Hnefatafl board game #1

[chuck123wapati]

48 minutes ago, fredk said:

These are (imperfect) scans of my instruction booklet.

Sometimes you've just got to stop and play one variation of this game as there are literally thousands of variations of the rules, all claiming to be the one true way to play

Cover

Page 2

 

 

Page 3

Page 4, back cover

 

I print these 2-page on both sides of A4 170gsm light card. When trimmed and folded it makes a nice A5  (approx 8 inch x 5 inch) booklet

Thank you Fred i will print these off as well. Yes I've found a lot of confusing stuff on the net lol. I'm still learning to pronounce it.

I appreciate you taking the time!

[fredk]

43 minutes ago, Bert03241 said:

To complicated for my brain

Its really no more complicated than chess. Sort-of a cross between chess and chequers

[fredk]

4 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

 . . . I'm still learning to pronounce it.

As instructed to me by a Finnish archaeologist; The H is nearly silent, you start with a breath like you are about to sneeze then naV,  then a short E sound, then tev-l

[Sem2390]

On 12/27/2021 at 8:42 PM, fredk said:

I made this Hnefatafl game for #1 son for a Christmas present.

I'm making a similar set for #1 dottir

I bought-in the wood box. It was plain white wood so I stained and varnished it

I get a lot of engraved plaques made by a certain engraver. He worked out how-to and made me about 22 of an engraved gold aluminium plaque for the top of the box

Inside the box are four bags

The gold bag holds the King

The small linen bag holds the King's men

The large linen bag holds the Opponent's men

And the grey bag holds two brass dice and 4 rune stones

 

The game board is 30cm -1ft square. The playing area is about 23cm - 9 inches square. Each square is 2cm - 3/4 inch. In my version the playing area is 11 x 11 squares

The board is covered in coloured chrome tan leather, about 1.2mm thick, and the playing area is veg tan, about 1.6mm thick, and is glued on top of the chrome tan with contact adhesive. The centre and corner squares are stamped before it goes on but the lines are gouged after its on. 3 or 4 coats of 'Astonish' (like Mop n Glo) for sealing the playing area and then a tan 'antique' rubbed on into the lines. The 'antique' doesn't actually stain the squares but it does leave a tint to them just in the varnish sealer, I can clean this off if I want to but I liked the toning down the tint gave

The game pieces close up. I first carved these about 20 years ago. I carved a few originals in polymer clay (aka Fimo or Sculpey) then I made rubber moulds of them. Every so often I have to make new moulds. After one of my first casting sessions I had a few mis-shaped men but I took moulds of them and add them into the sets so that not all the men are identical, like factory made. I cast them in a special plaster called Keramin. Then hand paint them. Other sets are just plain ivory and plain brown. But this set is special. The soldiers are about 1 inch tall. 36  soldiers and one King are need in my game, King and 12 soldiers and 24 Opponents. In each set I add in a couple of each colour for spares

The game set up for play

The King goes on the centre square surrounded by his army

And the opponents are arranged along the middle of each side

What I've not photographed, because its boring, is the 4 page instruction booklet that goes with each set

Edit; I forgot to photo the underside of the board. A piece of thin stiff pigskin lining leather, glued and pinned on to hold the instruction booklet

 

 

 

 

I've always loved traditional board games like Hnefatafl—there’s something special about the craftsmanship and strategic depth. If you're into Hnefatafl, you might also enjoy games that blend strategy with chance. I recently came across a good resource for mobile gaming options that includes a variety of strategic games with a casino twist: cardmates.co.uk/online-casinos/mobile It’s worth a look if you’re curious about how classic game mechanics are being reimagined on digital platforms.

 

It`s interesting.