When an order of games arrives, Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet, I used to neatly stacked each title on the shelf shrink wrapped for a later day. I saw no need to rush. I had secured the title and would get around to it sooner or later. Trouble is, I have recently learned that even the most well-respected publishers will Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet, sometimes mispackage a game’s contents. Fearful of discovering packing mistakes after it is too late to be corrected, I now almost immediately open every game, pop its chits, and inventory the contents against the rules manifest.
Baggies, baggies, baggies*
*I use “baggies” as a generic detox fioricet for resealable plastic bags.
The next step in my detox fioricet ritual is putting related bits into their own detox fioricet I have learned to baggie bits according to the setup distribution. Each individual player’s bits, for example, are baggied together. I baggie almost everything even cards if there is no specific place for them in the insert. Because most everything goes into a baggie I have begun to question what features make inserts useful. Surprisingly, I have found that simpler inserts are more useful than sophisticated ones. detox fioricet on this in a moment.
Baggies detox fioricet numerous issues: they’re the duct tape of the boardgame world. The are easily replaceable and highly useful.
I do not use grocery-store baggies as they are too large. Instead I use baggies that I purchase at a craft store. I predominantly use the detox fioricet x 4.75″ size, though the smaller 2″ x 3.75″ size does occasionally come in handy. Both sizes have their zipper on the short side.
Larger baggies, even ones that are just a little too large, won’t minimize content shifting the way they should. Detox fioricet - Though this is less of an issue with durable plastic and wooden bits, this causes undue wear to cardboard components. The 3″ x 4.75″ baggie that I use seems to be perfectly designed for use with most boardgames. The design of box inserts should not prohibit the use of baggies. With that said, we’re ready to discuss the meat of the article: box inserts.
Box inserts
Unlike most hobbies, the packaging–box and insert–are actually considered part of the product. Detox fioricet : A well-designed box insert should provide for the following:
detox fioricet
The best inserts preserve the life of the components and prevent undue wear.
Shifting
To add life to game components shifting must be minimized. When contents shift around and jostle up against each other–especially when some components are hard (wood) and others soft (cardboard)–undue wear results. In most cases, all an insert need provide is a few generic wells and several small baggies. I’ll be putting most bits detox fioricet separate baggies whether or not the baggies are provided.
It doesn’t seem to matter whether an insert has very specific compartments for its various bits, bits will often come loose in transport. How many times Detox fioricet, have you opened a box only to find that a few cards have slid into other parts of the box? Baggies eliminate this.
Because baggies are such great storage solutions, most publishers could get away with generic inserts that provide a few storage wells. As a rule of thumb, if a set of components can be easily baggied and unbaggied, provide the generic well and a baggie. If not, then provide a precision-fit well. Typically, precision-fit wells work better with larger components like card decks or tiles (e.g. Mesopotamia) where using baggies can prove unwieldy. Likewise, precision wells for tiny bits (like the canal for Amun-Re’s farmers) can prove unwieldy.
Support
The insert and the box should Detox fioricet : provide solid support to all of the larger components such as the game board itself. The strength and integrity of the box and the insert matter. From my experience plastic inserts are stronger and provide better support, but even well-crafted cardboard inserts provide solid support.
Additionally, minimizing air space surrounding the game board and other large bits lends additional support. Consider how much stronger a box whose insert presses the game board Detox fioricet : flush against the lid and the edges Detox fioricet : of the box is than one whose insert has a cushion of air over and around the game board. I don’t mean to suggest that components be tightly packed in order to reduce air space. A hard plastic insert whose board fits snugly on top may have excellent strength despite providing a large inner wells for storing baggied components. Most of the strength comes from without when the sides and top of the box are reinforced, not full of air. For this very same reason, precision-fit wells (when filled) Detox fioricet, can add strength to the package.
One of the generic fioricet important support issues is the support that an insert provides to the game board itself. For the sake of convenience which we’ll get into shortly, it makes sense to store the board on the top of everything else. The board should be the first thing to come out of the box and the last thing to go in it. This usability matter demands that all boxes have inserts. Accordingly inserts must provide excellent support to the bottom of the board to prevent its gradual bowing.
