Today we’d like to introduce you to Raphael Rozenberg.
Hi Raphael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Store History
Dungeon Master Minis officially began in 2022, though the groundwork was laid years earlier in failed prints, late nights, and a stubborn refusal to accept “good enough.” The shop launched on Etsy, where we quickly gained traction—earning over 2,000 sales and more than 800 five-star reviews. As the marketplace evolved, rising fees and shifting algorithms made it clear that long-term growth meant independence. Today, Dungeon Master Minis operates fully under its own domain, continuing to serve tabletop gamers, collectors, and hobbyists directly. (For those feeling nostalgic, the original Etsy storefront still exists as a digital fossil.)
About the Owner
Hi—I’m Raphael, and yes, this is my fault.
My love of role-playing games predates modern graphics cards. I grew up immersed in titles like Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Planescape: Torment, and the original Diablo games, long before “retro” was a selling point. What started as countless hours in front of a glowing monitor eventually evolved into a deep appreciation for world-building, storytelling, and tactile gaming experiences. That passion ultimately turned into Dungeon Master Minis—somewhere between a business and a very expensive hobby that got out of hand.
Why I Started Resin Printing
In the early 2010s, a friend convinced me to join a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. I was hooked immediately—and not long after, I was running games myself. Unfortunately, our ambition outpaced our supplies. Lacking proper miniatures, we resorted to coins and buttons to represent monsters and heroes. Functional? Yes. Inspiring? Not even close.
I tried solving the problem with an early filament printer, which taught me many lessons—mostly about patience and disappointment. Resin printing, however, changed everything. The detail was incredible, but the early materials were fragile. Miniatures would snap, warp, or lose limbs just sitting in storage. Over time, resin technology improved, and by experimenting with flexible and ABS-like resin blends, I finally achieved what I’d been chasing: highly detailed miniatures that could actually survive gameplay.
That breakthrough is still the foundation of how the shop operates today.
The Shop (Yes, Really)
Dungeon Master Minis runs out of a garage and basement in Missouri—less “factory floor,” more controlled chaos. The move from Las Vegas happened so my wife could complete her nursing degree while we raised our two kids, and the business grew out of necessity as much as passion. What began as a way to offset lost income quickly turned into a full production operation.
Today, the shop houses multiple filament printers, a fleet of resin printers, and dedicated processing and paint areas, all running near constantly. Every piece is produced with durability in mind, because miniatures shouldn’t be display-only unless you want them to be. The goal has always been simple: create pieces that look great, hold up to handling, and enhance the experience at the table—or on the shelf.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. It has felt more like a scenic route with missing guardrails.
One of the biggest challenges has been scaling without sacrificing quality. Demand grew faster than expected, but quality has always been non-negotiable. That means obsessing over materials, refining resin blends, and partnering only with designers who meet a very specific standard. That passion for quality occasionally gets me into trouble. More than once, a late-night conversation about design standards has turned into a three-in-the-morning disagreement, followed by a polite but final message saying I was no longer allowed to sell a designer’s work. It is not ideal, but I would rather lose a partnership than sell something I would not put on my own table.
External pressures have not helped. Shipping costs continue to rise, international tariffs add another layer of complexity, and global logistics have a habit of changing the rules without warning. On top of that, an algorithm-driven Etsy suspension with no meaningful explanation was a wake-up call. Relying too heavily on a third-party platform felt fine until it suddenly did not. That moment pushed me to test independence and eventually build something I actually control.
Then there is the day-to-day reality. Running a growing production business out of a home workshop while managing family life requires constant adjustment. Burnout, tight margins, and the occasional “why did I think this was a good idea” moment are part of the learning curve. I have learned when to slow down instead of overextending, even though stubbornness usually wins when a project is halfway done and quitting somehow feels worse than finishing.
It is independent, quality-focused, and built to last, even if it occasionally runs on caffeine and what may or may not qualify as a mid-life crisis.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At its core, my work is about producing high-quality miniatures and fan-made collectibles that people actually want to handle, paint, and display without holding their breath. I specialize in durable 3D-printed pieces that balance detail with real-world usability, whether they’re destined for a tabletop game or a display shelf that is already running out of space.
What sets the shop apart is customization. Customers are not locked into a single look. Nearly every piece can be finished with a custom paint scheme, allowing people to bring their own characters, color choices, or ideas to life instead of settling for “close enough.”
I also partner with a range of talented designers and artists who expand what the shop can offer. That includes chibified versions of special occasions like weddings or personal milestones, pop culture figures, and more complex, high-end designs such as large-scale statues and detailed miniatures. For example, I am currently working directly with a published writer to fully design a custom 3D-printed diorama from the ground up for use at their convention appearances, which is exactly the kind of collaborative project I enjoy most.
Beyond printed pieces, the shop works with other small businesses to offer hobby essentials like paints, brushes, mediums, dice, and high-end Dungeon Master screens. The goal is to make Dungeon Master Minis a true one-stop shop, so you can stop bouncing between five websites just to finish one project.
What I am most proud of is the consistency. Quality, durability, and attention to detail are prioritized at every step, even when it means taking the slower or more difficult route. That commitment, combined with a healthy refusal to cut corners, is what sets the business apart and occasionally keeps me up later than I should admit… like right now.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that quality still needs visibility, even when you would rather stay behind the scenes. I care deeply about materials, durability, and design standards, but none of that matters if people never see the work.
Outreach has taken forms I am more comfortable with, like donating miniatures to local gaming conventions for painting classes and community events. That kind of involvement feels genuine and aligns with why I started this in the first place. Social media, on the other hand, has been a necessary evil. As a natural recluse, I would happily avoid it entirely, but I have learned that showing up there, even reluctantly, is part of running a modern business.
The balance has been learning how to support the community in real, tangible ways while still forcing myself to use the tools that help keep the business visible. I still prefer printers over posts, but both turn out to be required.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies significantly depending on the size, complexity, and level of customization of each piece.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dmminisus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmminisus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMMinisUS
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dmminis
