How to make your own board game - Tunnel, sand and trolls

A homemade board game is a great thing to wow your friends with on another night of home entertainment. But before you can boast about the final result of your creativity, you have to develop the basic principles of the game, including its goals and rules. Next you need to create a prototype of the game to test your idea. After the board game is successful in the test, you need to produce a final flawless version of the game, which can already be used for the evening gatherings with friends.

What abilities do card games develop?

Playing cards, you are not just having fun, but also develop all kinds of abilities, skills and abilities.

Mathematical skills – you have to consider your options, make calculations in your mind, and determine the probability of winning in a given situation;
Psychological skills – you learn to keep your emotions to yourself, bluffing, figuring out your opponents’ intentions by their faces and gestures, not to succumb to tilt, and so on;
Memory Development – A good player keeps in mind the cards that came out and remembers the actions of opponents, which is great for memory training;
Communication skills – In today’s world, many people lack live communication. Card games with real opponents teach communication in an informal setting.

In addition, at the card table you meet people of different professions, ages, countries, and social strata. Each of them can teach you something, which adds to your life experience and broadens your horizons.

Some of the most popular casino table games include the following:

Poker is a classic among table card games with centuries of history. Its goal is to collect the most winning combination of cards. Today there are many types of this game and each of them has its own rules.
Baccarat is another popular card game for gamblers. There is an opinion that its success is due to the fact that it is much easier than poker. The winner must collect a certain combination of cards, which are dealt in two or three to each player.
Blackjack is another popular type of card game. In blackjack, players get two or three cards in their hands, and the winner must put together a winning combination.
Roulette – For table gambling enthusiasts who don’t feel sorry for cards, this is a great choice. In addition to the classic roulette, there are several more modern options, such as American or French roulette.

Blackjack is said to be the most popular table card game in the Best Internet Casinos. The combination of an element of luck and some strategy is what makes it so popular. That said, many players from Canada have a preference for the game of baccarat.

Designing a board game

Write down your ideas

You never know when the perfect idea will come to mind. Sometimes a combination of two ideas can turn into a terrific concept for a new board game. Write down your ideas in a notebook, on your computer, or in a note-taking app on your smartphone.

Sometimes it can be especially helpful to keep a means of jotting down ideas right when you’re playing games with friends. In the process, you may get a great idea for your own board game;
If you use existing board games for inspiration, ask yourself what you could do to improve a particular game. This question can often lead you to interesting ideas for game innovations.

Come up with a theme for the game

The theme is the basis of the game. Sometimes it is also called a genre. Brooding games have one simple theme – striving to get to the finish line the fastest. Complex wargames must have conflicts, a politics of play, and a strategy for placing game elements on the playing field.

A favorite novel, comic book, or TV series can inspire you to choose a theme for a board game;
Often in the development of games use myths and legends. Often the protagonists of games are vampires, witches, wizards, dragons, angels, demons, dwarves and similar creatures.

Develop the mechanics of the game first

The mechanics of the game define the way players interact with each other. In Monopoly, the mechanics are based on rolling dice, buying and selling real estate, and earning money. In the board game “Axis and Allies” it is necessary to move elements of the game across a large playing field and solve conflicts between players by rolling a die.

Some people come up with the mechanics of the game first and only then create a theme based on it, while others come up with an awesome theme first and only then tweak the mechanics of the game to fit it. Experiment to see which one works best for you;
Common game mechanics include alternating moves, die rolls, moving around the playing field, drawing cards, laying out cards, auctions, and so on.

Decide on the age range of the game

The age range of the game will affect its complexity and rules. If you are designing a game for children, you need to make sure that the game is simple, easy to understand and fun. For adults, you can think of something more competitive, exciting, and challenging.

Keep the theme in mind when determining the age range of the game. A zombie hunt game is not suitable for young children, but it can be perfect entertainment for adults who are into zombie shows.

Determine the number of players, playing time, and limit the size of your game

Some games are limited by the size of the playing field and the number of game pieces and cards. The size of the playing field and the number of playing cards also affect the length of the game itself. When setting these limits, try to take the following points into account.

The number of players that can play the game. Will the game be interesting if played by two people? What is the maximum number of players? Are there enough cards/chips to do so;
The average duration of the game. Additionally, note that the first game round is usually the longest. Players need time to learn the rules;
Size of the game. Larger playing fields and decks of cards usually make the game more difficult and time consuming, but you’ll need more physical space – you may not be able to play anywhere else.

Decide how the victory of the game will be determined

Once you have the basic idea of the game down on paper, ask yourself what the winning conditions will be. Think about the different ways players can win, and keep them in mind as you develop the game.

