The idea behind this was to create a simple, easy to make, affordable, game platform that allowed people to play and create their own games. I found inspiration from Heroscape's battle terrain and chess boards. I liked that you could customize Heroscape's terrain and make your own setting. I also liked the simplicity and versatility of the chess board so I aimed to combine both. The platform is made of various pieces. There is a 1 by 1 by 1/8 inch Tile, a 1 by 1 by roughly 3/8 inch Crate, a 3 by 1 by 1/8 inch Bridge and a Wall piece made by gluing two of the Tiles together(can be seen in picture 2).

Step 1: Tools and Materials

You only need three tools to create the pieces. You'll need a ruler, hot glue gun, and something to cut popsicle sticks.

For materials all you need is popsicle sticks and clay if you want to make custom game pieces.

Step 2: Creating 1st Piece the Tile

The first piece is a flat thin piece. Cut one popsicle stick into a four one-inch segments. All your going to do is glue them into a square. (see pictures for reference.)

Step 3: 2nd Piece the Crate

The second piece is thicker than the first. Cut four one-inch segments and two 3/4th of an inch segments. Glue two of the one inch pieces together and repeat.(picture 4) Glue the 3/4 inch pieces on the inside corners.(picture 6 and 7) Now just add the last piece.(picture 8)

Step 4: 3rd Piece Bridge

The third piece is three times as long as the 1st one. Cut two three-inch pieces and four one inch piece. Glue one-inch pieces to both ends of the long piece. Then glue the last two one-inch pieces on the insides of the other one-inch pieces. It should measure one inch from the end to the inside one-inch piece.

Step 5: The Last Piece Wall

The last piece is two of the 1st pieces glued together. Take two of the 1st pieces and glue them together(see photos)

Step 6: Custom Game Pieces

Get creative! Go to the craft store and buy some cheap bakeable clay and make custom game pieces.Or you could use Lego figures, Chess pieces, checker pieces, or any other pieces.

Step 7: Creating a Game Board

The game board I made was 10 by 10 inches. I cut a whole bunch of popsicle sticks the same size and glued them together.

Step 8: Crates the Game: Overview

Crates is a war game that provides basic game mechanics to build from. It has character customization, destructible terrain and strategy.This game was created to show case the way you can make games and have fun doing it.

Step 9: Crates the Game: Objective

To win the game you have to score points. Once the required points are earned and delivered you win. Points are acquired by completing objectives like defeating opponents game pieces, or capturing the flag.

Step 10: Crates the Game: Characters(Game Pieces)

Before the game starts each player agrees upon number of game pieces.

Game pieces have a base stat. 4 movements, 7 life, 4 range, 2 ability points, 2 farming actions, unlimited Building actions and 1d6 roll for Damage.

A cycle is after every player takes one turn. The cycle ends and begins with the player who goes first.

Movement is how many times a character can move. I one movement equals one tile. Anything higher than one crate requires you to have the game piece jump.

Jumping allows you to move over two spaces or reach high places. Jumping equals two movements.You can jump up to one crate high and two tiles forward.

Your life is how much damage your pieces can withstand without dying. When it reaches zero your piece dies.

Range is how far away your piece can attack another piece.

If your piece dies it is placed aside for 1 cycle and can then be put back into play.

Points are scored by completing objectives.

Abilities alter the stats and gives different aspects to game pieces.

Farming actions allow players to pick up one tile. You can pick up two tiles per turn. Each game piece can hold up to 8 tiles. Crates= 3 tiles, Walls=3 tiles, Bridges= 3 tiles.

Building actions Allow players to place tile,walls, bridges,and crates down.

Step 11: Crates the Game: Abilities

Abilities offer customization and personalization to game pieces.

Each game piece gets two ability points they can spend on abilities.

Abilities are chosen before game starts.

Abilities cost 1 ability point.

Only one ability can be used per cycle.

Abilities can be used during your turn only unless otherwise said.

Here's some abilities me and my sibling have come up with:

Teleport cost 1,Roll 1d6 if higher than 2 allows player to teleport anywhere up to four tiles away. Can be used at anytime during cycle.

Burn cost 1, Roll 1d6 if higher than 4 you can burn player. Burn inflicts 1 damage for 1d6 roll turns.

KO cost 1, If you roll 6 when you attack it kills the opponent you attacked. Can be used anytime you attack.

Rage cost 1, gives +1 damage if game piece has taken damage. Does not work if at full health or more.

Heal cost 1, heals 1 health.

Stamina cost 1, +1 movements.

Trap cost 1, Place 8 tokens* around opponent. One is marked red on bottom. Make sure opponent does not see where you put the red one. If enemy moves onto the one marked red it takes 3 damage.

Illusion cost 1, When attacked you may remove game piece and place three tokens down one on each side of game piece and one where the your game piece is. Mark one. The one marked represents your game piece.The enemy now has to choose which one is the real one. If the enemy chooses wrong you successfully dodge the attack. Lasts for one cycle

Surprise cost 1, Remove game piece.You can place four tokens down anywhere on the playing field. Mark one of them this one represents your game piece.This ends your turn next turn you may place your game piece down on the spot marked by the marked token.

Endurance cost 1, gives +1.

Knock back cost 1, gives +1 knock back to all attacks

Don't forget to make your own abilities. If all players agree to it then its fair.

*tokens can be anything. All they do is mark spots on the playing field.

Step 12: Movements

Movements are simple. You have four movements. So you can move four spaces. Or jump. Jumping takes up two movements and allows you to jump over one space or jump one crate high.

Step 13: Attacking

You can attack once per game piece. You can only attack on your turn. When you attack you have to make sure the enemy is in range.

There are two different attacks, melee and ranged.

Ranged must be within range and does 1d6 unless otherwise affected by abilities. Ranged attacks do not have knock back.

Melee does 1d6 unless otherwise said by abilities. You can only melee if you are adjacent to the enemy. Melee attacks if successful will knock back the opponent one space in the direction you attack the opponent.

If your game piece is knocked back into opponents game piece it initiates a free attack. The Game piece
that was blown back attacks the one it is knocked into. This attack is free and does not count as your one attack.

If you are knocked back into a friendly the friendly simple moves one space back or to the side.

Step 14: Crates the Game: Cycle and Turns

The mechanics are simple. All players roll to see who goes first. Highest roll goes first, lowest goes last, or vice versa.

You start your turn by doing one of three things: moving, attacking, farming or using your ability. You can do any in any order. The player who starts their turn first starts the cycle. Once everyone has had one turn the cycle ends and starts again when the player going first starts.

Step 15: Winning

You win by earning points. Points can be earned by completing objectives. The objectives are decided before the game starts. They can be anything. Here's two ideas: eliminating enemies each enemy=1 point

Capture the flag capturing the flag = 1 point.

Once you earn the required points you win!

A good amount to start with is 7 if you play Eliminate the enemy. Take out 7 enemies and you win.