Micro Maps with Lego

A fascinating project recently appeared on Reddit's LegoDnD page from user u/kala_brick: the idea of using micro-scale maps for creating dungeons and playable landscapes in Lego, as opposed to the more costly mini-figure scale. This concept has a ton of potential, especially considering the popularity and complexity of micro-structure building with Lego. It’s also a great opportunity to incorporate ideas from older Lego sets like Lego Heroica. These sets offered a fantastic foundation for using Lego in traditional board games, making them a perfect introduction to tabletop RPGs.

A Cost-Effective Solution to a Costly Endeavor

Using Lego in your TTRPG is far from cheap. However, it's arguably still less expensive than purchasing a 3D printer, along with printing materials and painting supplies. Micro-scale dungeons and maps present a budget-friendly and space-efficient alternative.

While minifigures are still recommended for player characters, the purpose of a map or physical representation is to help everyone—players and DM alike—get a clear idea of where things are. To that end, micro-scale dungeons work incredibly well.

To give an example, a single layer for a 48x48 modular integrated tile (MITs) board can cost between $30 and $100, depending on the bricks and design complexity. In comparison, $30 spent on micro-scale maps could yield some incredibly creative layouts. Kala's approach is refreshingly simple and syncs with D&D mechanics better than Heroica. In this scale, every stud represents a 5-foot grid square.

Another advantage of playing TTRPGs in a micro-scale is the flexibility in creating monsters. Don’t have a Beholder? No problem! You can build a stand-in Beholder with fewer than 10 pieces. Need orcs but don’t want to splurge on Lego-branded figures? Just use green and brown 1x1 round studs. This method allows you to focus on cool combat encounters without the need for an expensive collection of specific pieces—just use the space and positions to drive the action!

Potential

The scalability of this idea is what I love most. You can stack walls, create layered dungeons, and even build vertical layouts. Imagine having an entire dungeon mapped out for players, complete with removable plates to obscure unexplored areas, replicating the 'fog of war' effect.

I like this idea because it's a great way to translate maps from official modules and books that might be out there. Because of the size and scale of building with Lego on the minifigure scale, recreating maps with the precision necessary to emulate what has been published can be difficult. At smaller scales, it's easier to adhere to a map's original design.

One key technique I noticed while experimenting with this approach is to ensure only usable studs are visible, which makes "SNOT" (Studs Not On Top) building techniques important. Plus, it's easier to create diagonals and more varied terrain, which can be tricky with standard-scale maps.

I also don’t feel guilty about leaving 'dead space' on the map. Encounter modules often have areas that aren't packed with action, and micro-scale dungeons can handle that just fine. I’m excited to see where this concept goes as I play with it more.

Challenges

The one concern I have difficult it is to break down and rebuild these micro-structures. It's not the most modular design. Once you’ve built something, like a sewer map (as I’ve done below), it’s more or less set in stone. It would be neat to find ways to build rooms that can be added, removed, or rearranged for different encounters. That’s something I’ll be experimenting with in the future!

Hope this gives you some great ideas moving forward. I'm looking forward to what happens next and who knows - I might try making one of these myself! Special thanks to u/Kala_Bricks for letting me feature this building technique they've been working on. Very excited to see how this develops!