Getting Started
Why a Clear Starting Point Helps a New Game
A clear starting point for a new game helps newcomers recognize when play begins, understand their first role, and…
All the bearings
All articles
Browse ideas for getting started, shaping a game, sharing play, caring for kit and making use of available places.
Game Design
Short Rounds or One Long Game?
Short rounds or one long game? Compare how each format handles rotation, rest, and changing attendance so your group…
Shared Play
Before the Scoreboard: Keeping Track of Play
Keeping track of play with a spoken tally, counters, or pencil marks helps players settle the count and return their…
Kit and Care
The Matching-Kit Myth: Why a Game Needs No Uniform
A game needs no uniform: use visible color, stable positions, or simple markers so players can identify teams without…
Places
A Rainy-Day Game Night, Planned Around the Table
Plan a rainy-day game night around your table’s space, group size, and pause points to choose a compact, low-mess game…