Five Star Gift Ideas

When it comes to finding a birthday gift for a friend who loves board game designing and playtesting, it's important to choose something that not only caters to their passion but also adds value to their experience. Here are a few thoughtful and personalized gift ideas that are sure to bring a smile to their face:

1. Game Design Book: Help your friend enhance their skills by gifting them a book on game design. Look for titles like "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell or "Game Design Workshop" by Tracy Fullerton. These books provide valuable insights, tips, and techniques that can inspire and educate your friend on developing engaging board games.

2. Prototyping Tools: Since your friend loves designing and playtesting, consider getting them tools to aid in creating prototypes. Consider purchasing a good quality printer for card designs, a rotating cutting mat, or a board game prototyping kit, which includes various components like dice, meeples, and tokens that can be used to bring game ideas to life.

3. Customized Playtesting Kit: Put together a playtesting kit tailored to your friend's specific needs. Include items like different colored meeple sets, transparent card sleeves, custom-printed dice, or a set of dry-erase markers for marking changes on prototype boards. These items will be not only useful but also add a personal touch to their playtesting sessions.

4. Subscription to a Playtesting Service: Many companies and websites offer playtesting services where individuals can get their games tested by a community of enthusiastic gamers. Consider gifting your friend a subscription to one of these services, such as The Game Crafter or PlaytestCloud. This will not only provide them with valuable feedback but also connect them to a wider network of game designers.

5. Game Designer Merchandise: Help your friend proudly showcase their love for game design by gifting them merchandise related to their favorite board games or game designers. For example, you could get them a t-shirt featuring a popular board game, a mug with a design related to game development, or a poster featuring influential game designers.

6. Attend a Board Game Convention Together: Surprise your friend with tickets or a weekend pass to a local or regional board game convention. This will not only expose them to the latest trends in the industry but also provide an opportunity to network with other game designers and enthusiasts. Attending together will make it even more enjoyable and memorable.

Remember, the most meaningful gift is one that shows you understand and support your friend's passion. By considering their interests and providing them with tools, resources, or experiences that enhance their board game designing and playtesting journey, you are bound to give them a birthday gift they will cherish.

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