While You're Under My Roof...

...you play by my rules

(or, why it can be no fun gaming with me)

I love to have people over to our house for games. It's the central hub of gaming activity within our social circles. I love to get snacks in, put together a music playlist, and generally make people feel welcome. I love being introduced to a knew game, so I love to offer that experience to my friends and family whenever I can. And I love to play by the rules (I say love, it's more of a need).

I have been teased many times for the way I rigidly enforce the rules during games. But the way I see it, if it's my job to pour over the rulebook and learn a new game, and hold it together and walk people through it while others are learning, then I reserve the right to play by the rules. Also, if I'm hosting a game night, and I'm providing the game, I reserve the right to lay down some ground rules about playing my games in general. And enforce them! Is that so much to ask?

So, here are a few things that I like people to keep in mind when coming over for a game. If you can stick to these things then I'm sure we can have lots of fun!

Don't Bend The Cards

I don't tend to sleeve my cards. It's an expense I can't afford. Plus I don't like the idea of having to re-box some of my games to fit sleeved cards. So most of the time my game cards are nude and vulnerable. I don't want them to be all dog-eared and creased after a few trips to the table. This mostly (mostly) applies to younger players, and it's hard repeating this rule 5 times during a game because you're not being listened to and not sound like a massive square. But there you go, I'm a massive square!

Curb Your Analysis Paralysis

Game time is precious when you're a parent, there's not a lot of it. I don't want to reach the end of the night and only be half way through a game. Now, I understand that some games require thoughtful decision making, and if it's a particularly heavy game I will wave this rule, but we rarely play deeply strategic games as a group. so does every move need to take 10+ minutes? If it's your first play of a game you're not going to know the perfect strategy, so don't agonize over your first move for ages. Just get stuck in and make mistakes.

Let Me Explain The Rules

I understand some people learn better by doing, because I am usually one of the those people. Unfortunately I am also rather anally retentive and so if the game is new to more than one of the players at the table I need to be allowed to explain the rules. All of them. In detail. I just do!
And by all means humour me and glaze over while I explain. But don't expect me to make decisions for you when it's your turn because you didn't listen.

If It's A Co-op Game Don't Be An Alpha Gamer

"I think if we're going to win what we want is for you to move over here and pick up this item, then you need to use your special ability to move him over to me so he can give me this card, and then I'll move over here and do this, which gives you space to move here and collect this item. OK, that's what we'll do." 
This rule is probably more for me than anyone else. When trying to enjoy a co-op game there's nothing worse than one player making all the decisions. Actually there is one thing worse; one player making all the decisions, and then moving everyone's player pieces for them!

Let Me Win Occasionally

Just follow these rules and let me win the odd game and I'm sure you will be invited back. Fun 100% Guaranteed (not a guarantee).

!!!