fredk Report post Posted December 27, 2020 I thought I'd share with you my latest board game Its a 'chase game' using the basic medieval 'chase game' tenets but I based the premise of the game on real Irish history. Off & on this game has taken nearly 20 years to get to this point. It took a long time to research the history, work it out then fit it into a 'game'. The game went thru a number of variables until it was good enough to commit to leather. Firstly the playing board. Overall the board is 39cm square. Covered in 3mm water buffalo hide, then the playing surface is a 1.6mm thick piece glued on and marked out. 11 x 11 squares, each 30mm. The details are some basic Tandy 3D stamps impressed, some details I had brass stamps made up and tooling stamps were used as well. Some of the squares were coated with acrylic varnish then painted using ordinary plastic modelling acrylic paints. After some squares and the edge surround were dyed chestnut brown it all got a couple of coats of the varnish to seal it and protect it. The varnish is that 'Pledge' floor 'polish' type stuff but a version I get locally to me I made and cast up the playing pieces. I came across a small wooden compartment box in a UK craft & book shop. It had a clear acrylic window on the lid which I covered with a stamped leather panel. The inside of the lid got a panel of thin green leather. I also had to stain and varnish the box. I had special plaques engraved for the box and the board. The main game pieces are 5 'viking' style ships, each approx 25mm long, and an Irish Celtic cross centre piece. The other items are; 2 dice, a miniature Bible, a bag of sails for the ships and a bag of Irish coins. I had to line the sides of the box compartments and make the support blocks for the pieces To add to the set I made a dice cup. The name of the game is impressed on the side of the cup. This is only the second dice cup I've ever made. And a hex shaped dice tray. On each side is a Celtic design, all Tandy 3D stamps This 1st set went to my No.1 son. Set 2 is almost ready to be sent to No.1 dottir Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retswerb Report post Posted December 27, 2020 This is very cool @fredk! You’ve really got a nice, professional package here. I like the inclusion of the dice tray, I need to make one for use with various games that my family plays. Did you print up a rule sheet as well? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted December 27, 2020 wow very cool !! so how is the game played? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted December 27, 2020 16 minutes ago, Retswerb said: This is very cool @fredk! You’ve really got a nice, professional package here. I like the inclusion of the dice tray, I need to make one for use with various games that my family plays. Did you print up a rule sheet as well? Thank you Yes I did. A4 sheet, two 'pages' per side, folded to make a 4 page A5 booklet size. As you can see, the 'dice' tray is just a hex valet tray 7 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said: wow very cool !! so how is the game played? Thank you Basically, there are 4 ships (the 5th is used in a variation). Monks (in a gold coloured ship) carrying a gold and jewelled book to the Abbey of Ard Mhacha at the very centre of the board. They play first. Followed by one set of vikings (black ship), who are chased by Brian Boru (green ship) to protect his monks. Brian is chased by his son-in-law, (red ship) another viking who is going to help the black viking. There are hazards and helps round the board. Two dice are used, but one is wind and the other is tidal current. The lower score of one die is subtracted from the other higher number and the ship moves that number, eg dice throw is 5 & 3, so ship moves only two places, dice throw of 4 & 4 = no move. The ships start play off the board and come on centre of each side according to their colour, and move one row inwards at the end of one circuit of the board. Rules include 'sea battles' and there is even the legendary Monster of Lough nEchach Vikings need to catch the monks before they reach the Abbey in the centre, or the vikings try to get to the Abbey first to raid it. In the first game No1 and I played on this board I was vikings and my red ship reached the Abbey first, so I won. A game can last from 30 minutes to well over 1 hr 30 minutes, all depends on the dice The real history is that Brian Boru gave the Abbey of Ard Mhacha 22 ounces of gold. They used some of it on a new gold & bejewelled cover for their 150 year old Gospel book. The Viking King of Mann, Brodir the Black tried to raid Ard Mhacha to get this book for himself. Boru stopped him but also had to fight his son-in-law Sigtrygg Silkbeard. The real circumstances were different but I aligned them to fit the game. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted December 27, 2020 1 hour ago, fredk said: Thank you Yes I did. A4 sheet, two 'pages' per side, folded to make a 4 page A5 booklet size. As you can see, the 'dice' tray is just a hex valet tray Thank you Basically, there are 4 ships (the 5th is used in a variation). Monks (in a gold coloured ship) carrying a gold and jewelled book to the Abbey of Ard Mhacha at the very centre of the board. They play first. Followed by one set of vikings (black ship), who are chased by Brian Boru (green ship) to protect his monks. Brian is chased by his son-in-law, (red ship) another viking who is going to help the black viking. There are hazards and helps round the board. Two dice are used, but one is wind and the other is tidal current. The lower score of one die is subtracted from the other higher number and the ship moves that number, eg dice throw is 5 & 3, so ship moves only two places, dice throw of 4 & 4 = no move. The ships start play off the