Making your own game components...

[Lufbery]

Hi all,

I've been slowly modifying the components to the board game Blue Max to address errata and selectively incorporate improvemes from later versions that I've found posted on the web. Mostly this consists of scanning the components that came with the game, modifying them in Photoshop, and printing them out the way I want them. This isn't difficult for me since I'm a professional destop publisher.

This approach is nice because I get to update and fix the game with little effort and no expense (beyond the computer and software I already own). In the end, my wife and I have a game that perfectly suits our tastes. We plan to get together with some friends and introduce them to it too. I feel it's important that I have good, easy to use, components for our friends' use.

Do any of you make your own components or modify your board games?

Regards,

[BobE]

Way to go Luff! If you remember, I said in an earlier thread how I had modified a number of games. In particular I described how I had made "instrument panels" for the board version of "Richthofen's War". By using dials, sliding ammo belts and throttles I was able to record all needed game data on 4"x4" panels for each plane involved. No need to pick up a pencil every two seconds.
Modifying the game components can really add to a bought game. After all, the manufacturer has to keep costs down. You, on the other hand ,can make the board and pieces as big or small as you want.
I am big on the feel and color aspects of a game.
As a desktop publisher, you are in an ideal position to make your own boards,pieces and charts.
Hey. Maybe you will end up publishing one of your own someday! Inventing your own game is a great hobby. You get to do all that research and design work. Getting the rules right gives you enormous respect for other designers and even legislators! There is always a situation that turns up in play that requires a rule change and when you change it you find out you screwed something else up. Then there is the little matter of play balance. If both sides don't have equal chances, one guy isn't going to be very interested in playing. I find the best games are those with a good but not overwhelming dose of luck thrown in. That way, the player who is currently down can hope for a lucky break. Guess I sort of rambled on here. Just happens to be one of my life long hobbies. Have been amusing myself for the price of a piece of cardboard and a couple of dice for a long,long time now. Of course, then you have to add the cost of all that research material!

Your wife shares your wacked out hobby? A rare woman indeed.You have a real prize my friend.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob E

[Lufbery]

Hey yeah! I remember reading about your Richthofen's War components. Since then I've found a web site or two with pictures of similar set ups. It sure looks like fun.

My goal is to simply correct errata and bring some coherence to the rules. Doing a Google news groups search yeilded the major errata of the rules edition that I have. I've also found some interesting player's aids from the miniatures edition of the rules that are freely available on the net. These combine to make for a nice set of rules with some internal integrity.

My other goal is to make the components easier to set up. I do this by scanning the relevant charts and record sheets and then filling stuff in on the computer like I would with a pencil on paper. This way I cut down on prep time and get to keep the original components in good shape.

It would be neat coming up with my own war game. Maybe one with a theme of the Lost Battalion or the Battle of Belleau Wood.

Regards,

[BobE]

Luf,
As I mentioned above, I am big on the way a game looks. Have you thought of increasing the board size and /or handpainting it? How about getting some color profiles of the planes, shrinking down the top views to proper size and mounting them on a thick backing for easier handling? Another thought that has been in my head for *a long time but have not tried would be to use some sort of stacking system under the pieces to indicate altitude. They sell mini poker chips that would be ideal.Looking at the piece would give an instant reading of it's altitude without the need for paper and pencil. Just some thoughts. We each have our own ideas. That's what is so great about customizing the games.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Bob E

[BobE]

Luf,
How long does it take you to play a game of Blue Max with your wife?

How about a multi-plane game?

Bob

[Lufbery]

Luf,
As I mentioned above, I am big on the way a game looks. Have you thought of increasing the board size and /or handpainting it?

Nah. The board's ugly, but it sets up really quickly. Just unfold it.

How about getting some color profiles of the planes, shrinking down the top views to proper size and mounting them on a thick backing for easier handling?

Actually, that was done by game company. The counters are absolutely fabulous looking. The profiles look like the ones done my Bob Pearson. If I get a chance, I'll scan a couple and post them, just to give you a feel of what they look like.

Another thought that has been in my head for a long time but have not tried would be to use some sort of stacking system under the pieces to indicate altitude. They sell mini poker chips that would be ideal.Looking at the piece would give an instant reading of it's altitude without the need for paper and pencil. Just some thoughts. We each have our own ideas. That's what is so great about customizing the games.

That's a neat idea. The way Blue Max (2nd ed. anyway) is played, there are small altitude markers that indicate your altitude level. Typically the little chit follows the plane around the board. There are five altitude levels, and enough chits for eight players to all be at the same altitude. Having some sort of stackable system sounds like a neat idea.

You also asked how long it took to play. Most of my games have been one on one versus my wife. We usually end up in some sort of a draw due to low fuel and the fact that she has a knack for choosing a mirror image of the movement that I choose and thereby foiling my plans for getting behind her plane and sending it down in flames. > Movement is simulaneous and moves are chosen in secret, so I guess we just think too much alike.

In general, games last about an hour and a half. The only two player game I've done featured me in a Halberstadt D-something two-seater versus my wife in a Spad and my little brother in a Camel. That one also lasted about an hour and I got my butt severely kicked.

Regards,

[BobE]

Luf,
Thanks for the quick reply. An hour sounds good, particularly for three players. With regard to your wife knowing what you wiil do; it is pretty amazing how quickly two people living together can get into each others heads. Women are known for being intuitive. For the man it's more of a survival instinct!
Bob

[BobE]

Luf,
I have down loaded the review of Blue Max and have taken a look at the Canvas Falcons aircraft charts. As you know, I am a "do it your selfer" and I like some of the ideas I have seen. Think I can cobble some of them together to make a pretty good game for myself. I like something even simpler and faster playing than what I've seen but the manuver charts look like a great starting point. Would appreciate a couple of pieces of info from you. How big are the hexes and pieces? How many hexes wide and long is the board? What happens when planes get too close to the edge?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Thanks,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob

BobE,

The last incarnation (to the best of my limited knowledge) of Blue Max may still be had at:

http://www.rafm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?...tegory_Code=RHG

I found a copy at my local mall game store a couple of months back.

This is billed as a miniatures rule set and is generally considered an ancestor of Canvas Eagles. *That being said, I think most board games as well as the miniatures variety keep movement relatively simple. *One model or one card counter needs to fit one hex (or square for Dawn Patrol, which has a rabid following.) *The major difference with miniatures is using posts of differing lengths or telescoping rods to indicate altitude while the card counter games use cards with more counters or pencil charts to keep up with that. *I have Richthofen's War which uses hexes and see no problem with using its board and counters with the Blue Max or Canvas Eagles rules. *I have also begun to amass a collection of as yet unbuilt 1:72 model WWI aircraft. *There is plenty of room for fusing rules, melding techniques, and inventing new things to keep us all busy for years.

Fly on and check your six! *

P.S. Canvas FALCONS and Canvas EAGLES are two quite different animals so don't confuse them.