For a while now, nerds across the nation have been able to print toys from the comfort of their own home. As if that wasn't amazing enough, there are millions of artists creating brilliant characters and contraptions that you can pick up for a very fair price or for free, even. Sites like thingverse, cuts3d myminifactory and so many more not only put millions of files at your fingertips, but allow you to support the people who make them directly. All in all it's a win. Over the last couple of years the prices on these fun factories have dropped low enough to where almost anyone can afford one; with manufacturers regularly offering printers for $149. If you don't mind buying used, you can get one for under $100. With all of this in mind, you have to ask yourself, “Are we going to need to go out to buy our toy soldiers, or can we just print them?”
I'll speak for myself here and say I'm almost exclusively printing my minis at this point. If I could print entire games, I would! As someone who has done some tabletop game design, having a print your own option is so attractive, just from a cost standpoint that I'm surprised that more designers aren't offering this as an option. I do believe that as 3D printing becomes more mobile phone friendly, we are going to see companies offering print your own options with regularity.
At the end of the day, do I believe in my heart of hearts that 3D printing is going to be the end all be all in tabletop gaming or modeling? No. Some folks will find it to be too much of a hassle, and they aren't wrong. When you print, you are melting plastic or curing resin, so there is an odor associated with it, not to mention going through the cleanup process with that which you've printed. People will pay for convenience.
Moving forward, I will be looking for more reasons to 3D print more things, especially minis, models and game pieces and I think you may be doing the same. Are you printing your own fun now, or are you planning to?
Thanks for hanging out and ask always…
Stay Geeky!