I am looking for ways to track scores for games where the included score tracking is not great. I would like something tactile, I already use apps but I’d prefer not to fidget with digital devices at the table.
Ideally I’d like something that’s:
- tactile, should be enjoyable to manipulate with our meat appendages
- easy to read
- robust, should resist some minor knocking about without losing the scores
- track 2-4 players
- go up to at least 100 and preferably also track 100s
- should be easy to increase or decrease scores in any increments
- shouldn’t take up too much table space
The closest thing I see is a cribbage peg board. Or possibly an abacus. Or maybe one of those click wheels but those don’t usually handle larger increments well. Any other options?
I’ve used coloured glass stones in the past. Use different colours for 1s 10s 100s. It’s not perfect, but t tub of these is pretty cheap iirc and great in a sack as a life counter in games like escape the dark castle!
How are you up for jank solutions? How about hanging some colour combination locks on a board or something?
Basically you want a handheld tally counter?
You’d need one for every player and I don’t see any multi-counter units immediately hopping out at me. But they exist.
Ah yeah, that’s what I meant by “click wheel”, I didn’t know what they are called. :)
I think larger increments (like score going up or down by 10) are a bit awkward with those, right?Yeah, it’s hard to find mechanical ones that can increment by ten, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen one that can increment down as well as up.
If you do all scores by ten you can cheat and draw an extra zero to the right of the dial number lol. But if it’s scores like 1, 2, 5, 10… its tricky.
Another option is using poker chips, such as the Iron Clays.
This doesn’t track 100s, but it’s one player https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3336976
This tracks up to 999, same, one player. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1888960
This one is more friendly to multiple players though. Not wheel but square moving https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4664254
(I searched for “score tracker” on thingiverse to get the best results)
I’ve ordered the trackers from Jaces Toy Chest multiple times. The first time was to replace the cards for keeping score in Star Realms. I liked them so much, I bought a bunch for my players in a TTRPG game to keep track of health. The colors I originally ordered aren’t there, but the current ones I received are the same product.
I have a few other Spin Dial life counters from other sellers, but only bring them out when I need scores over 100. Most are 3D printed, and don’t match the feel of the Jace dials.
I love little Etsy sellers like this! We have several puzzle boards made by a kind hobbyist grandfather.
These look pretty good, I might give them a go, thanks!