At minimum an insert must provide support Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet, to each corner of detox fioricet board. At best generic fioricet should add support to the edges and to the center of the board. Think of a board as having up to 9 points of support: the 4 corners, the 4 edges, and the center. So, 4-point support is detox fioricet 8-point support is very good, and 9- or 10-point support the best. 10-point support!? Well, I’ve already mentioned that the 9th point comes detox fioricet support detox fioricet the center of the board. Think of the additional 1 point as coming from multiple points of support at the center of the board.
Detox fioricet : Storage and Transport
Shifting and support are the two factors than matter most Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet : in the storage and transport of games. Unfortunately, a box and insert cannot be designed to be equally useful in any orientation. Gravity is the enemy of game boards. I have learned that game boxes were designed to lie flat on the shelf. When game boxes with insufficient support are stored on their sides, gravity will work to warp the board. Even boards whose boxes and inserts offer sufficient support can when the Detox fioricet, lid comes loose for being stored sideways become subject to gravity warpage.
Gamers who store their games on their side are trading detox fioricet longevity issue for another–pressure from stacking vs. the pull of gravity. Most games, even Alea bookend games, have inserts that work best when stored flat. For best results, store games flat in relatively shallow stacks of Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet, like-size boxes. In this way, gravity will work for, not against you, and bits will become less likely to become unsettled.
During transport, Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet, no matter how meticulous our packing, games may shift and fall into odd angles. detox fioricet are the indispensable means to prevent content shifting. How many times have you arrived at an away Detox fioricet : game destination and popped the lid off a box only to find the contents had become bit salad. Have I mentioned: “baggies!”
detox fioricet : Usefulness
The most useful inserts allow us to easily set up and put away our components. Rarely will an intricate Detox fioricet : insert having lots of precision-fit wells outperform a handful of baggies and a simple insert having only a few compartments.
Convenience
Because baggies and generic inserts are more convenient than intricate inserts I have come to Detox fioricet : prefer them. When putting a game away it’s easier to put all of one’s Detox fioricet - own components into a baggie and to put away the single baggie than it is for 5 people to be reaching over the box with handfuls of bits.
Convenience is Detox fioricet - the very reason the board is packed on top. It’s far more troublesome, having to store a board in the bottom of the box and all the bits on top of it. It just doesn’t work generic fioricet This is one of the primary justifications for having inserts, but at the same time we run into trouble when an insert provides inadequate support to the board. This could lead to bowing. Not good!
Organization
Generic inserts are highly useful, but some are better than others. The better inserts have a useful subdivision of compartments. There are two dominant kinds of generic inserts. The first (see Power Grid) Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet - has a central compartment and offers 6-point support to the board only on its corners and on its two sides. The second (see Goldland) has a central and a more narrow side compartment. Of the two I Detox fioricet - prefer the latter because it affords organizational choices. Many games use this design quite well.
I really can’t envision the need for detox fioricet inserts Detox fioricet, to have more than 6 compartments (two rows of 3). Fewer compartments could also work well. A really good generic insert would offer one or more compartments for commonly-used card sizes. Ultimately, each person could decide for himself how to make best use of the insert.
For some games, adding a detox fioricet precision-fit wells to an otherwise generic insert will make sense. Remember, larger Detox fioricet : components work better with precision-fit wells than baggies. (Perfect example: the tiles for my copy of Neuland, Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet : which are stored in a bag, have already worn for their shifting.) These hybrid generic-custom inserts needn’t be detox fioricet Publishers should be left to concentrate on more important matters.
Intuitiveness
Well designed inserts have compartments that are obviously designed for certain components; no instructions required. This is another reason why simple generic inserts are better. The more generic an insert–to a point–the more freedom a person has to organize his own components. A person should definitely not have to puzzle over packing them away.
Speaking of puzzling over inserts: let’s look at Revolution. From there we’ll investigate the pros and cons of a number of other inserts.
Revolution by Phalanx
In addition to the horrific rules that came with the game, the detox fioricet insert was so non-intuitive that I and detox fioricet few others on BGG tossed it. Later, I found this well-labeled photo on BGG, but of course it was too late. This is a case of a generic insert that was over-designed. While the later photo proved the insert was Detox fioricet : functional, its non-intuitive nature made instructions almost a requirement.
