3D Printed Marble Maze Kit

So I'm the den leader for my son's Cub Scouts Bear den. This month's adventure has been all about marbles - marble words, games, a race, and make a marble maze. But the maze thing ... you need box tops with sides of some sort and stuff to glue barriers down to make a maze. I don't have 7 box tops like that. So I turned to ... my 3D printer!


Using Tinkercad, I designed this kit that has a base and a bunch of dividers. The base has 5mm holes, the dividers have 4.9mm pegs. Stick the dividers in in various layouts to make a maze!

It works pretty great, and I'm excited to give each kid their own kit they can take home after the meeting.

Lessons Learned

  • I printed the barriers vertically to fit 90 of them in a print. That was a mistake as 10 of the 90 got all sorts of messed up. Made a new version that lays them down to hopefully fix that issue.
  • I probably could have made the flat base under the holes thinner. It's 1mm and probably could have gone .5mm really.
  • The pegs on the barriers are 4.9mm, 0.1mm smaller than the holes. IT's a snug fit and I hope the kids are able to get them snapped in. If I were to do it again, I'd print some test sizes (4.9, 4.875, 4.85, 4.825...) to find the best fit.
  • Start before the day before I need them. Each base is ~3hr print, and a sheet of 90 vertical barriers was 4hrs. Came in under the wire.

Where Can You Get This Awesome Thing?!

I published it on Printables.

Darvinham United FC

So last night I was watching the NBA playoffs (Lakers/Nuggets) and they mentioned the name of the Lakers coach "Darvin Ham". My wife piped in to say "that sounds like the name of an English town..."

So I went to "A.I." (can we stop calling it that yet?) to create a fictional history, crest, grounds, and kit.

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Darvinham United FC has a rich and storied history that dates back to its founding in 1898. Here's an overview of the club's history:

Early Years (1898-1920s): Darvinham United FC was established in 1898 by a group of local enthusiasts who wanted to form a competitive soccer team for the town of Darvinham. The club started in regional leagues and gradually gained recognition for its skillful play and passionate fanbase.

Rise to Prominence (1930s-1950s): In the 1930s, Darvinham United FC experienced a period of success, winning several regional championships and gaining promotion to higher divisions. The 1940s and 1950s saw the club solidify its position as a top contender in English football, with notable victories in national tournaments and a strong presence in the league.

Golden Era (1960s-1980s): The 1960s marked a golden era for Darvinham United FC, with multiple league titles and memorable runs in European competitions. The club became known for its attacking style of play and produced several legendary players who became icons for both the team and the town.

Challenges and Resurgence (1990s-2000s): The 1990s brought challenges for Darvinham United FC as financial difficulties and changes in management affected the team's performance. However, the club managed to bounce back in the early 2000s with new investment, leading to a period of stability and success on the field.

Modern Era (2010s-Present): In recent years, Darvinham United FC has established itself as a competitive force in the EFL League One, consistently challenging for promotion to higher divisions. The club continues to prioritize youth development and community engagement, maintaining a strong connection with its loyal fanbase.

Throughout its history, Darvinham United FC has remained a symbol of pride for the town, with passionate supporters filling the stands at every match and celebrating the club's achievements on and off the pitch.









Harlan Crow: A Dukes Of Hazzard villain?

Went to ChatGPT to have it create an episode of The Dukes Of Hazzard with Harlan Crow starring as the big villain for the episode. ChatGPT did NOT disappoint...

Title: "Dukes of Hazzard: Hazard County Showdown"

Synopsis:

In this thrilling episode of "Dukes of Hazzard," the resilient Duke brothers find themselves facing their most formidable foe yet, as Harlan Crow, a cunning big city developer, sets his sights on encroaching upon Hazard County. As Hazard County's pristine landscapes and tight-knit community face imminent destruction, an unlikely alliance is formed between Boss Hogg and the Duke cousins, Bo and Luke, as they team up to protect their beloved home.

The episode begins with Hazard County in a state of shock and uproar as news spreads of Harlan Crow's ambitious plan to bulldoze the picturesque areas of the county. Boss Hogg, the self-serving and conniving county commissioner, realizes that even he cannot outmaneuver Crow's influence and wealth alone. Recognizing the threat to his own power, Boss Hogg reluctantly reaches out to the Duke boys, who have a reputation for being Hazzard County's last line of defense.

Initially skeptical of Boss Hogg's intentions, Bo and Luke decide to hear him out when they witness firsthand the destruction caused by Crow's ruthless development projects. Along with their trusty car, the General Lee, they embark on a mission to protect their hometown.

Together, Boss Hogg and the Duke cousins devise a daring plan to expose Crow's illegal activities and rally the community against his encroachment. They gather evidence, uncovering a web of corruption and deceit that goes far beyond simple land development. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and face danger as Crow's henchmen do everything in their power to stop them.

As the day of reckoning approaches, Hazard County unites behind the Dukes and Boss Hogg. Citizens who were once at odds with each other come together in a show of strength and determination, proving that their love for their home is stronger than any outside threat.

In a climactic showdown, the Dukes, Boss Hogg, and the people of Hazard County confront Harlan Crow and his cronies head-on. Using their wits, courage, and the iconic General Lee, they expose Crow's misdeeds to the public, forcing him to retreat with his tail between his legs.

With Hazard County saved from Crow's clutches, Boss Hogg and the Duke boys find a newfound respect for each other, recognizing the value of collaboration in the face of adversity. As the episode comes to a close, Hazard County celebrates their victory and looks forward to a brighter future, where their traditions, land, and community are preserved for generations to come.

"Dukes of Hazzard: Hazard County Showdown" is an action-packed episode that highlights the importance of unity, resilience, and fighting for what you believe in. Through a mix of adventure, humor, and heart, it exemplifies the spirit of Hazard County and the unwavering determination of its beloved heroes, the Duke family.

