Board Game Arena

I'm trying to open a game with players, one of them is a friend, and the others I want to be randon guys, like regular game that I don't invite anyone. is it possible?

You cannot reserve just one place for friends, in general. You can either reserve all places for friends (restrict the table to friends), or open it to everyone and invite a friend (then that place is reserved for that particular friend).

Jellby wrote: ↑26 March 2025, 08:56 You cannot reserve just one place for friends, in general. You can either reserve all places for friends (restrict the table to friends), or open it to everyone and invite a friend (then that place is reserved for that particular friend).

Are you sure about that? I think it is possible to just invite one person, and open the table for others to join after they confirm. At least from the old lobby. The open table to other players button remains available after inviting someone.

Jellby wrote: ↑26 March 2025, 08:56 You cannot reserve just one place for friends, in general. You can either reserve all places for friends (restrict the table to friends), or open it to everyone and invite a friend (then that place is reserved for that particular friend).

You can start a table, invite specific friends to join, then open the table to everyone.

buu441 wrote: ↑26 March 2025, 09:55 Are you sure about that? I think it is possible to just invite one person, and open the table for others to join after they confirm.

Yes, but you have invite a specific person... or invite several and once one joins withdraw the invitations of the rest... or, I guess, set the table as friends-only and then make it public after some friend joins.

What I mean is that you cannot reserve one place for "any friend", it must be an individual invitation.

buu441 wrote: ↑26 March 2025, 09:55

Jellby wrote: ↑26 March 2025, 08:56 You cannot reserve just one place for friends, in general. You can either reserve all places for friends (restrict the table to friends), or open it to everyone and invite a friend (then that place is reserved for that particular friend).

Are you sure about that? I think it is possible to just invite one person, and open the table for others to join after they confirm. At least from the old lobby. The open table to other players button remains available after inviting someone.

How do i do that? Tried but it didnt work

buu441 outlined the process from the old lobby (Play Now). For new lobbies (game pages), I think you just invite the person and then wait for the other seats at the table to fill. Depending on the game, it might take a while for that to happen.

nik592 wrote: ↑27 March 2025, 11:28 buu441 outlined the process from the old lobby (Play Now). For new lobbies (game pages), I think you just invite the person and then wait for the other seats at the table to fill. Depending on the game, it might take a while for that to happen.

Question to everyone ...
Does one need to be a premium (paid) member to do this?
I'm asking because I am not a premium member, and I cant seem to find a method of how to invite a BGA Friend to a new game I want to create.

You have to be a premium member to open tables for some games - they are marked with the white star on the yellow background. Otherwise you can only queue for games, and that means you can't choose who the other players at your table are (apart from restricting a table entirely to your friends, which will only work if you have a premium member friend and they join your table).

OK. Thank you.