r/BoardgameDesign

Hello! I'm Giovanni, and I'm currently working on a new game called Guards versus Thieves.

I just finalized the rulebook and I'd honestly love to hear some opinions about it, both on the graphic design and on the clarity of the rules.

The game itself was designed by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco, while I worked on the visual design/layout of the rulebook. This is only the second rulebook I've made, so I'm still learning a lot.

We decided to explain things very thoroughly this time, which probably made the rulebook a bit longer than average, but the goal was to reduce doubts during gameplay as much as possible.

Here's the PDF if anyone wants to take a look:
https://www.thirdway.it/file/guardsversusthieves-rules-low.pdf

Any feedback is appreciated!

Any indie board game designers/publishers also find it difficult to promote your new game online sometimes?

Many communities don’t allow self-promotion (which is understandable), but it can make it really hard for indie creators to share their games and campaigns when we don’t have big marketing or advertising budgets like larger publishers.

How do you approach this? Or does good design simply speak for itself?

I searched a few older threads here and in related board game design communities before posting this, and one thing that stood out to me is that “AI in board game design” is not really one topic. It seems to be several different topics that often get mixed together.

From what I found, the discussion often seems to collapse into “AI art: yes or no?”, but I’m curious about the broader workflow question. I’ve seen a few recurring distinctions come up:

- temporary prototype art vs. final/published art
- rules editing vs. having AI design the game for you
- brainstorming prompts vs. outsourcing creative decisions
- AI-assisted playtesting/simulation vs. human playtesting
- private prototypes vs. pitching, crowdfunding, or selling a game
- disclosure/transparency when AI is involved

For context, I’ve been experimenting with AI in parts of my own board game design workflow. Mostly things like tightening rules text, checking whether a rule explanation is ambiguous, generating edge-case questions, brainstorming terminology, and making rough prototype visuals based on my own sketches or ideas.

At the same time, my current feeling is that board game design is still an entertainment medium built around the emotional experience of play. AI can suggest directions, variations, mechanisms, edge cases, or wording improvements, but I don’t think it can meaningfully judge whether a game is actually fun to play, at least not in the way humans experience fun at the table. A rule idea can sound good in text and still fall completely flat once people actually play it.

So I don’t see AI as a replacement for designers, artists, editors, or playtesters. I see it more as a tool that can help me think through options faster, while the real test is still human play, table feel, and whether people actually enjoy the experience.

I’m more interested in the practical boundaries people actually use.

For designers who use AI:
What do you use it for?
What has been genuinely useful?
What turned out to be misleading, low-quality, or not worth it?
Where do you personally draw the line?

For designers who avoid AI:
Is your concern mainly ethical, legal, creative, quality-related or something else?
Are there any uses you consider acceptable, such as rules proofreading, placeholder assets, brainstorming, or accessibility support?

I’m especially curious whether people treat these cases differently:

1. AI for private solo prototyping
2. AI for playtest materials shown to other people
3. AI for publisher pitches
4. AI for crowdfunding
5. AI for final commercial products

I’d love to hear how people are thinking about this in practice.

This weekend I have meetings scheduled with a few publishers for the first time, and honestly I’m both excited and terrified

The "prototype" is already at a pretty advanced stage since i'm taking it to a fair for its first "public appearance"

I already have proprietary illustrations, a polished graphic design, and production-ready files

Do you have any advice for me?

Anything you wish someone had told you before your first pitch?

Any dos and don'ts?

Wish me luck

xoxo
Gossip Girl

I was thinking of a mechanic for a game i'm trying to flesh out. Players are going to be drafting/buying (not exactly sure the correct nomenclature) for cards/tiles.

I was trying to work out how I want this to happen. I had an idea and 1. want to hear your opinions if it sounds like it could be fun or even viable, and 2. Does it already exist/have a term for it? If so I would love to know which games use it do I can see how they implement it.

So, the turn player would have first dibs at buying cards from some kind of market row. The cards will have different costs to buy them. BUT they can also declare they will buy a card for a lower price (i haven't decided if the lower price will be predetermined or if players can just declare a price of their choosing; I am thinking the former) but they can buy any item at full value. Then the other player(s) in clockwise order can choose to just buy that item outright for its sull price, or just pass on it.

So the players can gamble on paying less for something at the risk of other players being able to snipe it at full price, or they can just buy the item at full price themselves. It sounds like it would be labeled "bidding" but I haven't ever played a bidding game so I don't have any experience with the mechanism.

As a disclaimer, I am not trying to say I invented a new mechanic, I just don't know the term for it, as I am sure there are likely countless games that do something similar if not exactly this. I just don't know.

