With the fall semester comes many possible game days that you could attend. Whether you’re a fan of board games, tabletop role-playing games or haven’t played anything beyond Monopoly, a game day can be quite fun. Whether you spend it with friends or in the company of strangers, you’ll get the most out of it if you come prepared. Here’s a list of things you should bring to your next game day.

Clear plastic backpack

This may seem like a silly accessory to have, but it’s still quite important. There’ll be times when you’re afraid you left something at home, such as your dice or character sheet. Instead of having to dig through your bag, you can just look through it from the outside — it’ll save you lots of time. It also comes in handy for bag checks, if you’re going to an event that’ll require one. The person conducting the bag checks will be able to see everything before opening your bag, which should speed up the process.

Water

A long day of games can be quite dehydrating. Whether you’re cheering someone on or trying to explain your plan in a game, there’s a good chance you’ll be using your voice a lot. Talking can dehydrate you, especially if this game day is taking place outside and in the sun. Make sure to drink plenty of water to avoid getting too dehydrated.

Sunglasses

If you’re planning to have this game day outside then bring a pair of sunglasses. It’s difficult to read the text on a playing card when sunlight is glaring off of it. The other time you should bring a pair of sunglasses is when you’re playing a very competitive game. It’ll hide your eyes, so your opponents won’t know what you’re looking at and, therefore, possibly what you’re thinking. Just make sure they’re not mirrored or else your opponent will be able to see whatever you see.

Your excitement

One of the best things to bring to a game day is your enthusiasm. Sometimes it can be hard to get excited, but it’ll make the experience all the better. Being excited about something with a bunch of other people who are also excited about the same exact thing is exhilarating. If you can’t muster up any excitement, at least try to remember what you enjoy about the game. Find what you like about it and focus on that. It should help the experience be an enjoyable one.

Now, you should know everything you need to bring in order to have the best game day possible. Whether you’re playing or just watching, remember to have lots of fun. Oh, and if you get confused and end up going to a football game day, this list might still work. Although, the people there probably won’t be as impressed with your dice collection.