Why does nobody talk about how loud board game cafes get?

I went to this place called Dice & Drafts in Minneapolis last Saturday night. It was packed, like 40 people crammed into a room with no sound dampening at all. I couldn't hear my friend across the table asking if I wanted to play Dune Imperium. We ended up just pointing at cards like a silent auction. Has anyone else given up on playing strategy games at these places because of the noise?

2 comments

2 Comments

miller.susan1d ago

Stop blaming the cafe and start blaming your own game choice. Loud, fast-paced strategy games like Dune Imperium are terrible for a buzzing room - you need to pick something quieter like Cascadia or a cooperative game with hand signals. I've played at Dice & Drafts on busy nights and we just adjusted by using a house rule where we tap the table for each action in a noise-friendly way, worked fine. Honestly, if you can't handle the energy of a packed game night, maybe save the heavy strategy for your kitchen table and lean into the vibe with something like The Mind or a simple card game.

finleybutler1d agoTop Commenter

Is it bad that I read this whole thing nodding along while realizing I’m the guy who brought a 4-hour Gloomhaven campaign to a loud bar? Miller Susan is dead right, I’ve tried Dune Imperium in a crowded room and it was like trying to play chess in a mosh pit. Now I just bring The Crew or a deck of Skull Kings and let the chaos be part of the fun.