Paper and boxes#2213

Just the two things I would suggest.

==Paper==
Instead of custom tiles, cards or notecards, why not include something as simple as sheets of paper?

Paper can have the following features:
• Can come in square or A4 in size.
• Default surfaces of the paper can be blank, graph, isometric or lined.
• “Custom” will give the choice of making it either for writing or picture.
◦ “Writing” allows it to accept .rtf files to display, maybe even edit them.
◦ “Picture” allows you to upload an image file to either side of it.
◦ Maybe a “Doodle” option in custom which is a very basic MSPaint-like feature.
• Paper can be “folded”. Either to a limit of two, or many times, halfing the size of the paper with every fold, so that it would take up less space on the table.
• When picked up and move around, unlike card, the paper behaves a bit “flimsy” where the paper is slightly flexible and waves when carried, but will still retain it’s shape unless folded. (Perhaps cards could be updated to have a “flimsy” option.)

The reason why I suggest paper because while using tiles, cards and boards are handy, they still take up space on the table. Especially if you want to make character sheets or use large images. It would be handy if we can just “fold them up and put them asside.”
Not only that but writing paper would be more handy as an alternative to notecards where you can have more space to write on or collective notes than a pile of notecards.

==Boxes==
All IRL board games come in boxes for packaging and storage. Having custom packaging for board games will allow games to have more content as well as a place to store unwanted content without cluttering the table.

Boxes can function like this:
• Box lid can be a custom image. Lid and box are spawned together as one, but can be seperated.
• Instead of functioning like a “bag”, the inside of the box functions like a grid-inventory system where items can be neatly placed and organized. Depending on the custom chosen size of the box, the grid system may vary in #×#.
◦ Perhaps “layers” of grid underneath the grid, for more space for items.
• “Search” can still be used to find and organize content of the box, It’s just giving it an open-accessible grid-inventory will allow players to open the box and simply take out the items as you would with a regular box.

Normally when you start a new game, the contents of the board game is already laid out or prepared for players to use. So yes, it is practical.
But depending on how much content the board game has, as well parts of the game not in immediate use, it could take up space on the table.
I understand bags are TTS go-to for storing items and content, it’s just depending on how elaborate the game is, you’ll still have one bag with many things, or many bags with specific things and this doesn’t exactly “simulate” realistic tabletop gaming, especially when you have to pull out an alternate playing board or decks of cards from a small bag.

This is why I suggest the “box the game comes in” not to function like an alternate bag, but more like a grid-based inventory system where contents can be organized and directly taken out or placed back into the box.
If a game has lots of contents such as multiple playing boards or a variety of optional pieces that would take up a lot of space on the table, then a grid-inventory will allow players to organize the game pieces they need as well as a place to put the unneeded parts of the game without cluttering the table too much.

You can get a paper texture, place it on a card or a tile and you can perfectly make a sheet of paper where you can even draw on.

@Seidi
But the thing about using a card or tile is that depending on how big you want it to be, it still takes up space.

For example, say you want something that’s A5 in size. It’s bigger than a playing card but smaller than a playing board so it may take up space on the table. Especially if that A5 tile is only used sometimes in a game than often so you have to put it asside somewhere on the table as it takes up space. Given tiles and cards are solid means they could bump into other playing pieces as well.
You could “scale” it down when not in use but have to resize it when you need to use it.
It would be handy if “paper” was an optional component and come in square and A-size, with the function to fold itself in order to take up less space on the board but can be immediately unfolded when it’s needed. And rendered as a “flimsy material” means it will not have the physical force to push other playing pieces as cards and tiles do.

As for my idea for boxes, well again, a place to put playing pieces that are not in immediate use and make the table less cluttered. Game boxes can have a sorting system more refined than bags (I’m imagining it like Diablo inventory system, but layered) and “cover art” on the lid can be put on the box for presentation.