Play a casual group game, with no need to make a deck! In the exciting “Arda” format, players draw from “shared decks” and uniquely customize their companies and strategies as the game progresses.
Description:
Journey back to the most strategic collectible card game ever made. The rules will not be taught, so you should have experience playing the game before. However, the environment will be casual enough so even if you are very rusty, players will happily help you! (For 2026, almost all cards will be the official version rather than Virtuals.)
Redesigning Board Games for Instructional Purposes
Summary:
We will play a very well-designed game (e.g. Pandemic), study its mechanics, then design an instructional variant of that game. For educators, training managers, and learning game designers.
Description:
Are you a teacher, training manager, content designer or learning game designer? We’re going to PLAY a well-designed commercial board or card game (e.g. Pandemic, Innovation, Forbidden Island) for 45 minutes. Next, we will study reference cards I created that meticulously examine that game’s mechanics and how to modify the gameplay to teach any school or workplace instructional goal. Finally, you will pick such a goal, and together with other smart team members, brainstorm a new learning game inspired by the game you just played. You will walk away with several ideas for enhancing your own instruction, and with some custom game cards and handouts! Led by a professor and based on his new book The Allure of Play. (Workshop changes each year.) If you'd like to see pictures and info about this 3-hour intellectually and socially bonding extravaganza from previous years, visit our website.
Join our casual event where you quickly make a deck from our provided pool of 480 cards, but without drafting. CUBE is similar to Sealed, but with better cards, combos, and strategy. No deck needed.
Description:
Has it been a while since you’ve played this amazing collectible card game from Decipher (SWCCG), made in 1995? Similar to Sealed Deck, we will provide you with a random pile of cards, taken from carefully designed pool of “Cube” cards. You will then use that pile of cards to quickly design a deck. There will be no drafting so we’ll get to our games faster. Our game play will feature Prof Joe’s original mechanic called “Smuggling Pile” which will let you tweak your deck from a sideboard during the game, so you can get just the card you need at the right time—at a cost! No deck needed. The rules will not be taught, so you should have experience playing the game before. However, the environment will be casual enough that if you are a little rusty, players will happily help you!
What’s Your Game Plan?: Turn Your Lesson or Training into a Game
Summary:
Can you enhance your teaching lesson or training exercise with the mechanics of board games in only 20 minutes? For educators, training managers, content & game designers.
Description:
What do the lesson “Finding Citations,” the game “Trivial Pursuit,” and the mechanic “Bluffing” have in common? Your team’s mission is to brainstorm a creative active-learning exercise or game in 20 minutes, by mixing elements from play and board games. Forget video games; think LOW-TECH index cards, roleplays, & puzzling questions. Whether you need to teach the rules of citation or compliance, a “game plan” can help! If you’re an educator, training manager, presenter, instructional or game designer, you’ll learn how to integrate play & simulations into your classroom or workspace. This full-featured workshop begins with an interactive presentation, then segues into whole room active game design, and is kept at an optimum size so we can explore your instructional problems in depth. Led by a professor and author of The Allure of Play from Columbia University. (Workshop changes each year.)
What’s Your Game Plan?: Turn Your Lesson or Training into a Game
Summary:
Can you enhance your teaching lesson or training exercise with the mechanics of board games in only 20 minutes? For educators, training managers, content & game designers.
Description:
What do the lesson “Finding Citations,” the game “Trivial Pursuit,” and the mechanic “Bluffing” have in common? Your team’s mission is to brainstorm a creative active-learning exercise or game in 20 minutes, by mixing elements from play and board games. Forget video games; think LOW-TECH index cards, roleplays, & puzzling questions. Whether you need to teach the rules of citation or compliance, a “game plan” can help! If you’re an educator, training manager, presenter, instructional or game designer, you’ll learn how to integrate play & simulations into your classroom or workspace. This full-featured workshop begins with an interactive presentation, then segues into whole room active game design, and is kept at an optimum size so we can explore your instructional problems in depth. Led by a professor and author of The Allure of Play from Columbia University. (Workshop changes each year.)