I bought an insert from Fancy But Functional for Massive Darkness 2 that was able to condense 11 Kickstarter boxes down to 4 and greatly reduces set up and tear down time, so that has to be my favorite. There miniature storage boxes look like fancy dark walnut, so they're lovely on the shelf too.
The vinyl meeple stickers for Bitoku. (From Levity Games). I bought the game because it's so beautiful and the stickers (which aren't cheap papery things) really just made the game perfect. Most meeples I'm happy with how they look on their own or it's only a small plus to add a sticker - but the tiny temples are chef's kiss perfect.
As an (cheap) alternative to the silicone bowls, you can use muffin “tins” (or molds). You can buy a bunch of these and use them in the same manner as the silicone bowls shown at 11:40.
As someone who started my kid playing nontraditional games at 4, as well as playing with a lot of non-regular gamers, you could not be more wrong about dice towers. Nothing worse that halting a game, or the chaos of dice on the floor. Plus, as a wood worker, they are a great opportunity to practice hand techniques and unique ideas
Question about the Iron Clay poker chips. Do the coins have different values printed on them (1,3,5, etc)? If so, which denominations do you find most frequently needed across games? Also, do you get a second color to use as Victory Point tokens? I saw some of your video clips from La Granja and I find using the orange VP tokens from that game (which all have the same back making them indistinguishable) tedious. Thanks - great video!
The set I have is 1,5,10,20 with the numbers printed in the middle and easy to read. I have a second set with 200 chips that also include 50,100,500 chips. I personally like this distribution, although I understand why some would prefer a 25 value instead of 20. Most board games you aren't accumulating a bunch of money. You could use these for victory points but they wouldn't be hidden. Thanks!
I never would’ve thought it was the stack of roxleys you used for the card close ups. I thought it was those projectors like the green screen that some UA-camrs use. I love your creative approach to this!
Ha, yeah, I'm all about the practical effects. I do it that way because it is so much faster and easier and fits in my workflow. I also like the look and feel. Occasionally I'll turn to the green screen, especially for small tokens, but I try to avoid it. Thanks for watching!
I've never been into cosmetic upgrades, but anything that saves time or frustration is worth considering in my eyes. If I can just toss a bag that contains everything they need at each player and set up the main board in the mean time, I'll be much more eager to play the game. And they can just put it back in the bag after the game so I only have to clean up half as much. There's one product I've never seen that I think would have the biggest impact in this regard. If a company specialised in making good quality aftermarket player aide sheets, with set up instructions on one side and a game flow overview on the other, I'd buy those for every game I own. I wrote some for our most played games and it's removed that drain on my enthusiasm when I know I'll have to spend an hour setting up and explaining everything before we actually get to play. When people can just read a couple paragraphs before you explain the rules about how the game works and what they need to do to work towards the victory conditions, I've found that they understand everything much quicker and remember it better.
This is an excellent idea. Player aids can make a huge difference, and many games are lacking in this regard which is insane. You would think a high quality player aid for every player would be standard. The new Lacerda games are doing well with this, giving each player a menu of information about each tile and card. Hopefully that catches on. Thanks for watching!
Before dice trays I was knocking over components with every roll! And quite often they'd take a bad hop off the table. So for me dice trays are a must have. I don't need dice towers, but they are fun to use sometimes. Other than that, I totally agree with your list and got some good ideas 👍
Thanks for checking it out, Donna. Yeah, I understand why people love dice trays. I knew I would get some push back on that one 😁. I'm a bit of a rebel with dice and I embrace the physical chaos they can bring.
@@TotallyTabled I personally like "normal" dice chucking, but I've spent many a game night with people who don't seem to have any sense of physical space [or, frankly, any common sense] and I'm tired of them knocking over everything. So, I just always bring a couple of folding dice trays. Most people are happy to use them once they've seen me use them, and then the clumsy people usually give in to the unspoken social pressure so they use them, too.
Custom wooden inserts are definitely my thing! The premium ones are almost as elegant as artwork, fit perfectly into the box, and can make setup and tear down so much easier. Only issue, really, is that they weigh more, but I don’t mind that.
Nice! I've always gone old school random plastic containers for storage. But yeah, there are so many options these days for custom storage. Unfortunately, most board game inserts still don't function properly, so some sort of upgraded storage is needed in most games, if you want improved set up and teardown. Custom wooden inserts are a good option. Thanks for watching!
You're a talented and creative communicator, and I always learn something new when I watch your content. Thanks for sharing your love of board games with the world!
This is such a wonderful comment. Thank you for such kind words. I'm happy my videos enrich the hobby for you in some small way. I hope my genuine love for board gaming comes through in my videos. Thank you so much for supporting the channel. I really appreciate it.
As a note to anyone wanting sleeves, for standard card sizes (that being collectable card games like Doomtown or MTG), apart from UltraPro, I would also recommend Dragon Shield, depending on your price range.
Thank you for that sleeve recommendation. I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than myself would help out. I'm out of the sleeve game these days, although I'm always tempted to jump back in. I hate damaged cards so much. Thanks!
Probably dice trays....I am much too OCD to see dice roling onto the main board, a player board, off the table etc. I just get better rolls when I'm not constrained by trying to roll my dice carefully so as not to have that stuff happen. I did buy some custom bags suited for the Castles of Burgundy because setup & takedown is so much easier. Speaking of the COB, props to you for including shots of the one...the only (in my mind) original version :)
Ha, yeah, a lot of people hate my B-Roll when I am tossing dice and components all over the place. 😂I enjoy that sort of thing, but I get it. Speaking of Castles of Burgundy, I just got the new one in. I haven't checked it out yet, but I think I'm going to like it. But yeah, the original will always be nostalgic for me, like all those older Felds -- Year of the Dragon, Notre Dame, Macao, Trajan, etc. The bad art and components are almost charming to me. Thanks, Andrew!
Thanks, Shaggy, for another great video. I agree with not using a dice tower, but a dice tray is a must. Too many times, I ended up messing a board due to dice going all o er the place. I will definitely be looking into the coin capsules. What an awesome idea! Take care
You are definitely in the majority with dice trays. I enjoy the chaos! I think you will enjoy the coin capsules. They really improve the gameplay of several fantastic games. Thanks for checking out the video!
ORGANIZERS! Prefer wood but Folded Space makes great lightweight ones too! Another accessory that I think people might not consider as one or even delve into is paint. Since delving into the hobby I’ve started painting and have found another hobby on top of board gaming. I really feel that a bland grey mini begs for paint.
I wish I could paint or enjoyed doing it. It's not for me, but man does it add to the look and feel of a game. If I ever win the lottery, I'm getting every mini in my collection professionally painted! Thanks, Victor!
I LOVE dice towers, because people who roll the dice with the force of a shotgun blast, leading to hunting down the ones that hit the floor, annoy the bejeebers out of me! (sorry, I had to say it. Love your UA-cam posts!)
That is a cool idea! I've never really tried card holders or things like that, except there was a game that came with them -- I cannot remember which game. But I can totally see the appeal of having the cards more visible in a game like Eldritch Horror. Thanks for checking out the video!
Totally with you on the coin capsules. Additionally, for games like Arkham Horror TCG, I find you just can’t shuffle the tokens around in the bag as effectively if they’re not in capsules. Drawing cardboard tokens feels much less random. I have to say though, I do like a dice tray. I have a hard wood table when I play games, and if I don’t use a tray, it’s so annoying to have to repeatedly pick dice off the floor. Rolling inside the game box or lid is somehow much less satisfying. My solo gaming house rule is that a die roll only counts if the die stays inside the tray!
Absolutely agree with you about shuffling tokens -- it just doesn't work without the capsules. They stick together and are not properly random. Also the wear and tear on the tokens is too much and the capsules help with that. I hope games start coming with them. That would be great. I completely understand dice trays. I'm a bit chaotic good when it comes to dice. I enjoy the drama of a wandering die roll off the table and across the floor. I use the "player benefit" idea from disc golf for questionable cocked dice. I understand why most people would want a bit more order in their games. Thanks, Jay!
@@TotallyTabled I think what prompted me to finally get the capsules for AHLCG was when I had a game where I pulled the autofail like 5 times! Clearly not random, and at the end of the game I found 5 or 6 tokens stuck together in the bottom corner of the bag that I hadn’t selected once. (I lost the scenario!) I also like how even cheap capsules are very durable. You can give them a really rigorous shuffle in the bag without any of them getting pulled apart and the token falling out. It is just a shame that here in the UK it seems that some game accessories aren’t readily available without paying exorbitant shipping fees from overseas. I couldn’t find good silicone holders like yours at a decent price here, so instead use silicone cupcake cases, which works surprisingly well!
