Hey guys, I'm working on a new ship tray system and I wanted to see what folks had to say.

These are designed so that players can reuse each tray for any assortment of upgrades based on their needs. The system breaks down as such:

-Ship tray (Red)
-Double upgrade tray (White)
-Single upgrade tray (Blue)


Each upgrade tray will jigsaw into place under the tray to it's left. (Though I haven't actually modeled the jigsaw tabs or receivers yet lol)



Anyways, just wanted to see if anyone had ideas or suggestions to make them better before I started prototyping them.

How would a user indicate that an upgrade is exhausted?

Pretty sure that 4 or 8 upgrade trays are good numbers, but maybe also offer 3 upgrade trays.

I assume you can chain the upgrade trays? So, you could attach a 4-tray to an 8-tray if you needed more spaces.

8 minutes ago, Baltanok said:

How would a user indicate that an upgrade is exhausted?

I suppose the same way they would without the trays. Simply pulling the card up and turning it sideways in the slot. Though I suppose I could add a small dip on the right side of each slot (the size of a sideways card) so that cards that become exhausted remain in place until lifted by the user.

8 minutes ago, Baltanok said:

Pretty sure that 4 or 8 upgrade trays are good numbers, but maybe also offer 3 upgrade trays.

Well, the idea ways to offer in 2s and 1s so that the costs would stay low and players would just have to pair doubles for even numbers of upgrades and add a single for odds. Though I suppose it's not really any extra effort to make a 4, 8, or 3 piece. lol

8 minutes ago, Baltanok said:

I assume you can chain the upgrade trays? So, you could attach a 4-tray to an 8-tray if you needed more spaces.

Yeah, they'll all chain up, but so far only with doubles and singles.

18 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

W ell, the idea ways to offer in 2s and 1s

Oh, I misinterpreted the photo. I thought the trays were 4 & 8 trays, but that's just the cross-bracing, isn't it?

2 minutes ago, Baltanok said:

Oh, I misinterpreted the photo. I thought the trays were 4 & 8 trays, but that's just the cross-bracing, isn't it?

yup yup

If you are going the modular route, could you do the Dial/Defense Token section as a individual piece, with the ability to attach to the left or right, depending on personal preference.

11 minutes ago, cynanbloodbane said:

If you are going the modular route, could you do the Dial/Defense Token section as a individual piece, with the ability to attach to the left or right, depending on personal preference.

Or top, if possible. It helps conserve table space.

23 minutes ago, cynanbloodbane said:

If you are going the modular route, could you do the Dial/Defense Token section as a individual piece, with the ability to attach to the left or right, depending on personal preference.

It's a simple mirror command, I'm pretty sure I can design them that way.

12 minutes ago, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:

Or top, if possible. It helps conserve table space.

These ones always confused me. Most folks I know are worried about table space length wise not width. Is there a situation where 6 feet isn't enough space? (locally we have anywhere from 6"-8" lengthwise but have the full run of the mat and it never really gets too crowded.

5 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

These ones always confused me. Most folks I know are worried about table space length wise not width. Is there a situation where 6 feet isn't enough space? (locally we have anywhere from 6"-8" lengthwise but have the full run of the mat and it never really gets too crowded.

I play on a 3x8 foot table. All the cards, dials, etc are organized along the short edges at 90 degrees to how one would lay them out on the long end. Stacking stuff is thus preferable to laying it out.

9 minutes ago, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:

I play on a 3x8 foot table. All the cards, dials, etc are organized along the short edges at 90 degrees to how one would lay them out on the long end. Stacking stuff is thus preferable to laying it out.

Ah that makes more sense. Yeah I may actually end up doing that. An Alt Art version is in the works too.

Promo cards trails? Do You know? Horizontal ship cards, upgrade cards, standard size commander... I blame you ffg.

29 minutes ago, ovinomanc3r said:

Promo cards trails? Do You know? Horizontal ship cards, upgrade cards, standard size commander... I blame you ffg.

I plan on making a system that can incorporate both standard pieces and the horizontal ship cards, upgrade cards, standard size commanders and other such odd ball Alt arts lol

That said, depending on how many variations exist, it could take some time, but that's the plan anyways.

If possible, make sure you can pick up the merged voltron piece with ease and without it flopping all over. One of the main reasons I use command decks is to easily and quickly move my ships around during play or remove them from the table when they die.

6 minutes ago, Thraug said:

If possible, make sure you can pick up the merged voltron piece with ease and without it flopping all over. One of the main reasons I use command decks is to easily and quickly move my ships around during play or remove them from the table when they die.

perhaps I should make fixed versions where the upgrade slots are part of the tray? all one piece?

26 minutes ago, Darth Sanguis said:

perhaps I should make fixed versions where the upgrade slots are part of the tray? all one piece?

Modular would be best, and hopefully the components can lock in a rigid way?