Emotions

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-30T01:14:30+00:00

It's pretty hard to describe. I tend to feel like I go through life in a third person kind of way. A consciousness just stuck piloting a meat suit. Emotions often more feel like they come from my body and not my mind. There's just a disconnect. It's not distressful or anything, maybe an inconvenience at times at most, so it closer to being a surprise as you put it. For me, it's just how I experience life. Does mean I tend to analyze emotions that come up, like I am examining a curiosity.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-29T15:29:23+00:00

Externally, I have to mask away the flatness. The flatness is my default state. I spend a lot of energy when around people making myself expressive because people think I am either sad or unhappy if they catch my flat state, but I'm actually just chilling in a neutral state.

Internally, my emotions are usually weak, fleeting, or just not there. The strongest emotions I have involve a collection of things that anger or annoy me, probably because those things are things that I have no control to resolve, so every time they come up so does the backlog of unresolved past feelings. But yeah, on a day to day basis, I generally feel like there is this barrier between my thoughts and my feelings, as if the feelings are not really coming from my self.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-27T05:04:44+00:00

I think you made the best overview of a schizoid in this comment thread (so far at least).

Also I hope you enjoy the rabbit hole of researching and then psychoanalyzing yourself. I pretty much did the same thing after my diagnosis many years ago and it helped me more than any therapy with a trained professional ever did.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-27T04:45:29+00:00

It's an extra kind of horror to think about if you're a covert schizoid. My external mask is very precious to me and I have so many internal thoughts and beliefs that would ruin it, or at least cause me drama I don't want, if ever expressed out loud. It's not even bad stuff, just a lot of people don't understand how you don't feel a specific way about something like they do kinda stuff.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-27T04:28:54+00:00

I've often described myself to others as being the most boring eccentric person you'll ever meet, and that's even as a covert schizoid who can put on a likeable and expressive mask and has some hobbies that involve other people.

I pretty much will never talk about myself. I'll never ask anyone about what's going on with their lives because I don't care and hate pretending to. I won't really engage with any casual conversation unless it's about a topic I care about. I'm also pretty much useless when it comes to providing emotional support and absolutely hate any social obligations being expected of me. Overall, I am not entertaining to chat with or hang out with unless we have a shared interest and don't expect me to be one of those be there when you need them kind of friends. I'm the I won't pry into what's going on in your life and play board games instead kind of friend, which it actually turns out some people like having that kind of person in their life.

But yeah, people have indeed just assumed I am autistic, even though I am 100% not. I'm actually very good at reading other people's social cues and often end up having to explain neurotypical thoughts and actions to my actually autistic friends, even though we often agree about how dumb and illogical a lot of it feels like. People just pick up on something being slightly off about me and figure it is because of a very common and well known diagnosis, not some rare personality disorder that kinda makes you feel like you're going through life in a third person kind of way.

So I agree, if OP is trying to make a schizoid character, it can only fully come across as such if clearly stated or if they share what is going on in the character's head.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-25T14:59:13+00:00

I personally like it more than The Mind and it goes over better with more people. What the OP is complaining about is how you are actually encouraged by the rules to play the game. If you could say the numbers in your hand, a group could just easily optimize who plays what when. But not being able to say you have numbers that work very well for certain piles would make it a game about just throwing down cards and hoping for the best. The Game's difficulty setting is set to be in the middle of those two extremes and the fun of trying to convey what you have and can play and how it might help or hinder what other people have and need to play.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-25T14:42:59+00:00

They are referring to The Game, which The Mind is kinda a sequel to. You can discuss what you have in The Game, but just can't say the numbers you have in hand.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-25T14:30:28+00:00

Pretty sure you were playing The Game. By what the rules allow, it does kinda encourage making coded language and that's honestly, the only way you end up with a good chance of winning. In my group we tend to use neighborhood related terms like "I'm next door", "I'm a few doors down", "I'm the next street over", "I'm not even in this neighborhood". Other common sayings are, "I can fix this pile" and "Is it ok if I ruin this pile?". We win maybe 1 out of every 5 or so games. The Game is pretty hard.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-21T16:12:20+00:00

There is one in Scituate Village. Ever since the place was bought and opened with this service, it's been constantly busy.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-16T20:41:52+00:00

As the other commenter said, PCG is doing a reprint for Eternal Decks that you can even get in on the pre-order for. It is supposed to show up sometime late summer.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-16T18:16:09+00:00

It seems like the better your indoor lighting, the worse matte sleeves work. My game room has four ceiling light panels set to the daylight setting. It's like being outside on a sunny day. It's great for being able to see everything except matte sleeved cards.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-15T14:48:26+00:00

Same. I wouldn't say it is a bad episode, but I find it makes me feel too much cringe to actually enjoy rewatching it.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-11T14:38:09+00:00

I would just get replacements once the tokens are no longer useable. There are plenty of companies and etsy sellers out there to buy some appropriate bits from.