@@jaybear7272 Wow, I might never play Arkham Horror LCG again after that kind of luck! 😂Yeah, that won't happen with the coin capsules. That cupcake idea is brilliant. I bet that would be a great size for most games.
ok I really didn't know about the coin capsules very interesting. I do use sleeves, also to protect the cards, but what I also love is that the matte sleeves reduce the shine on cards and it is so much more relaxing to play a game that way. I use them from gamegenic and I'm in love with them.
About five days before you posted this video, I was watching your Great Western Trail video and saw your iron clays. I ordered them and they will come two days after this video posted. Can’t wait.
Ha, nice. I think you will love them. Let me know either way, I'm curious. Thanks for checking out the video, Keith and thank you for supporting the channel for so long!
One of my favorite accessories are these small wooden bowls that I use for chits while playing a game. Since the sides are curved it's easy to get the chits and they don't get stuck in corners like with square containers. Also, for me, they just seem to make the game that's set out look so much nicer than plastic containers. The bowls that I like the best, and have been able to source the easiest (in the US), are the 3.3oz mini round serving bowls from Target (their Threshold store brand). There are bigger sizes and different styles, but these ones I have always found stocked in the stores in my area.
Awesome! I'm going to check those out. I might be nice to make my table look a bit classier for games that deserve it. :) Thanks for checking out the list!
I love coin capsules too! My other favourite things are a decent organiser and my properly bling accessory is my Wyrmwood Hexy Tiles. They are expensive, but make playing so organised.
Nice. Organization is critical to making games quick and easy to setup, which means they are more likely to hit the table. So important. Thanks for checking out the video!
I agree that dice towers are a bit extra; the only one I have was bundled with Wingspan. I disagree with you about dice trays, though. One of the places I regularly play games has relatively small tables, and most of my games are table hogs. Being able to set the dice tray down on top of the game board gives you that same dice rolling experience without worrying that your dice will topple game components over or land on the floor. I don’t recommend dice trays with snaps because they tend to tear or get stuck, but mine is magnetic so it stores completely flat. I wouldn’t play a dice-rolling game without it! Draw bags are an oft-overlooked accessory I find really helpful, especially for tile games. My friend made me a custom one for Nova Luna, and it’s so much quicker to set up now that I don’t have to organise the tiles into stacks. I don’t really sleeve cards because I’m the type of gamer who plays a variety of games, and it would take decades for my cards to show any kind of wear that would justify that expense. If you have a game café, though, or if you play the same game a lot (like a CCG), they’re probably essential for you. If you can’t afford an official gaming mat, you can get felt tablecloths from discount shops for incredibly cheap. Usually I’ll just play directly on the table. Component containers … the Surefresh sauce containers you have at 6:47 are the exact ones I use most often. 😀 Packs of 6 cost $1.50 CAD at Dollar Tree. You’ve piqued my interest about those photo boxes. I may invest in one. Last year I went backpacking in Europe and brought a bunch of games, so I picked up some silicone muffin cups to serve as component bowls, and they worked delightfully! So now I use them for all gaming, and even inspired some of my friends to get some because they see how useful they are! They’re sturdy, stackable, flexible, and indestructible. I love them! As for iron clays, I don’t mind the feel of cardboard or metal tokens-even paper money-so I don’t think the investment would be worth it for me. But I get how for some people it would enhance the feeling of the game. For me, component containers, component bowls, and my dice tray are my most used accessories, aside from one that you didn’t mention: my board game backpack! I don’t drive or own a vehicle, so I’m often packing games with me. I’ve tried the Allplay/BoardGameTables bag, and it was fine (their customer service is incredible!), but honestly, I got a hiking backpack from Mountain Warehouse for $80 CAD that has blown it out of the water. (Another thing I bought for my Europe trip last year.) It has an 80L main pack and a detachable 20L day pack that has its own pack straps. Aside from having to replace the buckle (I accidentally stepped on it), this pack has shown no age despite me using it 3+ times a week for a year. It fits awkwardly sized games and has support straps on the stomach and chest, which makes it feel lighter, and has pads so you don’t feel the sharp box corners. An essential for any gamer who doesn’t drive! Thanks for the video!
I swear by dollar store containers always. Those little ones you showed have permanent residence in my extra baskets for whenever I need to store game pieces. Also dollar store or target baskets are great- I used dollar store containers (different types) and card boxes all in some target baskets to hold my villainous sets so I don’t have to dig out five boxes to have all the options accessible. All of Disney fits in three baskets and marvel+star wars fits in another three. They look pretty good on my middle shelf area and always easy to grab (dis-vil is a fan favorite at my place and with my online gaming group via tts. I’m already at 120 plays this year and over half of those were in March alone)
Nice! That is a game I have wanted to try and it just hasn't hit the table yet. Uh, too many great games, not enough time. It is amazing when you come up with the perfect storage solution. It can really help facilitate play. Thanks so much for checking out the list and the channel!
That is very nice of you to say. Thank you for subbing the channel for over a year! Wow! I really appreciate that support. It means a lot to me and helps so much.
That is very nice of you to say, Juliet. I really appreciate that and I'm glad you find my videos pleasant to listen to. I struggle with audio recording and do my best to capture a decent sound and use editing to keep things lively. But I also try to invoke a chill and fun environment, hoping to make the learning less scary. I'm just happy to hear it works for you. Thanks for supporting the channel for so long!
Yeah, I'm going to do a separate video and do a kind of Top 16 (although if you are clever you can fit up to 20 in there). Maybe I'll make a second video and dig a little deeper. I think it is something almost every gamer should have. On my vacation I filled up one and tossed it in the car. It's the perfect travel companion! Thanks for watching!
I love how well they stack and the clicking sound they make. I used to play a bunch of poker, so maybe it gives me some nostalgia. Thanks for watching!
I use that exact same photo case to store my Gloomhaven characters. Never considered it for holding whole games. May have to pick up another now. Also, Walmart or like stores sell plastic, stackable. disposable 2oz plastic cups with lids for next to nothing cost wise. I use them for nearly all of my games. The best part is, afterwards you just pour the pieces back into their baggies for cleanup. By far my favorite way to organize a game quickly.
Nice tip, I'll have to check those out at Walmart. I definitely use those photo cases in certain games to hold cards and player pieces or what not. I also forgot to mention I use them to organize Dominion decks and Arkham Horror the Card Game. So useful! Thanks for watching!
I use some cheap mini poker chips. They're a bit heavy as a set but so much easier to travel with and not nearly as heavy as standard size poker chips. My set has room for a deck of cards which for me is For Sale. I have a dice cup with storage in the bottom and a few cloth bags I stuff in the dice cup and that's an easy travel companion. Got a game with hidden money? Into the black bag it goes. Open it up and take a peek to see if you have enough money. Nobody else knows what you have. Bags aren't just for random draws.
Ha, I'm always going low tech and cheap if I can get away with it. The best part is you can digitally remove the background later if you want. I usually don't see a reason most of the time. Thanks for watching, Designiana!
Some people I play with grip their/my cards too tight. I find that a good card rail helps alleviate this. I'm also not a huge playmat guy, but I have found specialized playmats can be helpful for introducing people to a game, helping them organize their personal set-up.
I haven't encountered people gripping cards like that. Yikes. I actually fear people might bend cards taking them in and out of a railing, but I haven't really tried one before. I can see how playmats really help. I use the playmats for Doomtown Reloaded and it helps tremendously. I hate storing playmats that don't fit in the box. But those neoprene mats in the Chip Theory games are glorious. I'd like to see more of those. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
I love a good insert that helps with set up and tear down, so that has to be top of my list. I've also done the coin capsules on Robinson Crusoe and Nemesis, and to protect high use cardboard tokens that are starting to show wear like the portals and other tokens in Cthulhu Death May Die. I have gotten a few Meeple stickers, specifically for Abomination Heir of Frankenstein, Obsession, and Raiders of Scythia. And I'm absolutely an aggressive sleever because I'm a bit OCD about the condition of my cards... Likely has to do with growing up with 3 brothers. 🤣 Thanks for sharing! Really enjoy your videos.
Nice. Meeple stickers is one I didn't think of. I don't think I've done that before, but I can see how that would be a fun addition to Obsession. I agree with storage for making setup and teardown quicker and easier -- I tend to use my plastic boxes for that, but a nice custom insert can definitely be worth the money. Anything that helps get a game to the table is worth it in my book. My wife also has 3 brothers, so I understand, at least a little bit. :) Thanks, Morga!
I don't like plano boxes if it's used to hold resources, the covers can take additional table space. I like the little tupperwares since the cover be placed under the container.
