Devlog 7 - Alternative Gameboard Options

Devlog - Building the Beyond Space Gameboard Without a 3D Printer

Hope the start of 2026 has been good for everyone.

For the first devlog of the year, I want to focus on the gameboard.

Not as a tutorial, but as a design problem and a practical solution.

Beyond Space is built around a hex-based board. The intended way to play is with a modular, 3D-printed hex tile board made with an FDM printer. That is the standard experience the game is designed around.

But there is an obvious question that comes up:

What if you do not have an FDM printer?

And more importantly:

What if the gameboard itself becomes a barrier to trying the game?

This devlog is about that problem and one way to solve it.

Recap: What the Beyond Space Gameboard Is

At its core, Beyond Space is played on a hex grid.

The default setup uses 3D-printed hex tiles that lock together to form a modular board. This approach allows the board to scale up or down, change layouts, and physically reflect the structure of the game.

That is the ideal version of the board.

It is also the version that requires:

  • an FDM printer
  • time to print tiles
  • filament costs
  • a willingness to invest before fully committing to the game

For some players, that is fine.

For others, it is not.

And that is where the problem shows up.

The Problem: The Board Should Not Decide Who Can Play

If the only way to try Beyond Space is to print a full 3D board, then the board becomes a gate.

Not everyone has a printer.

Not everyone wants to spend $60–$70 on filament just to test a game.

Not everyone wants to commit before they know if the game is for them.

From a design perspective, that is not ideal.

The board is core to the game, but it should not block entry into the game.

So the question becomes:

How do you preserve the hex system without requiring 3D printing?

The Design Requirements

Any alternative board had to meet a few conditions:

  • It still uses the 115mm hex geometry for each space the units play on.
  • It preserves the logic of movement, range, and positioning.
  • It is cheap and easy to build.
  • It does not change the rules.

The goal was not to create a “lite” version of the board.

The goal was to create a different physical format that respects the plahyers time and wallet.

The Solution: Foam Board and Poster Board Hex Grids

The simplest solution ended up being the most practical one.

Instead of printing hex tiles, you can build the board using:

  • foam board or poster board
  • a ruler
  • a marker or pen
  • tape or Glue (optional)
  • a hex stencil

Poster board is cheap. In many cases, you can build a full board for under $5.

Foam board costs more, but still stays under a very small budget.

Using a hex stencil, you trace the grid directly onto the board.

You build the board in panels, tape them together, and assemble the layout you want.

The images in this devlog show the process from raw materials to a finished budget board, including:

  • basic tools
  • the first hex traced
  • the full grid forming
  • panels taped together
  • models placed on the finished board

The result is simple, functional, and modular.

And most importantly, it plays the same.

Supplies needed for budget gameboard

Step 1 tracing the first hex

Step 2 expanding the grid

Step 3 forming the hex chain

Step 4 filling the grid

Step 5 completed pencil grid

Step 6 outlining the grid

Step 7 full outlined grid

Step 8 taping the board

Step 9 finished budget board

Finished board with models

Final result: a functional Beyond Space gameboard built without 3D printing.

This Is Not the Only Way to Do It

The foam board method is not the definitive solution.

It is just one approach.

There are other options, including:

  • custom neoprene mats with printed hex grids
  • DIY methods using different materials
  • 3D Print Services to make the board for you (Costly Though)

If you want to do it differently, that is completely valid.

The point is not to prescribe one method.

The point is to show that the hex board is a system, not a product.

Core Rulebook Support

This approach will be included in the Core Rulebook.

There will be a section that explains how to think about building a budget board, including:

  • using the free hex stencil
  • choosing materials
  • understanding how to lay out the grid

The guide will not be overly rigid.

That is intentional.

The Beyond Space board is modular by design.

Board size, layout, and scale can vary depending on format and space.

Because of that, the rulebook focuses on logic and structure rather than exact measurements.

The goal is to give players a starting point, not a blueprint they must follow exactly.

It Is Not Supposed to Be Perfect

The budget board is not meant to look premium.

It is not meant to replace the 3D board.

It is meant to remove friction.

If your lines are not perfectly straight, that is fine.

If your panels are not perfectly aligned, that is fine.

If your board looks rough, that is fine.

The purpose of this board is simple:

Let people play the game without needing special hardware or a big investment.

The 3D board is still the ideal experience.

The budget board is an entry point.

Closing Thoughts

This is one way to approach the problem of accessibility without compromising the system.

There are other ways to do it.

There will probably be better ideas in the future.

That is part of the process.

For now, this method shows that the gameboard is core to the game, but it is not a barrier to entry.

More updates on the board, formats, and tools will come later.

As always, feedback and alternative ideas are welcome.

Appreciate Y'all

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