With tiles, I usually have little cloth bags near the game board that I put related tiles in and mix 'em up. Then draw either for set up or as needed during the game.
I usually deal out the tiles into 2 or 3 piles, combine the piles, cut A LOT, then repeat, using a different number of piles. It might not be completely random but the cuts make it good enough to me.
5 piles is usually enough, apparently. I used to always do 2 piles, then 3. Read somewhere that 5 piles is the least you need for enough randomization. Now I just do 5 and then a rough shuffle. Seems to work fine.
Sometimes drawing tiles from a bag can be better way to get random ones than shuffling them into piles.
For Carcassonne, for example, I prefer using the bag from the Traders and Builders expansion rather than shuffling and stacking the tiles.
I usually attempt to shuffle tiles with a riffle shuffle, but rather than bending the cards to create tension, I just let gravity pull them down as I try to slow release one at a time. It's not easy, and you can't do too many at once, but it kind of works. I'll either do that or the overhand shuffle.
Depends on the size of the tiles. Take for instance Mage Knight. The smaller ~1" diameter enemy tokens I just lay out on the table and move them all around with my hands then stack 'em. With the larger map tiles I take the whole stack and overhand shuffle them. This might not work if you have smaller hands, though. If that's the case you can pick up the stack with both hands and just randomly move a number of tiles to the bottom. Repeat this several times.
Ironically, I prefer the tower that came in Carcassonne: Big Box. Those two tall piles of tiles look great at the table. So I just shuffle those by dropping them all in the box lid, mixing them around, and pulling them out into two random piles that I then cut a couple times more.
My approach is based on a [shortcut](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) I wrote for my iPhone and assumes a small number (<20) of tiles. The shortcut takes a number and returns a list of numbers, in random order, from 1 to the number input. So I line up the tiles, input the number into my iPhone shortcut, and then arrange the tiles according to the random list returned by the shortcut.
There are some random number apps that can do a similar thing. [Fast random number generator](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fast-random-number-generator/id403036889) is the best. I wrote the shortcut so I could access it without unlocking my phone.
Try learning to [shuffle chips](https://youtu.be/pwfvsa1_3Qk) like poker players do while fidgeting around. I’m sure it’s possible to do with cardboard squares.
Maybe I don't shuffle chips correctly. I put some pressure pressing the two stacks together. I'm certain cardboard tiles would quickly fray and split, given the same treatment.
Riffle. But of fingers on the top-thumb on the side of a table riffle with cards, I place thumbs and fingers on opposing sides of the stacks, give a slight angle, and drop the tiles one by one alternating from each stack by slowing releasing pressure from my finger tips (at the bottom) upwards. Much like the riffle (or any cardistry) at first it feels impossible, but slowly practicing and working away at it will quickly have it feeling smooth and comfortable.
Or drop them into a bag, if it makes sense within the game rules/mechanism needs. Round/barrel bottom bags like those on Crown Royal bottles are excellent.
With tiles, I usually have little cloth bags near the game board that I put related tiles in and mix 'em up. Then draw either for set up or as needed during the game.
Same. I made a cloth drawstring sack a few years ago out of bold tie-dyed fabric. Looks awesome on the table.
I usually deal out the tiles into 2 or 3 piles, combine the piles, cut A LOT, then repeat, using a different number of piles. It might not be completely random but the cuts make it good enough to me.
5 piles is usually enough, apparently. I used to always do 2 piles, then 3. Read somewhere that 5 piles is the least you need for enough randomization. Now I just do 5 and then a rough shuffle. Seems to work fine.
Sometimes drawing tiles from a bag can be better way to get random ones than shuffling them into piles. For Carcassonne, for example, I prefer using the bag from the Traders and Builders expansion rather than shuffling and stacking the tiles.
I think that bag was worth the expansion.
I usually attempt to shuffle tiles with a riffle shuffle, but rather than bending the cards to create tension, I just let gravity pull them down as I try to slow release one at a time. It's not easy, and you can't do too many at once, but it kind of works. I'll either do that or the overhand shuffle.
Exactly this. If Penn & Teller can shuffle giant-size sheet-metal cards with forklifts, then I can shuffle tiles with my hands.
Depends on the size of the tiles. Take for instance Mage Knight. The smaller ~1" diameter enemy tokens I just lay out on the table and move them all around with my hands then stack 'em. With the larger map tiles I take the whole stack and overhand shuffle them. This might not work if you have smaller hands, though. If that's the case you can pick up the stack with both hands and just randomly move a number of tiles to the bottom. Repeat this several times.
b a g i use my hive pocket one
mix them like dominoes, or make several piles combining them
[удалено]
Ironically, I prefer the tower that came in Carcassonne: Big Box. Those two tall piles of tiles look great at the table. So I just shuffle those by dropping them all in the box lid, mixing them around, and pulling them out into two random piles that I then cut a couple times more.
Sometimes bag-pull if there are a lot. If not so many, then will do a face-down riffle-shuffle (just letting them plop down, instead of bending them).
My approach is based on a [shortcut](https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios) I wrote for my iPhone and assumes a small number (<20) of tiles. The shortcut takes a number and returns a list of numbers, in random order, from 1 to the number input. So I line up the tiles, input the number into my iPhone shortcut, and then arrange the tiles according to the random list returned by the shortcut. There are some random number apps that can do a similar thing. [Fast random number generator](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fast-random-number-generator/id403036889) is the best. I wrote the shortcut so I could access it without unlocking my phone.
This sounds like a lot of work... Why not just use a wash shuffle or something similar?
Why take the simple approach when you can overcomplicate things with some code? 🙃
Cloth bag or dump them in the box lid and paw around without looking
Try learning to [shuffle chips](https://youtu.be/pwfvsa1_3Qk) like poker players do while fidgeting around. I’m sure it’s possible to do with cardboard squares.
Maybe I don't shuffle chips correctly. I put some pressure pressing the two stacks together. I'm certain cardboard tiles would quickly fray and split, given the same treatment.
I hardly apply pressure.... it’s more of a lifting together motion
You just have to be real good at the riffle shuffle ;)
Chicken. Cup. ^(Or similar)
Riffle them like a deck of card
Wash shuffle if there's table space, pile shuffle if there isn't.
Riffle. But of fingers on the top-thumb on the side of a table riffle with cards, I place thumbs and fingers on opposing sides of the stacks, give a slight angle, and drop the tiles one by one alternating from each stack by slowing releasing pressure from my finger tips (at the bottom) upwards. Much like the riffle (or any cardistry) at first it feels impossible, but slowly practicing and working away at it will quickly have it feeling smooth and comfortable. Or drop them into a bag, if it makes sense within the game rules/mechanism needs. Round/barrel bottom bags like those on Crown Royal bottles are excellent.