Eight is the largest number that most online games seat, and it is the hardest to run. Eight voices, eight devices and eight different ideas of when the evening should start. A game night for eight needs a little logistics. Here is the plan I would use, with timings based on the real lengths of the games on a free site I make, Boardit.
Two days before
Send the invitation with a start time, a link to the call and a link to the table. Say how long the evening will last, usually ninety minutes. Ask everyone to join five minutes early, and to use a phone or laptop with a charged battery.
One hour before
Open the table yourself and check it works. Try the first game for a minute. Set the rounds and the clock. Close the table, or leave it open and wait.
The first five minutes
A script helps. "Welcome, everyone. We'll start with a quick quiz, about fourteen minutes. Everyone answers on their own phone. After that, a drawing game. Then we'll see how the time goes. Any questions?" Pause for questions. Then start.
Which games for eight?
- A quiz seats two to eight and takes about fourteen minutes.
- A clue game seats three to eight online and takes about twenty minutes.
- Snakes and Ladders seats up to eight and takes ten to twenty-five minutes.
- A drawing game seats up to twelve, so eight fits comfortably, and takes about twenty minutes.
Ludo seats only four and a property game six, so they do not fit all eight at once. Run two tables if you want them.
How do you run the timing?
Ninety minutes, three games, two short breaks. The quiz first, because it is the easiest. The drawing game second, because it is the loudest. The clue game last, because it is the most thoughtful. Keep each break to five minutes.
What goes wrong with eight?
Talking over each other. Ask everyone to mute unless they are speaking or guessing. Appoint a deputy to watch the chat and welcome latecomers. And keep an eye on the quietest person: invite them to speak before the group moves on.
What if someone is late?
Start without them. Slot them into the next game. Never restart; the others will not forgive it.
How do you keep score across games?
Three points for a win, two for second, one for third. Write the totals in a shared note. The winner holds a silly title until the next night.
How do you end?
Read the scores, name the strongest moment and fix the date of the next night. Say thanks to the helpers. Close the table, and let people go while they are still laughing.
What should you prepare in advance?
Write a one-page plan: start time, game order, break times and the finish. Keep it open in a note, not on the screen the group sees. Prepare a short rule summary for each game, three sentences at most, ready to paste into the chat. Test the audio on your own device, and keep a second device beside you in case the first one drops. A little preparation makes the host look relaxed, and a relaxed host makes a relaxed table.
How do you handle a dispute?
Decide before the evening who has the last word, and make it the host. Keep disputes brief: hear both sides, rule, move on. When the table applies the rules automatically, there are few disputes to settle. If a player was cut off by a bad connection, give them a replay of that turn where the game allows, or a point of goodwill.
Where can you set it up?
It starts from a link, needs no download and seats the numbers above, so a game night for eight is a few clicks away.
A last piece of advice
Eight is a party, not a seminar. Keep the rules short and the jokes long.
Ahmed Moaz builds Boardit, a free browser game site.
Top comments (0)