Five Star Gift Ideas

For your daughter who loves board game designing and playtesting, I have a few gift ideas that can encourage her passion and enhance her skills in this field:

1. Game Design Books: There are plenty of fantastic books available on game design and development. Consider gifting her books like "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" by Jesse Schell, "Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals" by Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman, or "The Kobold Guide to Board Game Design" by Mike Selinker. These books provide valuable insights and practical tips that can help her refine her game design skills.

2. Game Design Toolkit: Help her take her board game designing to the next level by giving her a game design toolkit. This can include items like blank cards, dice, game boards, and meeples - all the essential components she needs to prototype and playtest her ideas. You can also include other tools like colored markers, sticky notes, and prototyping software such as Tabletop Simulator, which allows her to develop and test digital prototypes.

3. Customized Playtesting Journal: Encourage her to document her game designing journey by gifting her a customized playtesting journal. You can choose a notebook with a board game or puzzle design on the cover and personalize it with her name or a motivating message. This journal can serve as a dedicated space for her to record ideas, track progress, and jot down feedback from playtesting sessions.

4. Membership to Game Designer Communities: Consider enrolling your daughter in online communities or forums dedicated to game design and playtesting. Websites like BoardGameGeek and Tabletopia offer forums, resources, and opportunities to engage with other aspiring game designers and playtesters. Gifting her a membership or subscription to such platforms will provide her with valuable networking and learning opportunities within the game design community.

5. Attend Game Design Workshops or Conferences: Look for game design workshops or conferences in your area and surprise her with tickets to attend one. These events often feature renowned game designers, panel discussions, and practical workshops focused on game design and playtesting. It will give her an opportunity to learn from industry professionals, seek feedback on her work, and get inspired by others in the field.

6. Collaborative Game Design Experience: Consider organizing a collaborative game designing experience for her. You can gather a group of her friends who share her interest in board games and arrange a day where they can all collaborate on designing a game together. This experience will not only be fun but also foster creativity and encourage teamwork.

Remember, the best gift you can give is your continuous support and encouragement. Show genuine interest in her game designing journey, ask her about her latest projects, and offer to playtest her games. By nurturing her passion, you will not only make her birthday special but also help her grow as a board game designer.

Or you can get her a star map with the date when she was born.