Board Game Arena

When setting up a new table, it would be nice if the host could change things like game speed and which expansions are in play before the game can be joined (even by friends).

This is actually the case, just set everything before clicking on "open table to other players".

The problem occurs on the "play with friends" option when you select friends to invite, then they can jump in the game before you click the "open table to other players" button.

I think that only happens when you have friends selected in the "+ Play with friends" options on the main Play Now page — Any friends you have added there automatically get invited to any table you create and a spot reserved for them to jump in.

If you don't have friends added there then I believe your friends can't join the table*. (Of course, then you have to invite them to the table manually.)

* I could be wrong about that, but that's my experience.

I am having this problem too. A lot of my friends are very keen and join within one second of me setting up the game! I find I have to contact friends first asking them to hold off joining until I have had a chance to change the settings for the game. Then I have to contact them a second time to say it is safe to join.

It would be great to have a solution to this problem!