Introduction - Hi!

And my reasons for saying this is because to ME, this is more than just a MINIS "device". Sure at first glance you might conclude that it's for minis... But if the "device" were in a world where minis are NOT part of the culture... It would be more about a question of "3D GAMES"!

The Game Crafter community is LARGE and with a TON of designers. I've seen some TGC contests and let me tell you their ideas are real cool ... They've done over a dozen contests over the years and I'm sure they might be interested in something NOVEL.

Like I said, it could be played on a normal surface or the ENHANCE 3D "device" would take the experience to a whole new level. Why I say this is because to DESIGN a game for the "device" WITHOUT having one of them ... is a bit "troubling". The "device" would make 3D playing more natural.

Anyhow that's my personal opinion... BGG is good too... But they won't "advertise" your contest. They may list it ... But people will have to find it on their own. In the case of TGC, they will put it up on Social Media (like Facebook, Twitter) and send a newsletter to all their designers, etc. If you don't have the marketing power... TGC does.

Enough said... I have spoken my peace!

See that's where I think you are WRONG. I see this as enabling a GENRE of games called "3D Board Games". Miniatures is the wrong market. Now I see what you are "preaching": an "extension/add-on".

That's why you don't understand what I am talking about. I am saying to design CUSTOM games for the "device". Creating a whole NEW market. Not for just "gamers" TRYING to figure out what to do with it.

My opinion: it won't work.

What you need is RULES, people to DESIGN games around the "device". And the "device" itself lends well to a 3D nature of the "device". Now I also get what you are trying to do with "finding gamers". You want the "gamers" to think-up their own games...

Again: it won't work.

Board Game players require RULES. They want a rulebook they can read in 5 to 10 minutes and be done with it and KNOW how to PLAY a game. They don't invent rules for games like CHILDREN do (up to a certain age). Your "device" is far more interesting from a DESIGN "challenge" POV. That's what you don't understand ... because you're A> not a gamer and B> not a designer.

The "use your imagination and play a game on it" is for 10 year olds. Kids won't buy it and neither will parents. SEE MY STRATEGY:

A> You ask REAL "Game Designers" to DESIGN "games" for the "device".

B> They can market and sell their games as "3D Enabled" games.

C> You can sell your "device" online and you can explain to people all the wonderful games "DESIGNED" for it.

See the difference??? I'm not proposing to people "use your imagination". I'm saying some of the most clever people in the world have hand crafted gaming experiences for all kinds of people, ages, backgrounds, etc. This is why YOU should BUY this "device"!

It's no longer some kids imagination at play. It's about DESIGNER crafting all the new and exciting "3D Board Games" that this "device" enables...

Do ya get what I mean?!

The turning mechanism should be able to "lock" at position in a clock. In terms of "alignment" ... Free-flowing makes it difficult to align two levels. Like say one at 12:00 and one at 9:00 (a quarter from each other). Precise timing with a "device" like this could be very useful. And would definitely allow designers more options if there were ways to "time" the levels.

Like every 2nd turn (12:00 and 6:00), every 4th turn (12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00), etc.

But the device itself should stop at every 12th position (like a clock). Like a "clicking" from one position to the next.

Just a recommendation. This would greatly enhance the "device" IMHO.

Since you are not a "Board Gamer" (per your own admission), you fail to understand that the MOST important thing in "Board Gaming" are proper RULES. Adults don't play like children who can use a Corrugated Box and do all kinds of stuff with their own "imagination". ADULTS want a rulebook and hopefully the rules are sufficiently "interesting" they want to TRY the game.

Your "idea" of finding some "Board Gamers" and bringing your "device" to see what they can "imagine" is... like I already said: a CRAPPER IDEA. You are going to be ridiculed because you have NO REAL GAMES made for your "device".

Wargames and Miniatures are the WORST type of games to use your "device" with... WHY? Because Wargames and Miniatures have SO MANY RULES... It takes a real "special" type of gamer to sit down and understand ALL the rules. YOUR "device" won't help making the GAME SIMPLER. Quite the contrary, since TODAY your strategy is "Bring it and see what gamers can come up with" will result in a total and complete failure to understand HOW you should be moving forwards with the "device".

You're a bit exacerbating the fact because we've ALREADY "given you the best possible advice" and yet you are still "unsure".

Both I and Let-Off have said "Do a Contest!"

I already told you that, to me, "The Game Crafter" (TGC) is the better alternative because the "Game Designers" would design GAMES (and not minis). Let-Off said if that doesn't work, you can try BGG (Board Game Geek)...

