Variant: Cuddle Time
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The deed is done, and now you happily sit in the afterglow. Do you talk about it or give it some time to settle before round two? After a ninety minute board game, especially a nice brain burner, I typically like to sit back and analyze what happened.
I tend to be very candid about my strategy and what worked and what didn’t for me. During the game, I’ll be very tight lipped. But afterward, time to let everyone in on it. Hopefully, as we all get better at the game, we will have even better plays in the future. Often, my opponents will do the same. “If I’d done X instead of Y,” or sometimes, “Well if you hadn’t taken what I wanted, I could have …” There are a lot of ifs and buts as we analyze how the game moved, what worked for each of us, and how we feel about the game handled our decisions.
This discussion afterward is what my group lovingly calls, “Cuddle time.” It’s a great way to keep the buzz of the game rolling around in our head for a few more minutes. We can review the play and get input from our opponents on various moves that were made. And, prepare for an even better performance next time.
For me, cuddle time generally occurs right after a game – especially a longer or deeper game – and often will continue on thereafter. One group puts up a Geeklist each week of the games that were played, and that often fosters some discussion about the various plays and our feelings on the game. It’s a great way to extend the enjoyment and become a better player.
What about you? Do you engage in cuddle time?
My wife *hates* this kind of cuddle time you’ve described. I enjoy it as long as it doesn’t go too far (an admittedly hard line to define).
Definitely do this. Although it tends to happen more with thematic games, as what happens during the game translates better to memorable experiences. “I can’t believe you were the cylon, I should have known, why didn’t we throw you in the brig”is more fun to talk about than “man I really should have claimed a different placement in turn 7″
Interesting. I find that I almost do this exclusively with euros and hidden loyalty. Hidden loyalty games (Werewolf, Resistance, etc.) are really fun to deconstruct later. And with euros I remember every tense choice to increase economy and efficiency or move to point scoring. Talking about those pivotal moments is part and parcel with the game for me.