August 08, 2025
Highlighting Makers: The Paladins Forge
This blog will become a series as we can help build a community and raise up other creators who simply want to turn their creativity and talents into an honest living. At Mediocre Studios, we strive to provide the best-in-class product at a reasonable price. We go above and beyond, the required amount of sanding, often taking just about every piece all the way up to a 2000 grit wet sand. Why? Because we believe in quality, not mass-produced junk. We don't rush items out the door to make a quick buck; we ship items we would display on our own shelves. This is the standard we hold at Mediocre Studios. As we grow into a larger and more successful business, we find it our responsibility to highlight those who are forging their own path. Why? Because the first year in business is the most daunting. Statistically, most business will shutter their doors from the financial obligation. Others will become disenfranchised from the lack of orders after spending countless hours building their website. Even then, building a customer base is difficult when you are struggling to gain web traffic. SEO is complex subject and often makes or breaks a new business. This ranking system is employed by every search engine and strives to provide you, the consumer, the best site for the query you searched. Why does this matter? Because the first year in business you lack authority. Authority is multiple sites linking to you as the premier source for an item, a story, a product. There are no other sites pointing to your domain when you first start. This single item, well SEO entirely, down ranks your site when a potential customer searches for a specific item. This is where we step in. For any creator struggling to gain web traffic, we will create a blog post to highlight your website, your passion, your drive with direct links to your products and photos (provided by you) of your work. Let us help you build your dreams. What do we ask in return? Join our Discord and contribute to a thriving community who wants to learn how to create amazing works of art. Share your knowledge. That is all. You might just learn a few tips while you are there! https://discord.gg/mediocreaf The Paladins Forge Today, we are Highlighting a friend and a fellow Veteran. We had the opportunity to sit down and have lunch with Jacob from "The Paladins Forge" www.thepaladinsforge.com and ask him some questions, share in our love of all things Space Marines, 3D Printing, and different techniques for finishing items, as well as some sweet burgers! We asked him what his motivations were for creating www.thepaladinsforge.com Jacob, stated, "It began as a creative outlet born out of frustration at the lack of battle worn and authentic looking pieces and, hopefully, will grow into something bigger. Over time, The Paladin's Forge became my way to push my artistic talents to new levels while offering fellow fans something special. I strive to replicate authentic pieces, as if they were teleported from the worlds we love into the hands of my customers. https://thepaladinsforge.com/products/space-warrior-honor-guard-storm-shield What models are you most passionate about creating? "From Halo to Helldivers and the forbidden Space Warriors everybody loves, but is scarred to create. From Star Wars to Oblivion, and even the Predator series, I bring each universe to life to the best of my ability. Every scratch, scorch mark, and scuff are placed with care to tell a story whether it’s the grit of a veteran Space Warrior's pauldron, the battered visor of a Spartan, or the weathered plates of a crusader’s helm. Weathered pieces provide a touch of authenticity. No two pieces are alike and are often a conversation piece for avid genre defining fans." https://thepaladinsforge.com/products/space-warrior-helmet https://thepaladinsforge.com/products/space-warrior-spiritual-leader-helmet Why 3D printing? "I focus on creating bespoke pieces, I want them to feel real. I want the weight to tell you it was built for you, not some cheap flimsy piece, mass-produced on a factory line without a second thought. I want you to open that box and pull your order directly from the front lines. Whether you’re a collector looking for a centerpiece, a cosplayer ready to suit up, or a fan who just wants a piece of their favorite universe hanging on the wall, my goal is to deliver something that inspires pride, awe, and maybe even a little envy." https://thepaladinsforge.com/products/ebony-watchers-iron-halo?variant=44977849270458 Why should someone buy from you? The Paladin’s Forge is my way of taking imagination and turning it into tangible relics with each one carrying the scars of battle, the weight of legend, and the mark of my own hands. From my home to your collection. I was privileged to serve in the U.S Marine Corp for 6 years, it was the best days of my life. Eventually, all good things come to pass, and we move on to our next battle. This is my way to continue providing for others, bringing authenticity from war torn universes only the way a Marine could! You're a dork. "Guilty." As we continued to break bread and indulge ourselves with freedom fries and bacon cheeseburgers, we traded tips for weathering, painting, and previously tested finishes. It was more than clear Jacob was a capable creator who simply needed a boost to propel his business. After seeing some of his finished pieces and witnessing the level of intricate detail he managed was impressive. While it may seem strange to highlight a competitor, someone who is clearly is capable of delivering pieces on par with our own (and sometimes better) is an individual who deserves to be highlighted. We remember we once stood in his shoes, struggling to make ends meet as we threw everything into this venture with grand hopes on a beer budget. Every step forward was a drop of water as we rucked through the next desert hoping for one more sale. We're proud to support our fellow makers and even prouder to support our fellow veterans. We are not powerhouse players. We are not a giant in the "biz." We are creators, artists, and passionate fans who want to help lift up as many others as possible. One day, if we are lucky, if we earn it, we will combine forces to create the power house we all hope to become. Building a business takes time, it takes effort and commitment to maintain passion when times get tough. It is not an easy endeavor, especially when you strike out on your own instead of building just another Etsy store. There is no advertising when you are on your own, no search engine coming to your rescue. It's word of mouth that will build you, sustain you, and motivate you. I would highly recommend www.thepaladinsforge.com as a fantastic source for custom 3d printed cosplay armor, swords and shields.
