Standing doors on 2D maps? Opinions please...

[hextr1p]

In the game I'm putting together (as in the 'Zombie Plague' game) one of the objectives for the human players to achieve is to barricade all the doors and windows to secure themselves safely inside the house.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10027/Door_Art_1.jpg
Door art sample (Barricaded side)

A while back, a ZP player designed standing doors to be placed on the Zombie Plague map to represent a barricaded door. This concept is not new, as many games out there incorporate this visual element in one way or another (see an example here (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/91770)).

While I like this concept, I was wondering what others thought of it?

And also, do you recommend a certain way to design the pieces over others? I have in mind how to set them up, but perhaps someone knows of a way to make them more sturdy when placed on the board.

[Rhydderch]

Standing doors are always nice. They add a lot of atmosphere to games. For example I love the Heroquest doors which are simple but very effective game pieces. On the other hand I really disliked the one-dimensional door tiles you got with the Horrorclix Starter Set: I actually had to read the instruction book to figure out what the diagonal slab was supposed to be...

One quick and incredibly easy way to make a standing door is to simply use a binder clip - the ones Scapers used to make bridges with before official bridges came out:

http://www.staples.com/sbd/img/cat/std/s0020283_std.jpg

These things are pretty cheap. You could easily clip a cardboard door and stand it up with the flat end. A customized version of the clip without the large silver handles would probably be better: maybe you could take a look in the office section of Wal-Mart for more ideas.

For a commercial game the biggest problem with the door prop is probably the look and cost so the clip method may not work as well for a game you want to sell. Oh yah the clips may not be as stable as potential consumers might like either. Still they may be a good starting point for your own personal games and for playtesting.

Oop.. just read in your other thread the game will be available to print for free. A clip may not work so well if people print it on regular paper: the paper will probably crumple under the force of the clip. A similar idea can probably still be used. And of course you could always have the player print the door on two sides and then fold it to make a small free-standing teepee. Cheap and simple though probably not quite as durable as cardboard and a clip :P

[hextr1p]

Rhydderch, thanks for the input! The binder clip base is a cool idea. I might try to experiment with a variation of that solution.

While I did say that these are 'paper' doors, I do intend to suggest to people to print them out on a heavier stock of some kind (card stock, cover stock). The same with the game markers. You're right in that paper would just be too thin, even if folks don't use the binder clip.

[AgentX-127]

You could easily clip a cardboard door and stand it up with the flat end. A customized version of the clip without the large silver handles would probably be better...The shiny wire parts can be removed easily by hand (just sqeeze,) and they can even be put back in again if need be.

[Cavalier]

I like the standing doors. I like the clip bases; I think it's perfect for a Print 'n Play

[Jormi_Boced]

http://files.boardgamegeek.com/bggimages/pic139629_sized.jpg

I was trying to find a better pic, but this one show it under Matts arm. Dragon Strike uses little black bases that the cardboard clips into. If you are interested, I can take a good closeup pic of it. You can probably find a used copy on Ebay for a decent price and just rape the pieces from it.

This pic was taken at one of my Monday Nigh Gaming Sessions.

Use this link for a bigger pic:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/fullimage/139629

[Fallen Templar]

It worked for Space Crusade h3x.

[hextr1p]

Jormi, thanks for the image. I've actually been looking into purchasing such stands as in the image, but most of the places I've found only have them available in bulk.

http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/cardstandrectangular.jpeg

If I can find a place that sells them in lower quantity, that would be cool.

Templar, sorry, but I'm lost... what worked for 'Space Crusade'...?

[Jormi_Boced]

Jormi, thanks for the image. I've actually been looking into purchasing such stands as in the image, but most of the places I've found only have them available in bulk. If I can find a place that sells them in lower quantity, that would be cool.

Templar, sorry, but I'm lost... what worked for 'Space Crusade'...?

I think your best bet might be to pick up some old games that used them and pillage them. Heck I think games like Candyland and stuff have them too. You might be able to get them cheap through some thrift store or garage sale shopping.

