[1:06 PM]Oneion: Hello everyone, my name is Michael. Founder & Creator of Ert’s Treehouse a UK based TTRPG company. About a year ago we were here launching our previous project called Horrors of the Deep which is a Dark Fantasy D&D 5e setting themed all around Nautical Horror and Ocean Exploration. We are currently working on another Kickstarter to release some miniatures to go along side the book while we work on expanding the universe. Horrors of the Deep: 3D Printable Miniatures is currently live on Kickstarter and we have 5 core models and more to be unlocked with stretch goals! Link to the Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ertstreehouse/horrors-of-the-deep-3d-printable-miniatures-for-dnd
[1:06 PM]Oneion: (done)
[1:07 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Thanks, @Oneion! The floor is open to questions!
[1:07 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What can you tell us about Horrors of the Deep?
[1:09 PM]Oneion: Horrors of the Deep, is a 5th Edition Setting for Dungeons and Dragons themed inspired by Lovecraftian Horror and Nautical Exploration. it is themed all around the Darkest Depths of the Ocean and the monsters that lurk within. Set in the isolated Islands of Ashantiir, all those that venture the high seas must balance risk versus reward when searching the oceans for lost treasures. Currently we have the Campaign Setting guide which comes with over 150+ pages of material to set campaigns and inspire Dungeon Masters to create scary adventures based around the Islands of Ashantiir or create their own nautical horror setting. From world lore to a list of horrifying monsters that lurk in the very depths of the ocean. This book is designed to turn your seafaring adventures into the stuff of nightmares. Let the imagination loose with what lurks in the unfathomed waters. We are looking to expand this into a series & really play on the idea of the unknown below the waters.(edited)
[1:11 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Is it designed to be dropped into a larger setting?
[1:11 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): (brb)
[1:13 PM]Oneion: It can be dropped into an already exsisting world, or can serve as its own campaign setting. Similar to Bovaria, the Islands of Ashantiir is secluded to the outside world and all those within are trapped by a great storm which stops its inhabitants escaping. It really helps the setting as it emphasises the dangers and exuberates the harsh realities of the world
[1:14 PM]Oneion: Here is the lovely map detailing the land masses and Islands of Ashantiir
[1:15 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Sorry, what is Bovaria?
[1:16 PM]Oneion: Barovia* this is the setting in which the Curse of Strahd D&D Campaign takes place
[1:16 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Ah, gotcha.
[1:17 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What is the tech level of the setting? Standard medieval?
[1:18 PM]Oneion: I would say its almost renaissance, alot of inspiration comes from the time of naval vessels and pirates. With cannons and flintlock pistols, combine that with magic and horrifying corrupted beasts and you get a fun combination.
[1:20 PM]Oneion: I can talk about the monsters and the models that accompany them?
[1:20 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Very nice! I love Renaissance-era fantasy.
@OneionI can talk about the monsters and the models that accompany them?[1:20 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Absolutely!
[1:22 PM]Oneion: So we decided on 5 initial monsters for the Kickstarter project that would make up the core, these would be some of the favourites and the most Iconic creatures from the Horrors of the Deep campaign. When we launched the Horrors of the Deep Campaign on Kickstarter we had the “Grab” Mini which was an instant favourite of ours, its a small little undead hand who has made home in a shell like a hermit crab. With the love of this we wanted to make more and give players a chance to bring these monsters to the table top!
[1:24 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Very creepy!
[1:25 PM]Oneion: So following on from this, for this project we chose 5 monsters from the campaign.
- Animated Diver Suit: Now just a broken shell of a suit that once enabled divers to traverse the ocean floor, it has been reanimated as if the divers soul was trapped within.
- Haunted Barracuda: This giant creature has been resurrected revealing its expose skull and sharp barb like teeth.
- Kelper: Hiding amongst the undergrowth this creature disguises itself as a kelp plant waiting for victims to fall into their trap.
- Seaholder: A distant cousin of the Beholder that has adapted to thrive underwater. Their goal is to truly dominate the depths of the ocean.
Xiphactinus: A legendary demon that haunts the cursed waters of Ashantiir. A great mystery surrounds this demon.
[1:27 PM]Oneion: With our Kickstarter release we also gave away the Stat block pages of these monsters for free which you can check out here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kpdygtmgsldi4t0t3wq6h/Free-Stat-Blocks.pdf?rlkey=m4z7vmr949r7z8x6g6k3dshqf&dl=0
[1:27 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): “Seaholder” is a great name.
[1:28 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): How does the Seaholder differ from the Eye of the Deep?
