Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Developing a Board Game
• Part 2 of 4: Making a Prototype Game
• Part 3 of 4: Testing the prototype
• Part 4 of 4: Making the Final Game
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

A homemade board game is a great thing to wow your friends with for another evening 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. Having taken care of the first stage, then you will need to create a prototype of the game to test your idea. After the board game is successful in testing, you need to make the final flawless version of the game, which can already be used for evening gatherings with friends.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Developing a Board Game

1. 1 Write down your ideas. It's impossible to guess when the perfect idea might come to mind. Sometimes it happens that a combination of two whole ideas can turn into a terrific concept for a new board game. Jot down your ideas in a notebook, computer, or a dedicated writing app on your smartphone.
   • It can be especially helpful to keep ideas handy while playing with friends.You might get a great idea to create your own board game just when you are playing with your friends.
   • If you are using purchased board games for inspiration, ask yourself what you can do to improve that particular game. This question can often lead you to interesting ideas for game innovations.
2. 2 Come up with a theme for the game. Thematic games allow you to better “feel” the gameplay. Sometimes the theme of the game is called its “genre”. Adventure games have one simple theme - the desire to get to the finish line the fastest. Complex war games must have conflicts, a game action policy, and a strategy for placing game elements on the playing field.
   • Your favorite novel, comic magazine, or TV series can inspire you to choose a theme for your board game.
   • Often myths and legends are used in game development. Often, vampires, witches, wizards, dragons, angels, demons, gnomes and so on become the protagonists of games.
3. 3 Develop the mechanics of the game first (as an alternative). The mechanics of the game determine the way players interact with each other. In Monopoly, the mechanics are based on rolling dice, buying and selling real estate and making money. In the board game "Axis and Allies", you need to move the elements of the game across a large playing field and resolve conflicts between players by throwing a die.
   • Some people first come up with the mechanics of the game and only then create a theme based on it, while others first come up with an amazing theme and only then adjust the mechanics of the game to it. Experiment with this question to see which way of working works best for you.
   • Common types of game mechanics are: alternate moves, dice rolls, moving around the playing field, drawing cards, unfolding cards, auctions, and so on.
4. 4 Decide on the age range of the game. The age range of the game will affect its difficulty and rules. If you are developing a game for children, you will need to make sure the game is simple, easy to understand, and fun. In adult games, you can create something more competitive, exciting and challenging.
   • Do not forget about the chosen topic when determining the age range of the game. A zombie hunting game is not suitable for children, but it can be perfect entertainment for adults who are addicted to zombie TV series.
5. 5 Determine the number of players, play times and size limits for your game. Some games are limited by the size of the playing field, the number of playing chips or cards. The size of the playing field and the number of playing cards also affect the duration of the game itself. When setting these limits, try to keep the following points in mind.
   • The number of players who can play the game. Will the game be fun for only two players? What is the maximum number of players that can play it? Are there enough cards / chips for this?
   • Average game duration. Additionally, keep in mind that the first game round is usually the longest. It takes players time to learn the rules.
   • Game size. Large playing fields and decks of cards usually complicate the game and increase the playing time, but the game also begins to lose its portable qualities.
6. 6 Decide how the game will be won. Once you have written down the main idea of ​​the game, ask yourself what the conditions for winning the game will be. Think about the different ways players can win, and don't forget about them as you develop your game.
   • Adventure games challenge players to get to the finish line faster. In such games, the winner is the one who gets to the finish point first.
   • Points games challenge players to collect points, such as reward points or special cards. In these games, the player with the most points wins.
   • Co-op games require players to play well together in order to achieve a common goal, such as fixing a miniature 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 fulfill the game's goal.
7. 7 Write down basic rules of the game. No doubt they will have time to change in the course of further development of the game, but having a basic set of rules will allow you to quickly start testing the game. When preparing the rules, be sure to pay attention to the following points.
   • Determination of 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 highest card starts the game first.
   • The constituent elements of the player's turn. What can a player do on his turn? To balance playing time, most games allow players to take one or two actions on their turn.
   • Player interaction. How will players influence each other? For example, 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 points on the die.
   • The constituent elements of the impact of external forces. If the game involves a third-party enemy or any special effects (such as fires or floods), you will have to decide when they come into play.
   • Making decisions. Decisions can be made by simply rolling the dice. Special events may require special cards or specific dice values ​​(such as a double) to be dropped.