[Fallen Templar]

Templar, sorry, but I'm lost... what worked for 'Space Crusade'...? sorry for being unclear 3d doors worked for space crusade

[hextr1p]

sorry for being unclear 3d doors worked for space crusade
Not a problem. I thought that was what you meant, but I wanted to be sure.

Regarding the suggestion of using small binder clips as a possible solution, I tried this out when I got home, and they work quite well. I even came up with a modification that helps add more bottom weight to the standing door. And with a little 'arts and crafts' work, the final piece turns out quite nice, and very functional. :D

[Malechi]

I would definitely go for the stand up 3D barricade over the 2D barricade marker any day. The binder clip has the basic problem of using too much space on the board. The plastic clip works around the problem, but is, as you mentioned, available only in bulk. The situation here seems to be the matter of standing that barricade upright.

Folding the image to the normal "A" frame doesn't work as it, like the binder clip, uses too much space on the board. So I would go with the same set up used in the ZP barricade design, of the upside down "T", you mentioned in your first post ...

Doors are located in the upper right rear of the photo:
(Having never played ZP and only recently downloaded it due to your constantly bringing it up :wink:, I just made these doors - because, yeah I like the 3D barricades - and they work quite well)

http://files.boardgamegeek.com/bggimages/pic100447.jpg


ONE LAST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVISE: The stand up pieces shown above were artistically created wrong and they bug the carp out of me! Don't do the same massive error when creating your barricade stand ups! What's the error you ask? Well, let's put it this way ... I can understand the humans nailing the doors shut to keep out the zombies, I just can't figure out why on the other side of the door the zombies are nailing the door shut as well!!!

[hextr1p]

What's the error you ask? Well, let's put it this way ... I can understand the humans nailing the doors shut to keep out the zombies, I just can't figure out why on the other side of the door the zombies are nailing the door shut as well!!!

I noticed that, too. And it's already taken care of. :D I have a barricaded side, and a non-barricaded side. I also have a couple different versions of the doors so as it's not the same ol' door everytime.

I do agree with you about the 'T' shape, and will set up the doors to be folded that way.

[Annerios]

I definitely like the stand up doors. It is easy to steal those T shaped connectors from other games to use for playing.

Now the question is, what are you doing about the windows that can also be barricaded?

[hextr1p]

Now the question is, what are you doing about the windows that can also be barricaded?
Most likely I'll do the same thing, but with an image of a barricaded window. While in most games the standing door pieces act as a visual portal into another room, my door/window pieces act as reminders that the door or window has been barricaded.

[Annerios]

Most likely I'll do the same thing, but with an image of a barricaded window. While in most games the standing door pieces act as a visual portal into another room, my door/window pieces act as reminders that the door or window has been barricaded.

I was hoping you were going to say that, because from what I remember of playing ZP, that is an important part of the game.

[Cavalier]

Jormi, thanks for the image. I've actually been looking into purchasing such stands as in the image, but most of the places I've found only have them available in bulk. If I can find a place that sells them in lower quantity, that would be cool.

Templar, sorry, but I'm lost... what worked for 'Space Crusade'...?

I think your best bet might be to pick up some old games that used them and pillage them. Heck I think games like Candyland and stuff have them too. You might be able to get them cheap through some thrift store or garage sale shopping.

The problem is that he is developing this as a print and play. He needs an solution that he can give to those who print it to play; that solution shouldn't be 'go scour thrift stores for old games'

[hextr1p]

I found another option for the standing door piece:

The image I posted above...

http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/cardstandrectangular.jpeg

Was taken from a UK site called em4miniatures (http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/GAME_AIDS.html). They actually sell these card holders, and you don't have to buy 5,000 of them to get a decent price! I also emailed them to see if they shipped to the States, and they said that they did. :D So yeah, I think I'll be buying some of these once I have the game in production form. While they no longer have black, they do have white... which can be painted...

