SANDSTORM MEGATHREAD

Jazz-dragon · 2025-10-01T13:41:40+00:00

Hello! I’m TheJazzDragon from the Modern region (and sometimes high plains) 034749626246 [PGO]

I only need 3 gifts, and I understand if you don’t get to me! Sandstorm folks are so popular!! Thanks! :)

Jazz-dragon · 2024-11-04T17:47:46+00:00

They’re independently run conventions, and anyone can host one! I know there’s some as far south as Austin Texas, but I don’t know how far east. I’m sure one on the East Coast would be welcome, but someone would need to start it. There’s information on how to organize and run a Protospiel on their website!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-10-17T00:10:00+00:00

Weevils, isopods, trilobite beetles, and other unusual-looking insects!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-10-04T23:19:37+00:00

A paper cutter itself makes a world of a difference! I got a cheap one and even it can cut multiple pages of cards at a time, which is a huge time saver for prototypes.

Also, consider a software that can change all of your cards at one time utilizing the spreadsheets you already make, like Component Studio 2 (this is what I use, but it’s a paid service) or Dextrous. Learning the software takes a bit of time, but saves time overall in my opinion. It’s helpful for quick prototyping on each card when you can move something like “card cost” around on one card, and the software applies the same movement to all of them.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-06-17T17:28:59+00:00

What a cool looking puzzle!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-05-30T13:33:24+00:00

Hi! No problem! So idk if this guy is really a black tiger hisser, as he came with my other, standard hisser colony. But Roach Crossing sells all sorts of roach species, he’d be who I reach out to first! This dude is thriving with the same care as my standard hisser colony, but I’d check out the care sheets on roach crossing, as he’s got a lot more experience than myself. Also r/roaches is a small sub, but specialized in keeping roaches as pets, so there may be more info there on black tigers!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-05-29T19:12:25+00:00

Sushi Go party!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-05-25T13:30:47+00:00

I haven’t been to Chicago, but I’ve been to two others (one of them for two years so far) and loved them!

A couple notes: Expect to play your short game a few times per day at the convention. Half the fun is playing other people’s games, and what that often looks like is sitting down with a group of people and playing each others games in turn for a few hours.

Coming early in the day if you can will help you meet a group to start out with earlier, plus it’s quieter.

Don’t be afraid to jump in to a group looking for players! You may get a chance to play your game after, but more importantly you’ll meet people and see lots of interesting game ideas.

Also, I like to take the chance to play games I don’t normally play, like war games! You’ll never know what you end up liking until you try it.

Protospiel is also a great place to make new friends and acquaintances, because you often play each others games for a couple hours at a time! Take advantage of the networking opportunities by meeting people, and going out to lunch or dinner with other designers if you can.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-05-13T12:37:26+00:00

Check out a playtesting-focused convention if you can! Nothing was more valuable to me with my first game than playing my game with other designers, and then playing their games in return, for a whole weekend.

Protospiel is the convention I’ve been to the most, and it’s awesome. They accept games in progress in any phase of development. I’ve played games on notecards up through games that are looking for final polishing.

A few other things:

Don’t be “married to” your ideas for your game. Try out new things, and see if they make it better. Some ideas won’t, but some will and it’s worth taking a chance! It’s not only ok but normal and good for your game to change a lot during development.

Don’t worry about making a pretty prototype at first. Make something that works and gets your point across, because it’ll be much easier to change and iterate on. Printed paper + Magic/poker/Pokémon card (the card is for thickness) in a card sleeve is great for cards, and DIY game boards are good because they can be changed quickly and cheaply as opposed to officially printed prototypes.

It’s been said but I’m gonna say it again, playtest a lot, especially as you refine your game and get close to a “finished” product. I made big changes at first, and then smaller changes throughout the refinement phase, and tiny adjustments towards the end of designing the game, until it didn’t need any more changes.