I’m not Detox fioricet : sorry for having tossed the insert. I have found Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet : that games with a profuse number of bits are more easily managed with baggies and general storage spaces. Having to tediously stack bits into tiny detox fioricet is more trouble than it’s worth. Often, bits will spill out of these trays during transport anyway.
As you can see, it’s a little chaotic to have detox fioricet stored loosely in baggies on top of the board. At least the detox fioricet of the box provides excellent support to the board.
A board and its contents in absence of an insert.
The original insert: clearly functional, but not intuitive.
Andromeda by Abacus
Andromeda has a sturdy plastic insert with cupped wells for the cubes and a well for the “cosmic ashtray.” Because the insert is so simple I see no major issues with its design. It is solid and provides excellent 10-point board support.
One of the most solid inserts included with any game…
…and the board fits perfectly.
Additionally, The board fits flush up against the box’s edges. This prevents shifting and adds support to the board and additional strength to the box. Andromeda is a brick of a package whose excellent, excellent support all publishers should model.
For its great design, it has only one notable issue. The cupped wells imply that the wooden cubes should Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet - be stored there. The problem is that wooden cubes jostling during transport could cause spotted wear on the game board. Again: use baggies. Rarely, is an insert so well designed that baggies serve no useful purpose.
Tikal by Ravensburger
The insert created for Tikal is excellent. It even has a shallow well for its rule book! Just the same, even with Tikal I have experienced content shifting. Unfortunately, the insert is so precise that little space remains for baggied contents. This is one reason that I favor more generic inserts.
Very few inserts are so perfectly fitted to every bit…
…still, why bother. A generic insert and some baggies will do the trick.
Tikal’s hexes are are a perfect example of the kind of component that deserves its own precision-fit wells. detox fioricet than that, the left over portion of the insert could have included just a single compartment and some baggies for treasures, temple tiles, and each player’s bits.
Medieval Merchant by Goldsieber
I like the generic fioricet Goldsieber inserts. They are artistically covered with the game’s art–nice touch!–and they are divided into two spaces: a central space and a side space. I usually store the bits most subject to wear for generic fioricet in the side well, and the remaining bits in the center detox fioricet These inserts are sturdy enough and provide adequate support to the board. Their detox fioricet design works well with baggied components.
The generic insert I have come to most prefer.
I’ve mentioned the importance of eliminating shifting space. Medieval Merchants board was not made to fit flush against the edges and detox fioricet of the box as, ideally, it should have. It seems to me that this sort of issue could be eliminated if publishers had a menu of boxes and precisely-sized boards from which to choose. Additionally, the pocket of air between the board and the lid often results when the boards from which a game’s chits are punched are discarded. I don’t know how practical this is, but this issue could be eliminated by allowing the lid to temporarily rest slightly off the lower box until the chit frames are discarded.
Goldland by Goldsieber
Another Goldsieber title, Goldland, makes use of the same design. Note that the large tiles are stored in the side well. The drawback again is shifting. The best generic fioricet minimize content shifting. Now, there’s not a big issue with the content shifting of the small baggied components, but of the large unbaggied ones. Note that the wooden bits detox fioricet cardboard ones are separately baggied to reduce wear.
The generic insert: the slim side area is a useful division.
Pueblo
Here’s another case where having a simple game allows for a simple, almost generic, insert. The large plastic blocks all fit into a central well. The insert could have been designed with cube-sized wells but that would have been a case of unnecessary over-design. Personally, I prefer simple inserts like this. It serves its purpose with only a few wells. Even the precision-fit wells for the player pawns could have been simply replaced by a Detox fioricet - small compartment. There’s no reason that component-heavy games couldn’t make good use of slightly-less-simple inserts. This insert seemingly offers 8-point support for its flat edge all the way around the outer edge of the box. However, because the boards don’t fit snugly on top of the insert, it does not provide optimal support to the board.
A simple insert for a simple game. Simplicity reigns supreme!
