Learn to play Earthborne Rangers, a co-op board game

Learn how to play a co-operative board game with other absolute beginners. Free, nothing to prep, no experience necessary. Co-op board games offer a cheap, stimulating, and fascinating way to spend quality time with friends, family, and new acquaintances! They challenge you all to form shared plans which succeed or fail together.

Earthborne Rangers (ER), in my opinion as a professional game designer, excels with its initial simplicity and elegant depth. You explore a world with optimistic “solarpunk” themes, a nice change from grim dungeon-crawling and disaster-fighting. The game story evolves from one session to the next, but it’s fine for players to drop in and out. It plays well solo, and even better with others. Learn more about ER here.

This event is a demo with no obligation to continue if this game is not for you. The first hour gives you the general idea. After a short break you can continue into more depth for the next hour or so. If you like the game you can buy it or join a group that plays it regularly, and make new friends along the way.

We welcome absolutely everyone and ensure a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. We've face-to-face taught games to over 1000 people of every kind-- join us!

It's fine to drink booze for these events-- Matthew will a bit. However, to improve attempts at sobriety, please try to avoid excess during the game, and don't press booze onto others.

If possibly contagious in any way, please do not attend -- we don't want to catch a cold, flu, or Covid!

Accessibility and comfort: Netherworld is rather noisy with flashing lights coming from the games. Netherworld is all one floor, but it's not clear how far a wheelchair can get. If you can't reach me, ask a staff member to find me, and I will move the game to a front table. (A future offering of this event will likely be in a quieter, more accessible place.)

Come to the Netherworld bar up the street from Fortitude Valley train station. Find Matthew in one of its rooms, checking first at the cabinet of board games. You will see the green game manual propped up, as shown in the image for this event.

The bar is open well before 6 and serves food. Soft start at 6:00 to socialise. Actual play starts at 6:15 sharp, and as it teaches basic concepts, try not to be late. You can stop at any time.