The wandering games aim for players to get to the finish line as quickly as possible. In these games, the first person to reach the finish line wins;
Point games challenge players to collect points, such as prize points or special cards. These games are won by the player with the most points;
Cooperative games require players to work together to achieve a common goal, like fixing a submarine or preventing the spread of a virus;
Games that collect a specific set of cards rely on cards for their gameplay. Players can earn, steal, or buy cards to strengthen their position and achieve their game goal.

Write down the basic rules of the game

No doubt they will have time to change in the course of further game development, but having a basic set of rules will allow you to quickly start testing the game. As you prepare the rules, keep the following points in mind:

Determining the first player. In many games, the first player is determined by rolling a die or drawing cards. The player with the highest number of dots on the die or the oldest card starts the game;
The constituent elements of a player’s turn. What can a player do on his turn? To balance the game time, most games allow players to take only one or two actions per turn;
Player Interaction. How will players affect each other? For example, the players who find themselves on the same cell of the playing field can “fight” with each other, and the outcome of the battle will be determined by the largest number of dots on the die;
The constituent elements of the impact of third-party forces. If the game involves a third-party enemy or any special effects, such as fires or floods, you have to decide when they come into play;
Decision-making. Decisions can be determined by a simple roll of the dice. Special events may require special cards or specific die rolls.

Making a prototype game

Use the prototype version of the game to evaluate your idea

Before you start creating the final version of the game, create a rough prototype (a test version) to play with for a while. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it will allow you to see if the game turns out the way you want it to when you use the basics.

The prototype is an important part of the board game creation process, because it turns your thoughts into a real object that can be evaluated with other players;
Refrain from introducing decorative elements into the game until you start working on the final version of the product. Simple pencil-drawn game boards and cards allow you to erase individual elements and make corrections as needed.

Draw a draft of the playing field

With it you can evaluate whether the playing field is too big or too small. Depending on the theme and mechanics of the game, your playing field may or may not include the following elements.

Direction of Movement. Simple games may have only one direction of movement to the finish point, and complex games may have branches and loops in the direction of movement;
Open Playing Field. In games with an open playing field there is no set direction of movement. Instead, players move around the playing field, wherever they can, and the playing field is usually divided into squares or hexagons;
Waypoints. They can be designated by special characters or images. Follow-up points can also have special effects, such as allowing you to move one more cell forward or draw an extra card.

Assemble all the components of the prototype game

Buttons, checkers, poker chips, chess pieces, or small toys are great for your prototype board game. Refrain from using items that are too large for the prototype, as they can make it difficult to read the information on the playing field.

Present game elements may undergo significant changes in the process of further game development. Use simple elements for the prototype so that you don’t spend a lot of money on making things that will have to be changed later.

Use playing cards to add more variety to the game

Randomly shuffling cards will affect players in unpredictable ways. The cards often briefly indicate an event that happens to a player and changes his score, position, or available inventory accordingly.

A deck may contain 15-20 cards of various types (e.g., traps and implements). The number of cards of each type should be limited to about 10 pieces so that they are all balanced in the deck;
Cards may indicate out-of-game tasks, such as when a player must talk like a pirate for a certain bonus for 5 minutes. Failure to complete such a task may incur a penalty.

Testing the prototype

Test the game prototype yourself

After preparing everything you need for the prototype, you can begin testing the game to evaluate the gameplay. Before offering the game to a group of people, play it yourself. Play the game for each player and make a note of the positive and negative aspects of the game that you notice.

Test the game several times on your own. Adjust the number of “players” each time to understand the allowable minimum and maximum number of people to play;
Look for flaws in your game by trying to “unravel” it during individual testing. See if it will be possible to win all the time for the player who will use a particular strategy to play, check for loopholes in the rules that may give some players an unfair advantage.

Test the game with friends and family

After you have tested the game yourself enough times to find most of its flaws, it’s time for group testing. Gather your friends or family and tell them that you want to test the game you have prepared. Explain to them that the game is still in development and that you would appreciate feedback and recommendations.

During collective testing, refrain from giving additional explanations. You will not always be around to explain the rules to the players;
Make notes for yourself as you play. Pay attention to instances when players are not enjoying the game or when the rules prove to be incomprehensible. You will most likely have to correct these mistakes in some way;
Pay attention to the placement of players on the field of play. If one player is constantly ahead of the others, he probably took advantage of some unfair advantage.

Swab test players to get a better idea of the game

Everyone approaches games differently, and some people may notice flaws that you yourself may have missed. The more people who test your game, the more opportunities you’ll have to identify flaws and weaknesses that you’ll need to fix later.

