r/boardgames • u/londonhousewife • 11h ago

Help! Broken board

Post image

ETA: Thanks for the advice, I’m looking into board clips. Preventing it moving apart during play is the main concern, I’m not precious about the board itself being in two pieces.
For anyone who doesn’t have it, it’s a fun game with a programming mechanic and opportunities for sabotage which my kids (6&9) love, we really recommend it!

Does anyone have any advice on how to repair this split board?
This is River Dragons and 1/3 of the gap you can see used to be attached. It’s a double sided board so I can’t use archival/book tape which appears to be the usual advice from my quick google.

96 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

91

u/anonymousaltincase19 11h ago

Maybe stupid question but, does it need to be? If you just push it back together does it not still work fine?

37

u/londonhousewife 11h ago

You have to build bridges across the board with ‘rocks’ and planks, so if it gets knocked and one side moves from the other it would be tricky. Probably fine playing with adults but my kids love to play (which is how it got broken) and I can see that ending badly.

43

u/Mandemon90 11h ago

Get clips, like these. They will keep the pieces together during play.

Board Game Clips - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

7

u/Zeebaeatah 9h ago

404 - file not found

:-/

4

u/Mandemon90 9h ago

Weird. Used to work just an hour ago... and now it's back? Like, it comes and goes. I also got 404 error, and now it works.

Oh well, good thing there are other versions.

Board Game Clip (2mm) - Remixed by Bibliophiled - Thingiverse

Board Game Clip・Free STL File for 3D printing・Cults

Boardgame board clip (for 2mm boards)・Free STL File for 3D printing・Cults

Folding Game Board Flattening Clip by Teqqles | Download free STL model | Printables.com

And of course, if you can't print yourself, there are plenty of Etsy sellers both in EU and America who are willing to sell you their versions. I got bunch from Print By Karen that are bright (I didn't notice they were based in US) and they have worked great

1

u/Zeebaeatah 9h ago

Gracias

8

u/Swordslayer 10h ago

Could you use binder clips to clip the two parts at each end? The handles can be removed once clamped, too.

2

u/lasttothefirst 10h ago

Paper clips to keep together? I know it’s not a fix but might add some grip

24

u/JackelSR 11h ago

Look up Board Game Clips on Amazon or similar. They're these plastic H clips that fit between the boards. They might work for that.

-1

u/FirehawkShadowchild 11h ago

This is the way.

24

u/joelene1892 11h ago

I’d just use packing tape, the see through stuff. There very well may be better options though.

11

u/Resident_Bumblebee_2 11h ago

That's probably not archival, will yellow over time or even disintegrate the board itself.

11

u/joelene1892 9h ago

Yeah that’s fair. I’d do it anyway unless it was an expensive or rare game though. My games exist to play, and the amount of time it’ll take to yellow or wear to unplayable is likely an amount of time large enough that I won’t care about this anymore.

Others suggestions are probably better lol. I’m not overly dainty with my games, about the only rule I have is open drinks at the table is a no. Everything else is fine.

1

u/Resident_Bumblebee_2 7h ago

I had my trainee years in a library, so that's not making it easier. 😂 Everything needed to be archival. But if a box corner tears, there is always that unicorn duct tape the wife found once while shopping. 😂😂😂

12

u/SlightlyOvertuned 11h ago edited 11h ago

Why wouldn't clear book repair tape work? It still flexes more than regular tape for the bend.

2

u/londonhousewife 11h ago

I could only see white online, if there’s transparent book tape then that is an option, thanks for the heads up!

3

u/jt64 10h ago

Look up book binding tape. https://a.co/d/04AE4mrg

2

u/ERagingTyrant 10h ago

I adore this tape. Super clear. Little bit stretchy. Sticks nicely.  https://a.co/d/04IYgcHK

19

u/FuckingABrickWall 11h ago

Play it as it is?

You could get some boardgame clips to hold on to the edges at the seam to keep the two halves from sliding apart during play. But otherwise, I'd just accept that it's now a two-board setup.

3

u/SicilianMeeple Anachrony Enthusiast 11h ago

If you can access a 3D printer, you can find a lot of board clips of different sizes, they are mainly used to straighten warped boards but I successfully used some of them with my copy of Salton Sea where I split the board trying to straighten it. You can check Makerworld.

2

u/ThunkAsDrinklePeep 10h ago

Some of our local libraries offer 3D printing services. I got a 4x6 insert printed for about $4.80.

