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Author Topic: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future  (Read 4919 times)

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ObtusePunubiris

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Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« on: July 19, 2016, 02:10:04 pm »
+8

I finally completed my new storage solution and got Empires fully integrated into it, so I thought I'd share it for those looking for a new solution (and also because I'm pretty happy with it and just want to share).  I've posted some of this info before, here on f.ds and on /r/dominion, but here's the whole solution, all in one place, with pictures.

Little bit of story first, so if you'd rather just see the pictures, skip to the bottom.

I used the Hobby Lobby box for a long time and really liked that type of solution.  I carry my cards with me a lot of places, so the portability and protection it offered were ideal.  That case wasn't designed to carry 25+ lbs of cargo, however, and I'd had it pop open a couple times and spill my cards.  Even after replacing the hinges and latches with sturdier ones, I was still worried when carrying it.  The Hobby Lobby box was also nearing capacity and Empires would have been the last expansion I could fit in it.  It is with these things in mind that I began looking for a new, larger solution.  I originally imagined a metal or plastic solution, like a briefcase or camera case, with a foam insert cut to fit the cards.  I looked for something like that but couldn't find anything that matched my cost and quality requirements.  During my search, however, I had come across a canvas case that I initially passed over because it wasn't a hard case.

Storage Case - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A4LJVR8/

Coming back to that case, I realized that it was the perfect size (22 x 15 x 5), it was portable and, because it closes with a zipper, it was unlikely to pop open and spill everything.  It did have some issues though.  First, the clips on the shoulder strap and the d-rings on the case to which it connected were plastic and I wasn't sure how much weight they would take.  Second, it didn't have enough structure or padding, so I worried about how well it would protect the cards.

The first problem was easily solved with the below shoulder strap and some 1 in. d-rings from the local hardware store.

Shoulder Strap - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002RI6Y8

To add structure I cut a dry erase board I found at a craft store and put it in the bottom of the case.  It's light and sturdy, and gives exactly the structure I need.  For padding I found some 1/2 inch speaker foam to lay on bottom and put in the pocket in the lid.

My original idea to use foam to hold the cards did't work so well. After cutting out space for the cards, too much of the mass was gone so it couldn't maintain its structure.  Instead, I ended up using two 3200 count, 15 x 12.5 in card storage boxes.  Each has 4 rows, but after cutting one row off one of the boxes, the fit in the case perfectly.

So that's the case, but I also wanted a better way to store tokens than the plastic bags I'd been using.  I saw this picture (http://www.adamhorton.com/files/dom_open.jpg) of Adam Horton's plastic token storage containers and really liked that idea.  After much searching for just the perfect thing I found the below.  Teh tops screw on, so there's no chance of them popping open during transit.  I added some color-coded stickers so I know what's inside and there you go.

Token Storage Tins - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FY7OGCM

Each of the rows in the storage boxes have 72-74 sleeved kingdom piles and could hold a few more if needed.  So given that A) I have one row completely unused, B) I could take out the randomizers (which I never use), C) I could take out 1, or even 2, of my 3 sets of base cards, and D) as much as I like my token storage it is not space-efficient and could be replaced with something smaller, well I should have room for more new expansions than Donald could ever possibly make (why, yes Donald, you may indeed consider that a challenge).

Finally, I've been using Sumpfork's Dominion Tabbed Divider Generator (http://domtabs.sandflea.org/) for my dividers for quite a long time.  I had them professionally printed and laminated, and they've held up wonderfully.

There are a couple of obvious and expected drawbacks.  It is large and, therefore, a bit cumbersome.  Also, it weighs 30 lbs.  I don't mind either, but I can see how they would be issues for some.

TL;DR - Hey, look at my new Dominion storage case.

Pictures - http://imgur.com/a/Pnn5o (apologies for the quality)
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soudek01

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Re: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2016, 06:44:56 pm »
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ObtusePunubiris,

Hi, I think your storage solution looks awesome and I am thinking of doing this myself! However, I have a few questions:

1. Can you post more pictures (I want to see what it looks like when it's slung across the body with the shoulder strap and I am also interested in seeing what it looks like closed)?
2. Does the empty row cause you any problems / does stuff shift around?
3. Is the case tough; how is the the stiching and zipper?
4. What do you think of your storage solution after having used it for some time?

Thanks for sharing this, I think it is one of the best I have seen. Also, I already have one of the 4-row cardboard boxes with dividers so I could easily create this from my current, too small, storage solution.

Thanks again!

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ObtusePunubiris

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Re: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2016, 06:13:38 pm »
+1

Thanks.  Glad you like it.  Happy to answer questions.

1. If you wanted a picture of it slung literally across the body, I would not recommend carrying it that way.  It's very uncomfortable.
Here's a picture of it slung over my shoulder the way I carry it. http://imgur.com/9z5wzBV
Here's an up close picture of it closed. http://imgur.com/WjJpxaF

2. The empty row doesn't cause trouble because I have it filled with a foam block and nothing shifts because I have it packed well and covered.
http://imgur.com/FgHSKhr
http://imgur.com/BxX8pzT

3. It's fairly tough.  The stitching and zipper have held up fine.  My only long-term concern is that the canvas material is not the thickest I've ever seen. I think that it may eventually wear through at the corners, but it's not in danger of doing so anytime soon.

4. I'm happy with it, in that it's exactly what I wanted when I put it together.  One of the reasons I wanted a case like this is that I was carrying the game back and forth to work everyday.  Now I work from home, so I don't carry it around nearly as much.  If that had been my situation 6 months ago, I might have designed something different.
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soudek01

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Re: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2016, 05:57:25 pm »
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Awesome, thanks for the input and timely responses to my questions! I will probably make this for myself because I like the idea of storing everything in one place and it being portable and expandible.
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Hockey Mask

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Re: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2016, 08:51:45 pm »
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Premium or penny sleeves?
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ObtusePunubiris

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Re: Dominion Storage Solution for the Future
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2016, 09:29:10 pm »
+1

Awesome, thanks for the input and timely responses to my questions! I will probably make this for myself because I like the idea of storing everything in one place and it being portable and expandible.
Cool. I'd love to see how it turns out.

Premium or penny sleeves?
I've heard that term, but I don't know what makes a sleeve a "penny sleeve."  Whatever the case, I've always used Mayday standard 40 micron thickness and I've been happy with them.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2016, 09:32:37 pm by ObtusePunubiris »
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