Over the last few years I've made most of these upgrades. The neoprene mat is definitely the top upgrade because it's used with every game we play. The Iron Clays feel and look great! I agree with how you and I got two sets of the lower denominations, and one of the higher. The coin capsules I use for the Arkham Horror LCG and it feels so satisfying pulling them out of the bag.
I bought that game mat from your video about it and have been very happy with it. It's good quality, nice and large (I went with the smaller one even though the larger was only $5 more and it still takes up almost my entire dining table), and like you mention it makes playing games with cards (mostly what I play) so much better. I am usually just playing solo games on a folding table by my computer desk, and it really helps improve the experience. It's quite a bit larger than this table, but it just hangs off the edges and doesn't move around or anything. And also as mentioned, the case it comes with is great for storing it out of the way (and protecting it from dust and what not). I highly recommend it.
So glad you like it too!! It really is a great quality mat for the price. It feels really dense and heavy-duty compared to some others I've seen lately as well. I can't play without it! :) Thanks so much for watching and dropping your comments in! 👍
Small correction, coins are not worth any points at the end of Arnak. But i do love those doubloon coins, i use some for Jamaica and Clank! As for favorite cheap accessories, i really like the cork coasters from Ikea as component bowls!
@@BoardGameCasualChannel It's a great family weight game that IMHO is much improved by the Crew expansion. Both have recently enjoyed a second edition print run so they should be much easier to find than before!
Dude--why didn't I think of that? Genius!! I have yet to work on a game idea that has a lot of custom tokens or tiles, but coin capsules would be PERFECT for prototyping! So easy to swap in artwork or make changes when you need to adjust... Thanks man--you got my designer side buzzing with this idea. 😄
@@BoardGameCasualChannel Awesome! I loved your idea about using a label maker for custom dice. I always love these types of things. Have you considered sharing some of your design ideas on this channel? Or do you have a separate channel that you use to make game overview or playthrough videos?
@@KendallW Thanks man! Yeah, I was thinking about using the "Design Diaries" series to talk about some of my own game designs as well--I just wasn't sure if anyone would find that interesting. 😅 But at a minimum I thought it would be a good way to document ideas/progress, and maybe even get suggestions/advice from anyone watching. (At the very least, I suppose people could learn from my mistakes. Hahaha!) But yeah, stay tuned!--I've got a lot of ideas coming up for the Design Diaries series. ☺
Heh, I just didn't buy any dice trays in 2023. You might be interesting in the "Top 5 Game Night Accessories" video where a dice tray is my #1: ruclips.net/video/hifsYiR8oMg/видео.html You may also be interested in this video, where I review my cheap wooden Amazon dice tray: ruclips.net/video/Sf68Fp4Wa1A/видео.html Or this one where I compare several folding dice trays: ruclips.net/video/jtuaDGhCp2U/видео.html And in case you missed it, here are my Top 5 OVER-THE-TOP game night accessories: ruclips.net/video/QZfgPBeGSxg/видео.html Enjoy!
I think I've thrown 3 parties with 5-8 betters on each board. I definitely want to get a 3rd copy, maybe even a fourth. (I think it plays a little better with 6 or fewer on a board, since everyone gets to keep the extra "3" betting token, and it's not as crowded for placing bets.) Thanks! I hope you found it useful!
Heh, Actualol's gift list was interesting. Personally, I'm not sure how much I'd be into the magazines or books, but I DFINITELY agree with his suggestion of a "dice tray". I got my (cheap) dice tray years ago and it was a game changer! Plus you can never have too many--it's great to give each side of the table (or each player) their own. He was also spot on with "Having people to game with". I can totally relate to all those things that get in the way of being able to get people together to play games! 😓
@@BoardGameCasualChannel oh yeah I liked the personalized dice tray rec instead of passing around one big tray like a bong. I find dice towers too stodgy and any dice tray I get gets repurposed as a key holder ha, so there’s always room for a new one My favorite was the fancy carbs. I have a friend who appreciates carbs so much and I used that rec to inform my Christmas gift this year haha
@@somefishhere Nice! Yeah, I was gifted a nice dice tower, but candidly, I just prefer chucking them... It's much more gratifying. Fancy snacks (and cocktails) are a must for game nights! 😁
What were YOUR best game accessory purchases this year? (I'm especially interested in any clever "cheap alternative" upgrades you've come across!)
Over the last few years I've made most of these upgrades.
The neoprene mat is definitely the top upgrade because it's used with every game we play.
The Iron Clays feel and look great! I agree with how you and I got two sets of the lower denominations, and one of the higher.
The coin capsules I use for the Arkham Horror LCG and it feels so satisfying pulling them out of the bag.
Awesome--great minds think alike! 😄
Yup i got a game mat a few years ago and it makes every game better. I got a small one to take to game meet ups as well.
