This guy has a nice way of reminding of things that we just might tend to do and maybe should cut back on. Although, I think we might fall on the opposite side of the tracks on some of his points. I think that the video is a good way to remember to BE KIND :) See all 50 of his suggestions in a list below the video window:
His 50 suggestions (with some notes from my/our perspective):
- Allow drinks at the table
- There’s more to life than protecting your board games from accidental spills
- Friends first, games second
- Our solution: keep the drinks off the main table on a small side table
- Allow snacks at the table
- He says this seems to be the most divisive issue
- He thinks it is not a proper game day without snacks [we agree]
- Don’t take more care over your game than over your guests (we play for hours, we need to eat). For important games, there are mess free snacks (grapes, carrot sticks, M&Ms), however, life’s too short to let our games dictate our diet.
- He’d rather risk losing a game to guacamole than to losing a friend due to his fear of damaging his game
- Don’t get food on the game
- Treat someone else’s game like their baby – don’t wipe your greasy fingers on it – use a napkin or your clothes – you can wash your jeans but you can’t wash the game
- If you spill a drink on a game, offer to buy them a new one
- But then you get to keep the damaged copy:) So only spill drinks over games you like:)
- Don’t riffle shuffle someone else’s cards
- It’s terrible on the cards (bends them) so only do so if the owner of the game doesn’t mind. [there are other ways to shuffle the cards]
- [Said tongue in cheek] Be a humble winner
- He pinned a comment to the video that he really meant “Celebrate how you like!”
- But be humble :) [remember: it’s just a game, so smile and get ready for a rematch]
- He pinned a comment to the video that he really meant “Celebrate how you like!”
- If you win as a team you can go nuts
- It’s about friends coming together to destroy other friends [well, not quite at our game day :) ]
- Winning against a coop game, you can get even louder!
- Humans 1 – Robots 0
- Don’t cheat
- [not on purpose anyway :) ]
- It’s disrespectful. It’s poisonous… you can’t win a game by breaking it’s rules
- The host picks the games
- They organized the day, they tidied things up, they can choose the games
- Alternative: guests can bring a snack
- Cater the games to your guests
- With great power [see #9 above] comes great responsibility
- Don’t make people play games they wouldn’t like – Friends first, games second
- Find a game that everyone can enjoy
- If it’s your game – you teach the rules
- If the rules are more than a couple pages, read them before hand
- Guests: Listen to the rules
- Pay attention when being taught the rules
- Asking questions is good (after all, they are trying to learn)
- Never say “let’s just start”
- All that means is that the game will keep pausing to explain and answer questions
- [Learn as you go is OK if explained first – treat the first playthrough like a learning session]
- A legacy game can carry on without you
- Other people can fill in for those who can’t continue to play (temporarily even)
- Don’t take ages on your turn [yes, I tend to do this – will have to try better to follow the two bullet points]
- Trying to make a perfect turn is not worth it
- Better to make a weak move than bore everyone else
- Don’t rush players, it’s annoying
- trying to rush them often has the opposite effect because you break their train of thought and then they take even longer
- If your color is taken, get over it
- Yes, it might be harder to remember which are your pieces, but so would it for the other person
- If you’re late, they can start without you
- Perhaps play a “filler game” while you wait
- Get off your phone [oops, I sometimes do this – sorry!]
- If you’re looking at your phone, it tells the other people that it is more important to you than them
- And sometimes it IS more important (msg from family for example)
- I can look at my phone any hour of the day, but game day is precious time – make the most of your game group while you still have it
- If you’re looking at your phone, it tells the other people that it is more important to you than them
- Don’t tell people what to do on their turns [actually, I don’t mind getting helpful advice and tips during my turn]
- Let it be THEIR decision
- Especially in coop games … let each player have their own moves [however, it is important to coordinate all players because they need to work together]
- Don’t complain that you’re losing [unless it is in jest?]
- Especially if you end up winning
- You should allow take-backs, occasionally
- Let someone fix a mistake they made
- This isn’t tournament play
- But don’t keep taking back your turn whenever it suits you
- If the person teaching the game misses a rule, cut them some slack
- Yes, it’s annoying that you’ve been playing the game wrong, but we all make mistakes and they didn’t mean to do it
Play Heavenly Games 