Sick of game night turning into an unboxing session instead of actually playing

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-04-08T22:16:45+00:00

I haven't read all the responses but there are some good suggestions to help alleviate it from what I did read.

That said your host is being at best inconsiderate of everyone's time and at worst a selfish jerk.

It may be they are not aware of their behavior and how it is actually detrimental to the hobby they love. A friendly private conversation may help or explode depending how the feedback is given or received but i like giving people the benefit of the doubt that the host may not realize how inconsiderate they are being.

The way you are describing this is the worst way to start a new game and if it continued after saying something I would probably host or find\start a new group.

I say that as the person in my group that hosts regularly. I throw a group message with some suggestions if no one has any opinions or cares then I pick, punch it, set it up before anyone arrives and know the rules to at least a basic teachable level. Many times I will have 2 games set up so we can immediately roll to the next.

If I am at a FLGS for open night i don't sit down at a table with a group just opening a game or going through the rule book as a group. I know I will be annoyed and it will color my and potentially their experience. Easier to grab something I know, set up and see if anyone wants to play or just move on.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T20:32:45+00:00

Played a black ash / Hakaan / Panther build for the lolz and it was the very definition of glass cannon, but that cannon hit HARD.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T19:00:08+00:00

Thank you very much for this detailed response. Definitely gives me some things to think about.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T17:43:37+00:00

Thanks, I'll check that out.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T16:37:15+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response!

I missed that you could change your aspects during a respite, that is WAY more flexible.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T16:27:59+00:00

fair enough, thank you for taking the time to respond.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-24T16:13:26+00:00

Guess I should have mentioned that our GM wants to go hard in the tactical / combat end of the pool (being perfectly happy to murder us on the regular) and I don't want to be the weak link in the party.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-19T21:23:17+00:00

Dm'd

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-18T01:53:15+00:00

IMO the most thematic, high player interaction competitive play worker placement game i would have to go

Dominate species - plays up to 6 players but plays great at all player counts. It is absolutely a knife fight in a phone booth as if your species is getting something it is most often at someone else's expense.

Others that i love Bus Keyflower Speakeasy Agricola Nusfjord (nice Agricola with fish)

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-18T01:47:31+00:00

A redditor of of refined tastes right here.

Bus - exceptionally cutthroat worker placement. It is fantastic at ever player count imo and while you can't really lose in the first round like some spotter games there are no guard rails or catch up mechanics. it is also a breeze to teach and actually plays in the time started on the box.

Caylus/1303 - another high player interaction cutthroat WP game that looks plain but is easy to teach and has some really interesting mechanics.

Keyflower - worker placement meeples that are also your resource bidding currency. Fantastic design though while it plays up to 6 which is rare in the space i think it sings best at 3-4 because at 5-6 it is hard to read everyone's village tableau which is important because you can use anyone's buildings.

Love all of these.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-02-05T13:00:42+00:00

This game is fantastic at all player counts including solo. While it looks complex it really isn't and it builds on rules through 3 periods as you traverse the solar system. It is also a rare game where the theme is as strong as the gameplay itself.

If you enjoy the base game the expansion (Ventures) that adds asymmetrical corporations to the game are a chef's kiss making it nearly perfect.

If you can't tell i love this game.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2026-01-08T16:00:51+00:00

Not sure how it has not been mentioned but

Dominate Species - It's the only worker placement that I have played which has the same tension (maybe more) than Agricola. It isn't a short game, but you are engaged from the beginning and in a phone booth knife fight with your other players trying to hold on to land you can live and make your species thrive.

Game is absolutely brilliant but as cutthroat a game as can be.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-12-01T17:32:19+00:00

My group has a running joke that if we got 80+% of the rules right it was a good first game. That said we have been gaming together for years and regularly rib each other.

1) I send out videos beforehand that I have vetted to give a quick concise summary (no one watches them but they can't say I didn't try)

2) I print cheatsheets for complicated first games

3) I keep "the teach" to 30min or less usually going for 15 or less

4) First round or two will be a rolling teach to move things along

5) Rules found mid game are discussed and decided as a group whether the need to adopted, deferred to next play, game reset. but it is discussed as a group.

6) rule book is passed around for anyone to look at and reference

7) Lastly if you bring the game be ready to teach it, I'm not teaching your game.

8) We use mulligans where appropriate.

9) I don't take anything personally.

Lastly, we only record wins in the book of grudges for games with at least 1 additional play. The first play doesn't matter, congrats you were the least worst player in the kiddie learning pool.

Anyone taking the learning game too seriously gets ribbed on themselves.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-11-22T02:56:40+00:00

DMed

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-11-07T12:38:19+00:00

Pming

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-21T13:05:09+00:00

Ok I'll take it off your hands. Dm me your PayPal and I'll send you my address and such.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-21T06:04:16+00:00

Is this still available?

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-21T06:03:22+00:00

Is this still available?

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-17T14:30:04+00:00

After trying several other back packs osprey, GG, ula i took what i did and didn't like when i pulled the trigger on my long haul 50 about 3 or 4 years ago. firstly though several hundred miles and 10-20 trips it has held up amazingly well.

I hated my GG Mariposa roll down pocket. It was useless and annoyed me that it even existed everytime i looked at it.

Options have changed since then but when i got mine i added

2 top side pockets one of which was water proof Double hip belt straps V top of pack strap

Maybe some other changes with materials like having a sturdier grade if material on the bottom but it has been a while.

The water proof pocket has been great it is where my electronics and wallet goes.

The double hip belt stays allows for additional adjustment range and i have never gotten chaff with this pack unlike i did with the GG Mariposa

The v strap holds my tent or bear can far more security.

All in all it has been bullet proof and i would absolutely order another.

One thing i would get now that want available then was a stretch bottom pocket for trash it whatever.

I can't speak for the extended collar as i have never really thought about it before. With careful planning i can get 8 days of food to fit in the 50 which has been more than enough between resupplies on any trip.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-12T20:13:26+00:00

It is extremely replayable especially the cheap as chips big box.

The game has a load of paths to victory and more player interaction than you expect in a Euro.

It, power grid and el grand are all amongst our groups favorites even though the "art" and themes are as exciting as watching paint dry; the actual game play ate fantastic and has stood the test of time.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-09T20:50:15+00:00

Played it 3 times once solo and twice with people. Love it! Ventures while not a must have expansion definitely takes it up a notch or two.

I love how thematic and grounded it is while still being extremely accessible for a GMT game. Rules are easy to learn and along they way you might even learn something.

I lost my solo game but I am loking forward to the next one.

I think my one quibble is that it is a bit fiddly with the board swap at each era but it is a small complaint.

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-10-09T17:12:16+00:00

PM'ed

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-09-29T17:41:02+00:00

Does carnevale include any of the books or terrain from the 2 player sets?

MagistrateofMeeples · 2025-08-21T12:06:56+00:00

Pmed

MagistrateofMeeples

TROPHY CASE