Frequently Asked Questions

Glowrune square tiles use the standard 25mm miniature scale, making them compatible with leading tabletop dungeon RPG systems, fantasy RPG systems, miniature wargames, dungeon crawl systems, and any tabletop RPG system that uses a 1-inch grid. Standard 25mm-based miniatures sit correctly on the tiles. The grid scale matches standard dungeon terrain tile base sizes.

Yes. Glowrune hex tiles are manufactured to standard hex game tile dimensions — you can replace your existing cardboard hex terrain tiles with Glowrune hex tiles and use them directly in any standard hex strategy board game. The 19-tile Hex Core Set covers a standard full-island hex game configuration. The Hex Classics art pack (included with the Hex Core Set) covers all six classic terrain types: wheat fields, ore mountains, pastures, forests, brick hills, and desert.

Yes. Glowrune square tiles use the 25mm standard (1-inch grid scale) that is universal across leading tabletop dungeon RPG and fantasy RPG systems. Standard 25mm-based miniatures — the vast majority of RPG miniatures on the market — stand correctly on the tile surface. The tile surface is flat polycarbonate, which is stable and non-slippery for miniature bases. There are no raised features on the tile surface that would obstruct miniature placement.

Yes. Glowrune hex tiles and square tiles share the same connector standard and app protocol. Both tile types power and communicate through the same magnetic snap system, so they can be powered from the same controller tile and controlled from the same app session. You can build hybrid terrain layouts that mix overworld hex tiles with dungeon square tiles in the same powered map.

Glowrune tiles use pogo-pin magnetic connectors on each edge. N52 neodymium magnets pull tiles into perfect alignment when placed edge-to-edge, and spring-loaded pogo pins simultaneously make electrical contact — completing the power and data circuit between tiles in a single motion. The pogo pins are spring-loaded to tolerate slight misalignment (up to ~1mm), while the N52 magnets provide strong retention through typical game play including dice rolling and moderate table movement.

No. Glowrune's magnetic snap connectors simultaneously align tiles mechanically and complete the electrical circuit. When you place a tile next to another tile, it connects — no plugging, no wiring. Power enters through a single tile (the controller tile) via a 12V DC adapter and distributes across all connected tiles automatically through the magnetic connector chain. There are no cables between tiles, no exposed connectors to align manually, and no risk of accidentally disconnecting a cable during play.

Glowrune tiles are powered by a 12V DC adapter (included in the box). The adapter plugs into the controller tile. Power distributes across all connected tiles through the magnetic pogo-pin chain. The 12V input is a standard barrel connector (5.5mm × 2.1mm) — compatible with widely available 12V power supplies if a replacement is needed. A single standard 12V/5A adapter supports up to 30 tiles.

The current Glowrune system requires a 12V DC wired power adapter. A battery pack option is on the post-Kickstarter roadmap — we recognize the demand for fully wireless setups, particularly for outdoor play or convention use. The standard 12V barrel connector makes it straightforward to use third-party 12V battery packs (such as those used for camping or portable audio) as a workaround in the interim.

Each Glowrune tile contains 25 individually addressable RGBW LEDs, using the SK6812 protocol. The LEDs are spatially distributed across the tile face for per-zone animation — different areas of the same tile can show different colors and animations simultaneously. This is what makes animations like "lava crack running from edge to center" or "shadow pooling at tile corners" possible: each LED zone is independently controlled.

Yes. The Glowrune app's per-zone editor lets you select individual LED zones on any tile and set independent color, brightness, and animation. You can build custom scenes where each LED zone on each tile has a different behavior — useful for creating realistic terrain effects like directional lighting, glow sources (a campfire at tile center), or gradient transitions across a map.

RGBW LEDs add a dedicated white channel to standard RGB. Standard RGB LEDs can mix their red, green, and blue channels to approximate white, but the result has a color cast (often slightly purple or cyan) and is less efficient. The dedicated W (white) channel in Glowrune's SK6812 LEDs produces true, clean white light — critical for terrain types like snowy mountains, moonlit grasslands, stone dungeon floors, and arcane circles where pure white needs to read correctly. RGBW also means brighter whites at lower power draw, extending the maximum tile count per adapter.

Art layers snap onto the tile at 3 small neodymium magnets at alternating corner positions. To swap: grip the edge of the current art layer and lift — the 3-point magnetic lock releases cleanly with light tension (designed to hold through normal play but release with intentional removal). Place the new art layer over the tile, align the corners, and press gently until the 3 magnets engage. You'll feel and hear the click. A full 19-tile hex map can be re-themed in under 60 seconds.

Art layers are 3mm rigid acrylic panels with UV-printed artwork. The UV printing process bonds the ink directly to the acrylic surface — it doesn't scratch off under normal handling. The 3mm thickness provides flex resistance, so the panels don't warp or bow. The printed surface is matte-coated to reduce fingerprint visibility and glare. For heavy-use scenarios, we recommend handling art layers by their edges rather than the printed surface.

Yes. Expansion art packs are a core part of the Glowrune product roadmap. Post-launch art packs are priced at $49 per set and cover terrain themes including Lava Cavern, Ice Cave, Ancient Temple, Enchanted Forest, Sewer Maze, Arctic Tundra, Ocean Depths, Volcanic Wasteland, and more. Kickstarter backers will have early access to all expansion packs. The same hardware tiles work with every art pack — you never need to buy new tiles.

The free Glowrune app (iOS at launch) connects to the controller tile via Bluetooth LE. The app presents a map view of your tile layout and lets you control animation presets, custom LED zones, brightness, color, and cross-tile animation timing. All app updates are free for registered backers. The app download link is included in the box, and will also be available on the App Store.

The Glowrune app launches on iOS. Android development begins immediately after the Kickstarter funding goal is met. Based on current development timelines, we expect the Android app to be available within 6 months of the iOS launch. Kickstarter backers who register their Android preference will receive notification when the Android app is available.

Glowrune is targeting a Kickstarter launch approximately 16 weeks from the start of our prototype assembly phase. The prototype is complete and PCBs are manufactured — we're in app development and production preparation now. Join our waitlist at glowrune.com to be notified the moment the campaign goes live and to access early bird pricing.

The Hex Core Set (19 tiles) is priced at $599. The Square Dungeon Set (15 tiles) is priced at $499. Expansion art packs are $49 per set. The Hex + Square Bundle will be available at a discounted bundle price — join the waitlist for bundle pricing details. Early bird backers (first 200) receive 20% off all products.

Premium 3D sculpted terrain systems offer excellent resin construction with detailed physical depth and sculpting. Glowrune offers features passive terrain doesn't: per-tile LED illumination (25 RGBW LEDs per tile), no-wire magnetic electrical connectors, and swappable art layers that let you re-theme without buying new terrain. Glowrune tiles are flat (no 3D raised features), while sculpted systems include walls, pillars, and floor details. Glowrune also offers hex tiles for hex strategy board games and overworld maps — a segment most sculpted terrain systems barely address. See the full comparison page for a detailed side-by-side.

Individual tile replacement will be available post-launch. Tiles are designed to be replaced independently — since power chains through the connector network, removing a damaged tile and inserting a replacement doesn't require rewiring anything. Kickstarter backers will have access to a replacement parts program at cost. Art layers are also sold separately as consumables.

Glowrune tiles are designed for indoor tabletop use and are not waterproof. The polycarbonate shell provides splash resistance for minor spills — a knocked-over glass of water is unlikely to cause immediate damage if wiped promptly. The tiles should not be submerged or used in wet environments. Art layers are acrylic and can be wiped clean with a dry cloth.