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Welcome to our exciting journey into the world of board game design! If you've ever been fascinated by storytelling, strategy, or bringing people together, you're in for a treat. Throughout this article series, I will reveal the secrets to creating your very own board game that not only entertains but also sparks the imagination of players, young and old.
Imagine a realm where knights seek glory, wizards cast spells of wonder, and adventurers embark on epic journeys—all within the framework of a beautifully designed board game. That's the kind of dynamic world I aim to help you create. From the initial spark of an idea to the final touches that make your game truly unforgettable, I'll guide you through each step with a blend of creativity and practical advice.
So, gather your dice, shuffle your cards, and get ready to embark on this exciting adventure in board game design!
The First Step In Designing a Board Game
Every great adventure begins with a single step, and in the realm of creativity, that step is often as simple as a blank piece of paper and a pen. Jotting down your basic idea in a simple format is like planting the seed for a successful project. This humble beginning is where you set the foundation for your creativity to build upon. When designing my first board game Plank my first step was to grab some paper and draw out the basic idea I had in my head for how I wanted the board to look. Your idea needs to be simple enough to describe in one sentence. For Plank, that sentence was, "A pirate board game with a vast ocean full of islands that players can sail around as they build a crew and gain treasure." The vast ocean filled with islands was the most crucial part, so that is what I drew out.
Creative individuals often want to plunge directly into a project's "fluff," which is what I call the visual design elements. However, starting with the fluff is the surest way to doom any creative endeavor.
For over two months, this paper version of Plank, with playing pieces made up of odds and ends, was my test version as I hammered out how I would like the game to be played. During this stage, the game took on its most drastic changes as elements were added, modified, and dropped from the game. The next iteration of the game was made from cardboard with the map still drawn on with marker.
Do you start with the "Fluff" when beginning a project?
Yes
No
Begin designing your board game by writing out your idea in a single sentence and then assemble the most basic "playable" prototype of your idea; it doesn't need all the parts and pieces, it doesn't even need to be fun, it just needs to be something you can begin to work through to form your game idea better.
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