Glowrune is a first-of-its-kind product. Here's the engineering behind the three systems that make it possible — and why combining all three required building from the ground up.
Every Glowrune tile has pogo-pin magnetic connectors on each edge. When you place two tiles edge-to-edge, two things happen simultaneously: the N52 neodymium magnets pull the tiles into perfect alignment, and the spring-loaded pogo pins make electrical contact — completing the power and data circuit between tiles.
This is the core technical breakthrough. Most terrain tile systems with electrical connections require you to physically plug connectors together, route cables underneath, or use exposed copper contacts that must be carefully aligned. Glowrune's pogo-pin approach tolerates slight misalignment (the pins are spring-loaded and can bridge small gaps), while the N52 magnets ensure the connection stays secure even if a tile shifts.
Power flows from the controller tile (which receives 12V DC from the adapter) outward through the pogo chain to every connected tile. A 19-tile hex map or 15-tile dungeon layout powers entirely from one 12V source — no individual tile power connections.
The connector standard is the same across hex and square tiles. Mixed hex/square layouts power from a single source and report back to a single app controller.
Each Glowrune tile contains 25 LEDs using the SK6812 RGBW protocol. "Individually addressable" means each of the 25 LEDs can be set to an independent color and brightness at any moment — different areas of the same tile can show different animations simultaneously.
The 25 LEDs are spatially distributed across the tile face in a pattern that matches the tile geometry — covering the full tile surface evenly so there are no dark patches or unlit zones. This spatial distribution is what enables the per-zone animations: a lava crack running diagonally across a tile, or shadows pooling at the edges while the center blazes.
The RGBW specification matters. Standard RGB LEDs mix red, green, and blue to approximate white, but the result has a color cast (often slightly purple or cyan) and is less power-efficient. Glowrune's SK6812 RGBW LEDs add a dedicated white channel — pure, clean white light for terrain types like snow, moonlit grasslands, stone dungeons, and arcane circles where the color accuracy is critical to the aesthetic.
The SK6812 protocol is part of the WS2812/addressable LED ecosystem, meaning the underlying LED control technology is proven at scale and used in professional lighting installations worldwide. We've adapted this protocol for the terrain tile form factor, with custom firmware that handles the tile topology, animation scheduling, and Bluetooth synchronization across the full grid.
The tile hardware and the visual art are separate components. The tile itself is a polycarbonate shell containing the LEDs, circuit board, and magnetic connectors. Above the LED array sits a permanently-fixed opal acrylic diffuser — a frosted panel that distributes the LED light evenly across the tile face, eliminating hot spots.
Above the diffuser sits the art layer: a rigid acrylic panel with UV-printed artwork that snaps magnetically onto the tile at 3 alternating corner points. The UV printing process allows photographic-resolution artwork directly onto acrylic — the "woodcut" aesthetic that defines Glowrune's visual identity uses precise line work and tonal gradients that print with zero color bleed.
The art layers are translucent — designed to be backlit by the LEDs beneath. The printing process calibrates the ink density so that the LED colors show through the art layer and blend with the printed colors, rather than washing them out. A wheat field art layer lit by warm amber LEDs reads as golden grain fields. The same layer lit by cool blue LEDs reads as moonlit fields — same hardware, entirely different world.
Swapping takes seconds. Grip the edge of the current art layer, pull it off (the 3-point magnetic lock releases cleanly with light tension), drop the new layer on, and press until the magnets engage. A full 19-tile hex map can be re-themed in under 60 seconds.
Control System
The Glowrune iOS app connects to the controller tile via Bluetooth LE. It presents a map view of your tile layout and lets you control every LED zone on every tile from a single interface.
Pre-built animation scenes designed by our art and game design team: Harvest Day, Harvest Night, Dungeon Torch, Lava Eruption, Arctic Storm, Arcane Pulse, and more. Activate with one tap.
Tap any tile in the app's map view. Select individual LED zones. Set color, animation speed, and pattern. Build custom scenes for your specific campaign map and save them for reuse.
Animations can span multiple tiles — a wave effect that travels across the entire hex map, or a pulse that originates at the dungeon entrance and radiates outward. The app coordinates timing across all tiles via the power chain data bus.
Map Building
Glowrune tiles form a daisy-chain power and data network. Each new tile added to the edge of an existing tile becomes part of the circuit — extending the map without adding complexity.
The controller tile is the power entry point. Plug the 12V DC adapter into it. The controller tile's Bluetooth module connects to the Glowrune app and registers as the root of the tile network.
Each tile added to the edge of an existing connected tile automatically joins the power and data chain. The app detects the new tile and adds it to the map view. You can see your layout build in real-time in the app as you place tiles.
The tile network can branch — you don't need a linear chain. Build a full radial hex map (controller tile in the center, tiles extending in all 6 directions) or a grid layout for dungeon corridors. The firmware handles topology automatically.
Multiple sets chain together in the same circuit. The 12V power bus supports up to 30 tiles from a single adapter. For larger builds, a second adapter can be added at any tile in the chain to supplement power.
Compatibility
Glowrune hex tiles match standard hex game tile dimensions. Square tiles use 25mm miniature scale. Both formats are designed to drop into existing gaming setups without adapters or converters.
Hex strategy board games · Hex game expansions · Martian colonization hex games · Hex wargames · RPG overworld maps
Tabletop dungeon RPGs · Fantasy RPG systems · Miniature wargames · Dungeon crawl systems · any 25mm RPG system
Complete Reference
| LED Type | SK6812 RGBW (individually addressable) |
| LEDs Per Tile | 25 |
| LED Protocol | SK6812 (WS2812-compatible ecosystem) |
| Color Channels | Red · Green · Blue · White (dedicated) |
| Color Depth | 8-bit per channel (256 levels per channel) |
| Connector Type | Pogo-pin magnetic (simultaneous mechanical + electrical) |
| Magnet Strength | N52 neodymium |
| Input Voltage | 12V DC |
| Max Power Per Tile | ~2.5W (all 25 LEDs full white) |
| Typical Power Per Tile | ~0.8W (normal animation use) |
| Max Tiles Per Adapter | 30 (standard 12V/5A adapter) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE 5.0 (controller tile) |
| App Platform | iOS (launch) · Android (post-launch) |
| Art Layer Material | UV-printed opal acrylic (3mm) |
| Art Layer Retention | 3-point N52 magnetic snap (alternating corners) |
| Tile Shell Material | Polycarbonate with integrated opal diffuser |
| Operating Temperature | 10°C – 40°C (indoor tabletop use) |
Ready to Build?
Glowrune launches on Kickstarter. Join the waitlist for early bird pricing — first 200 backers get 20% off. Prototype is complete. PCBs are manufactured. We're ready.