Dumb Question Re _ODE_ Counter Sheets

[43Supporter]

Is there a software program out there specifically for laying out how a _ODE_ counter sheet is assembled (that is: Locating the counters; indicating the cut-lines; etc.)? With all the discussion of counter sheets, I thought I'd take a whack at designing the one I wanted to see. (Never actually get made, most likely; but I can dream.)

[lomn]

It appeared to me, from early Kickstarter updates, that the prototyping for sheet layout was done by laying physical pieces on a sheet of paper and arranging them.

Eventually you'd probably do some sort of vector layout, but for creating a hypothetical sheet, the analog approach should work.

[Mack_JB]

From making parts in the past, I'd draw in CAD the pieces we needed, then nest them into a sheet size in CAD and process that to the laser. I'm not sure what tolerance a die-cutter would need, but the laser could do minimal part spacings with ease -- or use shared cut lines to great effect.

[GranitePenguin]

When I visited the SJG office, I saw a lot of mockups on paper hanging on the wall. It may have been a more low-tech solution than you might think.

[BlackHat]

I am not positive, (I maybe mis-remembering) but I thought they had blank PDFs of some counter sheets so people could color in the designs they wanted on the counters.... I could have sworn I saw photos of someones Arab Ogre designs

EDIT: Yes they were stretch goals There was one of some buildings (Goal #5), and another of some Ogres (Goal #1). I m not sure if there were any others.

[Mack_JB]

Originally Posted by 43Supporter

Is there a software program out there specifically for laying out how a _ODE_ counter sheet is assembled (that is: Locating the counters; indicating the cut-lines; etc.)? With all the discussion of counter sheets, I thought I'd take a whack at designing the one I wanted to see. (Never actually get made, most likely; but I can dream.)

Back to your original question. What technology or software do you have access to or experience with? If you have zero graphic arts skills, you may be sunk, but if you are a decent artist, then anything is possible with some effort and some outlay of time and cash.

A template for the actual SJG artworks would only aid you if you wanted to duplicate their counter mix -- since you are making your own, you could add whatever you wanted to the unit selection.

I've debated getting my CAD program fired up, and doing Litko style Plexiglas counters for use as miniature bases, but with the unit's specs etched right in the surface of the base like a standard card counter. It's nice being on good terms with my old employer so I can go run their laser cutter if I need it.

[ldj00]

Hello,

I saw someone do a couple of great office/skyscrapper buildings using plexiglass facades with color printed paper on the inside, with a light source.

Really had that look of a building at night... some cut wholes in the paper made it look like the lights were on...

I thought Litko would do something like that, but I don't see anything like that (their buildings are not plexiglass).

[Mack_JB]

Originally Posted by ldj00

Hello,

I saw someone do a couple of great office/skyscrapper buildings using plexiglass facades with color printed paper on the inside, with a light source.

Really had that look of a building at night... some cut wholes in the paper made it look like the lights were on...

Did that quite often, and before lasers, we did it all by hand (gasp!), including the nine foot tall Sears Tower that was once displayed in their Visitor's Center in the late 1980's. There we used neon internals to show various elevators, communications, and air shafts.

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by Mack_JB

Back to your original question. What technology or software do you have access to or experience with? If you have zero graphic arts skills, you may be sunk, but if you are a decent artist, then anything is possible with some effort and some outlay of time and cash.

Well, as far as the unit artwork is concerned: That will require "copy and paste" -- let's just say the punchline to the joke is "Yeah, but I shoot with *this* one".

As to laying out where the counters go: If it involves paper and pencil, I'm golden. It's when computers get involved I start to have problems. (My SO is a programmer; she uses me as a "canary", because if there is a way to break a piece of software, I *will* find it.)

[Buzzardo]

Originally Posted by Mack_JB

Did that quite often, and before lasers, we did it all by hand (gasp!), including the nine foot tall Sears Tower that was once displayed in their Visitor's Center in the late 1980's. There we used neon internals to show various elevators, communications, and air shafts.

Any pictures of that around? That'd be neat to see.