Interview with Jeremy Gosser – Savage Realms Citadel
Jeremy is back with his 4th Kickstarter. Coming off the very successful Elf Outpost, he has released the Savage Realms Citadel kickstarter that is fully compatible with his previous Kickstarters. This is a very modular system giving you the tools to create a very customized keep. This latest Kickstarter seems to be shaping up as the best Kickstarter so far. The models look good, and print really well. (Jeremy was good enough to send me some to print, and they really do make some spectacular buildings. (Just as the trees from the previous one were awesome as well). I sent Jeremy off some questions about his previous Kickstarters and how they relate to his latest one.
Check out the sample walls on Thingiverse.
- What miniatures games/RPGs do you play?
Gloomhaven has taken over a lot of gaming time. I’ve also played some Game of Thrones Catan and Kingdom Maker recently.
- How long have you owned a 3D Printer and been making terrain?
I’ve been 3D Printing since 2013 which is also when I started 3D Modeling.
This is your third Kickstarter. What did you learn in the first that helps with this new one?
The First Couple I learned a lot about organization, engineering, and mesh trouble-shooting. This one is about staying in the saddle so-to-speak. I’ve previously been really reactionary to the funding ticker. If I had a bad day I’d start second guessing myself and change things up mid-campaign. This time I have a solid 4 week plan it terms of making the campaign an event. I think that is probably a natural progression for all the designers in this space.
- How has development of the OpenPeg system gone? What sets it apart from nubs most other terrains use?
Before going into it I want to clarify the Open Peg is a vertical build system that can be used WITH regular tile clip systems. The intention is to provide a system for situations where using a clip system is not ideal, which can happen when building vertically.
I continue to make improvements but those improvements add complexity for me. As a designer it is not making life easier.
Overall the system creates the potential for a genuine creative experience for the end user, and that is the biggest win in my mind. In fact, many buildings variations are effectively infinite. OpenPeg is superior to nubs in terms of structural integrity. The stacks are more stable and there are no little nubs to break-off. It also allows you to swap out building assets and re-arrange a lot more parts along the vertical access. It is also easier to work in overhang details.
Nubs are great if you want buildings without versatility that can print in a few large parts. From what I can see, that’s there the trends are right now. Regardless I intend to stay with it a while and see what happens.
- How long have you been developing the OpenPeg system?
I started with it in late 2017
- What printers do you use to print terrain?
AnyCubic is my favorite brand right now.
- What got you interested in modeling 3D Terrain for print? What was your first model?
Aside from things I’ve discussed before, I’ve just sort of been going with the flow, and right now that means terrain for 3d printing.
As for my first models, I recently released all my early work on thingiverse if anyone wants to see where I started out. It seems like a lifetime form where I am now.
- Do you have a favorite model you have created
I really enjoy the design process and just kind of stay in the moment. Finished work is a dead dream.
- How long have you been working on the Savage Realm Citadel?
In November of 2017 I started work on 4 concepts. This was one of them.
- What is your workflow for creating pieces for the Citadel?
The designs are always sort of intuitive, I have a notion of a goal but I leave a lot of space to just play with parts and see what happens. I’ve always resented sketch books and concept drawings. I really think they just create preconceptions that make you blind to the thing you are supposed to find in the work.
What software do you use for your modeling?
I think I use rhino more than other designers, otherwise I’m using the same stuff as everyone. None of it really does everything. There’s so many weird issues, you really need to be fluent in the strengths of many programs. Maybe one day there will be one ring to rule them all. .
- How did you come up with this idea?
The citadel was a forced idea. I wanted to do my version of the traditional wall and stronghold design, I decided the time had arrived. For me, “inspiration” is just an idea system, and that system is basically a rolodex of references spinning in my mind. Citadel is probably 100’s of ideas “frankensteined” together. I’ve had people comment that it reminds them of a castle in Skyrim or the movie “Willow.” However the only intentional influence is in my use of timber walkways on the outer walls, which is an idea used in the Warhammer:Total War video game.
- How many “sets” are now compatible with the OpenPeg system? I know the Savage Realms Citadel, Digital Elf Outpost, and Stronghold on the Borderlands. Are there any others or can you explain how they go together?
Thats all of them, but I intend to stick with forts and the buildings inside them, so there will be more. I have some parts for stacking on regular OpenLOCK buildings as well.
Basically OpenPeg is a series of three flat plates that are pinned together with a couple serrated pegs. These plates create ledges. the ledges fit inside of the building shells, or the shell is stacked on top. The sets are compatible because I stick to a set of defined shell shapes in all kits. The exception is the Elf Outpost which used round shells but I recently released some crossover parts to make it more kitmash friendly.
I want to thank Jeremy for taking the time to answer my questions. These are really some beautiful pieces.
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