The Plague at the Table: Gaming While Under the Weather

The dice are calling. The cards are shuffled. The table is set. But as you take your seat, a cough escapes your lips, and the room collectively leans back. You have become the uninvited guest, the sick player at the table.

At Dark One Games, we believe gaming should be an experience of camaraderie, strategy, and maybe a little bit of backstabbing, but not of actual biological warfare. So, what’s the etiquette when the gaming bug collides with an actual virus? Let’s break it down.

To Play or Not to Play?

The first rule of plague gaming: If you’re contagious, stay home. No game night is worth turning your friends into unwilling test subjects for the latest strain of doom. If you’re on the mend but still a bit sniffly, a virtual game night might be the better choice. Platforms like Tabletop Simulator and Board Game Arena exist for moments just like these, allowing you to play from the safety of your quarantine zone.

The Hands-Off Approach

If you need to attend, please just consider the level of physical interaction the game requires. Games with shared dice shuffled decks and passed tokens become Petri dishes for disaster. If you can’t resist a game night despite a lingering cough, bring your dice, minimize contact with shared components, and (this should go without saying) wash your hands like you just rolled a natural one against the plague doctor.

Gaming with the Walking Wounded

What if someone else at the table is the one who is sick? A well-placed stack of tissues and a bottle of hand sanitizer can send a silent but firm message. If they insist they’re ‘fine’ but proceed to sneeze on the meeples, it might be time to reconsider your alliances, not just in the game, but in life.

Survival Mode: The Aftermath

If you’ve been exposed to The Sickness during a game night, keep an eye out for symptoms and consider resting for a couple of days. The absolute horror isn’t losing a game; it’s realizing you caught a weeklong debuff for the sake of victory points.

A Rule Worth Adding to Every Rulebook

An excellent game night is about fun, immersion, and shared experiences. But part of that experience is ensuring everyone walks away healthy enough to play again next week. So be mindful, be considerate, and remember: the only thing worse than a bad dice roll is a fevered one.

Welcome to Dark One Games. May your rolls be high and your immune system higher.