Gift of the Magi Game - New Game - Complete Set - Instructions

UPDATE 2026-01-05:     After playing the game with family members on New Year's Eve, I revised the game instructions to make them much easier to read, and 33% shorter. I also fixed a serious type-O, and modified the rules a bit to make them a little better. If you have downloaded the previous versions (which are now deleted from this page), please take a look at the these new instructions. :)

The Gifts of the Magi is a dice game for one-to-many players, with three game play variations: group cooperative, individual competitive and team competitive. It is based somewhat on the travels of the Biblical Magi ("wise men") who were in search of the new-born King of the Jews. For an in depth description of game play, see the included game instructions. The game pieces and sub-pieces are as follows:

• 1 Gold gift die

  • Gold die

  • Gold insert

  • “X” insert

• 1 Frankincense gift die

  • Frankincense die

  • Frankincense insert

  • “X” insert

• 1 Myrrh gift die

  • Myrrh die

  • Myrrh insert

  • “X” insert

• 2 different Star dice

  • Star die 1

    • 3 Star inlays

  • Star die 2

    • 3 Star inlays

• 1 Caravan Master Token

  • CM Token - Body

  • CM Token - Sky

  • CM Token - Star

  • CM Token - Sand

• 12 Hope Coins

• Game piece tray

Additional related items:

1. Custom Storage Box (holds game pieces and is used in the game; I already published the box with variations, and the Inlay Punches, so I didn't want to post them again here):

    

2. Inlay Punches (to help with installing star inlays):

    

3. Game Instructions are included as a .pdf download in U.S Ltr and European A4 sizes. I apologize that the instructions are not available in languages other than English.

The game pieces were printed at 0.12mm layer height using 7 different colors of PLA. The pieces were printed at 100% infill with 5 walls & top/bottom layers for added durability in game play, except for the dice bodies which were printed with 25% infill.

Pieces are glued together with a small amount of C.A. glue, especially the star inlays. I recommend printing the inlay punches (link above) and having them and a mallet handy to tap in the inlays until they are flush. Be sure to use a small, super fine glue applicator and spread around the glue on the contact surfaces, then insert the inlay and tap it in flush. The square inlay tool works well for the star inlays; if there is a small piece sticking up/proud, tap it in flush with the round inlay tool. You will need to work fairly quickly with C.A. glue.

The game pieces are designed to be printed in different colors, but one color at a time. Why, you ask?

1.  They are small pieces that would waste a ton of filament with a multi-color printer filament color changes (it would use more filament for changes than is used on the actual models).

2.  They are easy to assemble with C.A. glue.

3.  The star inlays look good with a different texture (PEI textured plate).

Of course, by printing ‘by object’ rather than by layer, multiple parts can be printed in different colors with an AMS.

Note:     I decided to enter the game in the Easter contest because many Biblical scholars believe that Jesus was born in the Springtime, when the shepherds would be out watching their sheep (rather than in December). So, for Christians, Easter can be a reminder of both the birth and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.