Tried and True Guidelines for Equinox Puzzles and Games
Everything should be test-solved or play-tested
Without that, it's difficult to ascertain difficulty, and to catch all errors.
Game creators provide paper as needed for their game
Attendees bring their own pencils.
Avoid trivia
People who don't know stuff have no way to get into a trivia game. In contrast, most well-designed word puzzles offer multiple entry points. A limited amount of trivia incorporated in a mostly-word game is fine -- in fact it's nearly inevitable in some games. But a pure trivia game is really inappropriate at the Equinox. There are other venues for those.
Avoid non-word games and puzzles
Likewise, a limited amount of math, or whatever, can be incorporated in word games and puzzles, but this is the Equinox Word Games Party, and word games and puzzles need to stay at the core. Logic puzzles, in particular, do not lend themselves to collaboration, and should be avoided.
Balance competitive and non-competitive games
We should have games that are intrinsically non-competitive, such as mixers and creative games. But even competitive ones should be friendly and relaxed, with little emphasis on winning, score-keeping, and no requirement that people work alone. Also there is no sense in being anal about everyone starting at exactly the same time, since we don't pay much attention to who finishes first.
Set up performance games so everyone participates
Go around the room, rather than ask for volunteers. Go around the room rather than rewarding winners with more opportunities to participate -- which sets up a spiral of exclusion.
The output of creative games can be posted on the walls
Especially if they are long -- better than take a very long time passively listening to each group's creations. Or, figure out a way for the duration of verbal sharing to be limited, e.g. by asking for one contribution per table.