Fun with D&D C-C-C-Combos

"A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”


One of my two current D&D characters is Jimmy Stoneford, a P.I. who thought maybe adventuring would pay the bills better than tracking down cheating husbands and two-bit con men.

He's a level 3 Vagabond. Vagabond is a custom class available on DMs Guild, and the creator happens to be my CampDragon DM and so allows usage of his custom classes. 

At 3rd level a really cool combo came together. Wanted to outline it here because it was so much fun to actually get to use it in a game last session.

The fun thing is that in CampDragon there's a something called inheritance, where you can retire an older higher level character and your new character can get something from the retired one - even a feat!

I took the Crusher feat from my retired monk. This allows me to, when I deal bludgeoning damage, push them back 5'. Jimmy uses a mace. So that's step 1. 

Step 2 is that Vagabonds have a nifty thing called Knacks. Knacks are like bits of knowledge that you pick up throughout your life (and can basically give you abilities that span the traditional D&D classes). At 3rd level I chose the Arcane Spell Knack 

Arcane Spell Knack gives you access to a couple spells and a cantrip from either Sorcerer or Wizard spells. For my cantrip I chose Booming blade.

Finally Step 3, my Vagabond has a "vocation" of Guardian. It's basically a sub-class. A cool feature of Guardians is Protector. 

Protector is fun because, as a bonus action, you can generate an area around you with a radius of your reach (5' for Jimmy) that is difficult terrain AND allows you to take a reaction to attack a creature who enters that area.

You can see where this is going, right? 

1. Jimmy makes a bludgeoning attack with his mace + Booming Blade and hits.

2. Crusher pushes the enemy back 5' on a hit

3. Now the enemy has to choose whether they want to get up in my business of their own volition. If they move to attack me, they take Booming Blade damage + I get a reaction to attack them again (assuming I haven't used my reaction for the round yet).  And on that reaction, since it's not part of my turn, I can push them back AGAIN.

Now this only really works against enemies that have a 5' reach. But when it works it's GREAT. If the first hit lands that triggers all this, and the move back to me they'll have to use 10' of movement (Protector). If my reaction attack hits, and I push them back again, that's another 10' of movement they'll have to burn. 

I got to use this combo in my last session with Jimmy and it was super fun to tank and push a Wraith Lord around like a boss (even though I was one lucky CON save away from being irrevocably dead). 

I highly recommend the Vagabond class. It's insanely flexible, allowing you to build a PC to suit your and the party's needs as a campaign evolves. The author also has a number of other custom classes that look like a ton of fun as well.

Monty Python as D&D Characters


Used Google's Bard AI this time to create the character classes, but did a little tweaking because a Dragonborn Terry Gilliam was exceedingly difficult to create in Midjourney. 😬

John Cleese is a human cleric.



Eric Idle is a half-elf bard.



Michael Palin is a dwarf fighter.



Terry Gilliam
is an elf wizard.



Graham Chapman is a gnome rogue.



Terry Jones is a human bard.



From Bard - Sure, here is a D&D campaign setting for the members of Monty Python:

The setting is a world called Montyland, which is a strange and wonderful place where anything is possible. The party can explore the many different lands of Montyland, including the Holy Grail Castle, the Castle Anthrax, and the Black Knight's Castle. They can also meet many of the famous characters from Monty Python, such as the Knights Who Say Ni, the French Taunter, and the Bridge of Death.

The party's goal is to find the Holy Grail, which is said to be hidden somewhere in Montyland. Along the way, they will have to overcome many challenges, such as the Knights Who Say Ni, the Bridge of Death, and the Castle Anthrax. However, they will also have many opportunities to have fun and adventure, such as exploring the many different lands of Montyland and meeting the many famous characters from Monty Python.

Here are some ideas for encounters that the party could face in Montyland:
  • The Knights Who Say Ni: The Knights Who Say Ni are a group of knights who are always looking for someone to say the word "Ni" to. If the party says the word "Ni", the Knights will attack them.
  • The Bridge of Death: The Bridge of Death is a bridge that the party must cross in order to reach the Holy Grail. The bridge is guarded by a fierce dragon, and the party will have to defeat the dragon in order to cross the bridge.
  • The Castle Anthrax: The Castle Anthrax is a castle that is full of beautiful women. However, the women are actually evil witches, and the party will have to be careful not to get turned into frogs or other creatures by the witches.

Paw Patrol as D&D Party

 And we're still on this kick - Paw Patrol characters as a D&D party using ChatGPT and Midjourney!

Ryder - Paladin: Ryder is a courageous and noble leader, making him a perfect fit for the Paladin class. His ability to inspire and rally his team makes him a valuable asset in any party.


Marshall - Bard: Marshall is a fun-loving pup with a big heart and a love for music. His natural charisma and sense of humor make him a perfect fit for the Bard class.


Chase - Ranger: Chase is a skilled tracker and investigator, making him a natural fit for the Ranger class. His discipline and focus also make him a strong member of any party.


Skye - Druid: Skye is a brave and adventurous pup who loves nature. Her connection to the natural world makes her a perfect fit for the Druid class.


Rubble - Barbarian: Rubble is a tough and determined pup with a love for heavy lifting and construction. His brute strength and unyielding determination make him a natural fit for the Barbarian class.


Rocky - Rogue: Rocky is a resourceful and clever pup with a knack for problem-solving. His stealth and cunning make him a valuable member of any party as a Rogue.


Zuma - Cleric: Zuma is a skilled healer and often uses his abilities to tend to the wounds of his companions and those in need. He is a kind and compassionate soul, always looking for ways to help others and bring a sense of hope and peace to those around him.