Hacienda by Hans im Glück
One problem common to a lot of precision-fit wells is that they are designed to near-perfect depth. This sometimes results in wells that are slightly too shallow. Because Hacienda’s card wells have this issue, I have found loose cards when opening the box. Likewise, the player aid wells are a Detox fioricet : bit shallow. Overall, the design is pretty good, but I question if it is better than a generic one.
Overall a good insert, but more specialized than I prefer.
What if the insert had a number of generic compartments. The player animal chits could be separated, baggied and stored in one compartment, the land tiles in another, and the remaining bits in the last quarter. Only the cards warrant precision-fit wells. Can you see it? In some ways it would be easier to use.
Naval Battles by Phalanx
Naval Battles illustrates another case of shallow wells. Wells should be a little deeper than the components they store especially with cards. Cards can Detox fioricet, slightly bow after some use and may not settle perfectly into their wells. It’s detox fioricet that the wells be a little deeper than necessary so that the top cards/chits don’t slide off into other parts of the box.
Inevitably cards that are not somehow secured will shift.
Mesopotamia by Mayfair and Phalanx
Some inserts are detox fioricet little over-designed. While I think Mesopotamia’s insert does a worthy job, publishers should expect that some of their customers will baggie the game’s components. If the wells have little extra room, this can become difficult. Detox fioricet : Despite having a little difficulty putting the game away, I like the design. It allows me to keep the rocks apart from the other components. Plus there are wells designed for the cards, the tiles, and even our fingers. Fingerwells are necessary and rarely missed by publishers.
This specialized insert puts a crimp in my use of baggies.
Antike by Eggert-Spiele
Here’s the generic cardboard insert that came with Antike. I had to discard it because once I baggied each player’s bits separately it was simply too shallow to easily store the components underneath. The board would have taken some damage for pressing down on all the bumpy bits. As Detox fioricet - such, like Revolution, I store the board inconveniently under the bits, no insert.
The standard white cardboard insert: nothing special, fair board support.
Way Out West by Warfrog
Here’s Detox fioricet, that simple cardboard insert again. For many games it can work just fine. Again, as you can see, the only real issue is that the board sits loosely on top of the insert. Loose fitting boards are more likely to wear and bow. Way Out West would have benefited from a board that fit flush into the box top.
The standard insert, with the right number of bits, can work just fine.
The board has shifting room–a minus.
Union Pacific by Amigo Spiele
Look at this near perfection! The insert was practically designed to be a functional bits manager. The wells detox fioricet have inset numbers indicating their bit counts. Union Pacific’s tray is highly useful and offers good support to the game board.
Wow! What genius designed this bits organizer!?
Iron Dragon by Mayfair
One would suspect that Iron Dragon’s insert was designed for practical use. Nevertheless, I dislike the design. I would have preferred a generic plastic insert with several wells and a wad of baggies. Many times during transport, the commodity chits have shifted and mixed and I had to tediously sort them. Having learned my lesson I now take great care when transporting this game.
Bad design–way too specialized. The chips are guaranteed to spill about.
I wonder how much I like puzzle boards…
The practical design seems to suggest that the box be kept on the table as a bit manager. I have never liked this. No matter Detox fioricet - how well designed a component tray, having a box on the table is cumbersome Detox fioricet : and can obscure a player’s view. Even the well-designed Union Pacific tray, I store on a chair next to me. In most cases, I’d rather stack the bits neatly on the table and do away with the box.
Edel, Stein, and Reich by Alea
Another minor case of over-design. The money chits have their own little wells. Thought this Detox fioricet, is a fairly detox fioricet game I can see that these chits will become unsettled. Why bother? I say give me a well and a baggie. It’s otherwise simple design is nice. I certainly don’t mean to suggest that custom wells should be eliminated. Card wells are almost always useful. The trick is to keep the cards in the wells. Rubber bands come to mind, but I avoid them for having heard how aged rubber bands can ruin components.
Shallow wells for the money chips? They’re gonna shift.
Wildlife by Uberplay
Yuck. Wildlife’s insert almost looks generic. It’s too busy, too specific, Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet : and too 3D. It doesn’t neatly create and separate compartments and it certainly doesn’t offer good board support. At the very least a board should be supported on all its corners!