That is a good point, but many of the fishing tackle boxes I use let you snap the cover on and off. (In fact, the Kingdom Rush video I just posted has an example of that). You might look into those. But the tupperware ones are great for giving you more flexibility on where you place things on the table. And the resources are easier to grab from them. There is an odd satisfaction when you find the perfect plano that fits all the components perfectly and you can just plop it on the table during setup. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video! Lots of great new ideas from you. Love those poker chips! I can see why they are your number 1 accessories. Also I really need to take a closer look when I'm at the Dollar Tree, great tip. Currently my favorite upgrade accessory are the plastic coin holders.
Thanks, Tracie! Yeah, Dollar Tree has some useful stuff for board games. No matter what store I'm in, I'm always looking for items I can misuse for board games. 😂 Thanks for checking out the video!
I love my iron clays. I've even replaced what some might not consider, which is when there's an annoying VP track you have to move a tiny piece along and hope you don't bump the board or table, forever losing where players were! So say Ticket to Ride, get rid of the tiny piece moving on the track and give iron clays when people score points!!
Love that idea. I've done similar things with VP or life points in various different games. Basically whenever I can find an excuse, I bring out the Iron Clays! Thanks for watching!
The best upgrade I ever did was buy a 3D printer. It covers most of what you mentioned on your list. I print custom box inserts, component bowls, dice towers, dice trays, game piece upgrades, etc.
That's an awesome idea. I wouldn't have the patience for 3D printing, but it is a cool hobby within a hobby and I can see how it would be super useful. Thanks, Steve!
Learing the size of your table has actually been incredibly helpful! Im looking to buy or build a new desk/table for my room that is a sutible size for most games (im flatting and taking over the dining table for several hours in the evening isnt ideal), if you could concider adding a note either in the videos or description of how large a playspace you need for a solo setup it would be incredibly helpful!
In general I would say that 3' by 4' is large enough for 99% of solo games. Frostpunk didn't entirely fit, but it was good enough. I like being able to reach across the entire table without standing up, so the 3' depth works for me. 3'x5' would be more than enough I would think. Thanks for checking out the list!
That is a great idea that I want to check out. I like that the silicone bowls can lay flat for packing when traveling. Thanks for checking out the video!
Sadly, the first time I ever saw the Roxley poker chips - I had already bought a bunch of metal coins in 1, 2, 5 and 10 denominations, so when the Etsy seller came out with 20's, I added those. But I spent so much on these coins (which thankfully seem to fit perfectly with every game I've used them for), I couldn't justify buying these chips as much as I thought they looked better. Ah well, live and learn!
That is a great idea for Gloomhaven. I use it for Arkham Horror Card Game and that works nicely. Also SW Destiny. Lots of potential uses. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video! Very timely for me as someone who is a handful of games into building my collection to the point where I feel like I can start justifying accessories used across games like a playmat or those silicone bowls (both arrived today, ordered after watching this video). I also have some coin capsules on the way, which I'm quite excited about... that's an idea which never occurred to me, but I'm sure I will enjoy the tactile experience much more. Much appreciation for all your excellent B roll (if there's no actual "A roll", do we still call it "B roll"?) and extensive research to provide links like the GeekList for coin capsule sizing and count. I discovered your channel as a recent starter into solo gaming and have to say you have outstanding production quality. I love the how much focus you give to the games in your footage.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate all those kind words. You will love the coin capsules. They really elevate the experience for a reasonable cost, at least for a few games. I'm glad you found my channel and are enjoying the content so far. I hope you continue to enjoy the videos here and have fun solo gaming. There are so many fantastic games out there -- the trick is finding the ones that work for your specific tastes. I try to provide coverage of a wide range of different games, all great in their own ways. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Lol I was gonna say I want to get a dice tower because it’s quite irritating seeing them roll everywhere on the table and some will knock off components on the player board…😅😅
I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to enjoying the chaos of dice crashing across the table! Well, not always. But most of the time. :) Thanks for checking out the video!
Yeah, they go on deep discount often at Michaels, especially around black friday. They are surprisingly useful for all sorts of things. I keep finding more uses and getting more each time they are on sale. I have a problem. 😀Thanks for checking out the list!
Have tried all of these upgrades. Silicone bowls and plastic boxes are crucial for certain games. But I agree Iron Clays are the best upgrade by a long, long way.
Thanks for watching, Utahman! I love me some Iron Clays. I've been vacationing and I always bring them with me, even though space is an issue. Sure I could bring one additional game, but I'd rather have my Iron Clays with me! :)
Awesome idea for a video! Thanks for all of the links you provided. The coin capsules (never an easy word to say haha) are on the top of my list, along with the Iron Clays. Would love to see one of your photo holder cases with games inside. Curious about how you labelled them.
I'm definitely going to do a video on my photo cases, with a Top 16 list. My labeling is very primitive. But some people go over the top and print out full covers with art and everything. So cool. But I'm too lazy for that! Thanks!
@@TotallyTabled Awesome! Can't wait. I just have all my smaller games stacked behind larger games on a very disorganized mess. This storage system is so smart. The Michael's stores in Canada have great sales and coupons fairly frequently as you mentioned, so excited to grab some of these!
@@stogrady Some people want to display their smaller games on shelves, so this doesn't work for them. I display my larger games and want my smaller games to be easy to store, organize and locate. The photo cases work fantastic for that. And the Michael's near us just had these on sale for $12 USD. I was tempted to buy more even though I have two that are completely empty right now! :)
@@TotallyTabled I'm of the same mind, as the kallax's that store my games have 1 standard size game displayed upright in each square, with stacked games behind. So this is perfect. Looking forward to getting one soon and trying it out.
I have upgraded a ton of stuff but I have to say 100% upgrading circular chits to plastic coin capsules is amazing. I have only done this for Bullet by Level99. Amazing upgrade. I will say that I personally feel metal coins feel better than clay poker chips (in general). I haven’t personally used this “iron clay” chips but I can’t see how they would replace the metal “clink” of metal coins. If I am playing a game like “Frankenstein Abomination” by Plaidhat, I like having metal coins because it fits the theme of the game and gives better immersion imo. Recently, I ordered some coins for Ark Nova. The coins have animals on the different denominations. So sweet. As far as bags, I tend to have a healthy or unhealthy supply of Crown Royal Bags. Those have come in handy for games like “In Too Deep” that requires random chits to be drawn from a pool. I would be remiss if I also didn’t say how I love custom playmates. I have had some created for Argents the Consortium (also by Level99), Marvel Champions, and Ashes: Phoenixborn.
Nice. I love the idea of reusing Crown Royal bags. That's perfect. Playmats are great, I just wish they weren't such a pain to store and then get out, and make sure they aren't bent. I usually don't have the patience. But if it can fit in the box like with Chip Theory games or something like the cloth mat in Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, then I love it. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled lol - I noticed I put custom “playmates” instead of custom “playmats” Autocorrect is evil. But a custom “playmate” would be a nice thing….and with A.I. advancing so quickly, I probably won’t have to wait long. I kid, I joke. 😅
All these are great, though I do like a dice tray because it contains them from going too far and messing with the board (agree on the dice tower tho I have some because they look cool lol). Love my iron clays, love sleeves though I have slowed down on them (try and use them on games where I shuffle the cards and they're used more because it can be pricey to sleeve an entire game), playmats, and deluxe components for sure. I especially love a good custom insert. I've spoiled myself to the point when I open a game and I see a ton of components I will almost instantly look to see if there is an insert somewhere to help me organize it all. I really should invest in a 3D printer because of all the inserts I buy from Etsy
Yeah, it is amazing to me that board game inserts are so bad that an industry has formed to make good inserts for nearly every game. And proper storage is very important to a game's "tableability" factor. I use plastic boxes and such because I like the modularity and ability to adjust when expansions come, etc. But custom inserts are a great option. Thanks for watching!
With these upgrades in guessing you throw away the original bits?, hack the box inserts? Or in the case of the 4x6 photo cases throw away the original box? To get space to store this stuff? I want to do this but always get the damn "but it's original!" Feels and end up having to store both the original box, its inserts, and all the bits I replace plus the now new case, etc.
I recycle 95% of all box inserts. They are terrible and get in the way of the fun. I keep most bits for prototyping my own designs or having stuff to use with my kids for various artistic activities, etc. I keep the game boxes for the photo case games in large plastic bags and store them away. I'll probably recycle most of those at some point. Thanks for watching!