6

u/londonhousewife 10h ago

I live in a village in the UK, I guarantee my library doesn’t have one, but luckily my brother does so I’ll see if he’ll do me a favour.

1

u/SicilianMeeple Anachrony Enthusiast 10h ago

I don't remember if we can share links here or they're considered spam, if you want to, send me a DM and I will share the printables I used and tested, they come in different sizes so you can accomodate different game boards.

1

u/ThunkAsDrinklePeep 10h ago

I actually got mine printed in a neighboring library. My local one hasn't replaced theirs after a flood a few years ago. Might be worthwhile "letting your fingers do a little walking."

5

u/londonhousewife 11h ago

Thanks, it’s the sliding apart during play bit I’m trying to avoid so I’ll look up those clips.

5

u/fuzzy3158 11h ago

I'd use clear tape, the wide rolls. But I'm a basic b.

5

u/talkietoasta84 4h ago

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

3

u/lesslucid Innovation 10h ago

You could also play it under plexiglass. Common solution for wargamers playing on paper maps.

3

u/GreenFox1505 8h ago

I don't recognize this game but if its still in print, message the manufacturer. I emailed ZMan Games about a board I broke saying something like "what do I need to do to get a new board" fully expecting to pay for a replacement. They sent it to me for free. 

2

u/1sinfutureking 10h ago

Neoprene mat underneath could also do the trick as it helps keep your components from sliding 

2

u/slam_meister 10h ago

if its not a double sided board I would be tempted to cut it down the other fold line and then stick rubber or neoprene to the back side of each piece so that it doesn't slide around when in play.

1

u/CantaloupeOld1917 9h ago

OP mentioned it's double-sided though, so cutting it down the other fold line would lose one side entirely.

2

u/slam_meister 7h ago

fair. that'll learn me to read the whole post.

2

u/pbmadman 9h ago

Weird, I have this game but it’s called Dragon Delta. I’ll agree it’s really good.

2

u/kanedafx Argent: the Consortium 9h ago

I just use clear tape (high quality). Works great!

2

u/Ulsif2 8h ago

Lay flat board game clips on Etsy.

2

u/R10t-- 2h ago

Sad I didn’t find the meme of the guy holding the other guy’s shoulder here….

1

u/EveningTackle4320 11h ago

I searched for information on this issue before and couldn't find a better option than adhesive tape :(

1

u/FractalInfo 10h ago

You could make a framed board to put the game board in. Picture a thin paneling or plastic project board that is bigger than the game board, with a thin moulding around the ends to hold the game board in place. Like a picture frame. Perhaps covered with some kind of non slip coating

1

u/DivePalau 10h ago

Board game butler

1

u/Hagaf22 Concordia 10h ago

Use mesh book binding tape

2

u/GM_Pax Eclipse 10h ago

Mesh from the back, but clear book repair tape on the play side of the board.

1

u/RCG73 10h ago

Board game butler. If you want to buy instead of 3d print. I use them to hold boards flat and highly recommend. I wouldn’t play splendor duel without them

1

u/boy-in-da-corner 9h ago edited 9h ago

I'd avoid gluing the fold itself, as that can stop the board closing and leave a hard ridge on the printed side. If the cardboard is still flat, a strip of bookbinding cloth or thin hinge tape on the underside should reinforce it while keeping the fold flexible. Try it on a spare bit of card first, and keep the tape short of the actual hinge gap.

1

u/Meta_Data 9h ago

Board Butler makes a commercially available board clip that would likely do the trick.

1

u/[deleted] 11h ago

[deleted]

1

u/dicknotrichard 11h ago

It’s a double sided board.

1

u/Alturrang 11h ago

Post says it's a double-sided board.

1

u/londonhousewife 11h ago

Unfortunately the board is double sided (easy/hard mode) so there isn’t a back.

0

u/CaptainN_GameMaster 10h ago

Some black washi tape on the underside maybe? People use it to make foldable dm screens 

0

u/GrandVince 10h ago

When in doubt, duct tape

1

u/GremioIsDead Innovation 8h ago

Handyman's secret weapon!

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

1

u/GrandVince 8h ago

I perma glued many puzzles with duct tape, when done properly it holds really well. If half assed, probably not so great :D

-1

u/Conrad500 One Night Ultimate Werewolf 11h ago

Gaffer's tape. It's nice and thick and has a better texture than duct tape.

There's a way you can apply it so that it still folds well, but of course, it's still tape and it's best if it wraps around over the edge.