Part 2 of 4: Making a Prototype Game

1. 1 Use the prototype version of the game to evaluate your idea. Before you start building the final version of the game, create a rough prototype (test case) to play around with a little. It doesn't have to be pretty, but its very presence will allow you to check if the game is turning out the way you wanted it to be using the underlying foundations.
   • The prototype is an important part of the board game creation process, as it transforms your thoughts into a real object that can be evaluated along with other players.
   • Refrain from adding decorative elements to the game until you start working on the final version of the product. Simple pencil-drawn playing fields and cards allow you to erase and make corrections as needed.
2. 2 Draw a rough draft of the game board. With it, you can assess whether the playing field is too large 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 travel to the finish point, while complex games may have branches and loops in the direction of travel.
   • Open playing field. In games with an open playing field, there is no predetermined direction of movement. Instead, players move along the playing field where they think possible, and the playing field itself is usually divided into squares or hexagons.
   • Sequence points. They can be denoted with special symbols or images. Sequence points can also have special effects, for example, allowing you to move one more cell forward or draw an additional card.
3. 3 Collect all the building blocks of a prototype game. Buttons, checkers, poker chips, chess pieces and other decorative figures are perfect for you as chips for a board game prototype. Refrain from using elements that are too large for the prototype, as they may make it difficult to read the information indicated on the playing field.
   • The game elements present may undergo significant changes in the process of further development of the game. Use simple elements for the prototype so as not to spend a lot of money on making something that will have to be changed later.
4. 4 Use game cards to add variety to the game. Random shuffling of cards will affect players in unpredictable ways. The cards often briefly indicate the event that happens to the player and change his score, position, or the inventory at his disposal accordingly.
   • A deck of cards can contain 15-20 cards of various types (for example, with traps and improvised tools). The number of cards of each type should be limited to about 10 pieces so that they are all balanced in the deck.
   • Out-of-game tasks can be indicated on the cards, for example, when a player must speak in the voice of a pirate for 5 minutes for a certain bonus. Failure to complete such a task may be punishable by a fine.

Part 3 of 4: Testing the prototype

1. 1 Test the prototype of the game yourself. After preparing everything needed for the prototype, you can start testing the game to evaluate the gameplay. Before offering a game to a group of people, play it yourself. Play as each player and write down the positive and negative aspects of the game that you can notice.
   • Test the game yourself several times. At the same time, adjust the number of “players” each time in order to understand the acceptable minimum and maximum number of people for the game.
   • Find flaws in your game by trying to figure it out during individual testing. See if it will be possible to win all the time for the player who uses a special strategy of the game, check for loopholes in the rules that could give some players unfair advantages.
2. 2 Test the game with friends and family. Once you've tested the game yourself enough times to identify most of its flaws, it's time to test it collectively. Gather 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 be grateful for the feedback and recommendations provided.
   • During collective testing, refrain from giving additional explanations. You will not always be around the players to explain the rules to them.
   • Take notes for yourself as you play. Look out for times when the players are not enjoying the game or when the rules are not clear. Most likely, you will have to somehow fix these shortcomings.
   • Pay attention to the placement of players on the playing field. If one player is consistently ahead of the rest, it is likely that he has taken some unfair advantage.
3. 3 Swap testing players to get a better understanding of the game. All people approach games differently, and some of them may notice flaws that you yourself may have missed. The more people test your game, the more opportunities there will be to identify flaws and weaknesses in it, which then need to be corrected.
   • Occasionally, large board game stores can arrange gaming meetings for fans of such games. These events can be great places to test your own game and get feedback from experienced board game players.
   • A player's age will likely also influence his approach to the game. Try the game on your younger siblings and grandparents to appreciate its age range.
4. 4 Adjust the prototype during testing. After the end of each test game, make the necessary changes and adjustments to the playing field, rules and other constituent elements of the game.When you continue testing again, see how the changes you make affect the game. Some “enhancements” can do more harm than help.

