Before people arrive
Check that you can open Archipelago and access the account needed to host a casual table. Decide whether this is a standard game or a modified island. For a mixed-experience group, the standard setup gives everyone one rules reference to follow.
Send new players the interactive tutorial ahead of the session. Agree where the group will talk, whether through existing voice chat or table messages. Avoid promising a fixed finishing time: the pace depends on the players and the game.
At the lobby
Create one table and share that table’s invite. Confirm that everyone joins the same lobby instead of separately creating their own games. Check the displayed names and available seats before starting.
If using custom cards, give players time to review their effects in the invite. An unfamiliar card should be explained before it changes someone’s plan. Check that the actual table setup matches the game you described to the group.
Explain three things, then let people play
First, everyone can collect resources on a roll, not just the active player. Second, setup runs forward and then backward, and the second settlement supplies starting resources. Third, a negotiated trade finishes only when the proposer confirms a partner.
Let the board prompts and legal highlights handle the details as they arise. When someone is confused, name the current phase and the action it requires. That is often more helpful than reciting the whole rulebook during a turn.
End with a useful recap
Give each player space to name one decision that changed their game. Keep discussion about choices and opportunities rather than blaming every result on dice. A surprising trade or blocked route can teach more than the final score alone.
For another session, change one thing: a new opening approach, another island or a focused strategy exercise. Keeping most of the game familiar lets the group notice what the change actually adds.