c/board-game-geeks

A shift in how I handle game nights with my non-gamer friends

I used to try and impress them with complex stuff like Twilight Imperium, which always fell flat. Now I start with simple gateway games like Codenames, and it works much better. The change happened after a disastrous evening in 2022 where three people left early. Anyone have a favorite light game that always gets people to the table?

0 comments

the_ray•15h ago

Met a guy at a game cafe who only plays games from 1995 or earlier

He was at a table in the back of The Rook in Cincinnati, setting up a copy of El Grande from 1995. He told me, 'Modern games are just reprints of old ideas with nicer art.' It made me wonder how many other people have a strict cutoff year for their collection?

2 comments

blair_gibson78•1d ago

Update: My game group finally finished a 4-hour Gloomhaven scenario last Thursday

We almost gave up after 2 hours, but a rule we missed (about monster focus) turned the whole fight around. Anyone have tips for tracking long campaign game states between sessions?

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lucasg42•1d ago

Shoutout to the guy at the game store who told me to stop buying expansions

I was at The Dragon's Hoard in Springfield about six months back, looking at the Scythe expansions. This older guy next to me just said, 'You know, you should really beat the base game with every faction before you add more stuff.' I thought he was being a snob, but I listened. I finally finished my last faction match last night, and wow, I get it now. The game feels totally different and way more balanced. Has anyone else had a piece of advice that seemed simple but really changed how you play a game?

2 comments

carter.sam•1d ago

Finally tried a real teach for Root instead of winging it

For years, I'd just hand out the player boards and hope for the best, but last game night I watched the 20 minute 'How to Play' video from the publisher first. The difference was huge, we got through two full games without a single rules argument. Anyone have other games where a proper setup video saved your group?

2 comments

michael_mason•3d ago

Corrected a seller on a vintage game's price, felt right

I found a rare board game at a yard sale for ten dollars. The owner had no clue it was sought after by collectors. I debated just buying it and keeping quiet. But I told them its true market value instead. We settled on a fair price and I left feeling good about it.

2 comments

morgan_perez84•5d ago

My quiet rule slip at game night still bugs me

I saw a rule mistake in Catan that helped me come back and win. I stayed quiet because I was losing badly. Now I feel bad about not telling my friends.

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maryhunt•5d ago

Shoutout to nailing down a smooth way to run game nights

Our last session flowed perfectly from start to finish.

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david357•7d ago

Pro tip: Bringing back the chill in competitive game groups

I saw my friends getting really stressed over a board game last week. It took me back to when we just played for laughs and didn't keep score. What's your method for keeping games fun when people get too into it?

2 comments

karenfoster•8d ago

Warning: Pizza grease got on my board game and now I'm panicking

Last weekend, I hosted a board game night with my friends. I decided to make homemade pizza to keep everyone fed during our long game of Terraforming Mars. But things went wrong when a slice slipped off a plate and landed on the game board. Now there's a big grease stain on one of the player mats. We tried to clean it with a damp cloth, but it just spread the oil around. I'm really worried it might ruin the game. Has anyone dealt with food stains on board games before? What's the best way to clean them without causing more damage? Also, can you recommend some snacks that are less messy for game nights?

2 comments

tessa695•8d ago

We found out too late about the tournament deadline...

By the time we got there, all spots were gone... Save yourself the hassle and register early.

3 comments

terry_hill45•9d ago

A weekend project sorted my chaotic board game pile

I had board games stacked everywhere in my den. Building a few wooden crates from scrap helped me organize them all. Do you have tips for keeping game boxes in good shape over time?

3 comments

anthony_fox•10d ago

Shoutout to the gamers who dive into rulebooks

Just found out that for some, reading game rules is as fun as playing.

3 comments

spencerb73•11d ago

My buddy's wall of unplayed expansions made me question our hobby

He showed me his shelf full of game expansions still in plastic. It feels like we're missing the point of playing together. Is this a common thing among board game geeks?

3 comments