Badge: Public Domain Games

There’s a difference between realizing you can use public domain content and actually doing it. This badge program is an example of public domain materials that you can use for your own content. Whether you want to make money off of your content or not is up to you.

Steps

Types of Games

1. Board.

Board games have been around for a long time. Look through the list of public domain board games. Note which you have played. If you can’t remember the rules / how to play, refresh your memory by inviting a friend to play with you.

2. Card.

Card games can be played with a standard deck or specialty decks. Some games have their own decks because no one can claim the copyright on them. Look through the list of public domain card games. Note which you have played. Again, if you don’t remember how, set up a game event and play with a few friends.

3. Dice.

Dice games have been around so long the dice themselves were once made of stone and bones. When you think of dice games, you probably think of gambling, but that’s only one part of dice games. Look through the dice games currently in the public domain. Refresh your memory on any you need to.

4. Other.

There are other games that do not fit into the categories above. These smaller lists are combined together to make it easier for you to peruse. Which have you played? Do you remember how? If not, refresh your memory.

Create Content

5. Hoyle.

The best public domain resource is one of the many editions of Hoyle. Check out the Internet Archive for a copy or more for the rules. You can also find many rules online.

6. As is.

So, you like the rules and game mechanics as they are? You can still use this for content. Take the rules and rewrite them in your own way. Add in stories about when you played . . . the more engaging the stories the better. You can share your new revised “rules” as new content. You might find a group or organization that plays that needs someone to run the game. You can even create a video on how to play, adding in your tips and tricks. What else might you try?

7. Variants.

Don’t like the rules? Change them!

Make sure your changes are age appropriate. You don’t want to turn your favorite game into a drinking game and then invite your underage cousins. After you’ve made your changes, you’ll need to playtest to see if they work. If not, get feedback from your players, tweak some more and play again. When you’re happy with your “new” game, you can share it for free, do a video showing how to play, write an ebook with the new rules or even find a company that will actually manufacture your new game.

You don’t have to stick with one set of variants. If you’ve played the dice game Tenzi (not in the public domain, it’s just an example), you might have seen the card deck that you can buy that lists 77 different ways to play the game. So, you can print a deck of cards instead of a full game. Also, you don’t need full rules on each card. You can have different changes to the game on each card that can be combined to give the game even more variety.

8. New.

You might choose to take two or more games and combine them into a completely new game. You also might take a piece of a game and make a completely new one from a piece or two. Look at the games you played in the first section. Which might you combine for a new game?

9. Club.

With all the playtesting, you might decide to start a club that plays games . . . especially the new ones you’re creating. Since the game is new, the club might be free or have a paid membership. You might require they purchase your rules ebook or a game set. You might even play virtually.

10. Craft.

Making pieces for your game is another option. Recreate a game board out of plastic canvas and you can sell the board or the pattern for it. Create a stencil that you can put onto a circular piece of fabric that doubles as a drawstring bag with the playing pieces inside. Build a wooden table with the board as the top with legs for a decorative way to display your favorite game. As stated before, you can sell the final crafted pieces, the patterns for them, do workshops and classes showing how to make them, sell kits with the pieces for others to make them, etc.

Before you try to sell a pattern, find someone to test it by building the piece from your information. This will tell you if you are clear or if you need to do some rework on it.

11. App.

Why not create an app? How many have you seen for Mahjongg alone? Not only can you have the game play a certain way, you can incorporate variants if you wish.

12. Super-size.

Can you super-size your game? Putting concrete tiles in the grass can make a chess board. Your crafted items might be made larger for play at a miniature golf course or a local garden.

13. More.

So, when you’re game becomes popular . . . you can make supplemental items that go with it. Official coffee mugs, buttons and t-shirts are just the start. You can take the graphics from the game and put them on a multitude of items that bring awareness to your game, though it’s not the game itself. Don’t stop here. Continue exploring what you can do with a public domain game.

Badge and Supplement Files

Member Level

EP_Badge List_PD Games_larajla — list of badge items
EP_Badge Set_ PD Games_larajla — list of badge set and related badges
EP_Supp_List_ PD Games_larajla — list of supplements for the badge
SUPP_BPG_ PD Games_2in_12up_larajla — generic badge printable
SUPP_ PD Games_Journal_larajla — badge journal
SUPP_ PD Games_Planner_larajla — badge planner

Supplement Fun

SUPP_Printable_LIST_PD Games_Board_larajla — starting list of public domain board games
SUPP_Printable_LIST_PD Games_Card_larajla — starting list of public domain card games
SUPP_Printable_LIST_PD Games_Dice_larajla — starting list of public domain dice games
SUPP_Printable_LIST_PD Games_Various_larajla — starting list of various public domain games

Sites to Explore

Get the infographic here > larajla blog post

Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here > Full badge PDFs