Ginger and Denali

Apr 29

I have learned how to create my own meeples for Tabletop Simulator.

First, I had to learn how to take a two-dimensional version of a cat silhouette and turn it into a three-dimensional version.

I started with this video tutorial to remind me how to take a raster image and create a path. Then I saved the path as a scalable vector graphic (SVG).

Next, I learned how to bring an SVG image into Blender, a free program that allows you to create incredible 3D renderings. Making a meeple seems like such a waste of its software, but this video tutorial on creating custom 3D meeples helped tremendously.

My cat in Blender after importing an SVG.

If I stopped there, I could also export an STL file to use with a 3D printer.

But I moved on. I used this video tutorial to learn how to export a Wavefront file (OBJ) from Blender to use as a custom piece in Tabletop Simulator (starting at 2:15). Note: I uploaded the file locally instead of hosting it at a location.

For a two-player game of Pōpoki, I decided to make an orange piece, named after my tabby, Ginger, and a white piece, named after my Turkish Angora, Denali.