha moment followed by despair because i went back and modified about 50 models so that it would fit in. Only a few parts of the original campaign actually remained unchanged throughout the whole ordeal.

  • After having had a very successful Kickstarter, how does that affect your second Kickstarter?  Do you know the major pitfalls and what to look out for?

I think expectations are higher and I really don’t want to let anyone who has backed previously down. The follow up album tends to not as good as a band’s first hit. I think getting a campaign out there is the hardest part. It’s very tempting to keep toiling on something and never show it to the public but eventually you need to let go. It will never be perfect.

  • What is the vision or theme(s) behind the new Kickstarter?

There were several ideas from the first kickstarter that I wanted to pursue that didn’t make the cut for a number of reasons. These started as the foundation for this kickstarter. I had a real desire to continue building this world out and have things that feel cohesive with previous designs that serve some function in the environments that get created.

  • How has your workflow changed with experienceWarlayer 3D Printable Terrain by Andrew Askedall - Damaged Terrain?  

I now make sure everything is manifolded and test printed first before reusing bits or ideas, I used to just keep running with models only to realize parts were too small or it looked like shit when it was actually printed.  

  • How long have you been working on this new Kickstarter?  

I’ve put a little over 3 months of nights and weekends working on it. I don’t actually track my hours because I feel like the actual cost of working on these would not make sense so it’s a hobby that is fueling my hobby.

Check out this Kickstarter, and others on this month’s Kickstarter List.  For those that are looking to learn about 3D Printing for Terrain and get your own printer, check out the Makerfun 3D guides.  Guides 1 – 3 will help you understand the technologies and make a more informed choice about what printer to purchase that meets your needs.  Finally, if you still haven’t check out Warlayer: Orbital Drop yet, head over and back Andrew and his terrific terrain.  This terrain (as well as his previous Kickstarter) is great for games like Necromunda, Warhammer 40K, and other Science Fiction based Games.  If you don’t happen to have a 3D printer (remember the guide above) you can also visit Archania’s Workshop, LLC to get Warlayer pieces pre-printed.