“Unless you’re short on design time, test the wild idea first.”
— Jay Treat
“Recognize that not every playtester is in your target audience, but don’t dismiss their feedback because of that.”
— John Brieger
“If you’re struggling with a design, don’t be afraid to shelve it and work on something else. Listen to your heart. If you find yourself not wanting to play your prototype, take some time away to refocus.”
— Nikki Valens

Several ways to make a prototype game board (video)