We built our house for LAN parties (2024)

I can't speak to your situation, but I know that in mine the main blocker for a LAN party with adult friends wouldn't be a lack of interest nor lack of friends (though I don't have a giant pool, and can't even count 18 people I'd be able to even suggest such a thing to) it would be lack of time due to other life responsibilities, that tend to increase as we get older.

My solution has been to play boardgames remote using BoardgameArena[0].

I usually have 2x turn based games going with two separate groups along with a dedicated chat channel, and then do 1-2 live evening sessions over video call with other groups. But all setup to be flexible and made to fit with the constraints of adult life, so sometimes we play and sometimes we reschedule.

[0]: https://boardgamearena.com

I shudder to think of an 18 person DND group... 5 is enough for me

Ngl having a house with a hot side for rack cooling sounds like homelab fun

We had LAN parties like that once upon a time when we had a space that supported it.

Friends of friends would show up. Not everyone knew everyone else and this was fine. Cold drinks of every sort were available at the carry-out next door, and some would bring things to share. Donations were had for pizza or burgers (sometimes nowhere near enough donations, and sometimes more than plenty; it averaged OK). The social aspects of it really worked OK. Cleanup wasn't bad.

The biggest problem was that the first ~couple of hours were spent getting all of the PCs connected, updated, and working properly-enough.

By providing gaming stations, this dude has the big problem completely solved: All of these machines can be known to be on the same page when things start.

(The second-largest problem -- the smell -- is a different issue entirely. It usually ramped up pretty well by the time the first problem was approaching being solved.)