Any board game designers here?

Andail · Mon 13/04/2015 08:20:14

While taking a little break from AGS, I've decided to give traditional board game making a shot.

I haven't got any experience in this field, at least not when it comes to commercial productions, so it'll be fun to start from scratch.

Has anyone here developed/published any board games? I'm interested in all tips and tricks of the trade.
I've got a pretty clear idea of what kind of game I want to make, but I'm also interested in hearing what you look for in board games, which ones you like specifically and what you think is currently lacking in this field.

PS:
My game will be something of a "euro game", as it's apparently called, just to narrow it down for you.

Ghost · Mon 13/04/2015 08:33:34

I've dabbled in it, and once made a fun physical board game with some friends. Far from an expert though but I'd like to share two sources that helped me greatly:

Dice Tower: A review channel for (often elaborate) board games, with a look at the pieces, mechanics, and what works well. It's entertaining enough on its own.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiwBbXQlljGjKtKhcdMliRA

The Game Crafter: A tool to make your own board game and its parts. Also a nice community there.
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/

Also: As a German I am contractually required to tell you how awesome (Settlers of) Catan is and how you should own at least the base game.
But personally I enjoy several board games that take a while for a small group to play through, with heavy interaction between the players. Talisman, Dungeon Prowl, the Munchkin Series (started as card game, but they have an actual boardgame by now and it is ridiculous!) are all games where you can help and screw up your friends and that's something I love in a game. Solo board games are nice too.
And I don't know, I love games with lots of pieces. Setting up a campaign in the Doom boardgame just feels great with all the cards and miniatures.

Radiant · Mon 13/04/2015 11:42:56

Quote from: Andail on Mon 13/04/2015 08:20:14
Has anyone here developed/published any board games? I'm interested in all tips and tricks of the trade.

Yes, I have. I know a number of successful board game designers personally (e.g. Cwali, Splotter) and have been an official playtester for numerous games, as well as designer for a few (the most successful one being Sp0l).

Well, I enjoy complex deep strategical games (e.g. Twilight Imperium or Brittannia) but those are hard to find players for. I also like eurogames that rely heavily on trade and player interaction (e.g. Traders of Genua, Puerto Rico, Tikal, and of course Settlers of Catan). I prefer multiplayer (4-6) games over two-player, and dislike games that are essentially random with little player skill involved (which unfortunately includes many of the "classic" games such as Monopoly).

Given the huge amount of eurogames produced each year, there isn't anything particularly lacking in this field. That said, more games are always welcome. It's not exactly easy to pitch a game to a publisher, unless you're willing to self-publish.

Andail · Mon 13/04/2015 12:07:13

Cool, thanks for your input!
If you're interested, I would gladly share the design document with you guys, and you could give me some feedback on the ideas? I trust you don't run away with any potentially marketable ideas, but I count on you to say if it's been done to death already

LostTrainDude · Mon 13/04/2015 12:56:35

Quote from: Andail on Mon 13/04/2015 12:07:13
If you're interested, I would gladly share the design document with you guys, and you could give me some feedback on the ideas?

I don't think I can help you a lot, but I would love to see your design document

Personally I don't have experience in board game design, but in the last few years I have seen and played different board games that interested me and, also, it seems that some videogames include interesting mechanics coming from them, so I grew more curious about their design!

Ghost · Mon 13/04/2015 14:45:05

Quote from: Andail on Mon 13/04/2015 12:07:13
Cool, thanks for your input!
If you're interested, I would gladly share the design document with you guys, and you could give me some feedback on the ideas? I trust you don't run away with any potentially marketable ideas, but I count on you to say if it's been done to death already

Always fun to read a GDD- I'll gladly have a look and NOT run away with it

Andail · Mon 13/04/2015 16:13:44

Cool, link to the doc coming up!

cat · Mon 13/04/2015 20:48:46

Quote from: Andail on Mon 13/04/2015 08:20:14
My game will be something of a "euro game", as it's apparently called, just to narrow it down for you.

I didn't even know such a genre existed

I like this kind of games, but I am usually lacking people willing to play.

Regarding Catan - get the old version with the wooden items, the new plastic ones are ugly.

KodiakBehr · Tue 14/04/2015 13:53:54

We'll be Kickstarting an all-ages card game later this year. The assets are fully developed and we've been playtesting for the past few months. We intend to self-publish, like most.

Happy to discuss your design, prototyping, the marketplace or anything else.

Radiant · Tue 14/04/2015 13:58:05

Quote from: Andail on Mon 13/04/2015 12:07:13
Cool, thanks for your input!
If you're interested, I would gladly share the design document with you guys, and you could give me some feedback on the ideas? I trust you don't run away with any potentially marketable ideas, but I count on you to say if it's been done to death already

I'd be happy to help, but I really don't have time right now. If you're still working on this in two months then I'd be happy to check it out. Sorry, I'm already pressed on time as it is.