Personal Expanded piecepack

["mschoessow" <mikeschoessow@...>]

OK, here's something new to think about (not that the group hasn't 
had a lot of activity lately :-).

I've been considering making myself some custom cases for my 
piecepacks. I don't particularly like the boxes/packaging they come 
with in terms of convenience (mostly I don't like packing up and 
having to get all the coins packed in just right for the cover to 
fit with NO bowing).

My initial idea was to cut up some eighth inch thick acrylic stock 
(can be purchased off-the-shelf or by mail or phone from Tap 
Plastics), and glue it together into a box with a square cross 
section just big enough for the tiles, and with whatever height is 
necessary to comfortably hold all the piecepack components without 
needing to get all the coins perfectly stacked, etc. 

Now I'm thinking that for one of my piecepacks, the case should also 
be able to accomodate additional components. This would then be a 
kind of expanded game kit for playing or designing games in general, 
when away from home.

So the question is, what additional components to include. Here are 
some possibilities.

* Additional coins in two suits. This allows the playing of MANY 
more abstracts that require 8-12 identical pieces per player.

* Paper money. Probably don't need as much, or as many denominations 
as, Monopoly.

* 2-4 standard dice, plus perhaps a D4, D8, D10, and D12. 

* a color-select die.

* Match sticks (various uses; just ask our man Phillip :-)

* pennies (maybe 30 or so)


Any other ideas, comments, or suggestions on the idea, or the best 
components to add, are welcome. BUT, please understand my purpose 
here; I'm not suggesting a new expanded official piecepack design is 
required. Rather  I'm trying to think of what would make an even 
better portable kit for game design and the playing of wide range of 
games, for those willing to put in the time and trouble.

-Mike schoessow