This is your chance to create the board game you've always wanted. The rules are ready: you just need to choose a theme and create a board and pieces. The personalized versions of the Monopoly are much appreciated gifts and can liven up a party or family evening.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Creating Your Game
Step 1. Think of a unique theme for your game
It is very easy to customize Monopoly: you just need an idea to start from. You can take a generic approach, such as creating a marine-themed game, or a personal one, basing the board on your hometown.
- Be careful not to be too specific. If your theme isn't broad enough, you may not have enough options to fill all Rail spaces or all Probability cards.
- Choose a name for your game, such as "Canopoli" or "Elvisopoli".
Step 2. Choose boxes and images related to your theme
For example, if you have decided to make a medieval board, you could write the names of the boxes in gothic characters and replace the traditional prison with a dark dungeon. You will need four square spaces in the corners and 9 rectangular spaces between them to make room for the properties.
Step 3. Invent custom properties
Write down the list of different properties that can be bought and sold. You can make funny or sensible choices, like ice cream flavors or New York skyscrapers. For a game that has the city of Rome as its theme, you could choose the most famous places in the city, such as the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. In total, you will have to come up with 22 spaces for properties.
You will have to choose eight different colors for the groups
Step 4. Choose secondary spaces on the board
After thinking about the properties, you will need four stations, three Unexpected boxes, three Probability boxes and three service spaces, with their monetary values. Also, remember to customize the "Go!" and the other corners.
Create a "Go to jail" box and a "Jail" box. Come up with creative ways to trap players. If the theme of your game board is the jungle, you can create the "Broken Vine" space that sends players to "Quicksand"
Step 5. Use the large blank space in the center of the board to develop your theme
If you want to gift the game to a couple for their anniversary, you can paste photos of the two around the name of your personalized Monopoly.
Step 6. Decide if you want to change any rules
You have already changed the board, but you have the option to customize the game itself as well. For example, you can change the order of the properties to make the game more difficult, or change the number of turns to go to jail. If you don't want to lose the spirit of the original game, you can print a copy of the rulebook or put an old version in the box.
Part 2 of 4: Building the Board
Step 1. Use a template to design the board
The simplest option is to reuse an old Monopoly board as a reference. You can place your designs directly on the spaces of the board, to copy their dimensions. There is no need to cut or measure, you can follow the existing lines to complete your game.
If you don't have a Monopoly board available, you can find pictures of the classic design on the internet. Many people have made their customized versions of Monopoly public, and on fan sites, you can find models to inspire you
Step 2. Build the board
If you are not using an original board, you will need material that can be cut into a 45x45cm square and folded for storage, such as cardstock or heavy paper. The normal Monopoly board is slightly smaller than the size recommended here, but the extra space will give you more customization possibilities.
Whatever the size of your board, be sure to prepare a package that can hold it. Whether you decide to fold the board or leave it open, it won't have to come out of its box
Step 3. Draw the board by hand
You can use pens and pencils or do it on the computer. Either way, you'll have the freedom to experiment with colors and images, but if you're new to graphics programs, the hand-held solution is best. Ultimately, the choice will be between a hand-made game or a detailed replica, made on the computer.
A ruler will be very useful to you. Measure the boxes so that they are identical to each other
Step 4. Use software to get a more accurate model
You can download a template and edit the designs in Photoshop, or create a board from scratch using a graphics program or website.
- You can use free programs on the internet, such as Google Draw, if you don't want to buy an expensive application.
- Since the size of the board is larger than that of a normal printer sheet, you may need to split the image in the graphics program to print it across multiple sheets.
- With a computer, you can imitate the traditional Monopoly font.
Step 5. Create a pdf file of your board and have it printed on sticky paper in the copy shop
You can later stick the sticker onto an old board or one you created yourself. Make sure you get rid of all bubbles right away. Use a razor blade to make a cut in the lining and to be able to fold the board.
Part 3 of 4: Creating the Cards
Step 1. Create the Unexpected and Probability cards
You will need to make 16 of each type. Replicate the actions of the original game, but customize the text according to your theme.
- For example, instead of the card that says "Go to the Victory Park", you could write "Go to the Colosseum", if your game is based on Rome.
- For Probability cards, you could replace "Pay the doctor's bill" with "Pay a fine to enter the ZTL".
- Card stock is the most suitable material, because it can be cut into any shape and size and is suitable for pens, pencils, markers and paints if you intend to make the game by hand.
Step 2. Make the cards for each property
For simplicity, use the same rental and mortgage values as the original ones. Don't forget to decorate the back of the cards.
- You can print directly on card stock if you are using a template in Photoshop or Microsoft Word.
- Laminate or laminate all cards to protect them from wear and anger.
Step 3. Make an original coin
You can make the banknotes yourself or buy generic or Monopoly fake money, in toy stores or on the internet. If you have decided not to buy fake banknotes, you can design or print them yourself.
- Use creativity. For example, if you are creating a game based on Tarantino's films, you could use a graphics program to put the faces of the characters on the banknotes and add fake blood splatters for a fun effect.
- You can also name your banknotes. "Credits" is a suitable name for video game-based Monopolies, while "Bison Hooves" is more suited to a western-themed game.
Part 4 of 4: Preparing the Pawns
Step 1. Choose the pieces
Traditionally, Monopoly matches are played by 2-8 players. Everyone needs a token, so you should make 8 or more if you want to include that many participants. You can reuse the classic Monopoly tokens or invent new ones. Use your imagination: If you're creating a movie-themed game, you can make a popcorn bucket, clapperboard, Oscar statuette, etc.
Step 2. Build the tokens
Clay and papier-mâché are the most suitable materials for making your pieces. You can also use items that you own around the house or that you can find in toy stores. For example, if your game is superhero themed, you can use figures as pawns.
- Try to use small pieces, as the squares are not very large.
- Polymer clay and Das are two resistant and easy to find materials, suitable for creating pawns.
- Don't forget that you will need some dice. If you don't want to buy them and prefer not to use your own, you can create them with the scraps of the materials used for the production of the tokens.
Step 3. Build the houses and hotels
Choose a creative design that is easy to recreate many times, as you will need 32 houses and 16 hotels to play. For example, if your game is western-themed, you can make houses that resemble ranches and saloons.
- You can always just repaint the houses of a traditional Monopoly, following the color scheme of your version.
- You can make the game more complex by creating houses and hotels of different value. For example, you could build a house, skyscraper, and castle within the same game and create different rental rates.
