How to Make Game Boards

This is another installment in the prototyping series from James Ernest. This video describes several ways to make prototype game boards. Everything from the basic "print it on paper" to techniques for making folding boards, wrapped edges, and waterproof surfaces.
James Ernest publishes tabletop games, design articles, and short fiction at Crab Fragment Labs: www.crabfragmentlabs.com/
Most of the games featured in this video are available for free at cheapass.com/free-games/

[@Peter-Williams]

I’ve been making board games for years but still haven’t ever thought of some of the techniques in this video. Great advice, I’ll start using some of these methods on my upcoming games :)

[@proyc95]

This is so cool exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for sharing

[@JoFlo93]

This is THE MOST useful video I’ve seen as someone who is just getting into tabletops as a hobby

[@paulsalomon27]

Absolutely fantastic video here. Thanks for that!!

[@RoloffDeleto]

Wonderful video's! I've cut the (leatherish) covers from old encyclopedias that were tossed to use for (foldable) game boards and taped them together with linnen tape.

[@StrayFire]

great production and very interesting content. thanks for sharing!

[@JohnPayneSycarion]

Great Video! Just what we need here to test some ideas. Thank you!

[@PhoenyxAshe]

Cool. I may have to use a few of these techniques to reinforce some of our older Cheapass Games. Our Deadwood boards are getting a little frayed at the edges.

[@gabrielgan2971]

This is extremely helpful. Thank you : )

[@Ratheri]

Dude, I love these videos. Thank you for making them!

[@paulaneary7877]

Thank You James, I really appreciate this, great video, very helpful!

[@ncm2738]

Absolutely brilliant tutorial

[@albionhustler9836]

Very cool, thank you! Have you ever considered reusing cardstock from mass market games found in good will stores for some of these prototypes?

[@nerenahd]

Thank you very much, sir. It helped me on a school job, it was exactly what I was looking for.

[@bigbanana82]

beyond fantastic content - thanks a lot...

[@nataliaf.8580]

Thank you! Awesome video!!

[@willmolinar]

This is assuming one has all the equipment and tools needed to do it this way...these items all cost money.

[@stephenspackman5573]

Thanks for posting this! Contact paper is also my current solution for homebrew dry erase surfaces-which seems like a useful thing.

[@lukealaric7861]

i know Im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was dumb forgot the login password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.

[@reigneduardo6732]

@Luke Alaric Instablaster ;)

[@lukealaric7861]

@Reign Eduardo i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@lukealaric7861]

@Reign Eduardo it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much you really help me out :D

[@reigneduardo6732]

@Luke Alaric happy to help :D

[@rickyb3216]

EXACTLY what I was looking for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jamesdoble7580]

Your Awesome thank you for sharing.

[@drakefulton3914]

Thank you!

[@CreepVortex]

Do you have any tips for making packaging for games like bags for card packs or a box for board game?

[@calebseewald3515]

Trying to figure out how to make and upload the goard into tabletop simulator.

[@victorc7689]

This is awesome, what printer do you recommend for this?

[@eugeniomariopazielli8478]

thank's

[@yousifhassanein8562]

What are all the materials we need

[@kosterix123]

What about not sliding, folding, and using height to nudge game pieces into intended spaces.

[@TheBestUni]

You are amazing

[@beluga2630]

What are the materials required

[@robot7759]

No laminating? A4 l-machines are cheap as dirt nowadays.

[@Talkaen]

What kind of paper do we have to use if we want to make a really hard game board like the retail boards?

[@CheapassJames]

That super-thick cardboard can be hard to find in small quantities. I'd check an art supply store for matte board (which is similar) or just recycle a board game from the thrift store.

[@eduwoodentoysgrace4077]

Make speical Game board is Fantestic,We use machine to finish them fast.

[@najwazanudin4522]

Can i know the material of paper or card that you used ? Please...

[@dtg9k355]

on the 4 fold board, my first 2 boards wont fold without peeling of the contact paper. Can you tell me what im doing wrong?

[@CheapassJames]

Seems like two possibilites. If you are folding the wrong way, the seam will never work (the paper is the hinge, so it should be on the inside of the fold). If you're folding the right way, and the contact sheet is coming unstuck, consider (a) giving the adhesive more time to cure and (b) pressing the fold to create a better crease in the material. Good luck!

[@chrisnichols1862]

Question? Is it legal to create am add on/ mod for an existing commercial board game. Not using any of their art or logos... just referencing some of the locations / names and properties in the game. No logo or artwork use at all.
Just curious before I develop... if it is a 50/50 perhaps I will use an S-Corp to protect personal liability

[@CheapassJames]

Hi, Chris. This is really not the place for publishing advice, legal or otherwise. Best of luck!

[@chrisnichols1862]

@@CheapassJames My mistake.

[@GamingMansion]

What Guillotine have you been using :)

[@OrcaTheDorka]

How to make a game board: *make a game board*

[@allluckyseven]

Great tips! But James... you need a bigger pair of scissors.

[@derecwilsom4546]

HUGE guillotine.....tiny scissors...yep....
great tips and techniques

[@stephengoodrum821]

Did he rlly say game boards…

[@user-mv6id9dk9g]

Sir i have a new board game idea, would you mind listening to me😅

[@khatuntsovmikhail6223]

Please use Metric Units. Thanks.