During my holidays, I’ve been reading Breve Historia de los Juegos de Mesa, a gentle introduction to the origin and history of various board games. From the earliest known examples, like the Royal Game of Ur, to modern mechanics.
The book describes an entire family of games originating in northern Europe, known as the Tafl family. These games share similar boards and rules, with variations depending on the region or time period. One such variation is Hnefatafl. The mechanics intrigued me, so I created a prototype using the most basic tools: pen and paper. After playing a few rounds with my son, I decided it deserved a wooden version.
After engraving the design onto spare wood and finishing it with varnish, I crafted my own board. It may not be the most beautiful, but it’s one I made with my own hands—and a little help from my youngest.