I envy Western Europe countries and USA that you have so many options to improve favourite games in your collection. Hope amazon will deliver goods to us someday. Because of you, I have bought Coffee roaster with capsules😅 and considering buying capaules for other games. Even though I have Iron Clays, I prefer metal coins and I bought Victorian coins for Obsession. My number one desire will be great boardgame table with multiple surfaces and playmat (we have only one option and it's three times smaller you have shown in video. Thank you for your motivation for games and videos!
That is too bad you don't have more options. Luckily these days most games don't need much upgrading (but of course they are more expensive because of that, so some good and some bad there). I got lucky with my IKEA table -- got it on massive discount. One of the best deals I've ever found. It does everything I need in a gaming table, perfect dimensions for my needs. If I was regularly playing 4 players on it, I'd maybe want something I bit bigger. I really appreciate you checking out and commenting on my videos. Thanks!
I believe Iron Clays are awesome. Unfortunately I don't own a set and it's out of stock everywhere. Plus, there is no second hand market for these, nobody would sell their set... 😔
Great video! Interesting AND informative! I noticed in the video that some of the grey miniature figures you use have a small coloured plastic...I dont know what you call them..."base marker" (?)? They could be used to differentiate different miniature ranks or characters etc. It would be great to know where you get those from! I have been looking everywhere for things like this & cant find them anywhere. Maybe Im not using the correct terminology for them or maybe they're just like hens teeth. Can you please tell me where I can find some? Thanks in advance! Cheers!
That is Bloc by Bloc. I have a full solo playthrough of it here: ua-cam.com/video/psCy3cxuAeA/v-deo.html. The game after that is Tash-Kalar. Thanks for watching!
Hey Shaggy, while watching the video, I realized that you used a video clip from you playing Nemesis, when you were talking about the coin capsules. I know you haven't done a play through of it, so I was just wondering where you got the footage from? Btw, I loved the video, very interested in those silicon bowls and coin capsules. I especially love the cases for sorting. I probably need to get one of those for my Nemesis, since it's so fun to play, but it's a real slog to set up, since there's so many tokens, and the best way I currently have to sort them is with little plastic bags (which are VERY annoying to constantly open and close. I can't just put the tokens on the bag since my table is too small xD)
The Nemesis footage I shot for a Top 10 list, but I haven't done a playthrough yet. I want to. Love the game. It is amazing how much time you can save on set up and teardown with the right storage solution. I recycle 99% of inserts and store games in various containers for this reason. I should probably make a video just on this topic. Thanks!
I was almost for sure certain you were goin to put coin capsules at #1. Well….at least I was close, but now I’m off to get me them clay chips. Nice list. 👍 ps: my number one bling is a beautiful custom wooden organizer/insert.
Yeah, I'm half joking about dice trays. I have a tendency to send dice all over the place, and that makes me happy. But that is just me and my chaotic weirdness. I don't begrudge anyone the use of a dice tray. Thanks for watching!
How are folks storing these common-use accessories in between games? This video is really timely - I was just starting to look at accessories and am curious how folks store them (of course some can go IN the game box). But what about the things you use cross games? How do you keep it from looking a mess visually or being a pain to grab? I am using a fabric box that looks nice on my shelf - but then it's a jumble on the inside and pain to grab the component trays, bags, extra dice, etc from inside.
I do plastic boxes within larger boxes within a sideboard in my office, so they are unseen. I even use those photo cases I talk about to store a bunch of stuff -- so it is separated out and visible in the see-thru box for easy retrieval. Thanks for watching!
That is the reprint of Libertalia! I did a full solo playthrough here: ua-cam.com/video/yuP3_cV5JLs/v-deo.html. It is a really fun game, and the new solo mode is actually quite good. An underrated game for sure. Thanks for watching!
Ahhh, I tried a few that worked. The Castles of Burgundy ones worked. I'll do some more investigation and check it out. Too bad if they are broken, the bags are really cool. Thanks for the heads up, Ryan!
Hey Shaggy nice video (as always). I personally don't mind a dice tray, as with some games a bad throw into the table might mean mayhem lol. But otherwise I'm with you, I hate dice towers. So yeah very nice list! Gave me some ideas :D On a side note, I'm eagerly waiting for my copy of Castles of Burgundy SE to come. Did you back it? I'd love to see some CoB solo plays by you!
I just got it. I'm going to do an unboxing and definitely make a video about the new solo mode. I love Castles of Burgundy, so I'm very excited to play solo. I just got back from vacation, so it might take a little bit to get it to the table. Hopefully soon. Thanks for watching!
I don't agree with adding extra dice to a game. If a game only has dice for one player at a time, and they have to be passed between players, it is for a reason. It prevents people from starting their turn until the previous player has completely finished, and handed over the dice. If everyone has their own set of dice, it quickly becomes chaos, and several people will play simultaniously, or at least overlap some, which is not the intention.
"Well, why go to a fine restaurant when you can just stick something in the microwave? Why go to the park and fly a kite, when you can just pop a pill?" (That's a famous Kramer quote from the sitcom Seinfeld, if anyone doesn't get the reference) Yeah, just for the niceness. Most of my draw bags were like $2 each, so not exactly breaking the bank. But you can draw out of anything -- people use cups or the box lid and just don't look. Most board game accessories are unnecessary luxury products, so it can all be "why"-ed if you really want to. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled yes I got the reference lol. But true, all of the upgrades are just luxuries anyway. I actually use little side cups, like you would use for ketchup or something, to put my little bits in.
I must be in the minority, because I dislike any poker chips that stray from traditional casino colors (1 == white, 5==red, 25==green, 100==black, etc...). My hang up. The chips do feel great, but I just wish they kept to traditional denominations.
trollish question from someone genuinely curious (but is very aware that this is an annoying, unrelated, pedantic question) -- why do people pronounce "crew-SOH" as "cah-RUH-soh?"
To protect the cards on their expensive games. Is it totally necessary? Not for most games. But I get it. Some games are hard or expensive to replace. Thanks for checking out the video!
Additional question: What is your number one, favorite upgrade you have ever made to a game? It can be anything at all. Let us know in the comments!
Coat the sides of the token with acrylic varnish. I just feel comfortable doing this.
@@sh-kr Wow. Definitely not brave enough to do that, but sounds neat!
@@sh-krp0p
I bought an insert from Fancy But Functional for Massive Darkness 2 that was able to condense 11 Kickstarter boxes down to 4 and greatly reduces set up and tear down time, so that has to be my favorite. There miniature storage boxes look like fancy dark walnut, so they're lovely on the shelf too.
The vinyl meeple stickers for Bitoku. (From Levity Games). I bought the game because it's so beautiful and the stickers (which aren't cheap papery things) really just made the game perfect. Most meeples I'm happy with how they look on their own or it's only a small plus to add a sticker - but the tiny temples are chef's kiss perfect.
As an (cheap) alternative to the silicone bowls, you can use muffin “tins” (or molds). You can buy a bunch of these and use them in the same manner as the silicone bowls shown at 11:40.
As someone who started my kid playing nontraditional games at 4, as well as playing with a lot of non-regular gamers, you could not be more wrong about dice towers. Nothing worse that halting a game, or the chaos of dice on the floor. Plus, as a wood worker, they are a great opportunity to practice hand techniques and unique ideas
Yeah, they are definitely great for kids. Great point. Thanks for watching!
Iron Clay stack to film a card is mindblowing, I love it! I was convinced it's an afterwards edit.
Ha, I feel like a magician who revealed the trick. :) Thanks for watching!
I completely agree with #1. Iron Clay fits bizarrely well into most games. 💯
Yeah, the design is so elegant with the muted color choices and the matte finish. They just work! Thanks for checking out the video!
Question about the Iron Clay poker chips. Do the coins have different values printed on them (1,3,5, etc)? If so, which denominations do you find most frequently needed across games?
Also, do you get a second color to use as Victory Point tokens? I saw some of your video clips from La Granja and I find using the orange VP tokens from that game (which all have the same back making them indistinguishable) tedious.
Thanks - great video!
The set I have is 1,5,10,20 with the numbers printed in the middle and easy to read. I have a second set with 200 chips that also include 50,100,500 chips. I personally like this distribution, although I understand why some would prefer a 25 value instead of 20. Most board games you aren't accumulating a bunch of money. You could use these for victory points but they wouldn't be hidden. Thanks!
I wish they had 1,2,3,5,10. Since that’s what most my games are. :(
I never would’ve thought it was the stack of roxleys you used for the card close ups. I thought it was those projectors like the green screen that some UA-camrs use. I love your creative approach to this!
Ha, yeah, I'm all about the practical effects. I do it that way because it is so much faster and easier and fits in my workflow. I also like the look and feel. Occasionally I'll turn to the green screen, especially for small tokens, but I try to avoid it. Thanks for watching!
