Secret santa DIY. Pencil case battletech.

[nic-e]

My gaming group is doing a secret santa. The limit was £10. I decided that rather than spend that on a miniature or a shitty star wars mug, I'd build something.

To that end I had a think about what could be done, before coming across a pencil case at work that had a hex pattern on the bottom. I decided i could make a little battletech style game in this box, got it and went to work.
The total money spent on this was £2.99, plus some stuff i already had in my bits box.

The rules are written, i just need to print them off, bind them into a little booklet and give the box some weathering.


Just a pencil case....




The parts. Two control beacons, two mechs, four hills, four rocky pillars, four gun turrets and four shield generators.


Flip the box and TADA! a textured martian hex board.




Some action! the mechs are very simple to keep them visible and quick. Ideally I'd have sculpted some nice ones but i really haven't got the time.


A sense of scale. I hope you all enjoy!

I'll put the rules up if anyone is interested.
 

[Neunfinger]

Very cool, what a great imaginative gift!

[Barry S]

That's brilliant!

What an awesome gift 

[James Holloway]

What a fun and creative gift idea. Well conceived and executed.

[jambo1]

Super!! Great idea and well executed, someone is in for a treat!!

[nic-e]

Cheers chaps. Hopefully I can get access to a printer before tomorrow night ot get the rules and cards printed off, But tonight I'll give the box a final coat of gloss black to keep it smart and inconspicuous.

Now, to make one with knights ....

[YPU]

That is inspiring! a well executed simple idea is often the best.

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Great idea.

[Sbloom141]

Brilliant idea, don’t paint the box, the battered metal suits it!

Would you mind sharing your rules?

[nic-e]

Brilliant idea, don’t paint the box, the battered metal suits it!

Would you mind sharing your rules?

No problemo!

I'll post them up tomorrow once i've gone through and given then a final print ready finish. (be warned, they aren't tested and may be shiiiiiiiiitatoes.)

[Cubs]

Superb. Ditto on the no-painting on the box. Maybe get a hammer and nail a line of bullet dints, or scorch it with a flame, or both!

[nic-e]

I'm really glad this has been enjoyed as much as it has. Secret santa is tonight so I shall be saying goodbye to pocket mechs for now.

I'll put the rules and cards up on here as a PDF tonight.

[nic-e]

Here we go, he rules ,mech cards and weapon cards for anyone interested.

Im sure his is written badly and in desperate need of editing and it may not even work as a game. but it's here!

[Nick Ellingworth]

What an absolutely fantastic idea, you've given me some inspiration for something similar using a slightly larger box. Though when I will get round to it amongst all my other projects is another matter entirely. 

The rules look pretty good at a first glance. I like the different attack patterns should lead to some interesting tactical decisions even on such a compact playing area. I also like the way you've stuck to the hex aesthetic throughout the rules and mech damage trackers it's a small thing but I like it.