FOUR SEATS. YOUR DECKS.
A private Commander playtesting table for friends.
Start with two people and let the AI fill the other seats.
Install once. Join with a room code. No Tailscale account or port setup needed.
The download comes from the publisher’s computer over public HTTPS. That computer must be awake for downloads.
The public-online build is being validated. Wait for the verified download to become available.
Right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All. Extract into a short folder such as C:\Games\CommanderLab; deeply nested folders can exceed Windows’ path-length limit. Keep its folders together. Open CommanderLab.exe from the extracted folder, not from inside the ZIP.
This early build is unsigned. If SmartScreen appears, verify you downloaded the file linked here before choosing More info → Run anyway. Do not disable Windows security.
Open My Decks and import your Commander deck file. Artwork downloads automatically as needed. In Settings → Updates / art, choose Standard or Enhanced 4×. You do not need to download the full catalog.
Open Public Online · Create / Join. Enter your name and the host’s 10-character room code, then select Join room. Choose your saved deck and click Upload selected saved deck.
Your host starts the room once both decks are uploaded. Both humans click Ready, then follow the starting-player and opening-hand prompts. Two AI players fill the other seats. First startup can take several minutes while the rules engine loads; keep the app open.
Create a table on the shared online game server. Your computer does not run the server.
Follow the Join a game tab to install the current Windows build and save your deck. Ask the project owner for host access. The host key is only for creating rooms; guests do not need it.
Open Public Online · Create / Join. Enter your name and host key, set Human players to 2, and click Create room. This reserves two human seats and two AI seats.
Only one active table is supported during this testing period. Keep the host key private.
Send your friend the room’s 10-character code. Each human chooses a saved deck and clicks Upload selected saved deck. Membership credentials are handled privately by the app.
When both humans have joined and uploaded their decks, click Start room (creator). After the server loads, both humans click Ready. Complete the starting-player and mulligan choices.
The online game server and artwork service are separate. The publisher’s computer serves downloads and must remain online for artwork that is not cached yet.
A QUICK HAND
Install this updater-enabled build once. It checks at startup and every 30 minutes, downloads signed releases in the background, and offers a restart outside a match. Your decks, settings and cached artwork stay intact. Automatic downloads can be disabled in Settings.
The publisher’s computer may be offline. Retry later or ask the host to check the download service. Tailscale is not required. Never use a replacement download with an unverified source.
Use the Public Online option and the current build. Check the room code and ask whether the host has an active room. Creators need the private host key. A message about an incompatible version means the app needs an update.
If the app shows a pending request, use Retry pending request with the same details. Creators re-enter the host key. Do not repeatedly create new rooms or abandon a pending request unless you intend to leave that attempt.
For two people and two bots, set Humans to 2. Both humans join and upload decks, the creator starts the room, and both humans click Ready. Humans set to 4 waits for four people.
Reopen Public Online and use Reconnect reserved seat. The app saves your private membership on this computer. Do not forget it or create a new room. Reconnect promptly before the game’s reconnect timer expires. A stopped server process cannot restore the old match.
No. Standard is the default, and only artwork needed by decks and visible cards downloads automatically. Enhanced 4× is optional. Settings shows signed catalog sizes and estimated extra disk space before an optional full download. Cached cards work offline; missing artwork temporarily uses text cards.