[1:31 PM]Oneion: SO the Seaholder varies in having alot more tentacles, it has mutated and changed to fit the world of Ashantiir. While the Eye of the Deep is only a Challenge Lvl 4 the Seaholder is Challenge Lvl 14 making it a big step up in difficulty and making it a real danger of the depths. Not just the Eye of the Deep but the Watcher of it!
[1:31 PM]Oneion: Here is a render of the Model for the Seaholder!
[1:32 PM]Oneion: And here is an image of one I actually painted myself
[1:32 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Very cool!
[1:33 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What rays does it possess?
[1:35 PM]Oneion: The main idea behind the Seaholder, it being a beholder that adapted and two of its ten (Tentacles) evolved into the pincers for its underwater use. The other 8 rays that remain are: Charm, Paralyzing, Fear, Slowing, Enervation, Telekinetic, Sleep & Disintegration.
The keep eye will also spot that it has suckers on its tentacles for grasping onto objects underwater when it needs like an octopus.
[1:38 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What is the market like for 3d printable miniatures?
[1:41 PM]Oneion: It is quite a niche market right now, I think the percentage of ttrpg players who have one would be probably below 0.2% but getting 3d printed miniatures can be easier than you think. There are many companies that provide custom printing services for cheap, all you do is provide the STL file and they will print them out for you! So even if you don’t have a printer yourself you can still get hold of them!
These STL files will be going onto our online store so if you dont have a printer now but get one in the future you can still pick them up!
[1:44 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Is it cheaper to have a miniature printed than it is to buy a miniature from the store?
[1:45 PM]Oneion: Normally that is the case, you can get a whole lot more miniatures for cheaper. It is the initial start up cost and investment that normally turns people away.
[1:47 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): How many more printable minis do you have in mind?
[1:49 PM]Oneion: There are 5 in the core set at the moment. Our 1st stretch goal will be at 1k which will unlock 5 goblin pirates. We have more addons to unlock some of the “larger” models at higher goals. If the interest is there, we will do this again and release them along side the future books like we did the Grab Mini. Perhaps getting into printing them ourselves if there was enough demand!
[1:51 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Cool!
[1:51 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): What has response been like to the Kickstarter?
[1:53 PM]Oneion: We had a lot of initial backers, which I assume is those from the original campaign. Things have slowed down a lot now. However as the models are done and ready for printing there is not a lot left for me to do on my side, which means I am already working for future projects! Its quite nice in that sense!
[1:54 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Can you say what future projects you have in mind?
[1:56 PM]Oneion: Our next project will be a release of the first story I ever wrote, called “Festival of the Harvest Moon” that will be a sort of beginner friendly starter campaign for D&D. Hoping to get that done in the next few months. Then will be most likely looking to work on the next Horrors of the Deep Book. We will most likely be running a poll on what book our fans want to see next?
[1:58 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Do you have any thoughts on what the next Horrors of the Deep book might be?
[2:00 PM]Oneion: So I have 3 books I want to make to complete the Series
- A bestiary – Filled with nautical monsters and underwater horrors
- A player handbook – Filled with Races, Backgrounds, Feats Spells & Subclasses
- A story campaign – A pre-written adventure set within the Setting of Ashantiir taking players from level 1 all the way up to 10.
[2:02 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Awesome!
[2:03 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): I think I’m tapped out for questions at the moment… Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[2:03 PM]Oneion: I can share some amazing paint jobs we had done of the Minis!
[2:04 PM]Oneion: These were printed and painted up by a friend, who has done a great job showcasing what can be done with our miniatures!
[2:06 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): I really dig the haunted diving suit.
[2:07 PM]Oneion: Its a personal favourite of mine! One of the first concepts for Monsters I came up with, just love the aesthetic!1
[2:09 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Puts me in mind of Captain Cutler from Scooby Doo.
[2:10 PM]Oneion: Thats what other people have said 1
[2:10 PM]Oneion: I don’t mind that though! D&D is meant to be a fun adventure
[2:10 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Absolutely!
[2:11 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Would you mind wrapping up early? I’m really not sure what else to ask about the minis, and I’m nursing a bit of a headache.
[2:11 PM]Oneion: Not a problem
[2:11 PM]Oneion: Thanks again Dan!
[2:12 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Certainly! Thanks very much for joining us!
[2:12 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): Usual reminder: If you’ve enjoyed this Q&A and would like to treat me to a coffee or two, you can do so at https://www.ko-fi.com/gmshoe. Anything’s appreciated! Ko-fiBuy Dan Davenport a Coffee. ko-fi.com/gmshoeBecome a supporter of Dan Davenport today! ❤️ Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love with no fees on donations.
[2:12 PM]Dan (Hardboiled GMshoe): If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll get the log posted and link you!