last updated July 13th, 2016 — created July 13th, 2016
For each insert we create, we have a few standard design goals:
- Reduce setup time as much as possible
- Have separate trays for "setup components" and "gameplay components"
- Allow for vertical box storage without components crushing each other
- Fit sleeved cards
This game's insert is pretty simple. The best part about this one is the dungeon tile stacks bin. It makes setup much, much swifter. We decided to chop up the original FFG cardboard insert and paste the artwork to the base of the largest part of the insert. We're quite pleased with the result.
Game BoxTop layer of insertBottom layer of insertThe best part about this one is the dungeon tile stacks bin. It makes setup much, much swifter.We decided to chop up the original FFG cardboard insert and paste the artwork to the base of the largest part of the insert.
How To Build Foam-Core Inserts
We learned how to make foam-core inserts primarily by watching the videos from The Esoteric Order of Gamers. He has created these wonderful tutorials that will help you get started. We have tried a few methods and prefer his practices over any other. Pro tip: Although it is tempting to skip gluing when building inserts to save time, we really REALLY recommend that you don't. We have built a couple inserts using only dress pins to hold them together and they don't last very long.
Drakon
Painted MinisDrakon
For these miniatures we tried to stay in a standardized color scheme across all characters so they would look like a set.
Other Insert Projects
3D Printed InsertWorms: The Board Game
This insert is for the Collector's Edition, each team gets a bin and there are only 3 other trays to streamline setup.
3D Printed Carrying CaseStar Wars Poker: Kessel Sabacc
This insert is an imperial-themed crate design featuring a handle, custom logo, 4 player trays, and a single setup tray.
3D Printed InsertTwilight Imperium Fourth Edition
This is the 4th insert we've designed for TI4. It's our greatest one yet! :)
3D Printed InsertWorld of WarCraft: The Board Game
This is our biggest insert ever. There are two large sets of drawers to hold the minis and everything else fits in the base game box.
3D Printed InsertStarCraft: The Board Game
The highlight of this insert is the faction towers. Each faction gets its own tower with reference info on shields for some room to strategize.
3D Printed InsertStar Wars: Rebellion
This is a new era of 3D Printed Inserts. It has a lot of cool features that we'd never be able to do with foam-core, like sets of miniatures drawers.
Foam-Core InsertRunebound Second Edition
This design covers every expansion, limits the boxes needed to play, and features boxes for Adventure Variants and Character Decks.
3D Printed InsertHarry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
This insert houses the base game and both expansions in the base game box. Setup is quick with several play trays that go straight from box to table.
3D Printed InsertTyrants of the Underdark
This insert fits the first edition box. It has player trays for the houses and organizes the cards (including the expansion decks) to make setup a breeze.
Foam-Core InsertDungeonQuest Revised Edition
This insert is one of the first that we did with multiple trays. It has card drawers for each mini-deck as well as small trays for all tokens.
Foam-Core InsertRunebound Third Edition
This design covers every expansion, has tokens sorted for convenience, and features boxes for each scenario.
3D Printed InsertSanctum
The best part of this insert is how fast it makes the hero skills table setup. 5 seconds, no joke.
Foam-Core InsertWorld of WarCraft: The Adventure Game
We designed custom faction boxes for the character decks and tokens. We also made draw bins for challenge decks, and a neat drawer bin for discovery tokens.
Foam-Core InsertWiz-War
For this game we decided to store the base game and both expansions in one box with an overflowing insert (the lid doesn't fit on all the way).
3D Printed InsertRisk: Star Wars Black Edition
This was our first crack at making a 3D printed insert. It features rounded edges for easy component scooping and a draw deck space for each player.
3D Printed InsertArtisans of Splendent Vale
This mini-insert for the small components tuck box keeps numbered meeples ordered and ready for action!
Custom Heroes BoxD&D Adventure Board Games
We created a box to store all the heroes so we'd be able to easily select any hero from any of the sets no matter which game we pulled off the shelf to play.
Foam-Core InsertChaostle
We kept the original plastic insert in the base game box and built this insert for the Melee Expansion box.
Foam-Core InsertEnigma
This was the first insert we ever made. If we ever remake this it will be very different. But it was certainly a useful learning experience.
3D Printed InsertSETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
This insert features a custom data slider track to make star setup a breeze!
Custom Chess BoxChess
We got a gorgeous new fossil stone chess set, but it came in a decrepit green box, so we made our own.
3D Printed InsertProject L
Our components didn't fit well into any of our boxes for this game, so we've printed a new box that houses the base game and both expansions.
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