Five Star Gift Ideas

When it comes to finding a meaningful and personal gift for someone who loves board game designing and playtesting like your dad, there are a few ideas that might spark his interest and bring him joy this Christmas season.

1. Board Game Design Book: Consider gifting your dad a book on board game design to inspire and enhance his skills. There are many excellent options available, such as "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" by Jesse Schell or "Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games" by Tracy Fullerton. These books provide valuable insights, techniques, and strategies that can help him refine his board game designing abilities.

2. Board Game Prototyping Kit: Another thoughtful gift idea is to provide your dad with a board game prototyping kit. These kits usually include various materials like blank game boards, dice, cards, tokens, and other components that allow him to experiment with ideas and create prototypes of his own games. This can be a valuable and practical tool for any board game enthusiast and might inspire him to bring his creative visions to life.

3. Membership to Game Designer Community: Consider gifting your dad a membership or subscription to a game designer community or online platform. These communities provide a space for game designers to connect, share ideas, playtest their games, and receive feedback from other enthusiasts. Websites such as Board Game Geek or Tabletopia offer valuable resources, forums, and opportunities to engage with fellow designers. Being part of a community can offer support, inspiration, and networking possibilities, making it an ideal gift for your dad's passion.

4. Customized Playtesting Kit: To elevate your dad's playtesting experiences, you can create a customized playtesting kit just for him. Consider including items like blank scorecards, feedback forms, prototype sleeves, and playtest surveys in a personalized package. This thoughtful gift will not only show your dad your support for his hobby but also provide him with practical tools to enhance his playtesting process.

5. Attend a Board Game Convention: Surprising your dad with tickets to a board game convention could be an exciting and memorable experience for him. These events often feature countless board games to play, workshops, seminars, and opportunities to meet and learn from other game designers. Attending a convention provides a great environment for your dad to mingle with like-minded people, showcase his own games, playtest new ones, and gain inspiration.

Remember, the most important aspect of a meaningful gift is the thought and effort put into understanding your dad's interests. By considering his passion for board game designing and playtesting, any of these gift ideas are sure to bring joy and support his creative endeavors this Christmas.

Or you can get him a star map with an important date you share.