CREATE YOUR OWN VIKING BOARD GAME! (2024)

CREATE YOUR OWN VIKING BOARD GAME! (1)

A GAME FOR THE AGES

Vikings might have a fearsome reputation for raiding and invading, but they also enjoyed more sedate pastimes – albeit competitive ones! They would pit their wits against each other with a board game called hnefatafl, which means ‘The King’s Table’. Variations on the game were popular across Scandinavia, Britain and Ireland, and it’s thought it was based on an earlier Roman game.

There are references to hnefatafl (and its related games) in literature and in sagas from Iceland, the Orkneys and other countries where it was popular. And there’s archaeological evidence, too. Boards and pieces have been found with warrior burials, at religious sites and – in a few rare examples – in boat burials. A range of materials were used to make the boards and pieces, from simple wood boards to more elaborate amber, ivory or glass pieces.

CREATE YOUR OWN VIKING BOARD GAME! (2024)

FAQs

Can I create my own board game? ›

You'll need to go through the following key stages to make your own board game: Getting and developing the idea. Designing the layout, game play, and rules. Creating a prototype ready for testing.

How to create a board game to sell? ›

12 Steps to Design Your Own Board Game (and Sell It)
  1. Step one: the big idea. ...
  2. Step two: a working title. ...
  3. Step three: define the player experience. ...
  4. Step four: hit on a theme. ...
  5. Step five: who will the players be? ...
  6. Step six: choose your mechanics and components. ...
  7. Step seven: put limits on player actions (make some rules!)

What is the Viking chess board layout? ›

Setup: The black king is placed in the center space, marked with a square. His warriors (the black pawns) are arranged around him in a cross (two on each side). The opposing warriors (the 16 white pawns) are arranged in four “T” shapes in the middle of each of the four edges of the board.

How much does it cost to build a board game app? ›

What is the typical cost to build a game app? A game app usually costs about $37,500 to build. However, the total cost can be as low as $25,000 or as high as $50,000.

What is the Viking board game similar to chess? ›

Hnefatafl. Hnefatafl (sometimes now referred to as Viking Chess) was a popular game in medieval Scandinavia and was mentioned in several of the Norse sagas. Some of these saga references have contributed to controversy over the possible use of dice in playing hnefatafl.

Is it illegal to recreate a board game? ›

Many popular board games are protected by copyright laws, which means that game creators cannot use the same game mechanics or designs without permission from the copyright holder.

What is the website to create a board game? ›

BoardGamesMaker.com offers a fully integrated and intelligent system to help you in creating all the game components for your table top game.

How much does it cost to patent a board game? ›

Given that board games are indeed patentable, the better question might be “Should I patent my board game?” With the cost of patenting a board game running $12-$25K or more and the cost of suing someone for infringing your board game patent running up to seven or eight figures, unless you are planning on making large ...

Can I make money creating a board game? ›

There are very few game designers who can make a living doing this full-time without any other source of income. It's hard to make a living strictly as a board game designer due to the payment structure, long development timelines, and uncertainty.

How much money do board game creators make? ›

$129K. How accurate is a total pay range of $98K-$172K/yr? Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

How do I submit a board game idea to a company? ›

Establishing Your Attack Plan Toward Approaching A Professional Publisher
  1. Prepare for the worst. ...
  2. Send the submission email to the right person. ...
  3. Follow up your submission of selling your board game ideas. ...
  4. Try to meet publishers at workshops or events. ...
  5. Pitch professionally.
Feb 13, 2022

How to make a Viking chess board? ›

Steps for Making a DIY Kubb Game Set
  1. Step 1: Cut king to length. Using a miter saw, cut a 12-inch piece from the end of the 4×4. ...
  2. Step 2: Mark the king's crown. ...
  3. Step 3: Cut the king. ...
  4. Step 4: Rip the 4×4. ...
  5. Step 5: Measure and mark the kubb. ...
  6. Step 6: Cut the kubbs. ...
  7. Step 7: Cut the decorative grooves. ...
  8. Step 8: Measure the dowels.

What is Viking chess called? ›

Also sometimes known as Viking chess, Tafl (also known as Hnefatafl) is considered the great strategy game of the Celtic and Nordic peoples during the Middle Ages, in addition to being charged with symbolism in the Viking culture.

Is Kubb a Viking game? ›

As the Kubbs get knocked over, they get thrown back into the field and have to get knocked down again without hitting the 'king' piece in the middle. That's where the strategy comes into play, which is where Kubb gets its nickname: Viking chess.

What were Viking board games made of? ›

Board games and dice

Attractive games boards were made of wood, featuring elaborate carvings, whilst the pieces were mainly made from stone, wood and bone. Glass, antler and amber were also used for gaming pieces, together with materials of foreign origin, such as ivory and walrus tusk.

What board game do they play in Vikings? ›

Hnefatafl (often called 'King's Table' in English) is the board game most commonly associated with the Viking Age by modern people.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carlyn Walter

Last Updated:

Views: 6224

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carlyn Walter

Birthday: 1996-01-03

Address: Suite 452 40815 Denyse Extensions, Sengermouth, OR 42374

Phone: +8501809515404

Job: Manufacturing Technician

Hobby: Table tennis, Archery, Vacation, Metal detecting, Yo-yoing, Crocheting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.