Hi all! What are some things to keep in mind when making an NSFW game with a sexual theme (no nudity; just wording and suggestive illustrations)? I understand that the NSFW nature would appeal just to a niche and severely restrict the market (is there even a decent market for such games? how can that be gauged?). I can also see the theme making advertising on common platforms tricky. And selling in stores might be impossible. For crowdfunding, would common platforms even allow such games? I read that Kickstarter recently decided to ban all NSFW content (I could be wrong) - are there alternative platforms that might allow such games (I am not too familiar with platforms beyond Kickstarter)? I'd appreciate any insight on this topic so that I understand the practical reality. Thank you for your time!

I am looking for advice on how I can make the Game better let me know your opinions on it :) (for context I started makeing this game 2 days ago ik it unfinished I'm just looking for advice on how I can make it better)

HCOE: goal destroy the mothership and force a retreat thru 3 ways

(Artillery company) gain access to devastating long-ranged artillery strikes and better bunkers

(Mech company) gain access to a new vehicle types along with mobile HQ mechs)

(alien ops) gain access to running covert op missions inside enemy territory along with new Infantry

The Lyrite compact: goal force a surrender Of earth thru 3 ways

(Force) gain access to weapons of mass death new armored units

(sabotage) gain access to use Covert ops and mislead enemy forces

(diplomacy) gain access to convert towns and cities to your cause and be able to mask your operations inside human territory and out.

Rules: gain territory through key interest points Within the region once you launch a mission you cannot recall those units neutral territory however can be sabotaged if it Borders The Defenders territory and each territory will give a different resource

combat: when encountering enemy armies you will enter a combat phase where both sides playing out what you're going to do to secure victory after the initial phase attackers will go first keep in mind each Armies can hold up to six individual units it will act as turn-based combat the initial phase will be movement of any and all units you want to move up into cover retreating pushing forward Etc then after the movement phase if any troops are in range you'll have the option to open fire different units have different health and armor that will mitigate certain damage in order to win the battle make your opponent Retreat or destroy their armies

Attacking: use a standard D20 roll and whatever unit your using will deal damage to the enemy example (if your using light tank u roll and add +2 to your roll)

Armor: armor helps u block damage like soldier can block up to 1 damage before health is affected.

Day/time: when moving units it takes time it's not instant to move from one District to another takes 1 day unless a unit has slow applied then it will take longer and slow down anyone else in the army no matter their normal walking pace

Cover: cover works like armor but only while stationary there is (full cover +3 armor while behind it) (damaged cover +2) and (unusable cover +1 armor)

Tech upgrades: to research Tech you'll need labs Labs can only be built in certain territories that need to be built away from prying eyes building lab will be marked on the world map so make sure you always have a garrisoned army or make sure there's no possible way for your opponent to reach your labs once you have established a lab you will start generating research points and when you have enough you can research unfortunately researching is not an instant process and will take quite a bit depending on the research to complete if for whatever reason your research is interrupted by the enemy they can steal whatever you were researching and while you can research it again your enemies will now be able to have a slightly different version of your same Tech which can come with consequences if you're not careful luckily stolen research can be acquired again when you research is stolen you will have a brief window to launch a counter-attack mission to retrieve the army that possesses your research before they reach their territory this Mission will not be available if you don't have any nearby army's

Production: like your labs when you build Manufacturing buildings they will appear on the map inside the territory but unlike labs they can be placed on anything that isn't a research resource and will boost the output of available resources within that territory

Military: while military buildings will be shown on the world's map attacking military installations attackers will always be at the disadvantage as installations will be protected by whatever the faction weaponry they chose

Attacking HQ: once you get to the enemy's HQ it's going to play out similar to a military installation where the attacker is at the disadvantage except each HQ will be supported by their factions superweapon whether they have their super weapon researched or not they will always have a defensive superweapon available if fired the super weapon will take out all attacking forces but before it is fired the attackers will have an opportunity to sabotage or destroy their defensive superweapon while disabling or destroying the super weapon won't guarantee an automatic victory it will help your chances when attacking HQ attackers get-3 to their dice rolls and Defenders get +3 to their dice roles please keep in mind these modifiers do not apply when attacking the defensive super weapon

Super weapons: each faction has its own different super weapon that gives different effects and abilities once researched anytime you want to fire your super weapon if there is an adjacent enemy Army to the territory your super weapon is in they will get the opportunity to shut down the installation if there's no available armies able to sabotage or they fail the sabotage super weapons can be fired up to two territories in front of where the installation is and the super weapons affect will remain in that territory for the rest of the game super weapon effects do stack if fired at the same district more than once please note you can only have one super weapon facility at a time so be careful where you place it

