Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition - 3D Mars Board and Temperature/Oxygen Tracks

This is 3D board add-on for the game Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition.

The original motivation for this design was to make it easier to turn over the ocean tiles (especially the ones in the middle of the board!) The 3D Mars board fits on top of the original picture and has raised platforms for each ocean tile so that they can be more easily flipped, by pressing down on the bottom of each tile.

This design includes some optional additional parts. Since the temperature and oxygen tracks are quite close to the Mars board, I also designed pieces that create a border around each of these tracks and reduce the impact from bumps. This can work with the transparent marker cubes included with the game but will work better if you use smaller 8mm cubes (the same size as the player cubes).

Then, I also considered that a fully bump-proof method would be to add a cube each time the oxygen or temperature is increased, instead of moving the cube along the track. I acquired some purple, red, yellow, and transparent 8mm cubes for this purpose. I also made a small holder tray for these cubes that can fit in the token trays included with some editions of this game. The holder has holes on one side to make it easier to get the cubes out when you need them.

By making a targeted hole in the middle part of the cardboard insert it is possible to fit these pieces in the game box (see last picture).

The parts can optionally be painted :-)