# Board Games Tavern of Antwerp (Online meetups)

## **When** are we playing?
The event dates will be posted on the [Meetup group](https://www.meetup.com/TheBoardGamesTavern/events/). Of course, nothing is stopping you from playing whenever there are people on the Discord, but we do try to emulate the weekly boardgame evenings.

## **Where** are we playing?
We'll use Discord to set up our games and talk while playing.

Join the server by clicking here: [](https://discord.gg/nUSJKkD)

The actual games will be played on a variety of websites that host virtual tables for us to play at.

## How to prepare
In the next section we'll look at the websites in more detail, but in order to be able to join games quickly without having to wait for everyone to set up an account it's advised to:
- Make an account on [Tabletopia](https://tabletopia.com/games)
- Make an account on [Boardgame Arena](https://boardgamearena.com)
- Make an account on [Yucata](https://yucata.de/en/)
- Make an account on [Boitajeux](http://boiteajeux.net)

These four websites probably contain the bulk of the online games we might play. However, if you're not a hardcore boardgamer and you don't have an account on one or two of these, it's not a big deal. Tabletopia is probably the most important one with the most accessible games. Boardgame Arena is also very good, but due to its popularity it's currently having some issues with server strain.

### Other options
You could, if you're so inclined, also do the following:
- Make an account on [Dominion Online](https://dominion.games/) if you're going to play Dominion
- Make an account on [Catan Universe](https://www.catanuniverse.com/en/game) if you're going to play Catan
- Make an account on [Proavalon](https://www.proavalon.com/) if you're going to play The Resistance/Avalon
- Make an account on [Drawception](https://drawception.com/) if you're going to play Drawception

## Online boardgame websites
All of the options below have a free tier. If anyone has a premium account on one of these sites, it would be best if they are the host.

### [Tabletopia](https://tabletopia.com/games) (various games)
**Account needed?** Only required for the host. Barring some premium games, it's not strictly necessary. However, it helps if every player has an account as there are some benefits to it.
**How to get invited:** The easiest way is to click on an invite link that was posted by the host on the Discord. This works even if you don't have an account. If you do have an account, the host can alternatively send you an invitation if they've added you as a friend.
**Limitations:** Some games require a host with a premium account.
Even some free games have a limitation on the number of players when the host has a free account.
*If someone has a premium account, it would best for that player to be the host as they'll be able to play more games and invite more people.*
**How to host a game:**
1. *Optional*: Add all players as friends on Tabletopia
2. Pick a game to play from [the list](https://tabletopia.com/games) or choose one of your bookmarked games (they'll be visible on the home page and at the bottom of your Profile)
3. Click "Play online".
4. *Optional*: Uncheck "Visible to other players" so that only players who are invited can join, and not random people.
5. Invite the other players by:
- Clicking the invite button and selecting players from your friend list
- Or generating an invite link and pasting that link in the Discord

### [Boardgame arena](https://boardgamearena.com/lobby) (various games)
**Account needed:** Yes, required for every player.
**How to get invited:** The host can send you an invitation if they've added you as a friend.
**Limitations:** Some games require a host with a premium account.
*If someone has a premium account, it would best for that player to be the host as they'll be able to play more games.*
**Hosting a game:**
1. Add all players as friends on Boardgame Arena
2. Go [here](https://boardgamearena.com/lobby) and change the choice of opponents in the upper right corner from Automatic to Manual
3. Pick a game to play from [the list](https://boardgamearena.com/gamelist) or choose one of your [Favorite Games](https://boardgamearena.com/lobby)
4. If you're choosing from [the list](https://boardgamearena.com/gamelist), click "Play this game now" which redirects you to your [Favorite Games](https://boardgamearena.com/lobby) (it's a bit of a silly system)
5. Click "Create a new table"
6. Click "Invite a friend" and invite the other players

### [Yucata](https://yucata.de) (various games)
**Account needed:** Yes, required for every player.
**How to get invited:** The host can send you an invitation if they've added you as a buddy. You will find the invitation when you select "Invitation list" under Games.
**Limitations:** None
**Hosting a game:**
1. Add all players as buddies on Yucata
2. Pick a game to play from [the list](https://yucata.de/en/) or choose "Create new game" under Games and then pick a game
3. Click "Create an invitation"
4. Select the type of game and other options
5. Select "Personal invitation" under Opponents and add your buddies
6. Click "Invite" on the bottom

It takes a while but once the system has caught up and everyone has accepted the invitation, you will find your game when you select "Your current games" under Games. You then have to click the game's title and a new window will pop up with your game.

NOTE: Yucata is not the greatest site to play a "live" game on. It's possible, but the interface is not very interactive and doesn't show other player's moves until they've made them. We advise this site only if you like to play slower play-by-turn games. Still, it's got some good games on it and you can definitely check it out.

### [Boîte à jeux](https://boiteajeux.net) (various games)
**Account needed:** Yes, required for every player.
**How to get invited:** The host can send you an invitation if they've added you as a friend. You will find the invitation when you go to the "Waiting room"-tab under Home.
**Limitations:** None
**Hosting a game:**
1. *Optional*: Add all players as friends on Boîte à jeux
2. Go to the "Start a new game"-tab under Home
3. Select the type of game and other options
4. Add "Guests" by typing the names of your friends
6. Click "Add" on the bottom

Once everyone has accepted the invitation, you will find your game when you go to the "In progress"-tab under Home. You then have to click the game's title to take you to your game.

NOTE: Like Yucata, Boîte à jeux is not the greatest site to play a "live" game on. It's possible, but the interface is not very interactive and doesn't show other player's moves until they've made them. We advise this site only if you like to play slower play-by-turn games. Still, it also has some good games on it and you can definitely check it out.

Also, the site occasionally makes you sign in again even if you were just signed in and had been playing.

### Other boardgame websites that offer specific games
There are still other sites that offer a specific boardgame for you to play, so here's a quick list. Unless otherwise noted, you'll need to make an account for each of them.

**[Dominion Online](https://dominion.games/)**

**[Catan Universe](https://www.catanuniverse.com/en/game)**

**[Colonist](https://colonist.io/)**
It's just Catan, but you don't need an account for this one.

**[Coup](https://coup.thebrown.net)**
There's also a version of this game on [Boardgame Arena](https://boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?game=coupcitystate), but you don't need an account for this one.

**[The Resistance/Avalon](https://www.proavalon.com/)**

**[Codenames](https://www.horsepaste.com/)**
No account needed for this one.

**[Drawception](https://drawception.com/)**

### Other boardgame websites that offer a variety of games
There are a few more websites that offer a varied selection of games, and while we're not likely to play there, we'll list them here for your convenience.

**[Brettspielwelt](https://brettspielwelt.de/)**
Probably the ugliest website out of all of them (and that's saying a lot).

**[Boardgamecore](http://play.boardgamecore.net/main.jsp)**
Hey folks, do you know Splotter Games? No? Well, here's three of them!

**[Feuerteufel](http://www.feuerteufel.nl)**
This is a Dutch website with games in Dutch. If you don't speak Dutch and the game is language dependent, this is probably not for you.