Digital Tokens: The Fastest Path from Concept to VTT
Generate character art → crop to circle → add border → export PNG. RPG Builder's token maker does this in one flow.
For online play, digital tokens are the standard. The workflow: get character art (AI generation, commission, or stock art), crop to a circle, add a color-coded border (gold for PCs, red for enemies, silver for NPCs), and export at 280×280 pixels for VTT compatibility. The border color convention is important — it lets players instantly identify friend from foe, even on a crowded battle map.
The community's preferred token border styles: a clean metallic ring (gold/silver/bronze) for fantasy campaigns, a minimalist colored circle for modern/sci-fi games, and portrait-style bust crop (no border, character extends to edge) for horror or narrative-focused games. Consistency matters more than style — pick one look and use it for the whole campaign.
Physical Miniatures: Printing, Painting, and Sourcing
3D printing is cheaper long-term. Pre-painted minis save time. Hero Forge for custom one-offs.
The economics of physical minis: a resin 3D printer (Elegoo Mars, ~$150) pays for itself after ~30 miniatures compared to buying pre-painted. STL files range from free (Thingiverse, Printables) to Patreon subscriptions ($10/month for monthly themed releases). For DMs who need dozens of goblins, printing is the only cost-effective route. For players who want one custom PC mini, Hero Forge ($20-45 for a custom sculpt, shipped) is the community standard.
The middle ground: buy bulk commons (goblins, skeletons, guards) pre-painted from Reaper Bones or WizKids, and only print/paint boss monsters and PCs. This gives you a populated table without the time investment of painting 40 identical minions. For in-person groups on a budget, paper minis (printable standees with art) cost pennies and look better than unpainted grey plastic.