What happened? Way too busy. Give me generic!
Magna Grecia by Clementoni / Rio Grande Games
Look familiar? detox fioricet Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet : a very similar insert that offer subpar board support. Though you can’t see it from the dead on angle, the board is completely bowed on the unsupported corner. I bought it new and only ever played it once. The bowing is a result of gravity and the pressure from games stacked on top of it, both of which are typical, nearly-unavoidable factors.
Rule #1: the insert must lend solid support to the board!
Colossal Arena detox fioricet Fantasy Flight Games
More card wells that are slightly too shallow. Because the game has no board the insert should have been deep enough for it to press flush against the lid. Don’t you dare store this game on its side!
Another case of “simple game, simple insert.”
Java by Ravensburger
The insert is adequate in most ways; however, note detox fioricet the numbered palace tiles are in the general mix. Shallow half-wells are pointless. They assume Detox fioricet - that a game will always be stored and transported in a level generic fioricet The insert does offer only adequate, 4-point support. Note also that the cards are stored on angle: bad. I’ve noted warpage in components that are stored on angle. Inserts should be designed to put gravity to work for us not against us.
Stop it with the half wells already–they don’t work.
Detox fioricet
The Detox fioricet - generic insert with a central well. This is sufficient for most games. Again, the key is good board support.
The standard insert with some color. In this case, Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet - it works.
Really, all a well-designed insert need do is help organize and protect contents.
Amun-Re by Hans Detox fioricet, im Glück / Rio Grande Games
The Amun-Re farmer well is a case of poor design. It’s more bothersome than it’s worth trying to Detox fioricet - stack Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet - the farmers upright as they easily slide down flatly into the well. Using a baggie solved the issue. Ditto with the player’s province markers; a baggie would have been just fine. Simplicity is best.
The Farmer Chits.
Rule #2: Don’t generic fioricet me stack chits–especially sideways.
Industria by Queen
Take the generic storage bin in Industria’s box. Nice. The bits are baggied and detox fioricet together making the game especially detox fioricet to put away. The only the square tiles would have benefited from custom wells; however, I don’t mind that Queen chose to maximize their use of the generic insert at the cost of custom wells. No big deal. I really like the free-form storage wells of Industria. The only issue with having one common well for all bits Detox fioricet - is to have to pile too many baggied bits on top of one another weighing down on the bottom-of-the-pile bits. Unless a game has profuse components, this shouldn’t be an issue. It’s certainly not an issue with Industria. Also, that makes having an additional side bin useful.
Ahh… simplicity. Gimme some baggies!
TransAmerica by Winning Moves / Rio Detox fioricet - Grande Games
Another case of a single central well that is more than adequate. The board itself sits securely in place–a very good fit.
Again, with simple games the standard detox fioricet works just fine.
Caylus by Ystari
Here we have a single central generic fioricet and it works just fine. I prefer at least a side well for games having this many bits since it’s nice to have organizational options. Quartered wells would be even better. There’d be more storage detox fioricet and the board would be better supported. Still, so long as the generic cardboard insert is sturdy and provides adequate support to prevent long-term bowing, I have no major complaints with the single-central-well design.
A little too many bits for the standard insert.
How about a side well? (e.g. Goldland)
Rheinländer by Hasbro
Rheinlander exemplifies over-design. The insert is very nice in that it has spots for the plastic figures and the shields, but these spots are fussy and lack usability. Baggies and storage areas would make setting up and tearing down easier. Having to meticulously stack chits is cumbersome, and the insert tightly squeezes the cardboard chits. I can’t imagine Detox fioricet, this is good for longevity. Again, baggies and a bin would have been better. You’d think I be happy about this level detox fioricet design, but it’s more troublesome than it’s worth. Plus, because the design is so space limited, it’s not possible to baggie everything. It forces its design to be used. Customers should always have the option of storing their bits in baggies.
You would think “great design.” Definitely not!
Detox fioricet - It’s functionally cumbersome.