board and come on centre of each side according to their colour, and move one row inwards at the end of one circuit of the board. Rules include 'sea battles' and there is even the legendary Monster of Lough nEchach Vikings need to catch the monks before they reach the Abbey in the centre, or the vikings try to get to the Abbey first to raid it. In the first game No1 and I played on this board I was vikings and my red ship reached the Abbey first, so I won. A game can last from 30 minutes to well over 1 hr 30 minutes, all depends on the dice The real history is that Brian Boru gave the Abbey of Ard Mhacha 22 ounces of gold. They used some of it on a new gold & bejewelled cover for their 150 year old Gospel book. The Viking King of Mann, Brodir the Black tried to raid Ard Mhacha to get this book for himself. Boru stopped him but also had to fight his son-in-law Sigtrygg Silkbeard. The real circumstances were different but I aligned them to fit the game. wow very interesting! You should be really proud of that set its beautiful as well as an interesting look back at history. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwican Report post Posted December 28, 2020 Insanely cool! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayEhl Report post Posted January 13, 2021 This is some next level Sh....stuff!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Acomaxis Report post Posted April 1 (edited) Your latest board game sounds like a labor of love, especially with all the historical research and craftsmanship that went into it over the past 20 years. The attention to detail in creating the playing board is impressive, from the water buffalo hide cover to the intricate 3D stamps and brass details. It must have been quite a journey to refine the game mechanics to the point where it's now ready for the leather treatment. By the way, if you're into card games, have you ever tried Gin Rummy? It's a classic game that's both strategic and fun, perfect for passing the time with friends or family. Edited April 1 by Acomaxis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted April 1 Very cool, Fred! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 5 Sounds like a fun game, Fred. And unique. How nice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farnoshee Report post Posted June 19 The craftsmanship is top-notch, and it’s clear you’ve put a lot of effort into it. I think adding a bit of a story or theme to the board might make it even cooler. Have you thought about integrating some leather elements into a spider solitaire setup? That could be a unique twist! As for your question on whether to use natural or dyed leather, I’d say it depends on the vibe you’re going for. Natural leather has that classic, rustic look which can age beautifully over time, giving your board a vintage feel. On the other hand, dyed leather offers more color options and can make certain details pop. Overall, fantastic work! Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Maybe a themed board for a classic game like spider solitaire could be your next hit! Keep us posted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted June 19 I'm currently working on game #2. There will be a few changes. I've used 'distressed blue' chrome tan leather as the board cover. I can't make up my mind if the play should go clockwise or anti-clockwise as on the first game. Oddly my natural tendency is for play to go anti-clockwise I start the stamping of the playing area this weekend - hopefully 32 minutes ago, farnoshee said: . . . I think adding a bit of a story or theme to the board might make it even cooler.. . . I've kept that on the instructions. And thanks for the compliment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 1 Its taken me quite a while to get around to the second of the game. This one will go off to number 1 dottir. The first game was a 'prototype'. After no.1 son and his friends played it a few times they suggested some changes which are incorporated on this game I used pre-dyed chrome tan to cover the board first but I had problems with it. The blue dye was not very good and rubbed off with any vigorous handling. I had to use thinned 'Evening Blue' dye to touch it in and polyurethane varnish on it, and use those brass corners on it. The game area is 2.5 mm veg tan. Cut over sized then stamped, dyed, hand painted, grooves cut then it was trimmed and contact glued onto the board. Most of the squares were hand painted which took me some time because of my currently impaired vision So here we go with photos Round the board, corner by corner I've devised a way of storing the instructions. A slip 'pocket' on the back of the board. Its made of glazed pig skin leather The felt feet at the boards corners raise the board high enough that the instructions are clear of the table The box for the gaming pieces is the same as before The dice cup is the same. I made two near identical ones 4 years ago. Its hard to see but the cup has the words ' The Book of Ard Mhacha'** impressed on it. Same as the box for the gaming pieces **The modern English translation is Armagh And to finish off the set, a dice tray I dithered and procrastinated about making this set but the annual crafting show is this weekend and I wanted it ready to enter the show Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrdunn Report post Posted August 1 Nice work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted August 1 Excellent work and the thought and research are impressive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aventurine Report post Posted August 1 Brilliant! Brilliant! BRILLIANT!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 1 Thank you for the nice words peep I'll start on #3 in about 1 month Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
