For many avid gamers and game collectors the pleasure of listening to a game not to play. It arises with the beads in the collection is always the question - How can I improve this game and still get good? These and some other questions about board and card upgrade to "pimp" So, we want to go to the bottom of this article.

Organization of the game material

Often stuck in the game boxes, etc. oodles of maps, markers, counters, tiles, game pieces. Unfortunately, the game boxes are rarely an inlay, which can accommodate all of the components sufficiently well. What to do? If all the items at random in the box, they suffer very quickly and also the structure of the game takes an unnecessarily long time. Remedy because small plastic zip bags and boxes from the hardware store. Look like this can show the following images of "Civilization" and "The Battles of Westeros" from the Heidelberg games publisher.

It is worth taking the individual components are sorted by color and game player component in the bags or boxes to store. Game components, which are needed very often during the game can be packaged in individual containers which are placed directly on the table. Also, the allocation of the starting materials for individual players can be facilitated. If you packed in the packaging of the game all start the same components of a single player, it can quickly go back to the new game.

The expense and additional investment is worthwhile in any case, since it rapidly decreases the construction time and survive the long storage of materials in good condition. Catan player Tommy from Munich had the good fortune, a Catan game and tin from an idea to get hold of special action. with additional containers from the hardware store he can keep the base game and expansion for 5-6 players in the box.

Munchkin fan Sabine from Düsseldorf sets at the store still on it and one has their remarkable Munchkin - donated a large collection of wooden chest in which two floors in all Munchkin - find place cards. With a branded original Munchkin drawing the converted wine crate looks gorgeous from every apartment.

Protection against wear

A particularly highly stressed component in board games, are associated with the game cards. These are often kept on hand, mixed, placed on dirty tables, etc. This makes them quickly get worn out or even markers that can clearly recognize the card. If the card should be secret, it can destroy an entire game.

This situation can be created there with card sleeves. While formerly the trading card holder of the games like Magic, Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh their cards in "sleeves" played to get the exchange and sale value of the card, the use of card holders is also among the board players more and more followers. Card holders are now available in standard sizes of cards used in board games. There are both € and the American-standard formats, but that does not mean that a game has ever produced in Europe, a european grayling card size.

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Optimize and replace individual components play

The gameplay is also influenced by the game material itself. Since this often made of plastic - are pawns or heavily distinguishable gray miniatures, it is worthwhile to replace these components with higher quality materials such as wood or paint them yourself. In the above-mentioned Settlers of Catan is for old editions of the timber base game on auction sites still achieved good prices. Meanwhile, there is even a wood-edition of the game characters.

But even in other games, the outfit can play through the exchange of material improve significantly. Train to train is very bulky plastic coatings which may be exchanged for a replacement set with wooden trains. Anyone who still has his Ü-Ei-Lord of the Rings figures, can use these wonderful characters as in Reiner Knizias cooperative board game.

Proves to be particularly creative in Berlin Frank Strauss, who has made a lot of games for their own characters from polymer clay and can raise the appearance of some games themselves determined and clear.

Painting of characters

Even the painting of the enclosed material can significantly enhance the gaming experience.

In games with miniatures of this issue is particularly important. Gray miniatures can convey the atmosphere really well? With a little effort can be painted miniatures game itself, and thus enhance the atmosphere tremendously. An example is shown in the following pictures of the miniatures from "The Adventurer - the Temple of Chac."

Or, to paint his own zombie army, as shown in the following figures.

Even here gamer Frank Strauss has to offer. by simply painting the cathedral in "The Pillars of the Earth" is the already very nice game once upgraded a bit. The ships in the "pirates of the Caribbean" look for a more authentic Farbkur.

For more great pictures available on in Frank's collection Boardgamegeek

In conclusion, it is worthwhile to put a little more effort into their own games in order to preserve and improve. We would be interested, what do other players, to "pimp" their games. We would greatly appreciate your comments on this topic. Or send us your links and images to your spiele-akademie@gmx.de. We would be pleased.

(Thanks to Denis, Tommy from Leipzig, Tommy from Munich, Sabine, Andre and Frank for providing the pictures.)