Board Game Arena

It would be so much simpler to just give a book or a flashlight or an amulet shard or a starting pet or a modifier to their first die roll to later players -- There's no need to eliminate the sudden death race condition, just give everyone a staggered start.

I can't figure out how to take it.

Maybe it is bugged and doesn't work?

Yes - Are there tracking details somewhere that can indicate whether or not a board game has been (essentially) abandoned?