[Editor’s Note: This blog post was generated by AI from the video’s transcript, and was edited by Francisco for accuracy]
Enhance your Junkyard Juggernauts play experience by adding the included laser-cut chipboard pieces to your playmat to keep your game pieces secure and organized, in the same way a dual-layer board would. This simple upgrade ensures your cubes stay in place, even if the table gets bumped during gameplay. Here is the step-by-step process of transforming your playmat into a dual-layer-like board. Let’s dive into the three main steps: Punching Out, Cleaning, and Gluing.
What You’ll Need
Before starting, gather these materials:
Laser-cut chipboard (included with your Junkyard Juggernaut game, typically in a bag with four different boards for each Juggernaut)
Corresponding playmat (e.g., Gemm playmat for the Gemm torso chipboard)
Small bowl of water
Q-tips
Paper towel or washcloth
Super glue
Punching Out
The first step is to carefully punch out the components of your laser-cut chipboard. Here’s how to do it:
Start with the outer frame: Gently push out the outer sections of the chipboard. Apply steady, light pressure to avoid tearing. The pieces should pop out easily with minimal force.
Remove inner components: Next, punch out the inner parts, such as the name piece and the tracks for attack strength and speed. Use your thumbnails to gently push these out, working slowly to ensure clean separation. Some chipboards may include small square boards in the arm areas—these are player aids for the game and can be set aside for later use.
Discard excess: Once you’ve removed all necessary pieces, you can throw away the leftover chipboard frame.
Tip: Take your time to avoid damaging the chipboard. The pieces are designed to come apart with gentle pressure.
Cleaning
Laser-cut chipboards often have soot or residue from the cutting process, which can get on your hands and the playmat if not cleaned. Follow these steps to clean your chipboard:
Clean the outer edges: Dampen a paper towel or washcloth with water (it should be lightly damp, not soaking wet). Gently wipe the edges of the chipboard to remove the laser-cut soot. You’ll notice the cleaned areas appear more brown, while uncleaned areas have a darker shade.
Clean the inner sections: Use a damp Q-tip to clean the inner cutouts where the cubes will rest. Spin the Q-tip gently inside these areas to remove soot. You don’t need to be overly meticulous—just clean what can be reached with the Q-tip. Switch to a clean side of the Q-tip as needed.
Final wipe-down: Give the entire chipboard a final light wipe with a clean section of the paper towel. Avoid applying too much pressure, as paper towels can catch on the chipboard’s ridges.
Tip: Cleaning doesn’t have to be perfect, especially since you’ll repeat this process for all four juggernaut chipboards. Just aim for a tidy appearance.
Gluing
Now it’s time to attach the chipboard to your playmat. This step requires careful alignment and a steady hand:
Align the chipboard: Place the chipboard on the playmat to get a sense of where it will sit. Ensure the cutouts align with the numbers on the top of the playmat and the name in the center. You can also use the arm connection points as a guide for alignment. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but aim for a close fit. Note: Avoid placing the chipboard below the fold line of the playmat to keep it functional.
Apply super glue: Lay the chipboard flat and set the playmat aside. Apply small blobs of super glue along the dashed lines on the back of the chipboard (these are marked as guides). Work carefully to avoid using too much glue, which can create a mess. Start at one end (e.g., the left side if you’re right-handed) and move around the edges.
Attach the chipboard: Carefully flip the chipboard over, holding it by the edges to avoid touching the glue. Align it with the playmat, starting with the leg sections for easier placement. Gently press it down, adjusting quickly if needed before the glue sets. Press firmly to ensure a strong bond.
Check the result: Verify that the numbers and name on the playmat are visible through the chipboard cutouts. If it’s slightly off but still functional, it’s usually fine. Test the alignment by placing power cards in the designated slots—they should socket in neatly.
Tip: Work quickly but carefully when placing the chipboard, as super glue sets fast. If you’re slightly misaligned, it’s often not worth redoing as long as the key elements are visible and functional.
Enjoy Your Upgraded Playmat!
Congratulations—you’ve created a custom Junkyard Juggernaut playmat with a chipboard overlay! While this step isn’t required to enjoy Juggernaut, it’s a quality-of-life improvement that many players find worthwhile. Now repeat these steps three more times and then save the land of Galmenni from the evil Warlord (which Francisco is not!)
Godspeed Mageineers!
