----------WIP------------

-----Currently working on 3rd iteration-----

BIG MONSTER BOARD GAME

I am designing a board game with a theme of giant monsters fighting for territory.

My 4 year old daughter and I both love big monster movies especially the Big G,...Godzilla. 

Well tread Path

I am aware of several games with this theme.. 

    

    King Of Tokyo/New York

   Godzilla Tokyo Clash

    Kaiju Crush

    Attack of the Kaiju

    K-Day: Kaiju War

    Monopoly Godzilla

amongst others..

Some current monster based board games

I have never physically played these games but have done the obligatory You Tube research. 

So, initial concept is to have at least 4 players moving around a board claiming territory and fighting to be king of the monsters.

The 'Brief'

The client for this project is myself and my family but it should not be exclusively for that audience. At the moment it will help pass time and create family fun during the current lockdown but it also must have legs so it can be played by friends, extended family and even be distributed through online channels as a Print and Play game. 

The game must...

    Convey the idea of being a giant monster on a rampage.    

    Have a sense of competition, excitement, anticipation and victory.

    Balance elements of strategy and luck.     

    Allow for at least 4 players

    Have simple mechanics that allow the players to move, fight, claim territory and have a score.

    Have small, easily identifiable player pieces.

    An easy to read board.

    Not take too long to play.

Other factors

 Do not kill it with subjecting the family to too many novelty destroying play tests. Learned from previous experience.

Research Boards

These boards kind of sum up the elements I  have researched for inspiration.

Giant monster imagery

Board game elements

Board game boards

Grid systems

Initial pass

On this page I played with ideas of...

     -territory zones. 

     -controlling the center of the map.

     -two boards, one for movement and one for the battlefield itself. 

Here, 

      -further board shapes.

      -using city zones to dictate territory's. The vague idea of Dundee with the Law at the center. 

      -using 4 islands surrounding a larger island that would be fought over.

      -also at this point, asked what kinds of monsters to include.

This page shows

    -initial concept of the island defending itself    

    -working on the idea concept of calming territories and leaving something behind as a defense                  against further attack.

    -first run at the game mechanics

    -initial idea for 3d player pieces as have access to a 3d printer.

I also researched various game systems and mechanics but these are harder to show in image form.

Systems for movement and combat come in all shapes and sizes. From dice to cards to spinners and set actions, each system brings its own positives and negatives. Dice are my preferred tool generally but I will experiment with other systems and combinations but not keen on the idea of a spinner.

Gameplay v.01

Player begins on one of 4 islands. One player per island.

First round 

All monsters move into sea.

On players turn, move monster to any territory on outer circle of island.

Island defenses activate. Draw top Government Card to decide the governments action.

End of round

On turn the players move monsters into and adjacent territory and place territory defense token on previously occupied territory to claim it.

If territory is not contested, end turn.

 If occupied by another monster battle begins. 3 rounds

If occupied by a defense token battle begins. 1 round

If occupied by both a monster and a defense token, attacking player must fight both in separate battles. order decided by defending player.

Defeated monster retreats to nearest of its owned territories.

battle

Combat: 2 D6 each . 3 rounds, highest roll wins round, best of 3 rounds wins battle. loosing player moves to nearest owned territory