Launch Tabletop creates print-on-demand board games and accessories, and provides mass production services to the tabletop gaming industry.
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Process and Timeline

Process & Timeline

As a manufacturer, we pride ourselves on product quality as well as transparency. Whether it is a board game or a card game, we want you to not only understand the process of how your game is brought to life but also help you calculate production costs.

All orders submitted through Launch Lab follow the same key steps:

1

Content review

First, our reviewers check the overall content of your project. We look for anything that may cause an issue, including:

  • Components (such as rulebooks or game boards) that are too big to fit inside any box in your project
  • Objectionable and harmful material including, but not limited to, sexist, racist, or pornographic content
  • Files formatted in unusual or unexpected ways (such as cards left blank on one side)

If we have any questions, or find anything that needs to be addressed, we'll contact you right away.

2

Pre-press review

Our pre-press specialists review each of your files. We check for small technical details that may lead to imperfect prints, including:

  • Important text and images that are too close to die-cut edges
  • Too little bleed
  • Lines that are too thin to print reliably
  • Use of rich black or registration black for text
  • Incorrect placement of die-lines on art

If we find artwork issues that need adjustment, we’ll contact you right away to outline the issue and suggest ways to resolve it. If your files need to be re-uploaded, we’ll place the project on hold until you supply your updated artwork.

Once the files pass these initial reviews, your order moves to Production.

3

Production

Production generally takes 7-10 working days from start to finish. For small orders, it may take less. For large orders, it may take longer.

4

Shipping

Shipping from our facility in China usually takes 6-12 days. This can vary depending on your chosen destination and method of delivery.

All orders are tracked. You can find your tracking information on the order detail page.

Frequently asked questions

At the top of your component list page is a Unit Price Estimator button. Click on this to view a price estimate for your project as it currently stands.

Adjusting the number of units to be produced will show the effect of different quantities on the cost per unit. The more units you make, the lower the cost per unit.

Beneath the number of units selectors are two tabs:

  • Project breakdown: This is a list showing the individual components in your project and the cost associated with each component.
  • Unit cost price breaks: This is a visual way to show where the major price breaks occur and how this affects the cost per unit.

A draft order occurs when you abandon an order, or alternatively click the ‘Save order as a draft’ button.

If you abandon an order, all progress you’ve made will be instantly saved.

A draft order can be used at any stage. To move out of a draft order, you must complete the order process and successfully pay the associated invoice.

You can also delete a draft order if you don’t wish to proceed.

  • Create an order: At the bottom of your component page, click the ‘Create Order’ button.
  • Name the order: Give your order a name.
  • Select projects: Select which projects you wish to add to your order.
  • Set quantity: Set your quantity of units for each project in your order. A total price indicator will specify the total cost.
  • Select shipping address: Select the address you’d like this order shipped to. You are also able to add and select a different address.
  • Review order: Choose a delivery option for your project from the list provided, then click ‘Complete your order’. You will be required to make payment before your order is sent off to review & production.

Important Notes

  • Only projects including a container/box can be selected.
  • Only projects with artwork that has passed preflight can be selected.

If you wish to proceed with a specific order, you’ll need to follow the Order process, which includes:

  • Confirm quantity & price.
  • Confirm shipping address.
  • Review your order.

Once this is done and if you’re happy to proceed, choose a courier service you’d like to go with.

Click on ‘Complete your order’ and you will be taken off to a secure page to make payment.

Once payment has been finalised, your order will now be active and will be reviewed by a Launch Tabletop representative shortly.

Launch Tabletop communicates what is happening with your order through a series of statuses. A detailed description of each status follows.

  • Draft: Your order is in draft mode. This allows you to modify your project and make changes at a later date, if you're not quite ready to complete it. A draft order can be completed at any stage.
  • Awaiting payment: Your order requires payment. This occurs if you have not successfully paid the invoice needed to proceed with the order. Note: Your order cannot proceed any further until payment has been made.
  • In review: This occurs when a Launch Tabletop representative reviews your order. Once the review has been completed, your order status will progress to the next step, or a Launch Tabletop rep will contact you to discuss any issues that need resolving.
  • In production: This status will occur once you’ve passed content review and pre-press checks. At this stage, your order is with the production team where it will be created.
  • Shipped: This status indicates that your order has shipped and should be in transit to your designated shipping address.

Launch Tabletop aims to be as transparent and as communicative as possible.

If your order has an issue, the order status of your order will indicate it, and a Launch Tabletop representative will list all known problems that need resolving. You can reply to the representative and have a threaded conversation.

A Launch Tabletop representative will either check and verify your work or will be there to respond to any queries.

Once you have submitted and paid for an order, it will go through the following steps:

  • Content Review: Your Project's artwork will be checked by a LTT representative to ensure that your content meets certain standards.
  • Prepress: A prepress specialist will carefully check all your print files to ensure your project will be correctly printed.
  • Production: On average, orders take 10 days to produce. However, depending on the complexity and number of units, production could take up to 3 weeks. We will notify you if your project may take longer than the typical turnaround.
  • Dispatch: Once your order has been produced, shipment will be arranged and carried out by your chosen courier.

