I converted a card game called Exploding Kittens into a game that can be played in the dark. The original purpose was a friend who has light-sensitive headaches. The friend and I both know the sighted version already. Last night we played the blind version for the first time, and it worked quite well despite our undeveloped sense of touch.

It costs me 3 euros in wood to make a set (my use of the laser cutter is free), so 3 euros plus shipping is what it will cost.

The game is played with custom cards, not normal playing cards. It's a quick game with quite a bit of luck involved, but there is some strategy to it as well. The sighted version advertises 1 minute of setup and 15 minutes duration, but having to feel each card takes longer. It took us about an hour last night.

I don't know how screen readers work exactly, but I think you can skip paragraphs. The rest of this post will be question and answer, with one paragraph for each question and answer.

Question: How does the game work? Answer: The game has a pile of cards. When it is your turn, you can optionally play a card from your hand, and you end your turn by drawing a card. If you draw an exploding kitten card, you explode and you're out, unless you have a defuse card in your hand. If you have a defuse card, you survive and the defuse card is discarded. Other cards that can be drawn are special cards or combo cards, like "see the future" which allows you to see the next 3 cards on the pile, or "skip" which allows you to end a turn without drawing a card (useful if the next one might be an exploding kitten card), etc. A full explanation will be provided.

Question: How does the blind version work? Answer: Each card has been remade from wood. The square wooden cards have one cut off corner to indicate the left top corner. On top of the card is a number that indicates the type: 1 is a defuse card, 2 is a card that is played as a combo, 3 is anything else, and 5 (the shape of an X) is an exploding kitten card. The cards with types 2 and 3 have a subtype. This is a number on the bottom from 1 to 6. For the combo cards (type 2) you simply need to collect two with the same subtype. For the other cards, type 3, you need to remember which subtype is which. It's sorted alphabetically. Subtype 1 is an attack card, subtype 2 is a favor card, etc. A full explanation will be provided with the game. If things work out, there will also be two small wooden cheat sheets provided with each game, which list the 6 variants of type 3 cards in Braille. This might not work because the laser cutter uses an old computer, which might not be able to handle a Braille font. The numbers on the cards are not Braille. They are like pips on dice. Though I might change the 4 and 5 a bit for distinguishability (not sure yet, needs more testing).

Question: Why did you use wood? Answer: Because I have a laser cutter and it can only engrave and cut, not push out dots on paper. Wood is the easiest material to use with the cutter.

Question: How many sets will be available? Answer: I have access to the laser cutter for two weeks. If you let me know before October 20th, I can make a set. I assume there is enough wood available (it needs special wood), but it takes nearly two hours to make a set and because it basically burns holes in wood, I cannot leave the machine alone due to fire risk. I can make at least five sets, maybe ten. I have no idea how popular this is going to be.

Question: Did the company behind the original card game allow this? Answer: I did not contact them. They don't sell a blind version of the game and I don't expect to sell more than ten sets. I'm not taking away any customers from them. And I'm not copying the copyrighted images on the cards, so I'm not even sure it's illegal in the first place. I'm also not making a profit. I'm just trying to be nice here.

Question: How does ordering and shipping work? Answer: Email ekblind@lgms.nl before October 20th and tell me where you live (which country at least) so I can check shipping costs. I will ship from Vaasa, Finland. The total size and weight is not known at the moment. I estimate it weights between 300 and 700 grams (I compared it to 500 grams of pasta, it seems close but it's hard to tell). After I know the costs, pay me via wire transfer (IBAN) or Paypal or Bitcoin. I will then ship the game to you and provide the full instructions by email.

End of question and answer. For sighted people here who are considering the game for a friend, this is a photo of a few cards: https://i.snag.gy/COJLGb.jpg The design of the pips might change after more testing. The 5 was relatively hard to feel (it's doable, but took us the longest of all numbers).

Let me know if you have any questions. I will answer in the thread and update this post too. If you have feedback on the post itself, let me know as well!

One question to you guys: are there any other places where I should post this? I can't provide too many game sets, but if r/blind orders fewer than five, I could make some more for people from other communities. Or perhaps you could spread the word and link here? This post will be updated (I will post it on top) with how fast it's going and whether I have reached the order limit.