Soliciting ideas for ... my work On-Site

Boardgames
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We’re meeting up with the team for the first time soonish. We have worked together for more than half a year but have not met in person.

And I have convinced the project lead that playing some games is a good idea.

My current ideas are two-fold: games for team-building purposes during the actual “work” part of the event and some relaxed/fun games for the post-dinner part.

Team Building:

  • My partner suggested we play The Mind twice → once at the start and once at the end and see if there is (hopefully) any improvement
  • Concept → we are a dev team, abstraction and communicating that abstraction is kind of our job
  • Also: “Two Truths and One Lie” (not a game but an icebreaker exercise that has been lots of fun on previous occasions)

Fun games:

  • Just One

Note: the event is not in my hometown. I will be taking the train. It is for 2 half days and 1 evening. We’re going to be 8 people, 4 of whom are devs, the others are not all techies.

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Ito might be worth a consideration, or Wavelength if you have that instead.

I’d agree with your suggestion of Just One as a good ice-breaker, and Decrypto might scratch the itch without being too complicated (or bring Codenames initially and then “graduate” to Decrypto after everyone has a hang of that). While I’m not crazy about it, I know a lot of people really like Hues and Cues, and it is very quick to get to the table. Might be worth a thought.

A few good push-your-luck games for decompressing might be a good idea as well… Incan Gold/Diamant or Deep Sea Adventure both do 8 as memory serves. Flip 7 does as well, and it’s a little faster (although, in my opinion, not quite as good as the others).

Also worth a thought: Take 5/6 Nimmt and/or No Thanks.

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Diamant and Flip 7 are both in my collection. I think Flip7 is the better choice for this group.

Ito is also a nice small box I already own

Codenames I would need to check first if someone is already burned out on it. My box is a bit bad for transport

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I’ve done monsdrawsity with work folk and it went down well. Happy to send you some card images to print and use as it doesn’t really need a copy of the game and since I backed an unfulfilled kickstarter I’ve no moral objection in sending some images.

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I normally take Flip7 - which is great as everyone plays the dealer - we just let the current dealer keep the deck in hand and draw theatrically. As the dealer rotates that keeps everyone involved.

Another favourite (and it could count for communication) is a small game called Six Second Scribbles - you have 1 minute to draw 10 themed pictures which someone else has to guess. It’s good because it lets you do a proper drawing game quickly. Personally I prefer Pictomania, but this one is better in this type of group.

I think team building is a much tougher gig for those not familiar with boardgames. Surprised though that no one has suggest a co-op. @RogerBW ‘s fave flashpoint at simple game level could work?

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Hm yeah, I’d probably go family game unless they already play things.

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So clover? Everybody gets to discuss the words and connections rather than it being team based or whatever. Probably doesn’t play enough people actually

Wavelength is a good shout. I’ve also played Mysterium with 8 - two people being the ghost. They weren’t allowed to talk to each other. It was mental

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Try wavelength?

It brings people together it’s kind of debaty which is fun.

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Additional info:

  • One of my colleagues is definitely into boardgames (she enjoys Spirit Island the most)
  • Another instantly bought the Exit Advent calendar when I told them about it
  • Another told me they have some games in their collection that they think are hard to teach

I need to do a bit more research but being where we are (Germany), I think almost everyone will have had some encounters with modern/ish boardgames.

There is however one person I want to take particular care to not throw into cold water. But this is not about games per so but I have a particular type of game in mind that would be a bad fit. I want to stay positive and avoid confrontational games.

I wouldn’t mind an example. I can probably download the rules.

Sounds interesting. Need to check that.

My former copy of Flashpoint lives with friends who are on their way to a 10 week trip to New Zealand right now. Oopsie. (My budget for this is small or rather I will have to pay for anything I don’t already own. I will re-buy The Mind but that’s < 10€)

Good shout though. It plays 6 and I own it. I might consider it despite the player count.

I used to own it. And for an in person meeting I want to avoid web-games (it was available during the pandemic at least). I’ll make do with Ito instead.

I don’t own Mysterium either.

Thanks everyone for the ideas :slight_smile: (I will take more until mid-march)

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