*Balfore's Builds* Getting Started in Terrain Craft Tutorials: 001 Supplies

So, you want to spice up your tabletop RPG by adding some awesome terrain, accessories or even dungeon tiles?
Let's dig right in, shall we?
It's important to make sure you have all your tools. Without the tools, none of this would be possible, right?
Most of the projects we will do, use the following tools:
Pencil
Pen
Box cutter (use a good sturdy one, and you'll need some extra blade refills as well)
Low Temp glue gun
Extra glue sticks
Tacky Glue (they make one with a flat tip, so its always ready to use).
Scissors
Ruler (with inches AND centimeters)
and a ball of aluminum foil... (you'll see :-) )
Side note, you can use an Xacto knife, however I find the blades are too expensive. Walmart has a pack of cheap box cutters that you can use for most of your 'detail work'.
These are the most common tools needed for all your projects.

I own a Proxxon hot wire cutter, which helps cut through foam a lot neater and more precise.
It's not required that you buy one, you can still achieve your goal of making outstanding items using the tools listed above, this just gives you an edge. By the way, I love mine :-P
If you feel inclined to purchase one, they sell them on Amazon.

You will also need something to cut on. You wouldn't want your better-half, wife or mom catching you cutting into her nice table, leaving scratches all over it, now would you? Here's the cutting mat that I use to avoid having to explain those pesky mishaps (you can get these on Amazon or at Walmart):

Then, you'll need some cheap paint brushes, **always make sure you clean your brushes when you're finished!
In a variety pack, you will definitely find one or two of your favorites that you will use all the time
(it wouldn't hurt to invest in some nice liner brushes...you know, the ones that make really nice thin lines. Don't go over board...just get one that you think you'll like, and take good care of it):

Of course you'll need some paint. Now I don't need fancy expensive paint. I try and catch it on sale. Better yet, good old Walmart sometimes they have the cheap stuff for 2 for $1.00.
Otherwise, you can get Craftsmart. Its rather inexpensive. It looks like this:

Get your get what you can a little at a time. I know, this stuff can add up if you go out and get it all at once...so ease into it. Unless you've sold off some crypto, and have a small fortune..LOL.
I would get all the basics first: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Black (lots of black), and Gray.
If you're ready for the next level stuff, or if you just want to spend the money, go ahead and get the variation shades of each of those colors...example: Red. Get a Lighter Red, and a Darker Red. That way, you have all 3, and it will keep mixing to a minimum.

Next, you'll will need to be able to seal your work. Make sure it gets a good coating of this stuff. I usually mix it with black acrylic paint, to get a good base coat. So, you'll need a separate container to make up a big batch, because you'll use a lot of this stuff.

Now for the star of the show, trumpet fanfair sounds!
XPS FOAM. This is the material that most of the terrain will be made of. There is an honorable mention coming up next, but this is the good stuff. You'll find that it's so easy to work with, very resilient, and holds pattern imprints very well.
I mean you can literally make this stuff look like just about anything...trust me.
This is the pink foam you can get from the big hardware stores like Home Depot. It usually runs under $15 for a 4ft x 8ft piece that's a 1/2 inch thick. A piece that big will last you for a while.
...whats that? "How will you get a 4x8 sheet of foam in your little car?" Well, let me tell you...
I took a measuring tape, and my razor to the store with me, and measured the long way about 32 inches, then another 32 inches. That makes 3 pieces of 32 inch x 4ft. that easily fit in my little car. I'm sure you can make something like that fit now, couldn't you?

HONORABLE MENTION:
Dollar Tree Foam Board (or Foamcore).
This material looks like poster board, except it has a thin layer of foam between two pieces of paper. The good thing about this stuff, is you can peel the paper off and expose the foam on one side. Then you can draw your brick pattern, or whatever you like on that side. For about $1 per sheet, I'd say its a good deal. No need to get the expensive stuff. This product works just fine.

I may have missed some things, but I'm pretty sure this should do it for starting out.
As we move through some of the tutorials I have planned, I will try and let you know what materials I'm using for the project.
Let me know if you think I missed something, or if you have any questions, please let me know.