I've never been into cosmetic upgrades, but anything that saves time or frustration is worth considering in my eyes. If I can just toss a bag that contains everything they need at each player and set up the main board in the mean time, I'll be much more eager to play the game. And they can just put it back in the bag after the game so I only have to clean up half as much.
There's one product I've never seen that I think would have the biggest impact in this regard. If a company specialised in making good quality aftermarket player aide sheets, with set up instructions on one side and a game flow overview on the other, I'd buy those for every game I own. I wrote some for our most played games and it's removed that drain on my enthusiasm when I know I'll have to spend an hour setting up and explaining everything before we actually get to play. When people can just read a couple paragraphs before you explain the rules about how the game works and what they need to do to work towards the victory conditions, I've found that they understand everything much quicker and remember it better.
This is an excellent idea. Player aids can make a huge difference, and many games are lacking in this regard which is insane. You would think a high quality player aid for every player would be standard. The new Lacerda games are doing well with this, giving each player a menu of information about each tile and card. Hopefully that catches on. Thanks for watching!
Before dice trays I was knocking over components with every roll! And quite often they'd take a bad hop off the table. So for me dice trays are a must have. I don't need dice towers, but they are fun to use sometimes.
Other than that, I totally agree with your list and got some good ideas 👍
Thanks for checking it out, Donna. Yeah, I understand why people love dice trays. I knew I would get some push back on that one 😁. I'm a bit of a rebel with dice and I embrace the physical chaos they can bring.
@@TotallyTabled I personally like "normal" dice chucking, but I've spent many a game night with people who don't seem to have any sense of physical space [or, frankly, any common sense] and I'm tired of them knocking over everything. So, I just always bring a couple of folding dice trays. Most people are happy to use them once they've seen me use them, and then the clumsy people usually give in to the unspoken social pressure so they use them, too.
@@tyrroo This exactly. I don't find it a problem for me, but some people at game night don't realize they aren't playing Craps.
Custom wooden inserts are definitely my thing! The premium ones are almost as elegant as artwork, fit perfectly into the box, and can make setup and tear down so much easier. Only issue, really, is that they weigh more, but I don’t mind that.
Nice! I've always gone old school random plastic containers for storage. But yeah, there are so many options these days for custom storage. Unfortunately, most board game inserts still don't function properly, so some sort of upgraded storage is needed in most games, if you want improved set up and teardown. Custom wooden inserts are a good option. Thanks for watching!
Coin Capsules Arkham LCG. Never go back.
Yep, absolutely critical. Same for Robinson Crusoe. A small change that makes all the difference! Thanks for watching!
You're a talented and creative communicator, and I always learn something new when I watch your content. Thanks for sharing your love of board games with the world!
This is such a wonderful comment. Thank you for such kind words. I'm happy my videos enrich the hobby for you in some small way. I hope my genuine love for board gaming comes through in my videos. Thank you so much for supporting the channel. I really appreciate it.
As a note to anyone wanting sleeves, for standard card sizes (that being collectable card games like Doomtown or MTG), apart from UltraPro, I would also recommend Dragon Shield, depending on your price range.
Thank you for that sleeve recommendation. I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than myself would help out. I'm out of the sleeve game these days, although I'm always tempted to jump back in. I hate damaged cards so much. Thanks!
Probably dice trays....I am much too OCD to see dice roling onto the main board, a player board, off the table etc. I just get better rolls when I'm not constrained by trying to roll my dice carefully so as not to have that stuff happen. I did buy some custom bags suited for the Castles of Burgundy because setup & takedown is so much easier. Speaking of the COB, props to you for including shots of the one...the only (in my mind) original version :)
Ha, yeah, a lot of people hate my B-Roll when I am tossing dice and components all over the place. 😂I enjoy that sort of thing, but I get it. Speaking of Castles of Burgundy, I just got the new one in. I haven't checked it out yet, but I think I'm going to like it. But yeah, the original will always be nostalgic for me, like all those older Felds -- Year of the Dragon, Notre Dame, Macao, Trajan, etc. The bad art and components are almost charming to me. Thanks, Andrew!
Thanks, Shaggy, for another great video.
I agree with not using a dice tower, but a dice tray is a must. Too many times, I ended up messing a board due to dice going all o er the place.
I will definitely be looking into the coin capsules. What an awesome idea!
Take care
You are definitely in the majority with dice trays. I enjoy the chaos! I think you will enjoy the coin capsules. They really improve the gameplay of several fantastic games. Thanks for checking out the video!
ORGANIZERS!
Prefer wood but Folded Space makes great lightweight ones too!
Another accessory that I think people might not consider as one or even delve into is paint. Since delving into the hobby I’ve started painting and have found another hobby on top of board gaming. I really feel that a bland grey mini begs for paint.
I wish I could paint or enjoyed doing it. It's not for me, but man does it add to the look and feel of a game. If I ever win the lottery, I'm getting every mini in my collection professionally painted! Thanks, Victor!
I LOVE dice towers, because people who roll the dice with the force of a shotgun blast, leading to hunting down the ones that hit the floor, annoy the bejeebers out of me! (sorry, I had to say it. Love your UA-cam posts!)
Lol, I love your card close-up Iron Clay tower. 💜
Ha, it works! I love anything that is simple, quick and cheap when it comes to video production. Thanks so much for checking it out!
Im totally buying those pokerchips. Something I love are business card holder for games with a lot of cards like eldritch horror!
That is a cool idea! I've never really tried card holders or things like that, except there was a game that came with them -- I cannot remember which game. But I can totally see the appeal of having the cards more visible in a game like Eldritch Horror. Thanks for checking out the video!
Totally with you on the coin capsules. Additionally, for games like Arkham Horror TCG, I find you just can’t shuffle the tokens around in the bag as effectively if they’re not in capsules. Drawing cardboard tokens feels much less random.
I have to say though, I do like a dice tray. I have a hard wood table when I play games, and if I don’t use a tray, it’s so annoying to have to repeatedly pick dice off the floor. Rolling inside the game box or lid is somehow much less satisfying. My solo gaming house rule is that a die roll only counts if the die stays inside the tray!
Absolutely agree with you about shuffling tokens -- it just doesn't work without the capsules. They stick together and are not properly random. Also the wear and tear on the tokens is too much and the capsules help with that. I hope games start coming with them. That would be great.
I completely understand dice trays. I'm a bit chaotic good when it comes to dice. I enjoy the drama of a wandering die roll off the table and across the floor. I use the "player benefit" idea from disc golf for questionable cocked dice. I understand why most people would want a bit more order in their games. Thanks, Jay!
@@TotallyTabled I think what prompted me to finally get the capsules for AHLCG was when I had a game where I pulled the autofail like 5 times! Clearly not random, and at the end of the game I found 5 or 6 tokens stuck together in the bottom corner of the bag that I hadn’t selected once. (I lost the scenario!)
I also like how even cheap capsules are very durable. You can give them a really rigorous shuffle in the bag without any of them getting pulled apart and the token falling out.
It is just a shame that here in the UK it seems that some game accessories aren’t readily available without paying exorbitant shipping fees from overseas. I couldn’t find good silicone holders like yours at a decent price here, so instead use silicone cupcake cases, which works surprisingly well!
@@jaybear7272 Wow, I might never play Arkham Horror LCG again after that kind of luck! 😂Yeah, that won't happen with the coin capsules. That cupcake idea is brilliant. I bet that would be a great size for most games.
ok I really didn't know about the coin capsules very interesting. I do use sleeves, also to protect the cards, but what I also love is that the matte sleeves reduce the shine on cards and it is so much more relaxing to play a game that way. I use them from gamegenic and I'm in love with them.
About five days before you posted this video, I was watching your Great Western Trail video and saw your iron clays. I ordered them and they will come two days after this video posted. Can’t wait.
Ha, nice. I think you will love them. Let me know either way, I'm curious. Thanks for checking out the video, Keith and thank you for supporting the channel for so long!
One of my favorite accessories are these small wooden bowls that I use for chits while playing a game. Since the sides are curved it's easy to get the chits and they don't get stuck in corners like with square containers. Also, for me, they just seem to make the game that's set out look so much nicer than plastic containers.
The bowls that I like the best, and have been able to source the easiest (in the US), are the 3.3oz mini round serving bowls from Target (their Threshold store brand). There are bigger sizes and different styles, but these ones I have always found stocked in the stores in my area.
Awesome! I'm going to check those out. I might be nice to make my table look a bit classier for games that deserve it. :) Thanks for checking out the list!
Printed larger playmat substitutions of cardboard gameboards. Thanks for the great ideas, great video!