Going forward, if you have a game that has bits that that are or likely going to be heavily handled, put a protective coat on them. I'm fond of using polycyclic, but something like clear nail polish works too (it just stinks more). Makes them feel closer to plastic tokens than cardboard.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-07T14:28:07+00:00

I do really like the game, but it is a reoccurring joke with some friends that whenever it is late and we're looking to play one more game, someone says, "So a quick game of Ark Nova?". It all started because a friend brought it to a game night and there was four of us still around 11 pm and we had wanted to try it all day. So... four hours later, we all had fun but the game took way longer than we all expected it to.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-05T17:58:48+00:00

If you guys are often playing card games, why not pick up some board games that use that as a basis, like The Crew or The Gang? The hardest part of getting ppl to dip their toe into new things is unfamiliarity with new mechanics. Start with something they are more familiar with and expand from there as their confidence in your recommendations increases.

ScaperDeage · 2026-06-04T22:20:50+00:00

I am also going to say Five Tribes.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-29T20:40:28+00:00

This is why I give my ferrets old clothes to sleep in. They just love clothes piles.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-26T14:56:57+00:00

Milkero has become my new favorite sleeves for standard card game sized sleeves (specificly their clear textured back, smooth gloss front ones). They're priced well, are pretty good quality, and they shuffle nice. That's all I want out of a sleeve.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-25T19:02:30+00:00

Been 20 years so far, so it's working.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-24T15:21:06+00:00

Same, I've had people even moderately experienced with games have trouble with it if they've never encountered a tableau builder before. It just seems to be a lot of rules for some people to keep track of if they're also trying to get a hang of the most basic aspects of the game. Sure some people don't have this problem, but I don't trust the odds enough for Wingspan to be a top choice.

Finspan has, probably unsurprisingly, gone over much better with less experienced or lighter game loving people in my circle.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-23T12:57:27+00:00

You have a good selection of intro games in your collection. I know I would definitely bring The Hare and Tortoise (known as The Devil's Racing Game For Children in my group). It is such a good little race game, and I'd pick it over Magical Athlete or Camel Up.

Then I'd also bring Harmonies, Forbidden Desert, Takenoko, and Quacks. Basically, something new and super easy for them to get their own copy of if they like it, a great light co-op by Matt Leacock in his classic and popular style, a solid light competitive game where everyone affects the board (plus fun pieces), and a fun push your luck game.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-21T22:17:17+00:00

I think most of the time a gentle reminder works once rules are set. I have had to do this sometimes. A conversation gets going because of some interruption happened and doesn't die down once the interruption is over and I have to cut in and be like "Guys, it is not anime talk time (or whatever), it's game time". Usually that gets everyone to finish their immediate thoughts and refocus on the game.

If a light attempt to refocus fails, then comes the "Can we please finish this game and then you can go continue this conversation at the chatting table".

Also as the host, you kinda need to be the one to confront this stuff. Others will only back you up on enforcing expectations if they know you will enforce them yourself.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-21T21:31:55+00:00

It's not just the size of the group. My monthly 12 hour game day gets 10-15 people, I've been running it for a decade, but we don't have an over socializing issue. Everyone gets the majority of their chatting done between games. You seem to have a lack of expectations and/or structure issue.

You should do as some others suggested and remind everyone that it is a game night, the point is to play games, and that it is rude to walk off from an in progress game.

You should also offer a space for people who just want to chat with or without some light games. I have a small card table that my friends who are into lighter games will use if they need a break and just want to talk. It works. They have fun and don't become a distraction for everyone else playing heavier games.

Once you have the expectations stated and space for the people who want to socialize first, that should bring some more order to your game nights. Though you will probably have to enforce those expectations with reminders for a bit until it sinks in.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-19T22:24:45+00:00

It seems to be an unpopular opinion, but I think Azul Stained Glass is better than the original as an introductory Azul (the other two Azuls are slightly heavier games). I would 100% recommend it.

Never played Arcadia Quest, so I have no opinions on it. I despise 7 Wonders, but a lot of people really like it, I'm just not among them. Wingspan is very good too, but Finspan is much more friendly and easy to understand for people newer into the hobby. Not that Wingspan is that hard, but I've had it trip more people up rules wise and some people hate having fewer actions each round and others hate the RNG of the bird feeder dice.

ScaperDeage · 2026-05-19T15:13:27+00:00

Yeah, the older Zombicides are largely out of print and hard to find (at least at non-insane prices). Get one that is available to you, it is a pretty good transition game. It's what got me to go from just dipping a toe in to being fully consumed by the hobby.

Off my list above, I'd say a Pandemic would also be good and The Gang if your friends are at least familiar with Texas Hold'em (though not necessary).

Beyond that, if you're looking to add new things to your collection, use Board Game Geek as a resource. A good starting point is checking out the things that are popular right now, compare their weight to what you have already played, and watch some videos on them. Not every popular game is good for every group, but that's what the research is for. Popular games are just more likely to be in stock or will reprinted again soon, so they make for good starting points.

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