Part 4 of 4: Making the Final Game

1. 1 Make a list of the materials you need. When testing is completed and you are satisfied with the game, you can start making its final version. Each game will have its own needs, so the list of required materials may vary. Make a list of all the constituent elements of the game that should be present in its final version, so as not to forget anything.
   • The playing field for board games can traditionally be made of cardboard or plywood. These materials will provide a solid foundation for the game and give it a more professional look.
   • You can take an old playing field from another game as a basis if you don't want to buy anything. Cover it with paper or paint it with paint to hide old markings.
   • Strong cardboard will be useful both for creating the playing field itself and playing cards. You can also buy blank game cards at most craft stores.
   • The simplest game pieces can be made in the form of cardboard circles cut with scissors or made with a hole punch.
2. 2 Decorate the playing field. The playing field is the centerpiece of the board game, so get creative with your design. Make sure that the direction of movement or playing cells are clearly marked, and that all directions on the playing field are easy to read.
   • In the matter of decorating the playing field, you are limited only by your own imagination. To liven up the look of the playing field, you can use ready-made prints, decorative paper with patterns, paints, felt-tip pens, magazine clippings, and the like.
   • The bright multicolored design will be more attractive to the players. Colors create a good mood well. For example, a vampire game would probably be wise to be dark and intimidating.
   • The playing field of the game will often be taken in hand, so over time it can wear out. If possible, try to protect the outcome of your labors by laminating the playing field.
3. 3 Create the rest of the game. Chips for the game are most easily made using pictures drawn or printed on paper, which you then glue with tape or glue to a solid base such as cardboard. If you are creating a game for relatives or friends, then you can even use real photographs of them to make chips.
   • If you need to give your game pieces a more professional look, print them out on a professional printer using thick, high quality cardboard.
   • Insert the paper chips into the plastic card holders so they can stand. These stands can be purchased at most craft stores.
   • Try using homemade chess pieces, polymer clay figurines, or origami paper folded animals as chips.
4. 4 Take old cubes or tops for the game, or make new ones. If the game involves the use of a die or top, you can take the desired item from old purchased games. You can also make your own play top using cardboard, buttons and felt-tip pens. Stick the button into 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 that circle.
   • Besides dice, there are many other types of dice. Increasing the number of edges on dice reduces the occurrence of duplicate values ​​on them.
   • On tops, color designations of the player's further actions are often used.For example, if you launched the top, and its arrow pointed to the yellow sector, then your chip will have to move to the next yellow cell.
   • Spinning tops are good for prize rounds. If a player has drawn a prize card or stopped at a special cell, then he can use a spinning top to determine for himself a specific prize from a set of possible ones.
5. 5 Create game cards if necessary. Quite simple cards probably won't interest players. Use pretty images, interesting captions, and spice to spice up your deck of cards.
   • For example, a card indicating the transition of a move may be accompanied by a picture of a heart and the caption: "Unlucky in cards, lucky in love."
   • Create your own game cards from purchased blank cards from a craft store to give your board game a high-quality look.
   • You can also cut the cards yourself from cardboard. Use a regular playing card as a template for tracing and cutting out cards of the same size and shape.
6. 6 Try 3D printing to enhance your board game experience. If you really want to make your game special, you can make voluminous game elements, chips and even a playing field for it. In this case, you will need to provide the appropriate 3D model to the 3D printing company. As a result, you get customized board game items that look similar to those purchased in the store.

Tips

• To make simple volumetric chips, you can print their templates on paper, and then stick them on erasers with tape.
• If the layout of the playing field implies square cells, when you draw them, use a ruler to make everything work out smoothly and neatly.
• Collect feedback and opinions from other people before creating the final version of the game. Ask yourself if the game really is what you wanted. Remember that your friends and family will also play the game, so it should still be as attractive to them as possible.
• Try not to get on the defensive when your play is criticized. Criticism is important for improving the game, so be polite and write down any comments.
• You can also use bottle caps, beads, glass marbles, pieces of paper, or tokens from other games as tokens for your DIY game.
• 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 completely unfamiliar with it.

Warnings

• Try to keep the rules for the game as short and simple as possible. Any unnecessary complexity can make players lose interest in the game.
• Make sure the rules of the game you come up with are fair. The goal of the game is to please people, cheer them up and set them up in a positive mood.
• If you plan to publish and start selling your own game, make sure that you do not explicitly infringe on anyone's copyright. If something looks very much like other games, it would be better to revise and change these elements.

What do you need

• Notebook
• Simple pencil
• Ruler
• Paper
• The base for the playing field (thin and thick cardboard, plywood, old playing field, and so on)
• Cards (various sizes and colors)
• Scissors
• Game chips (parts from old board games, poker chips, trinkets, figurines, decorations, etc.)
• Dice and / or spinning top
• Materials for drawing and coloring (felt-tip pens, paints, pens, pencils, etc.)
• Glue and / or tape
• Paint (optional)