[Point Blanks]

I remember those from a Power Ranger game I had when I was 4...

[hextr1p]

I remember those from a Power Ranger game I had when I was 4...

:|

Okay then... heh heh...

[Cavalier]

I remember those from a Power Ranger game I had when I was 4...There was no such thing as power rangers when I was four :wink:

[Point Blanks]

*watches as hex slowly walks out of the thread*


:cry:

[Point Blanks]

*DOUBLE POST*

[Malechi]

Now the question is, what are you doing about the windows that can also be barricaded?
Most likely I'll do the same thing, but with an image of a barricaded window. While in most games the standing door pieces act as a visual portal into another room, my door/window pieces act as reminders that the door or window has been barricaded.

A most excellent decision! I was going to create some barricaded windows stand ups myself, matching the art of the door stand ups shown in the photo in my last post (as well as create an image of the unbarricaded side of the door!).


I remember those from a Power Ranger game I had when I was 4...There was no such thing as power rangers when I was four :wink:

There was no such thing as Power Rangers when I was thirty! :?

[hextr1p]

:lol:

Okay, okay... back to topic!

The site I mentioned above has two different kinds of card holders. The one I posted was the one I'm most familiar with. However, as I mentioned, the only decent color they have is white.

Another card holder style they have is this one:

http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/cardstandround.jpeg

And they have clear ones! However, I've never really seen this style and am not sure how well they work. Does anybody have any insights into this card holder style?

[hextr1p]

I was going to create some barricaded windows stand ups myself, matching the art of the door stand ups shown in the photo in my last post (as well as create an image of the unbarricaded side of the door!).
If you want to do this in the current 'Zombie Plague' style (more illustrative than real), you still could. The images I'm setting up aren't really the same style as the original 'ZP':

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10027/Door_Art_1.jpg

[Malechi]

If you want to do this in the current 'Zombie Plague' style (more illustrative than real), you still could. The images I'm setting up aren't really the same style as the original 'ZP'

Oh, I am. I like your style (as it is similar to my own, more realistic looking), but I want it for the original Zombie Plague map. So I had to create a style that resembled a line drawing technique ...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/Malechi_HeroScape/stuff/Zombie_Plague/door_window_sample.jpg

The original Door Stand Up is seen in the upper left corner, although I did add a doorknob! The remainder of the images I created utilizing the original artists nailed up boards.

[Malechi]

Just wanted to show off the finalized version ...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/Malechi_HeroScape/stuff/Zombie_Plague/barricadesample.jpg

This is only a 72 dpi version, if someone would like a PDF of the windows and doors at full resolution, ready for printing a full page send me a PM. (If you need an A4 version let me know this also)

[hextr1p]

Just wanted to show off the finalized version ...
Wow, those are great! Seriously, right down to the campy wallpaper and 'T' fold. Excellent work, Mal!

[Malechi]

Just wanted to show off the finalized version ...
Wow, those are great! Seriously, right down to the campy wallpaper and 'T' fold. Excellent work, Mal!

I am glad someone realized that the wall paper (circa '72 design) was intentionally put there! :wink: I kept playing with the colors until I found a truly repulsive 70's look and feel.

[Hex_Enduction_Hour]

Just wanted to show off the finalized version ...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/Malechi_HeroScape/stuff/Zombie_Plague/barricadesample.jpg

This is only a 72 dpi version, if someone would like a PDF of the windows and doors at full resolution, ready for printing a full page send me a PM. (If you need an A4 version let me know this also)

Just wanted to show off the finalized version ...
Wow, those are great! Seriously, right down to the campy wallpaper and 'T' fold. Excellent work, Mal!

I am glad someone realized that the wall paper (circa '72 design) was intentionally put there! :wink: I kept playing with the colors until I found a truly repulsive 70's look and feel.

Right. H3x caught that fast!
Mal, the standup doors look real good.

[Doc_Savage]

I have used bases very similar to those round blue ones and they worked well. If they have clear that might be the best solution.