Category Archives: boardgame engineering

Core Resolution Mechanism Flowchart

Posted on 2019-03-04 by Boardcrafting

After analyzing Genesys and FATE, I’m now ready to tease apart all the different steps in the core resolution mechanism of A Thousand Faces of Adventure.  And here it is. I think I’ve done a good job keeping it tight, … Continue reading →

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Tile Extractin’ Backing Action

Posted on 2014-03-24 by Boardcrafting

One part of my Catan boards that doesn’t get enough attention is the backing. The backing is almost invisible during play, and it is obviously critical to keeping the frame together, but there’s one feature of the backing I haven’t … Continue reading →

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Puerto Rico: Building on Buildings

Posted on 2013-03-08 by Boardcrafting

One of my ideas for improving Puerto Rico is to change the component for the buildings. Currently the buildings look like this: Improvements I want to implement are as follows: separate the price and quarry effect information from the actual … Continue reading →

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Blair Nisley’s Custom 5-6 Player Catan Board

Posted on 2012-10-01 by Boardcrafting

Blair got a Kit of my Boardcrafting tiles and did a pretty sweet paintjob (see closeup here). He reports there’s a technique to painting: I did do some experimeting and the best way to paint these is to leave the … Continue reading →

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Of Pressing Concern

Posted on 2011-12-14 by Boardcrafting

Making a bunch of Total Completion rewards tonight. I’ve got a jig, of sorts, to help align the wood frame pieces on to the leather backing.  Then gravity and the printed word take over.

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The Shrinkage Problem

Posted on 2011-11-24 by Boardcrafting

Canvas.  It kinda sucks. First of all, it is a poor medium for laser cutting.  The edges fray after the cut, definitely not something I want happening to a product with my name on it. Furthermore, before I cut it, … Continue reading →

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Package Planning

Posted on 2011-11-20 by Boardcrafting

I have been thinking about how to ship all my boards in the mail. The boards almost ship themselves, because they fold in a way that most components can be placed inside the frame, which folds closed and is protected … Continue reading →

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In a Lather

Posted on 2011-11-19 by Boardcrafting

The backing component, while having the simplest design, has proven one of the most difficult pieces to deal with. It is very important that when it is cut, it be laid out as flat as possible so that there is … Continue reading →

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Pip Fragility

Posted on 2011-11-18 by Boardcrafting

One of the problems I kept facing with my design was pip fragility.  The tiny images of dice at the bottom of the Catan pips would often break, and I would then have to throw the whole pip in the … Continue reading →

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Miracle on 5th St

Posted on 2011-10-21 by Boardcrafting

Pictured above is a Wood tile with tape peeled off around the borders and of half the treestump detail. You can see where one treestump looks more orange and the other more white. Notice I didn't say "and sanded". Over … Continue reading →

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