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How to Make Your Own Ship Games

Homemade board games are not only an economical way to save money on family entertainment but an exercise in creativity as well. One of the most popular family board games is the classic Battleship, whose early 20th century origins as a homemade pen-and-paper game predate the first commercial version by several decades. This game pits player against player in a struggle to control the open seas. Homemade battleship boards and setups are easy to construct, especially since the game requires no dice, spinners or other tools or instruments. You can make this ship game with nothing more than basic office supplies.

Things You'll Need

6 pieces of cardboard (the backs of notepads will do)
Tape
2 pencils
2 red pencils
Graph paper

Instructions

Setting up the Game
- 1
  Remove the cardboard backing from six standard paper pads.
- 2
  Line up two of the cardboard pieces short side to short side and run a piece of tape along the meeting point on each side. Repeat this with a third piece of cardboard so that you have a three-sectioned piece of cardboard
- 3
  On a piece of graph paper, mark off an eight-square-by-eight square board. You can use two-by-two squares if the graph paper uses small squares or if you have space.
- 4
  Number the squares one through eight, starting from the upper left-hand corner and coming down the square.
- 5
  Letter the squares A to H, starting at the upper left hand square and working across the board to the right.
- 6
  Complete three more of these numbered and lettered board grids.
- 7
  Tape one of the board grids to the inside of the middle piece of cardboard of both of your three-piece cardboard game shields.
Playing the Game
- 8
  Stand up the three-piece board shield with the board grid in front of you and each of the side pieces folded in towards you to shield the space directly in front of you. Place the other two-board grids in this space for each player.
- 9
  Have each player draw in five ships on the board grid in front of them, keeping it shielded from the eyes of their opponent. Draw one battleship, which covers five holes, one aircraft carrier, which covers four holes, one submarine, covering three holes, one cruiser, covering three holes and one scout ship, that only cover two holes. Ships can be drawn horizontally or vertically but not diagonally.
- 10
  Begin by calling out a specific point on your opponents grid board by using a letter and a number combination. If your opponent replies that nothing occupies that square on his board, mark the square on your upper board (the one that does not contain ship drawings and is taped to the cardboard), using an X with the regular pencil. If your opponent reports that you have "hit" one of his ships, mark the square an X with the red pencil. Your opponent should record your shot in regular or red pencil on the board in front of him as well.
- 11
  Alternate between players each time a shot is called out and continue to mark down hits and misses on both your board and the one that records your opponent's board. When all squares that a ship occupies have been hit, inform your opponent that a ship has been "sunk." Continue until one of the players has lost all of his ships.

Board Games