That's the BEST advice I (we) can possibly give you.

You want Baby Steps, we've given you them. If you think: "What should I do next???" Well you should VISIT http://www.thegamecrafter.com and go to the HELP page. Maybe search for "Contests" and see if there is anything on that matter. If NOT, use "Contact" to reach out to Support and fill out the form with your name, e-mail and question about "What are the steps for running a contest or having TGC host one for my 'device'..." And then explain BRIEFLY what your "device" does.

Submit and wait for an e-mail response. You'll see if they CAN or WANT to help you out.

I hope that helps you out. I don't understand why the UNCERTAINTY?!?!

Best of luck(!?) with your "device"... Try to move forwards and go to the places we suggested to look at... Start talking to people and get this thing "moving"! Otherwise you're never going to go anywhere with your "device"...

Jay knows from experience, because his game "Heroes & Treasure" is designed to introduce younger players (5+ years of age) to get involved and even interested in D&D gaming.

But like H&T, the world is moving forward with things like "Fantasy World Creator" for your average consumer ... or "Dwarven Forge" for people with a lot of disposable income. Either way, all three (3) require a large playing surface such as a table and/or floor. There is no way those configurations are going to work on 12" x 12" boards. Sorry to disappoint you on that front.

Your device will be more "prohibitive" by not allowing those D&D gamers to play a full campaign with very different settings provided like something similar to a Game system (like "Fantasy World Creator"). Here's their website:

https://gamestartedizioni.com/fantasy-world-creator/

The other one which is even more expensive is "Dwarven Forge". Here's their LINK/URL:

https://dwarvenforge.com/

Anyways ... you should trust what we are saying. We are not trying to mess with you "device".

BTW I think you misunderstood what I was talking about a "locking" mechanism. What I meant was a way to have a CLOCK "click-in-place" so that I can go "1:00" is here and "5:00" is there and allow different "positions" relative to multiple layers. That would HELP "Game Designers" significantly because they know that those positions can be relative to each other.

Cheers!

Note #1: The clock could help in scenarios where games may want to simulate "hours" of a day like night-time and day-time... First 12 hours are DAY and NEXT 12 hours are NIGHT! (as an example)

Or every turn, a quarter position (meaning 4 turns per 12 hours).

Going back up to the Licensing snippet of this discussion, I would advise you to write up a Provisional Patent. Lots of info online to help you do that. Keep your Provisional Patent close at hand but don't actually submit it. Once submitted you only have 1 year to Patent your idea....
As you develop your idea, or look to license it to a Game Designer/publisher you will always State that you are Patent Pending. No one can find out for sure if you are, so by saying so you give yourself protection. If you do find someone or some company interested in your idea and they want to license it from you, then you would submit your Provisional at that time. That isn't to say you actually have something Patentable or that a patent would ever be pursued for your design....but it gives you perceived protection while you shop around for interested parties.
I'm not a Lawyer, nor have I looked at any intellectual property surrounding multi level boards but I do know how to protect idea's in a SMART CHEAP way. So take my 2 cents and invest it!!

It's not a dungeon crawler, but Yeah I think it would be awesome to have a 3D multi level Labyrinth...and that my friend would have a very large market to market that is already developed. More Toy than game...but its just one idea. You do a contest on TGC and I'll bet you get quite a few more excellent ideas.
Also remember that with idea's that are new, you have to educate your target audience. That is why established companies typically won't license new ideas. They don't want to develop a market (teach customers something new), they want to sell into an already developed market (put a new face on something old).
With that in mind you will definitely need to consider venturing this idea on your own, or partnering with a designer that can make a marketable 3D game. Then you will have to go through all the hassle of exposing that new idea to a market that won't immediately get your idea. That can be very difficult, and in fact sink a good idea. At the same time innovation must continue, and there must be those willing to venture!!! Good luck, and I wish I was as humble as you with feedback!!

You have almost 50 comments with better info on marketing, rules etc. Here's a vision (aka crack fantasy.)

The device. A few sturdy overlays with grids, concentric circles etc. that can be placed on the surfaces. A box of components: chess pieces, Othello, Go stones, checkers, dominoes, scrabble-like tiles.

Some laminated tablets and grease pencils for scoring, rules etc.

Bars. Coffee shops. Adult daycare centers. Laundromats. Get people away from phones and TV.

Better than coloring books for adults.

Velcro. Magnets. If you're tilting boards, provide accurate markings to show angle measurements. Supply components with known quantities (mass, coefficient of friction).

High school physics classes. They may even have cheap laser set ups to get accurate timing.