Sorry for the delay in responding. That is a fantastic idea! Thanks for mentioning it and thanks for checking out the video!
Thanks for the photo case recommendation. Went to Michael’s today for a paintbrush and thought I’d check on these - and I found them on sale!
Nice! I hope you find them useful. Thanks for watching.
I love coin capsules too! My other favourite things are a decent organiser and my properly bling accessory is my Wyrmwood Hexy Tiles. They are expensive, but make playing so organised.
Nice. Organization is critical to making games quick and easy to setup, which means they are more likely to hit the table. So important. Thanks for checking out the video!
I agree that dice towers are a bit extra; the only one I have was bundled with Wingspan. I disagree with you about dice trays, though. One of the places I regularly play games has relatively small tables, and most of my games are table hogs. Being able to set the dice tray down on top of the game board gives you that same dice rolling experience without worrying that your dice will topple game components over or land on the floor. I don’t recommend dice trays with snaps because they tend to tear or get stuck, but mine is magnetic so it stores completely flat. I wouldn’t play a dice-rolling game without it!
Draw bags are an oft-overlooked accessory I find really helpful, especially for tile games. My friend made me a custom one for Nova Luna, and it’s so much quicker to set up now that I don’t have to organise the tiles into stacks.
I don’t really sleeve cards because I’m the type of gamer who plays a variety of games, and it would take decades for my cards to show any kind of wear that would justify that expense. If you have a game café, though, or if you play the same game a lot (like a CCG), they’re probably essential for you.
If you can’t afford an official gaming mat, you can get felt tablecloths from discount shops for incredibly cheap. Usually I’ll just play directly on the table.
Component containers … the Surefresh sauce containers you have at 6:47 are the exact ones I use most often. 😀 Packs of 6 cost $1.50 CAD at Dollar Tree.
You’ve piqued my interest about those photo boxes. I may invest in one.
Last year I went backpacking in Europe and brought a bunch of games, so I picked up some silicone muffin cups to serve as component bowls, and they worked delightfully! So now I use them for all gaming, and even inspired some of my friends to get some because they see how useful they are! They’re sturdy, stackable, flexible, and indestructible. I love them!
As for iron clays, I don’t mind the feel of cardboard or metal tokens-even paper money-so I don’t think the investment would be worth it for me. But I get how for some people it would enhance the feeling of the game.
For me, component containers, component bowls, and my dice tray are my most used accessories, aside from one that you didn’t mention: my board game backpack! I don’t drive or own a vehicle, so I’m often packing games with me. I’ve tried the Allplay/BoardGameTables bag, and it was fine (their customer service is incredible!), but honestly, I got a hiking backpack from Mountain Warehouse for $80 CAD that has blown it out of the water. (Another thing I bought for my Europe trip last year.) It has an 80L main pack and a detachable 20L day pack that has its own pack straps. Aside from having to replace the buckle (I accidentally stepped on it), this pack has shown no age despite me using it 3+ times a week for a year. It fits awkwardly sized games and has support straps on the stomach and chest, which makes it feel lighter, and has pads so you don’t feel the sharp box corners. An essential for any gamer who doesn’t drive!
Thanks for the video!
I swear by dollar store containers always. Those little ones you showed have permanent residence in my extra baskets for whenever I need to store game pieces. Also dollar store or target baskets are great- I used dollar store containers (different types) and card boxes all in some target baskets to hold my villainous sets so I don’t have to dig out five boxes to have all the options accessible. All of Disney fits in three baskets and marvel+star wars fits in another three. They look pretty good on my middle shelf area and always easy to grab (dis-vil is a fan favorite at my place and with my online gaming group via tts. I’m already at 120 plays this year and over half of those were in March alone)
Nice! That is a game I have wanted to try and it just hasn't hit the table yet. Uh, too many great games, not enough time. It is amazing when you come up with the perfect storage solution. It can really help facilitate play. Thanks so much for checking out the list and the channel!
You are simply the best content creator about boardgames . Keep up the good work :)
That is very nice of you to say. Thank you for subbing the channel for over a year! Wow! I really appreciate that support. It means a lot to me and helps so much.
I love listening to you talk. You have a great cadence and quality of voice!
That is very nice of you to say, Juliet. I really appreciate that and I'm glad you find my videos pleasant to listen to. I struggle with audio recording and do my best to capture a decent sound and use editing to keep things lively. But I also try to invoke a chill and fun environment, hoping to make the learning less scary. I'm just happy to hear it works for you. Thanks for supporting the channel for so long!
Now I'm interested to see the games you store in the photo boxes 😄
Yeah, I'm going to do a separate video and do a kind of Top 16 (although if you are clever you can fit up to 20 in there). Maybe I'll make a second video and dig a little deeper. I think it is something almost every gamer should have. On my vacation I filled up one and tossed it in the car. It's the perfect travel companion! Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabledLooking forward to it!
Definitely agree about those iron clay poker chips over metal coins!
I love how well they stack and the clicking sound they make. I used to play a bunch of poker, so maybe it gives me some nostalgia. Thanks for watching!
I use that exact same photo case to store my Gloomhaven characters. Never considered it for holding whole games. May have to pick up another now.
Also, Walmart or like stores sell plastic, stackable. disposable 2oz plastic cups with lids for next to nothing cost wise. I use them for nearly all of my games. The best part is, afterwards you just pour the pieces back into their baggies for cleanup. By far my favorite way to organize a game quickly.
Nice tip, I'll have to check those out at Walmart. I definitely use those photo cases in certain games to hold cards and player pieces or what not. I also forgot to mention I use them to organize Dominion decks and Arkham Horror the Card Game. So useful! Thanks for watching!
I use some cheap mini poker chips. They're a bit heavy as a set but so much easier to travel with and not nearly as heavy as standard size poker chips. My set has room for a deck of cards which for me is For Sale. I have a dice cup with storage in the bottom and a few cloth bags I stuff in the dice cup and that's an easy travel companion. Got a game with hidden money? Into the black bag it goes. Open it up and take a peek to see if you have enough money. Nobody else knows what you have. Bags aren't just for random draws.
Incredible use of the Iron Clays at the end, I wondered how you did those close-up shots before! lol
Ha, I'm always going low tech and cheap if I can get away with it. The best part is you can digitally remove the background later if you want. I usually don't see a reason most of the time. Thanks for watching, Designiana!
Some people I play with grip their/my cards too tight. I find that a good card rail helps alleviate this. I'm also not a huge playmat guy, but I have found specialized playmats can be helpful for introducing people to a game, helping them organize their personal set-up.
I haven't encountered people gripping cards like that. Yikes. I actually fear people might bend cards taking them in and out of a railing, but I haven't really tried one before. I can see how playmats really help. I use the playmats for Doomtown Reloaded and it helps tremendously. I hate storing playmats that don't fit in the box. But those neoprene mats in the Chip Theory games are glorious. I'd like to see more of those. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
I love a good insert that helps with set up and tear down, so that has to be top of my list. I've also done the coin capsules on Robinson Crusoe and Nemesis, and to protect high use cardboard tokens that are starting to show wear like the portals and other tokens in Cthulhu Death May Die. I have gotten a few Meeple stickers, specifically for Abomination Heir of Frankenstein, Obsession, and Raiders of Scythia. And I'm absolutely an aggressive sleever because I'm a bit OCD about the condition of my cards... Likely has to do with growing up with 3 brothers. 🤣 Thanks for sharing! Really enjoy your videos.
Nice. Meeple stickers is one I didn't think of. I don't think I've done that before, but I can see how that would be a fun addition to Obsession. I agree with storage for making setup and teardown quicker and easier -- I tend to use my plastic boxes for that, but a nice custom insert can definitely be worth the money. Anything that helps get a game to the table is worth it in my book. My wife also has 3 brothers, so I understand, at least a little bit. :) Thanks, Morga!
I don't like plano boxes if it's used to hold resources, the covers can take additional table space. I like the little tupperwares since the cover be placed under the container.
That is a good point, but many of the fishing tackle boxes I use let you snap the cover on and off. (In fact, the Kingdom Rush video I just posted has an example of that). You might look into those. But the tupperware ones are great for giving you more flexibility on where you place things on the table. And the resources are easier to grab from them. There is an odd satisfaction when you find the perfect plano that fits all the components perfectly and you can just plop it on the table during setup. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video! Lots of great new ideas from you. Love those poker chips! I can see why they are your number 1 accessories. Also I really need to take a closer look when I'm at the Dollar Tree, great tip. Currently my favorite upgrade accessory are the plastic coin holders.
Thanks, Tracie! Yeah, Dollar Tree has some useful stuff for board games. No matter what store I'm in, I'm always looking for items I can misuse for board games. 😂 Thanks for checking out the video!
