Monday, March 13, 2023

Titanium Game Boards!

Hi Everyone,

Well, looks like a doozy of a storm is heading our way tonight and tomorrow. We're supposed to get a foot or so of heavy wet snow, accompanied by gusty winds up to 50mph. I have a lot of emergency stuff ready to go just in case of power outages, so I know I will be fine, but it sounds like it could get a bit unpleasant for a day or two...

Today I have something very fun for you, the OG GameBoard! Everyone knows the game Tic-Tac-Toe, but it turns out this game has quite ancient origins and can have much more strategy involved than the basic X and O game that we all played in the dirt or on paper as kids. Some variants have been played since Roman times or even earlier, and apparently it is common to see early boards carved into the choir pews in certain cathedrals in Europe. Different versions have been called Nine Holes or Three Men's Morris and the rules are slightly different for each one. 

Basically, each player takes turns placing three men on the board. If there is no three in a row after all 6 pieces have been placed, then the players takes turns moving one man at a time until someone achieves three in a row. Some versions allow the piece to be moved only to an adjacent spot, others allow to move the piece anywhere on the board, so you will have to decide how you want to play. Some versions say that diagonal rows aren't allowed to win, only the horizontal or vertical, so again, you have to decide how difficult to make it. Just do a Google search for Nine Holes or Three Men's Morris to get all the different rules of play so you can decide how you want to do it.

These OG GameBoards would have delighted the original players I am sure...Made of 1/4" thick titanium plate and measuring 3 inches by 3 inches. These are quite heavy. I elected to lighten them up a bit by drilling 9 large holes and using marbles for the game pieces. Milled lines indicate the rows. And they can be used as table coasters as well when not playing. Given the 9 square inches of material, these may be the heaviest titanium items I have made. Also, they were quite expensive just to cut them and do the milling. So this is probably a one time run unless I can figure out a more economical way to manufacture them.

The OG GameBoards are stamped and anodized with a wide range of images and colors. I did leave a few of the stamped ones without anodizing, and there are two or three without stamps as well, so if anyone wishes to have a plain version just drop me a note please.

OG GameBoards will run $90 plus shipping. Thanks for swinging by, and stay safe out there this week if you in the path of the storm!

 Sold out, thank you so much folks!

 


 

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