I don't understand how to join/create a game

[J-Man43]

I've played on BGA a lot, but mostly with friends. Today I wanted to try joining or setting up a game with any available players, but BGA doesn't seem to allow it. The FAQs seem to imply that there's an "automatic opponents" option, but I don't see it. When I go to start a game, it insists that I have to invite friends first. I don't want to invite friends, I want to invite STRANGERS! And then when you search for available tables, it limits the list to NON-favorite games. How do I find an available table for a FAVORITE game?

[cream]

have you tried 'open table to other players'

[MoiMagnus]

If you are on the PLAY page, on top of the page, you should see:
SIMPLE GAME ---- REAL TIME ---- FRIENDS
If you click on FRIENDS, you should be able to change it to AUTOMATIC or MANUAL.

AUTOMATIC --> For each game you can click on the cog to select your favourite option, you will be matched with players of similar options.
MANUAL --> You are no able to create and configure table (don't forget to open the table after you configured it), or to join existing table. The table administrator is the one who choses when there is enough peoples or not to start a game (and can kick unwanted players).

[J-Man43]

Thank you both -- that was very helpful. I guess I didn't realize that the drop-down on the far right (which was on FRIENDS) gave other options -- I thought it was just going to give me a list of existing friends.