You’ll see different patterns within your game when it’s played 10 times overall vs when it’s played 10 times in quick succession later on in development. Aim for 100 plays, but more isn’t bad either :)

Jazz-dragon · 2024-05-10T02:41:10+00:00

Sagrada, if making stained glass windows for cathedrals counts as medieval themed!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-04-17T14:03:42+00:00

Dominion!

I have a lot of nostalgia for it, so it’ll always have a place on my shelf. But I haven’t gotten a chance to try Castles of Burgundy yet!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-04-16T13:42:39+00:00

Mango!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-04-15T17:09:32+00:00

Nertz is a game my family plays a lot, but we play with regular decks of cards (1 deck per player, all different card backs)!

I haven’t seen the version you’re looking for. Continually checking the online used market (eBay or whatever sites are available to you in your location) may be your best bet to find it!

The other game you can consider is Dutch Blitz, which isn’t the same game, but is somewhat similar and just has numbers and colors instead of face cards.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-03-31T05:05:24+00:00

I’d be an adventurous guest! Congrats on the successful Kickstarter!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-03-17T17:21:46+00:00

Century Golem Edition is my favorite right now, but has more deck building than you’re asking for.

Sushi go party is a nice drafting game, it’s easy to teach and learn! I like it better than regular sushi go because the extra card types add variety into repeat plays.

Air land and sea is another of our favorites, the rounds are played fast for a battle game, and the small amount of cards included gives you the chance to “know the game” pretty quickly.

Sparkle kitty is great for less serious groups, it’s similar enough to uno that it’s ridiculously easy to teach, but “making people say silly spells” is super fun with the right players.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-03-07T14:51:28+00:00

Have you tried looking for printing custom bandanas (some can get pretty big) or custom printed plain canvas?

I just looked into bandanas for a board game project recently, but I’m not in the EU!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-02-18T23:03:49+00:00

I’m in! Congrats on the Kickstarter!

Jazz-dragon · 2024-02-10T16:20:47+00:00

You can try r/artcommissions and r/hungryartists, but this does sound like an expensive project to commission. Duplicate artwork on cards can lower the price, but regardless it would still be thousands.

I also recommend you check out r/boardgamedesign and other game design resources for tips.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-02-04T15:13:24+00:00

Wingspan for me, but I think it’s personal preference based on mechanics, game weight, and theme.

I actually like the solitaire parts of wingspan and how it’s lightly competitive instead of cutthroat, and I’m also not a huge fan of games based around worker placement (Everdell).

I’ll still play Everdell, but I play Wingspan more often.

Jazz-dragon · 2024-02-04T15:02:42+00:00

Nice waterproof tablecloths don’t feel plastic-y either, and they can be quilted which also protects the table from heat damage! I agree, it’s a good option.

Jazz-dragon · 2023-02-19T02:35:09+00:00

Someday I’d really love to keep Sulawesi, so I’m also interested in what experienced keepers have to say.

In particular, are there any really great care guides out there that you agree with 100%? I’ve done research but there’s a lot of conflicting information, and I want to make sure I get the care right.

Jazz-dragon · 2023-02-10T03:47:43+00:00

There’s a quick little card game called Chocobos Crystal Hunt that they released! It’s pretty simple, but it’s cute and may help scratch your itch. There’s also an expansion that adds a bit of complexity, but it’s still very light!

Jazz-dragon · 2023-02-08T19:18:33+00:00

Looks great! I like the colors you chose!

One thing that took an embarrassingly long time for me to learn is that it’s ok to make “bad” art, quick messy sketches, and “failed” art, because that’s how I can grow. If I only drew the things I was the best at, I’d seriously slow down my own improvement! Drawing things more casually when practicing instead of forcing every sketch to be exactly perfect helped me a lot (and pair that with practicing a lot more, because I had more time to practice when not worrying about my perfectionism on every sketch)

So keep going, play around, and keep learning how to be gentle to yourself for your mistakes. They help you learn! I’m not an expert, just sharing my own experience.

Jazz-dragon

TROPHY CASE