I love my iron clays. I've even replaced what some might not consider, which is when there's an annoying VP track you have to move a tiny piece along and hope you don't bump the board or table, forever losing where players were! So say Ticket to Ride, get rid of the tiny piece moving on the track and give iron clays when people score points!!
Love that idea. I've done similar things with VP or life points in various different games. Basically whenever I can find an excuse, I bring out the Iron Clays! Thanks for watching!
The best upgrade I ever did was buy a 3D printer. It covers most of what you mentioned on your list. I print custom box inserts, component bowls, dice towers, dice trays, game piece upgrades, etc.
That's an awesome idea. I wouldn't have the patience for 3D printing, but it is a cool hobby within a hobby and I can see how it would be super useful. Thanks, Steve!
Learing the size of your table has actually been incredibly helpful! Im looking to buy or build a new desk/table for my room that is a sutible size for most games (im flatting and taking over the dining table for several hours in the evening isnt ideal), if you could concider adding a note either in the videos or description of how large a playspace you need for a solo setup it would be incredibly helpful!
In general I would say that 3' by 4' is large enough for 99% of solo games. Frostpunk didn't entirely fit, but it was good enough. I like being able to reach across the entire table without standing up, so the 3' depth works for me. 3'x5' would be more than enough I would think. Thanks for checking out the list!
I use extra dice to track resources, health etc e.g. in Arkham Horror LCG, I have various colours and sizes for this reason
That's a great use for extra dice. I do that in certain games as well. Thanks for checking out the video, David!
Another option for silicone "bowls" are various colors and sizes of silicone cupcake liners.
That is a great idea that I want to check out. I like that the silicone bowls can lay flat for packing when traveling. Thanks for checking out the video!
Sadly, the first time I ever saw the Roxley poker chips - I had already bought a bunch of metal coins in 1, 2, 5 and 10 denominations, so when the Etsy seller came out with 20's, I added those. But I spent so much on these coins (which thankfully seem to fit perfectly with every game I've used them for), I couldn't justify buying these chips as much as I thought they looked better. Ah well, live and learn!
Great vid, and a great list!
I use the photo case for exactly Gloomhaven. 1 case with many separate mini boxes. Works for me.
That is a great idea for Gloomhaven. I use it for Arkham Horror Card Game and that works nicely. Also SW Destiny. Lots of potential uses. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video! Very timely for me as someone who is a handful of games into building my collection to the point where I feel like I can start justifying accessories used across games like a playmat or those silicone bowls (both arrived today, ordered after watching this video). I also have some coin capsules on the way, which I'm quite excited about... that's an idea which never occurred to me, but I'm sure I will enjoy the tactile experience much more.
Much appreciation for all your excellent B roll (if there's no actual "A roll", do we still call it "B roll"?) and extensive research to provide links like the GeekList for coin capsule sizing and count. I discovered your channel as a recent starter into solo gaming and have to say you have outstanding production quality. I love the how much focus you give to the games in your footage.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate all those kind words. You will love the coin capsules. They really elevate the experience for a reasonable cost, at least for a few games. I'm glad you found my channel and are enjoying the content so far. I hope you continue to enjoy the videos here and have fun solo gaming. There are so many fantastic games out there -- the trick is finding the ones that work for your specific tastes. I try to provide coverage of a wide range of different games, all great in their own ways. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I've still got some of my old school d30 from DND when I was a kid.
That's awesome! I wish I had my gaming stuff from childhood. Very cool. Thanks for watching!
Great list use most of these. like how you posted links to find uses.
Thanks for checking it out, Wayne!
Lol I was gonna say I want to get a dice tower because it’s quite irritating seeing them roll everywhere on the table and some will knock off components on the player board…😅😅
I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to enjoying the chaos of dice crashing across the table! Well, not always. But most of the time. :) Thanks for checking out the video!
The photo boxes I use em for dixit. Got a big one at Michaels for 70 percent off.... Didn't even think twice
Yeah, they go on deep discount often at Michaels, especially around black friday. They are surprisingly useful for all sorts of things. I keep finding more uses and getting more each time they are on sale. I have a problem. 😀Thanks for checking out the list!
For extra dice, I would recommend the Doublesix Dice.
I'll have to check those out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Have tried all of these upgrades. Silicone bowls and plastic boxes are crucial for certain games. But I agree Iron Clays are the best upgrade by a long, long way.
Thanks for watching, Utahman! I love me some Iron Clays. I've been vacationing and I always bring them with me, even though space is an issue. Sure I could bring one additional game, but I'd rather have my Iron Clays with me! :)
Awesome idea for a video! Thanks for all of the links you provided. The coin capsules (never an easy word to say haha) are on the top of my list, along with the Iron Clays.
Would love to see one of your photo holder cases with games inside. Curious about how you labelled them.
I'm definitely going to do a video on my photo cases, with a Top 16 list. My labeling is very primitive. But some people go over the top and print out full covers with art and everything. So cool. But I'm too lazy for that! Thanks!
@@TotallyTabled Awesome! Can't wait. I just have all my smaller games stacked behind larger games on a very disorganized mess. This storage system is so smart. The Michael's stores in Canada have great sales and coupons fairly frequently as you mentioned, so excited to grab some of these!
@@stogrady Some people want to display their smaller games on shelves, so this doesn't work for them. I display my larger games and want my smaller games to be easy to store, organize and locate. The photo cases work fantastic for that. And the Michael's near us just had these on sale for $12 USD. I was tempted to buy more even though I have two that are completely empty right now! :)
@@TotallyTabled I'm of the same mind, as the kallax's that store my games have 1 standard size game displayed upright in each square, with stacked games behind. So this is perfect. Looking forward to getting one soon and trying it out.
On # 6 and waiting for those iron clays!
Much higher on the list! :)
Wonder if coating cardboard tokens in a clear krylon acrylic spray paint might be better than coin capsules esp. since they may not fit in thebox
Ha! Love the iron clay stacking photography trick you do there! ;-)
Thanks! I have like three tricks and they are all embarrassingly simple and lo-fi. 😂
I have upgraded a ton of stuff but I have to say 100% upgrading circular chits to plastic coin capsules is amazing. I have only done this for Bullet by Level99. Amazing upgrade.
I will say that I personally feel metal coins feel better than clay poker chips (in general). I haven’t personally used this “iron clay” chips but I can’t see how they would replace the metal “clink” of metal coins. If I am playing a game like “Frankenstein Abomination” by Plaidhat, I like having metal coins because it fits the theme of the game and gives better immersion imo. Recently, I ordered some coins for Ark Nova. The coins have animals on the different denominations. So sweet. As far as bags, I tend to have a healthy or unhealthy supply of Crown Royal Bags. Those have come in handy for games like “In Too Deep” that requires random chits to be drawn from a pool.
I would be remiss if I also didn’t say how I love custom playmates. I have had some created for Argents the Consortium (also by Level99), Marvel Champions, and Ashes: Phoenixborn.
Nice. I love the idea of reusing Crown Royal bags. That's perfect. Playmats are great, I just wish they weren't such a pain to store and then get out, and make sure they aren't bent. I usually don't have the patience. But if it can fit in the box like with Chip Theory games or something like the cloth mat in Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, then I love it. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled lol - I noticed I put custom “playmates” instead of custom “playmats” Autocorrect is evil. But a custom “playmate” would be a nice thing….and with A.I. advancing so quickly, I probably won’t have to wait long. I kid, I joke. 😅
@@CB-yh3db I didn't even notice. 🤣I must have autocorrected it back to "playmat" in my mind. I guess that tells you where my priorities are. 🙃
All these are great, though I do like a dice tray because it contains them from going too far and messing with the board (agree on the dice tower tho I have some because they look cool lol). Love my iron clays, love sleeves though I have slowed down on them (try and use them on games where I shuffle the cards and they're used more because it can be pricey to sleeve an entire game), playmats, and deluxe components for sure.
I especially love a good custom insert. I've spoiled myself to the point when I open a game and I see a ton of components I will almost instantly look to see if there is an insert somewhere to help me organize it all. I really should invest in a 3D printer because of all the inserts I buy from Etsy
Yeah, it is amazing to me that board game inserts are so bad that an industry has formed to make good inserts for nearly every game. And proper storage is very important to a game's "tableability" factor. I use plastic boxes and such because I like the modularity and ability to adjust when expansions come, etc. But custom inserts are a great option. Thanks for watching!
With these upgrades in guessing you throw away the original bits?, hack the box inserts? Or in the case of the 4x6 photo cases throw away the original box? To get space to store this stuff?
