[There we go! He's beaming as he flicks up the front of his hat, an idle gesture he's taken a habit of doing now when he's gotten excited.]

I do, actually! I've got loooooads of experience. All we gotta do is start from a little concept, and build up from there!

[He splays his arms out, explaining.]

We'll need those materials you mentioned, obviously. And maybe some things to use as pieces. Anything will do, in a pinch. Buttons. Coins. Shiny stones. Anything that feels like a piece can be, as long as it fits on a board. Once we get that, we can buckle down with theme ideas and rules!