The Ludarium Guild of Game Guides · Toolkit

The Pre-Flight Checklist

Twelve things to have ready before the first guest sits down.

The game

  • Played it solo firstAt least three turns alone, so you know where people will stumble.
  • Script written and timedYour one-page teach, under five minutes aloud.
  • Set up before anyone sitsBoard out, decks shuffled, starting pieces dealt.
  • Expansions and variants back in the boxFirst game, base rules. Every extra rule is a cost.

The table

  • Pieces sorted by playerEach seat gets its own colors and starting stuff in front of it.
  • Reference cards where people can see themOr a summary you wrote, one per player if you can.
  • Rulebook beside you, open to the summary pageNearby for questions, never read aloud.
  • Newcomer seated beside youClose enough to point at their pieces without reaching across the table.

The night

  • Plan B readyA fifteen-minute game in case energy is low or people arrive late.
  • Drinks and snacks away from the boardA side table saves the cards.
  • Phones and the TV sortedMusic low, screens off the table.
  • Your first-round planOpen hands or a practice round, and the two good moves you will point out.

theludarium.com/academy/guild · The game is the reason. The people are the point.