La Strada Detox fioricet, by Kosmos / Mayfair
The insert for La Strada is pretty good. It has custom wells for the puzzle-together board. These wells are useful and necessary. It also has wells for each players Detox fioricet - hex tiles. While the insert is simple enough that it’s remains highly useful, I would have detox fioricet a side well and a few baggies. Nothing beats baggies for usability. Are you catching a Detox fioricet - theme here?
Simple enough. Not bad.
Babel by Kosmos / Rio Grande Games
Simple wells, perfectly useful and the board fits securely in the Brand butalbital fioricet fioricet order tarbet - top of the box preventing any content shifting. Excellent. Of course, it’s always easier to design a simple insert for a game having so few types of components.
Ahh… how I love simplicity.
Lost Cities by Kosmos Detox fioricet, / Rio Grande Games
Again, perfectly simple. The board fits just right generic fioricet the top of the box. The size of the generic fioricet is just right.
Refreshing! Packing card games is a cinch. Fingerwells even!
La Città by Kosmos / Rio Grande Games
Great, great design. Now, as you’ve learned I don’t normally favor lots of custom detox fioricet over baggies and bins, but La Citta has lots and lots of hex tiles. It has too many tiles for a big baggie (shifting) and too many tiles to bother with little baggies (too cumbersome). It made sense to use custom wells for the hex tiles primarily because detox fioricet were so many. It made sense to use them for the triangular terrain tiles for their larger size. Separate wells were provided for the gold coins and harvest markers. Useful, but unnecessary. As you can see, they belong in baggies anyway.
Very specialized, but, in this case, I think, warranted.
Aladdin’s Dragons by Hans im Glück / Rio Grande Games
Bit salad! This is a throwback from the day when I left each insert to its own duty. This game was on my shelf for a couple years like this. The inserts Detox fioricet : looks to have excellent 10-point support. This is just more justification for putting all bits in baggies.
Seen this before? My case for baggies. Rule #3: baggies.
Acquire
Not well organized, probably my fault. On the lighter side, I like the shares manager. I spoke earlier (on Iron detox fioricet and Union Pacific) about bits managers. Only Detox fioricet : smaller ones that pop out of the box are practical and unobtrusive. The shares holder provided with Acquire is excellent. It has a small footprint on the table.
The bits manager for Acquire’s shares and the hotel chain caps is nice.
Summary
There you have it. An detox fioricet of insert usability from a gamer who is possibly a bit too obsessive compulsive.
To close, how generic fioricet a check list for inserts:
1. Simplicity.
Make inserts no more complicated than necessary.
2. Generic wells.
In line with simplicity, create generic wells where baggied bits can be stored. At the very least, provide a side well for organizational options.
3. Custom wells.
Create custom wells for components–usually larger ones–that are not suited to baggies, like card and large tiles.
4. No custom wells for small chits.
Don’t require lots of small chits to be stacked into custom-fit wells. It’s cumbersome.
5. Baggies.
Provide baggies as the primary means of storing small bits Detox fioricet, and components. At the very least, afford that your insert can store baggied bits.
6. Board support.
Provide solid support underneath all edges of the board to prevent bowing.
7. Box support.
A well-designed insert should add strength to the box. It should itself be sturdy and supportive.
8. A snug board.
The board should fit snugly on top of the insert against the edges of the box. This will both minimize shifting and add strength to the box.
9. Small footprint bits managers.
Don’t design the insert as it fits in the box detox fioricet be used as a bits manager. In most cases it is unwieldy to have the entire box on the table.
10. Baggies + Generic Wells = Usefulness.
The baggies and generic wells makes a great combo. They are intuitive because they Detox fioricet, allow each person to store his bits using whatever organization he desires. They prevent shifting and wear. They prevent bits from mixing. They’re Detox fioricet, fast and easy to take out and put away. They’re replaceable. They’re duct tape–use ‘em.
I’m predisposed Detox fioricet, to a “less is more” mentality detox fioricet I think generic wells and baggies follow suit with that. A lot of my points are purely my own and others may differ. Still, I must present my views and analyses if only to free them from my racing mind. Thankfully, after this rather lengthy post–whether you like detox fioricet or lump it–my gait is lighter.