New player? Here’s a quick guide!

Megagames are a lot of fun, but can also be more intense and confusing than other types of game. This is a feature, not a bug.

If you have any familiarity with boardgames, wargames, roleplaying games, or LARP, then you will understand some of the same concepts, and the same goes for professional tabletop exercises. If you don’t have this experience, you can still jump right in!

We recommend you try going RABID for your first game:

1.      Read: You will get more out of the game if you read the materials you’ve been sent beforehand. We won’t judge if it’s the night before, or on the train when heading to the game – just get an idea of what’s going on, and who you will be interacting with.

2.     Ask: Facilitators are there to assist the smooth flow of the game, and make sure people have a good experience. If you’re unsure of something, ask them for a clarification or a pointer.  

3.     Be prepared: Megagames can be constant interaction and using of energy; make sure you bring something to drink and snacks, as well as a packed lunch if there is no nearby (quick!) source of food. A notepad and a pencil are also useful.

4.     Inquire: Be curious. Talk to other players, about what they’re doing, what their goals are, and what they’ve heard – lots is happening at once during a megagame, so make sure you’re talking to people to find out what’s going on and how they can help you further your aims.  

5.     Dare: A megagame is a chance to make decisions that might be out of your usual gaming comfort zone. There’s no harm in being bolder, deciding to take the lead, or pushing your luck – it can lead to memorable moments for yourself and the other players! Part of the joy of megagames is being involved in a bigger developing story, which you can affect with what you do.

Even if you only follow three or four of the tips above, this will improve your chances of having a better time at a megagame. Sometimes you win big, and other times you might fail, but leaning into this and embracing the narrative is all part of the experience – you can still have fun, even if your plan didn’t quite work out.

You might colonise new planets as a galactic explorer, launch mystical legions against an invader as a mighty wizard, or secure meaningful peace talks in the UN – megagames cover many genres and themes, and if you decide to go a bit RABID with them, you won’t go far wrong.

Good luck!