Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘My Boardgame Logbook’

Have you ever thought about all of the tabletop games you have played? Whether you play as a family or with gaming groups, most fans of these games have probably played dozens if not hundreds of individual games. As I have played with different people at various times and scores of games, I have often wished I had kept track of the games I have played. While I considered creating a spread sheet for such a purpose, the problem is when playing these games, I am usually not near my computer. Therefore, when I learned about My Boardgame Logbook, I was interested in taking a look at a physical book I could take with me to games and keep track of all my wins…as well as my losses.

What Is My Boardgame Logbook?

My Boardgame Logbook is a physical logbook designed for players to keep track of the games they have played. It’s currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. There are three different pledge levels each for a different version of the book. A softback version in the A6 paper size (4.1 in. x 5.8 in.) is available at the $12 pledge level. A hardcover book in the A5 size (5.8 in. x 8.3 in.) is available at the $20 pledge level and a leatherbound version in the A4 size (8.3 in. x 11.7 in.) is available at the $40 pledge level. My Boardgame Logbook was designed by Jason Holman and published by IsLava Games.

leather book — The leatherbound version of the book is very nice and the largest format. Image courtesy of IsLava Games.

New to Kickstarter? Check out our crowdfunding primer.

Why You Should Get My Boardgame Logbook

Jason Holmes is the designer of the recently released boardgame Airport Empire. During production and fulfillment of that game and working on his next game, Jason decided to create something players could use along side their games: My Boardgame Logbook. While there are three different versions, the only differences are the size and cover material. The contents are the same. There is a table of contents at the start with spaces for you to write down which games are covered on the 126 pages of the book. The first four pages of content are a Wishlist where players can list the games that they want and then check off when they add them to their collection.

The Wishlist is followed 7 pages where you can list your annual Top 10 Games for the year. The next 60 pages are Game Logs. Each log is two pages where you can list the stats for six different plays of a specific game. You can list the date of the game, who went first, who won, the play time, the names of the players, notes on the gameplay, and even rate the fun and challenge level of the game.

In addition to the Game Logs, there are also over 40 pages of Score Logs. Each page can keep track of 14 playthroughs for a specific game including who you played, who won, and the score. Finally there are 5 lined pages where you can write down additional notes. All put together, My Boardgame Logbook offers a great way to keep track of your gaming in a portable format that you can easily take with you to game night or even conventions.

game record — Record all the stats for each game you play to review later. Image courtesy of IsLava Games.

I have had the opportunity to preview the hardcover edition of the book and am very impressed with what I experienced even though it is not the final version of the logbook. I really like the look and feel of the book. While a log is mostly white pages, the designer uses alternating colors by page. One page may have blue printing while the next is a golden yellow. There are also boxes and lines for entering different types of information. Not only does the design look great, but also makes it easier and even fun to record the results of your games. The quality of the paper and the cover are also perfect for the task.

Keep track of your scores when playing the same game several times. Image courtesy of IsLava Games.

One of the main reasons I enjoy playing tabletop games is the interaction with other people. Therefore, I am realizing that My Boardgame Logbook is not only a way to keep track of my wins and losses as well as which games I enjoy and those I want to add to my collection. I also see this logbook as a journal of my interactions with my friends. I can imagine looking through My Boardgame Logbook several years from now and fondly recounting all of the great times I shared with family and friends. I am very impressed with My Boardgame Logbook and recommend it for anyone who enjoys playing games. It also makes a wonderful gift for the gamers in your life.