Unpopular opinion: I used to think board game nights were just about the games
For years, my group in Austin would just pick a game and dive in, but after a friend moved away last month, we started doing a 15 minute catch-up chat first. It made the whole night way more fun, even when we play something heavy like Terraforming Mars. Do other groups have a little ritual before you start playing?
Totally, it's like a pressure valve. You gotta vent about that pointless meeting or the annoying client before you can clear your head for strategy. Otherwise you're just sitting there thinking about your inbox instead of the next play.