As the manufacturer producing your custom board game, we know your ideas might change as the project moves ahead. Whether you can change your order after you've submitted it depends on how far along your game is in the manufacturing process. If we're still in the planning stages or haven't started making your game yet, it's often possible to make changes. But once we've started production, it might be too late to change things because of how specific the game-making process is. If you want to change something, it's best to talk to your project manager. They can give you the best advice based on where we are in the process of making your game.

The components in your custom game board should match the atmosphere of the game's narrative. Customising your game's components draws your players in, creating an immersive game experience before the first move is even made. Not only can we create custom board game boxes to keep all the pieces in one place, but also other items, such as drawstring bags, to keep the components organised and in good condition within these boxes. Keep in mind that having specialised components for your project will affect production costs and timelines. Understanding these factors is essential during the board game prototyping phase, where every detail counts. Learn more about how we can become your custom board game manufacturer for larger orders.

You can use the unit cost estimator on Launch Lab to calculate the unit cost of your custom board game as you design it. Simply add, remove, and edit your game's components, and the tool will update in real time, showing price break points and quantities at which the unit cost will change. Depending on the size of the order and the number of components, your board game’s manufacturing cost or card game's printing costs will change accordingly. For larger orders beyond 1,000 units, we recommend using mass manufacturing. Learn more about custom board game printing.

Through our Unit Cost Calculator, you can trial different quantities to see what impact they have on production costs. As the quantity increases, the game card printing costs will adjust once orders exceed certain thresholds. Whether you’re concerned about the manufacturing costs for your custom board game or the printing costs of your card game, the production cost per unit for your game will decrease as the quantity increases.

At Launch Tabletop, we strive to provide excellent customer service and ensure your satisfaction with our products. Here are some important details about our returns policy:

1. How can I initiate a return? Please email us at support@launchtabletop.com as soon as you receive and check your order to begin a return. We will walk you through the steps to evaluate the return.

2. What items are eligible for return? We accept returns for defective or damaged items. If you receive a custom board game or game cards that have printing errors or quality issues, please let us know, and we'll be happy to assist you.

3. Are there any exceptions to the returns policy? Due to the personalised nature of custom board games, we cannot accept returns for reasons other than defects or damage. We strongly recommend you review your artwork and design files thoroughly before uploading and placing your order to ensure accuracy.

If you have any further questions or need assistance with your return, don't hesitate to reach

out to your us via email at support@launchtabletop.com. We are here to help make your experience with Launch Tabletop as positive as possible.

Our prices are not negotiable. We have carefully determined our custom board and card game prices based on various factors, including materials, production processes, and operational costs. All these elements contribute to the total production and printing costs for your custom board or card game. We aim to offer transparent and consistent pricing to all our customers who want to produce their custom board games. If you have any further questions about pricing, don't hesitate to reach out to your project manager.

The main difference between Launch Lab's print-on-demand service and mass manufacturing is the production quantity. Print-on-demand is ideal for smaller production runs of 1 to 1,000 copies, while mass manufacturing is best for larger quantities of 1,000 copies or more. Additionally, mass manufacturing has a minimum order quantity of 1,000 units, while print-on-demand does not. It should be noted that both board and card game production costs will change accordingly depending on the number of components as well as how many are ordered. Production times will also vary due to the differences in quantity. Learn more about the difference between mass production and print-on-demand.

We understand the importance of timely delivery and strive to meet our production deadlines. However, unforeseen circumstances may sometimes cause production delays. Here are some key points regarding how we handle such situations:

  • How do you communicate production delays?
    If a production delay is expected to impact your order, our team will proactively reach out to you to provide updates. We believe in transparent and timely communication, ensuring that you are informed about any changes to the original timeline.
  • What steps do you take to resolve production delays?
    When facing production delays, we take immediate action to address the issue and expedite the manufacturing process. Our dedicated team works diligently to minimise the delay and get your custom board game on track as soon as possible.
  • Will the production delay affect the pricing of my order?
    Rest assured, any production delays will not affect the pricing of your order. This means that the production cost for both card games and board games will be unaffected. The agreed-upon manufacturing cost of the custom board game will remain unchanged, regardless of any delays that may occur.
  • How can I stay updated on the status of my order during a production delay?
    During a production delay, we will maintain regular communication with you, providing updates on the progress and revised timeline. You can reach out to us at any time for the latest information or to address any concerns you may have.

We understand that production delays can be frustrating, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Our commitment to delivering high-quality custom board games and game cards remains unwavering, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Have any questions that aren’t covered above? You may find the answer over in our Knowledge Base.

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How Launch Lab works

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Process and Timeline

Print on demand

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