I’d love for you to give this game a go. Here’s how I made it in Australia and how much it’d set you back to create your own:
Gamepieces
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72 x Hexagonal matte white bathroom tiles
[$9-18]
I went with the 50x59mm tiles, you could go larger, but I wouldn’t recommend going much smaller.
36 tiles is just enough for the 2 player version.
I purchased 2 sheets (72 tiles) for $17.48, but it currently looks like they’re on sale for $5 a sheet:
It’s the largest expense but oh-so-satisfying compared to cardboard and gives the necessary height required.
- 1 x D6 dice
[$0-5]
I’ve been told it’s offensive to ask an avid boardgamer whether they have dice, so if you are, you’re probably good here.
I used these free digital dice for a fair while before realising I had one:
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12 x Critter pieces per player + 1 x larger critter piece per player
[$0-6 / player]
I used these, they’re very cute and a good size:
https://www.themosaicstore.com.au/collections/ceramic-flowers
Honestly you could use anything, such as little wooden cubes, meeples from another game or little figurines, they do have to be quite small.
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A bunch of resource tokens (About 20 each of 3 different colours)
[$6-12]
I recommend these:
https://www.themosaicstore.com.au/collections/glass-triangles https://www.themosaicstore.com.au/collections/mini-glass-diamonds
One mixed set for ~$6 of ~85 pieces is enough if you’re happy for them not to be matching
“I never once got bored during other people’s turns because I was always making fun patterns with the resources” - Amy (avid boardgamer)
Total $15-59
(Two player with own player pieces vs 4 player full resources, player pieces and dice)
[+ shipping]
Extras
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2 x coloured pencils or paints (to decorate your tiles)
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A ruler (or a something that you can draw a straight line with)
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A notepad and paper or notes app to write down the final scores!
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The rulebook! It’s FREE - https://volcanique.rocks/rules
Optional
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1 x D4 (also offensive to ask if they play DnD)
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1 x Large coin (for disputes)
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Carry bags or little containers and a bag or box to store it in
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1mm foam adhesive for the backs of your tiles
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Matte spray or clear coat to protect your tiles (less shiny works best under most lighting conditions)
Decorating your tiles
Go as crazy or as simple as you like.
Here’s some suggestions:
- zigzags, straight lines and spots
- block colour, scribble colour, blanks
- 3 different colours
- forest, grasslands, desert
2 Player Tiles
You’ll need the following minimum for a 2 player game:
**2** x uno forest tiles
**2** x uno grassland tiles
**2** x uno desert tiles
**3** x duo forest/grass tiles
**3** x duo grass/desert tiles
**3** x duo desert/forest tiles
**5** x trio forest/grass/desert tiles
**5** x trio forest/desert/grass tiles
9 x volcano lava/soil tiles
2 x sacrificial critter crater tiles
25 biome tiles + 11 other tiles
3-4 Player Tiles
For a 3-4 player game you will need the following tiles:
3 x uno forest tiles
3 x uno grassland tiles
3 x uno desert tiles
5 x duo forest/grass tiles
5 x duo grass/desert tiles
5 x duo desert/forest tiles
7 x trio forest/grass/desert tiles
7 x trio forest/desert/grass tiles
12 x volcano lava/soil tiles
4 x sacrificial critter crater tiles
Uno tiles: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
Duo tiles: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
Trio tiles: 7 + 7 = 14
Other tiles: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16
Total tiles = 9 + 15 + 14 + 16 = 54 tiles
18 x volcanic soil tiles
3-4 Player Extra Tiles
1 x uno forest tile
1 x uno grassland tile
1 x uno desert tile
2 x duo forest/grass tiles
2 x duo grass/desert tiles
2 x duo desert/forest tiles
3 x trio forest/grass/desert tiles
3 x trio forest/desert/grass tiles
4 x lava/soil tiles
2 x sacrificial critter crater tiles
No idea if you can just keep adding extra tiles for more players - probs - but it’ll add to the length of the game, so be warned. Also more prep set-up time.
Lava your comments here