Human Tech

Basic Tech:

upgraded weapons (+1 on dice rolls)

Infantry padded body armor (+2 to armor)

Flame troops (clear out defensive structures without rolling dice)

Better equipment (takes Less time to get somewhere)

Mass factories (+5 on goods)

Research facilities (+10 research Points)

Protected labs (your Labs will always have a defense army but produce -5 research points)

Starting units:

Infantry ( 20 health +0 damage +1 armor)

Armored car (27 health +3 damage +5 armor)

Light tank ( 30 health +2 damage +7 armor)

Artillery Tech:

Extended tank barrels: (all tanks can now shoot one District away from the battle providing fire support +1 to dice rolls)

Defensive artillery: (gain access to mounted artillery that can defend key districts it's next to note can only Protect One District at a time and cannot have more than one defensive artillery in a district at a time +1 to dice and defensive artillery will act as a Garrison Army to the key District it is next to)

Mortar teams (gain access to infantry mortar teams that can help lay suppressive fire during when mortar teams hit Infantry they will become stunned for one turn 15 health +5 damage +0 armor)

Bunkered medium tanks: (medium tanks that can deploy into small defensive bunkers with a tank turret when mobile cannot hold infantry when deployed can Garrison up to two units and it's Health increases by +50 but cannot move and cannot be redeployed once the tanks are deployed they are like that for the rest of the battle also bunker has to be destroyed before garrisoned Infantry take any damage 40 health +3 damage +10 armor)

Movable artillery: (ever imagined a kodiak? Well now you don't have to the bright Minds at HCOE I have devised a experimental heavy tank this thing can take quite a beating but takes a day to set up and tear down also because of its bulk it does not move very fast either but it does pack more of a punch then standard artillery 50 health +6 damage 20 armor +1 day traveling time)

Nuke: (plain and simple the enemy got a fortified stronghold leading to research rich areas? Just point and shoot sure the area will become radiated but it will sure get rid of your target plus this isn't any normal radiation killed a few of these Invaders we know what type of radiation makes them sick and thankfully it doesn't make us sick I know you will still have to deal with the devastation that is caused but a small price to pay to get rid of key installations [destroys all key districts and resource deposits 100 damage 50 radiation damage a day])

Indie designer here, prepping for September Kickstarter launch of FIRST

DOWN (tactical American football board game).

Just got quotes from two manufacturers for 1500 units:

- LongPack: $27,500 (~$6.20 avg per game)

- Panda Games: $45,000 (~$10.30 avg per game)

LongPack is 65% cheaper. That's a $17,500 difference, which is significant

for a solo dev with a $40k funding goal.

Both quotes are detailed and itemized. My fulfillment partner

(GamesQuest) suggested LongPack. So far I've found public references for

LongPack producing Santorini, Everdell, Kingdomino, Grand Austria Hotel,

Raiders of the North Sea - all solid.

But the quality jump from "Panda quality" to "LongPack quality" is what

I cannot judge without holding samples from both. Pre-production samples

cost real money and time before the campaign.

What I'd love to hear:

1. Anyone here who actually produced their own KS game with LongPack?

   How was the quality compared to expectations?

2. Was the communication during production smooth, or did issues come

   up (delays, component quality, color matching)?

3. Did your backers comment on the quality positively/negatively?

4. Would you use them again?

Not asking for trade secrets, just real experience. Happy to share my

own quote data if useful for your own comparisons.

Thanks in advance.

Hi. I haven’t played very many worker placements so I don’t know if there is a good example of what I am trying the achieve.

Essentially players are going to each control a type of worker. The workers will have tasks that pop up from different events that only a certain type of worker can accomplish.

The idea is that the worker needs to be assigned there for a certain amount of turns or time to finish the task.

I’ll make an example. Let’s say a delivery truck was about to leave to make a delivery in game. An event card came up that says the truck engine wouldn’t start. The event card will be placed at the location of the truck and it says a mechanic needs to be assigned to the task. The task will need 6 progress cubes to complete the task.

The player controlling the mechanics assigns one to the task. A low level mechanic might only be able to contribute 1 progress cubes per turn/ certain number of hours. A high level mechanic can contribute 2 progress cubes per turn/hour. So if you had enough mechanics you could add 1 high level and a low level to contribute 3.

This is a zoomed in portion of the over game game. Players are trying to make sure they are keeping tasks under control through the game and will be spread thin and are forced to prioritize some tasks over others. I am not sure how I should handle the rounds/ hours/days etc.

I am not too sure how much time the entire game is supposed to span in game, it might be a year or certain number of months.

I would appreciate any tips/suggestions anyone may have. I would also love to here if game that utilize something close to this so I can research and learn from those games. Thanks!