I want to do this but always get the damn "but it's original!" Feels and end up having to store both the original box, its inserts, and all the bits I replace plus the now new case, etc.
I recycle 95% of all box inserts. They are terrible and get in the way of the fun. I keep most bits for prototyping my own designs or having stuff to use with my kids for various artistic activities, etc. I keep the game boxes for the photo case games in large plastic bags and store them away. I'll probably recycle most of those at some point. Thanks for watching!
plastic boxes are great.
I envy Western Europe countries and USA that you have so many options to improve favourite games in your collection. Hope amazon will deliver goods to us someday. Because of you, I have bought Coffee roaster with capsules😅 and considering buying capaules for other games. Even though I have Iron Clays, I prefer metal coins and I bought Victorian coins for Obsession. My number one desire will be great boardgame table with multiple surfaces and playmat (we have only one option and it's three times smaller you have shown in video. Thank you for your motivation for games and videos!
That is too bad you don't have more options. Luckily these days most games don't need much upgrading (but of course they are more expensive because of that, so some good and some bad there). I got lucky with my IKEA table -- got it on massive discount. One of the best deals I've ever found. It does everything I need in a gaming table, perfect dimensions for my needs. If I was regularly playing 4 players on it, I'd maybe want something I bit bigger. I really appreciate you checking out and commenting on my videos. Thanks!
I believe Iron Clays are awesome. Unfortunately I don't own a set and it's out of stock everywhere. Plus, there is no second hand market for these, nobody would sell their set... 😔
Great video! Interesting AND informative! I noticed in the video that some of the grey miniature figures you use have a small coloured plastic...I dont know what you call them..."base marker" (?)? They could be used to differentiate different miniature ranks or characters etc. It would be great to know where you get those from! I have been looking everywhere for things like this & cant find them anywhere. Maybe Im not using the correct terminology for them or maybe they're just like hens teeth. Can you please tell me where I can find some? Thanks in advance! Cheers!
Are use an oversized Lazy Susan with felt on it for certain games
Nice! I always wanted to do that but I've never pulled the trigger. That would be so useful for quite a few games. Thanks for watching!
Deck boxes for sure.
That's a great one. Those are super nice. Thanks for watching!
What is the game showing at 8:56? Looks intriguing!
That is Bloc by Bloc. I have a full solo playthrough of it here: ua-cam.com/video/psCy3cxuAeA/v-deo.html. The game after that is Tash-Kalar. Thanks for watching!
I use a book holders for rules and story etc
That's a cool idea. Thanks for watching!
Hey Shaggy, while watching the video, I realized that you used a video clip from you playing Nemesis, when you were talking about the coin capsules. I know you haven't done a play through of it, so I was just wondering where you got the footage from? Btw, I loved the video, very interested in those silicon bowls and coin capsules. I especially love the cases for sorting. I probably need to get one of those for my Nemesis, since it's so fun to play, but it's a real slog to set up, since there's so many tokens, and the best way I currently have to sort them is with little plastic bags (which are VERY annoying to constantly open and close. I can't just put the tokens on the bag since my table is too small xD)
The Nemesis footage I shot for a Top 10 list, but I haven't done a playthrough yet. I want to. Love the game. It is amazing how much time you can save on set up and teardown with the right storage solution. I recycle 99% of inserts and store games in various containers for this reason. I should probably make a video just on this topic. Thanks!
I was almost for sure certain you were goin to put coin capsules at #1. Well….at least I was close, but now I’m off to get me them clay chips. Nice list. 👍 ps: my number one bling is a beautiful custom wooden organizer/insert.
If I used coin capsules in more games, it would be number one. I use my iron clays in 95% of games. Love them! Thanks for checking out the list!
I get dice towers taking away the visual fun of dice rolling but how do dice trays take away the fun of dice rolling?
Yeah, I'm half joking about dice trays. I have a tendency to send dice all over the place, and that makes me happy. But that is just me and my chaotic weirdness. I don't begrudge anyone the use of a dice tray. Thanks for watching!
How are folks storing these common-use accessories in between games?
This video is really timely - I was just starting to look at accessories and am curious how folks store them (of course some can go IN the game box). But what about the things you use cross games? How do you keep it from looking a mess visually or being a pain to grab? I am using a fabric box that looks nice on my shelf - but then it's a jumble on the inside and pain to grab the component trays, bags, extra dice, etc from inside.
I do plastic boxes within larger boxes within a sideboard in my office, so they are unseen. I even use those photo cases I talk about to store a bunch of stuff -- so it is separated out and visible in the see-thru box for easy retrieval. Thanks for watching!
1:30 what's that game you are playing?
That is Bloc by Bloc: Uprising. I have a full solo playthrough on my channel. Cheers!
What is the pirate game shown for #1 clay tokens?
That is the reprint of Libertalia! I did a full solo playthrough here: ua-cam.com/video/yuP3_cV5JLs/v-deo.html. It is a really fun game, and the new solo mode is actually quite good. An underrated game for sure. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled thank you! I will definitely watch
Which games are filmed in this video? Several of them looks really great! Can you name them please?
Dang doesn't look like any of the links on BGG for the drawstring bags work anymore :( Everything went to an error page.
Ahhh, I tried a few that worked. The Castles of Burgundy ones worked. I'll do some more investigation and check it out. Too bad if they are broken, the bags are really cool. Thanks for the heads up, Ryan!
@@TotallyTabled maybe it’s hit or miss. I tried all the Arkham Horror LCG ones and the Gaia Project and all said error. Ah well!
Hey Shaggy nice video (as always). I personally don't mind a dice tray, as with some games a bad throw into the table might mean mayhem lol. But otherwise I'm with you, I hate dice towers. So yeah very nice list! Gave me some ideas :D
On a side note, I'm eagerly waiting for my copy of Castles of Burgundy SE to come. Did you back it? I'd love to see some CoB solo plays by you!
I just got it. I'm going to do an unboxing and definitely make a video about the new solo mode. I love Castles of Burgundy, so I'm very excited to play solo. I just got back from vacation, so it might take a little bit to get it to the table. Hopefully soon. Thanks for watching!
I don't agree with adding extra dice to a game. If a game only has dice for one player at a time, and they have to be passed between players, it is for a reason. It prevents people from starting their turn until the previous player has completely finished, and handed over the dice. If everyone has their own set of dice, it quickly becomes chaos, and several people will play simultaniously, or at least overlap some, which is not the intention.
I'd love a set of iron clays, but can't bring myself to spend the same amount that 1-2 games would cost on an accessory.
Yeah, it is definitely a premium item and won't be for everyone. Thanks for checking out the list!
GRACIOUS VERY GRACIOUS
Thanks!
Why use custom draw bags instead of just ziploc?
Yes I know custom draw bags are cooler but the cost is much much higher and they are so much larger.
"Well, why go to a fine restaurant when you can just stick something in the microwave? Why go to the park and fly a kite, when you can just pop a pill?" (That's a famous Kramer quote from the sitcom Seinfeld, if anyone doesn't get the reference)
Yeah, just for the niceness. Most of my draw bags were like $2 each, so not exactly breaking the bank. But you can draw out of anything -- people use cups or the box lid and just don't look. Most board game accessories are unnecessary luxury products, so it can all be "why"-ed if you really want to. Thanks for watching!
@@TotallyTabled yes I got the reference lol. But true, all of the upgrades are just luxuries anyway. I actually use little side cups, like you would use for ketchup or something, to put my little bits in.
So you use poker chips across your games for money/currency? Instead of what comes with the game?
Absolutely! The poker chips just feel so good to handle, where most board games have lackluster money. Thanks for watching!
I must be in the minority, because I dislike any poker chips that stray from traditional casino colors (1 == white, 5==red, 25==green, 100==black, etc...). My hang up. The chips do feel great, but I just wish they kept to traditional denominations.
Yeah, that doesn't bother me at all. Never once entered my mind. But I can understand how that could take some getting used to. Thanks for watching!
I prefer metal coins as an upgrade
Yeah, I get that. Metal coins are great. But I like how easily these poker chips stack, which aids in counting and handling. Thanks for watching!
trollish question from someone genuinely curious (but is very aware that this is an annoying, unrelated, pedantic question) -- why do people pronounce "crew-SOH" as "cah-RUH-soh?"
Sleeves?!… wow 👀… why do people even do this ?
To protect the cards on their expensive games. Is it totally necessary? Not for most games. But I get it. Some games are hard or expensive to replace. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@TotallyTabledthank you for making these videos ❤ it’s always fun to learn something new (like sleeves for cards).
Keeps your game in A1 status and eaiser to shuffle the cards too for games that require a lot of it