Sometimes large board game stores may host game meetings for fans of such games. These events can be a great place to test your game and get feedback from experienced players;
A player’s age is also likely to influence their approach to the game. Try the game out on your younger siblings and grandparents to gauge its age range.

Adjust the prototype during testing

After each test game, make any necessary changes and adjustments to the playing field, rules, and other components of the game. When you continue testing again, see what effect the changes will have on the game. Some “improvements” may do more harm than good.

Creating the final version of the game

Make a list of necessary materials

When testing is complete and you are satisfied with the game, you can begin making the final version. Each game will have different needs, so the list of materials needed for it may vary. Make a list of all the components of the game that should be present in its final version, so as not to forget anything.

The playing field for board games is traditionally made of bound cardboard or plywood. These materials will serve as a solid base for the game and give it a more professional look;
You can take an old game board from another game if you don’t want to buy anything. Laminate it with paper or paint it to hide the old markings;
Sturdy cardboard will be useful for making the playing field itself as well as the game cards. You can also buy blank game cards at most craft stores;
The simplest game pieces can be made by cutting circles out of cardboard.

Decorate the playing field

The playing field is the main element of the board game, so be creative with its design. Make sure that the direction of movement or game boxes are clearly marked, and that all the instructions on the playing field are easily readable.

When it comes to decorating the playing field, you are limited only by your imagination. To enliven the appearance of the playing field you can use ready-made printouts, decorative paper with patterns, paints, felt-tip pens, clippings from magazines and the like;
A brightly colored design will be more appealing to look at. Also colors are a great way to set the right mood. For example, the design of the game about vampires will be dark and frightening;
The playing field of the game will be often taken in hand, so over time it may wear out. If possible, try to protect the result of their labors with lamination.

Create the rest of the game elements

The easiest way to make game pieces is to draw or print images on paper, which you then tape or glue to a sturdy base like cardboard. If you are making a game for family members or friends, you can even use real pictures of them to make the chips.

If you want to give the game pieces a more professional look, print their blanks on a professional printer using thick, high-quality cardboard;
Insert the paper chips into plastic card holders so they can stand. Such coasters are available at most stores that sell craft supplies;
Try to use as chips homemade chess pieces, figurines of polymer clay or figurines of animals folded from paper in the origami technique.

Use old dice or spinning wheels or make new ones to play with

If the game involves the use of a cube or a spinner, you can take the necessary item from old purchased games. You can also make your own spinning wheel using cardboard, a nail button and felt-tip pens. Stick the button in the base of the cardboard arrow and attach it to the center of the cardboard circle, and then draw different positions for the arrow and their meanings on the circle.

In addition to dice, there are many other types of dice. Increasing the number of faces on the dice reduces the cases of repeated values falling out on them;
On the spinning dice are often used color indications of further actions of the player. For example, if you run the spinner and his hand pointed at the yellow sector, then your chip will have to move to the next cell in yellow;
Volleys are great for prize rounds. If a player draws a prize card or stops on a special cell, he can use the whirligig to determine a specific prize for himself from the set of possible prizes.

If necessary, create game cards

Boring cards probably won’t appeal to players. Use beautiful images, interesting captions, and witticisms to spice up your deck of cards.

For example, a card denoting a skip move could be accompanied by an image of a traffic light with a red signal and the caption, “Stop: give way!”

Create your own cards for the game based on purchased blank cards from the craft store to give your board game a high-quality look;

The cards can also be cut from cardboard yourself. Use a regular playing card as a template for crossing out and cutting out cards of the same size and shape.

Try using 3D printing to enhance your board game experience

If you really want to make your game special, you can make three-dimensional game pieces, chips and even a playing field for it. In this case, you will need to provide a 3D printing company with the appropriate 3D model. As a result, you will get unique game elements that will look as good as the factory-made games.

Tips from the expert

Gather feedback and opinions from other people before creating the final version of the game. Ask yourself if the game is really what you wanted. Remember that your friends and family will also be playing the game, so it should still be as appealing to them as possible;
Try not to get defensive when your game is criticized. Criticism is important to improve your game, so be polite and write down any comments;
Reduce the size of your game so you can take it with you on the road;
When a group of people are testing your game, try to observe them without interfering with the gameplay. This will allow you to gauge how well the rules of the game are perceived by those who are not at all familiar with it;
To make simple three-dimensional chips you can print their templates on paper, and then glue them on erasers with tape;
To pack the game, you can take a box from an old board game and paste it with colored paper or wallpaper;
The chips for a homemade game can also take bottle tops, beads, glass balls, pieces of paper or chips from other games;
If the layout of the playing field involves square cells, when you draw them, use a ruler to make sure everything is straight and accurate;
You can look for inspiration in your favorite books.