Otherworld Artifacts

Back in the day (mid 1980s), several companies began to bring out scenery for Dungeons & Dragons and other Fantasy Role-Playing Games.  One of these was Otherworld Artifacts who produced Dungeon Floors and Walls in Dental Plaster.

They sold individual pieces and some boxed starter sets.  Set 1 contained Dungeon Walls, Floors, Doors & Stairs.  Set 2 contained Cavern Walls, Floors and Stalagmites.

Set 1

Set 2

I recently got hold of some sets to add to the very few pieces I had left over from1985.  I mounted them on 3mm foamcore for strength and resilience,  and painted them up.

Pieces mounted on foamcore

Pieces from the original Set 1 finished

The revamped Set 1: Dungeon Levels

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid

Revamped Set 4: Upper Levels

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid

Scene from the box lid


They also produced sets for specific buildings, like a Guard Tower, a Temple, A fortified Gateway.  These were all built from the individual pieces that they sold.

The original sets were:
Product CodeContents
OWBS 1 220 Scale ft. of polygonal walling.  10 scale ft. high, rough stone slab flooring tiles, opening doors, straight and spiral stairs
OWBS 2 145 scale ft. of cavern rock walling sections, average 10 scale ft high.  80 scale ft. with ledged tops, free standing rock outcrops, rough slab flooring tiles.
OWBS 36 giant mushrooms, large tree stumps and tree trunk, 2 large grassy knolls, sut out and colour scenery, coloured felt sheet
OWBS 46 Classical columns, stone discs, archways, stone portal, buttresses, decorative jars, large flight of steps, assorted square and hexagonal blocks
OWBS 5Double gateway 20 scale ft. wide, large exterior stairway, new range of 15ft walling pieces with supporting blocks (to expand use OWBS 6)
OWBS 6Expansion set.  125 scale ft. castellated walkways, plus additional 15 scale ft. walling units, stairway extension and support arches
OWBS 7Magician's Tower, free standing tower 90 scale ft. high with balcony, conical roof, door, stairs, window, tower room. Assembly required
OWBS 8Fortified Manor House.  Towers, turret, gateway, castellated walkways.  House haas removable roof and first floor with interior stairs, walls, fireplace etc.  Assembly required

In 1986 they revamped their catalogue and re-issued the box sets.  Sets 1-4 were increased in size and content, and Set 2a was added.

The revamped sets were:

Product CodeContents
OWBS 1 Set 1 Dungeon Levels
OWBS 2 Set 2: Caverns
OWBS 2a Cavern Expansion Set
OWBS 3Wildwood Giants
OWBS 4Set 4: Upper Levels
OWBS 5Set 5: Turreted Gateway
OWBS 6Set 6: Castle Walling
OWBS 7Magician's Tower
OWBS 8Set 8: Fortified Manor House
OWBS 9Set 9: Warrior's Watch Tower
OWBS 10The Temple (Came in 2 boxes)
OWBS 11Set 11: The Guard Tower

The pieces were cast in Dental Plaster and provided unpainted.  The main problem with them was that they were made of plaster.  If you knocked two pieces together they may chip, and if you had painted them then it exposed the white of the plaster.  also, the floors were cast around 5mm thick, so were prone to cracking and breaking.  They did recommend mounting the pieces on card to give them strength.

The 1984 catalogue just listed the pieces that they made at the time, but the 1986 catalogue gave hints 'n' tips on constructing dungeons for adventure and display.   
More details of the pieces available can be found here Lost Minis Wiki

In the end they went the way of a lot of Dungeon Scenery makers and ceased trading.
The problems with 3D Dungeon Floorplans, especially from back in the day, were these:
  • Expensive to get enough to be practical
  • Heavy to carry around
  • Time consuming to set up
  • Fragile (Plaster cast scenery)

These days there are lots of STL files you can buy fairly cheaply and print your own pieces, again fairly cheaply.












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