Dammit USAopoly, did you not test this game out?
February 21, 2009 10:28 AM Subscribe
I bought this Stratego Civil War edition (unfortunately not from amazon or I might have read the key review) and the pieces are critically flawed: they are essentially dominoes and will fall like them at the slightest nudge of the table. Anyone have any ideas on how to salvage the pieces or make my own?
The first thing I thought of doing was to glue pennies to the bottom of each piece but the problem is that it is impossible to get them all to look identical which is key to this game, not knowing which piece is which. Then I thought maybe I could glue a small bracket to each square on the board and you just slot the piece into the bracket when you move it. But if it didn't work I've essentially wrecked the board.
I think returning it is out because I specially ordered it from the other side of the country and I specifically wanted this old-timey version of stratego instead of the generic elves and goblins versions they are doing now.
Lastly I wouldn't be against making my own pieces if it can be done reasonably because then I could make my own funny versions of stratego by pasting different pictures on.
Any model maker / handyperson expertise?
The first thing I thought of doing was to glue pennies to the bottom of each piece but the problem is that it is impossible to get them all to look identical which is key to this game, not knowing which piece is which. Then I thought maybe I could glue a small bracket to each square on the board and you just slot the piece into the bracket when you move it. But if it didn't work I've essentially wrecked the board.
I think returning it is out because I specially ordered it from the other side of the country and I specifically wanted this old-timey version of stratego instead of the generic elves and goblins versions they are doing now.
Lastly I wouldn't be against making my own pieces if it can be done reasonably because then I could make my own funny versions of stratego by pasting different pictures on.
Any model maker / handyperson expertise?
A little doodad like this would probably work very well.
posted by phunniemee at 10:42 AM on February 21, 2009
posted by phunniemee at 10:42 AM on February 21, 2009
I assume they only have to look the same from the back (i.e. for the opposite player) - you should be able to glue a small weight to them from the front? sticky-tack might be an idea, tho you may not have enough surface for that to stick, so you could use a small heap of clay or whatever and glue it on.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 10:43 AM on February 21, 2009
posted by ClarissaWAM at 10:43 AM on February 21, 2009
I know you said you didn't want to return it, but if what you really want is an old school Stratego set there's plenty of used ones for sale on BoardGameGeek.
posted by aspo at 10:45 AM on February 21, 2009
posted by aspo at 10:45 AM on February 21, 2009
Make some quarter-sized blobs of (aka Friendly Plastic). Insert pieces while blobs are still moldable. Allow blobs to cool. Afterwards, remove pieces and paint blobs if desired.
Shape-lock is sold in hardware stores, Friendly Plastic in art stores.
posted by zippy at 10:55 AM on February 21, 2009
Shape-lock is sold in hardware stores, Friendly Plastic in art stores.
posted by zippy at 10:55 AM on February 21, 2009
That's what I get for not previewing. "quarter-sized blobs of Shape-Lock (aka ..."
posted by zippy at 10:56 AM on February 21, 2009
posted by zippy at 10:56 AM on February 21, 2009
Response by poster: A little doodad like this would probably work very well.
Those do look useful except that the number that indicates the rank is on the bottom corner of the piece and would be covered up undoubtedly from a holder like that.
Also just putting a base on the side of the piece facing me would still make them susceptible to getting dominoed in the other direction.
posted by who else at 11:12 AM on February 21, 2009
Those do look useful except that the number that indicates the rank is on the bottom corner of the piece and would be covered up undoubtedly from a holder like that.
Also just putting a base on the side of the piece facing me would still make them susceptible to getting dominoed in the other direction.
posted by who else at 11:12 AM on February 21, 2009
Those do look useful except that the number that indicates the rank is on the bottom corner of the piece
Notch the holder so that you can see the rank.
posted by zippy at 11:28 AM on February 21, 2009
Notch the holder so that you can see the rank.
posted by zippy at 11:28 AM on February 21, 2009
Response by poster: Notch the holder so that you can see the rank.
True, that's a good idea.
I just bought some magnetic tape from the hardware store and maybe I can come up with something with this, but again I'm worried about each one looking a little different when stuck down...
posted by who else at 12:01 PM on February 21, 2009
True, that's a good idea.
I just bought some magnetic tape from the hardware store and maybe I can come up with something with this, but again I'm worried about each one looking a little different when stuck down...
posted by who else at 12:01 PM on February 21, 2009
Response by poster: OK, so apparently magnets have really wacky properties and cutting custom magnetic pieces is not working out... Looks like I am going to order up some custom playing piece material... Bush regime vs Al-Qaeda Stratego here I come!
The cool thing about playing Al-Qaeda is that every time you kill their #2 man you get a new #2 man...
posted by who else at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2009
The cool thing about playing Al-Qaeda is that every time you kill their #2 man you get a new #2 man...
posted by who else at 2:11 PM on February 21, 2009
How thick are the pieces? Slotta bases have a ~2.5mm slot cut into them about 20mm long for 25mm bases.
Alternatively you could glue them to regular 25mm square bases. If you used something about 10mm thick as a jig you could ensure they were all glued in the centre of the base making them identical.
posted by Mitheral at 5:09 PM on February 21, 2009
Alternatively you could glue them to regular 25mm square bases. If you used something about 10mm thick as a jig you could ensure they were all glued in the centre of the base making them identical.
posted by Mitheral at 5:09 PM on February 21, 2009
Laser cut is the easiest way to get them identical. If you can find a local trophy shop or signmaker who has a laser engraving machine, they should be able to run up a set for you out of engraving acrylic (normally one solid color with a thin layer of another color atop it to be engraved through) easily enough. Cost is wildly unpredictable but in all cases will be cheaper if you provide the necessary material.
Or the really cheapo option: get a set of actual dominoes thick enough to stand on their ends, and just print up sticky labels to put over the fronts. You could possibly use half the domino numbers for the numbers of your pieces.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 11:47 PM on February 22, 2009
Or the really cheapo option: get a set of actual dominoes thick enough to stand on their ends, and just print up sticky labels to put over the fronts. You could possibly use half the domino numbers for the numbers of your pieces.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 11:47 PM on February 22, 2009
How about binder clips?
Just clip and remove the tabs. Uniform look, super-cheap, strong grip, and shouldn't cover the numbers along the bottom. Almost guaranteed to find a size that works for you too.
It's crazy how many uses these suckers can have.
posted by emjay at 7:48 AM on February 23, 2009
Just clip and remove the tabs. Uniform look, super-cheap, strong grip, and shouldn't cover the numbers along the bottom. Almost guaranteed to find a size that works for you too.
It's crazy how many uses these suckers can have.
posted by emjay at 7:48 AM on February 23, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by cCranium at 10:36 AM on February 21, 2009