I bought that game mat from your video about it and have been very happy with it. It's good quality, nice and large (I went with the smaller one even though the larger was only $5 more and it still takes up almost my entire dining table), and like you mention it makes playing games with cards (mostly what I play) so much better. I am usually just playing solo games on a folding table by my computer desk, and it really helps improve the experience. It's quite a bit larger than this table, but it just hangs off the edges and doesn't move around or anything. And also as mentioned, the case it comes with is great for storing it out of the way (and protecting it from dust and what not). I highly recommend it.
So glad you like it too!! It really is a great quality mat for the price. It feels really dense and heavy-duty compared to some others I've seen lately as well. I can't play without it! :)
Thanks so much for watching and dropping your comments in!
👍
I’ve had success using a cotton blanket as an alternative to a playmat!
Nice, that sounds like it'd do in a pinch 🙂
Small correction, coins are not worth any points at the end of Arnak. But i do love those doubloon coins, i use some for Jamaica and Clank!
As for favorite cheap accessories, i really like the cork coasters from Ikea as component bowls!
Damn--good catch! I think I had Champions of Midgard on the brain. 😵💫😓
How do you like Jamaica? That's a classic I've still never played...
@@BoardGameCasualChannel It's a great family weight game that IMHO is much improved by the Crew expansion. Both have recently enjoyed a second edition print run so they should be much easier to find than before!
Thanks so much for this list just in time to be shipped before Christmas, have a great New Year!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching! I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year too!
These are great. I think those coin capsules will help with some game designs I'm working on. Thanks!
Dude--why didn't I think of that? Genius!! I have yet to work on a game idea that has a lot of custom tokens or tiles, but coin capsules would be PERFECT for prototyping! So easy to swap in artwork or make changes when you need to adjust...
Thanks man--you got my designer side buzzing with this idea. 😄
@@BoardGameCasualChannel Awesome! I loved your idea about using a label maker for custom dice. I always love these types of things. Have you considered sharing some of your design ideas on this channel? Or do you have a separate channel that you use to make game overview or playthrough videos?
@@KendallW Thanks man! Yeah, I was thinking about using the "Design Diaries" series to talk about some of my own game designs as well--I just wasn't sure if anyone would find that interesting. 😅
But at a minimum I thought it would be a good way to document ideas/progress, and maybe even get suggestions/advice from anyone watching. (At the very least, I suppose people could learn from my mistakes. Hahaha!)
But yeah, stay tuned!--I've got a lot of ideas coming up for the Design Diaries series. ☺
@@BoardGameCasualChannel good idea, thanks!
New sub, loving your videos, specially the accessories reviews, keep them coming!
Thank you and welcome to the channel! That means a lot to me! 😊
other than number 1, every single one is about coins. what do you think about dice trays and stuff?
Heh, I just didn't buy any dice trays in 2023. You might be interesting in the "Top 5 Game Night Accessories" video where a dice tray is my #1:
ruclips.net/video/hifsYiR8oMg/видео.html
You may also be interested in this video, where I review my cheap wooden Amazon dice tray:
ruclips.net/video/Sf68Fp4Wa1A/видео.html
Or this one where I compare several folding dice trays:
ruclips.net/video/jtuaDGhCp2U/видео.html
And in case you missed it, here are my Top 5 OVER-THE-TOP game night accessories:
ruclips.net/video/QZfgPBeGSxg/видео.html
Enjoy!
@@BoardGameCasualChannel Thank you !
2 copies of Ready Set Bet? I bet you're set for any size party.
Great video, thanks for the look at the kallax shelf mounts.
I think I've thrown 3 parties with 5-8 betters on each board. I definitely want to get a 3rd copy, maybe even a fourth. (I think it plays a little better with 6 or fewer on a board, since everyone gets to keep the extra "3" betting token, and it's not as crowded for placing bets.)
Thanks! I hope you found it useful!
@@BoardGameCasualChannel wow, that's a cool use for multiple copies alright! I need to go to one of your parties.
Have you seen Actualol’s Christmas gift list! The board game magazine seems perfect
Heh, Actualol's gift list was interesting. Personally, I'm not sure how much I'd be into the magazines or books, but I DFINITELY agree with his suggestion of a "dice tray". I got my (cheap) dice tray years ago and it was a game changer! Plus you can never have too many--it's great to give each side of the table (or each player) their own.
He was also spot on with "Having people to game with". I can totally relate to all those things that get in the way of being able to get people together to play games! 😓
@@BoardGameCasualChannel oh yeah I liked the personalized dice tray rec instead of passing around one big tray like a bong. I find dice towers too stodgy and any dice tray I get gets repurposed as a key holder ha, so there’s always room for a new one
My favorite was the fancy carbs. I have a friend who appreciates carbs so much and I used that rec to inform my Christmas gift this year haha
@@somefishhere Nice! Yeah, I was gifted a nice dice tower, but candidly, I just prefer chucking them... It's much more gratifying.
Fancy snacks (and cocktails) are a must for game nights! 😁
Does the neoprene mat stink?
@@NowPerfection Mine didn’t stink at all! 🙂
still dont get the appeal of the mats. i never had any problems picking up cards etc from a wooden table in my life and I played a lot of card games.