diff --git a/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx b/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx
index f8b5f8cb..4e52fbc9 100644
--- a/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/instance.create.form.jsx
@@ -67,10 +67,11 @@ class InstanceCreateForm extends Component {
                 <label htmlFor="playerSelect">players</label>
                 <select id="playerSelect"
                     disabled={disabled}
+                    value={this.state.players}
                     onChange={this.playersChange}
                     >
                     <option value={1}>pve</option>
-                    <option selected value={2}>2</option>
+                    <option value={2}>2</option>
                     <option value={4}>4</option>
                     <option value={8}>8</option>
                     <option value={16}>16</option>
diff --git a/ops/migrations/20181020104420_games.js b/ops/migrations/20181020104420_games.js
index ca62041e..ec04e157 100644
--- a/ops/migrations/20181020104420_games.js
+++ b/ops/migrations/20181020104420_games.js
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ exports.up = async knex => {
         table.index('id');
         table.timestamps(true, true);
         table.binary('data').notNullable();
+        table.boolean('finished')
+            .defaultTo(false)
+            .notNullable()
+            .index();
     });
 
     await knex.schema.createTable('instances', async table => {
@@ -14,7 +18,7 @@ exports.up = async knex => {
         table.timestamps(true, true);
 
         table.binary('data').notNullable();
-        table.boolean('finished')
+        table.boolean('open')
             .defaultTo(false)
             .notNullable()
             .index();
diff --git a/server/WORKLOG.md b/server/WORKLOG.md
index 8cda1ec5..30390f05 100644
--- a/server/WORKLOG.md
+++ b/server/WORKLOG.md
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ make strike *really* hit first / resolve at same time?
   * not sure hwo to get sets of player games
     * set joined_games_$account [game_id]
 
+* move team -> player
+
 * chat
 * notifications
 * elo + leaderboards
diff --git a/server/src/game.rs b/server/src/game.rs
index 44e7fb38..3da1ccee 100644
--- a/server/src/game.rs
+++ b/server/src/game.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use rand::prelude::*;
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
-use std::time::Instant;
+// timekeeping
+use chrono::prelude::*;
+use chrono::Duration;
 
 // Db Commons
 use serde_cbor::{from_slice, to_vec};
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ pub struct Team {
     pub player: Option<Uuid>,
     pub bot: bool,
     pub cryps: Vec<Cryp>,
+    pub ready: bool,
 }
 
 impl Team {
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ impl Team {
             player: None,
             cryps: vec![],
             bot: false,
+            ready: false,
         };
     }
 
@@ -95,6 +99,7 @@ pub struct Game {
     pub log: Vec<String>,
     pub instance: Option<Uuid>,
     pub mode: GameMode,
+    phase_start: DateTime<Utc>,
 }
 
 impl Game {
@@ -110,6 +115,7 @@ impl Game {
             log: vec![],
             instance: None,
             mode: GameMode::Normal,
+            phase_start: Utc::now(),
         };
     }
 
@@ -218,6 +224,7 @@ impl Game {
     }
 
     fn skill_phase_start(mut self) -> Game {
+        self.phase_start = Utc::now();
         self.log.push("<Skill Phase>".to_string());
 
         if ![Phase::Start, Phase::Resolve].contains(&self.phase) {
@@ -349,14 +356,15 @@ impl Game {
     }
 
     fn skill_phase_finished(&self) -> bool {
-        self.teams.iter()
-            // for every team
-            .all(|t| self.stack.iter()
-                // the number of skills they have cast
-                .filter(|s| s.source_team_id == t.id).collect::<Vec<&Cast>>()
-                // should equal the number required this turn
-                .len() == t.skills_required()
-            )
+        self.teams.iter().all(|t| t.ready)
+        // self.teams.iter()
+        //     // for every team
+        //     .all(|t| self.stack.iter()
+        //         // the number of skills they have cast
+        //         .filter(|s| s.source_team_id == t.id).collect::<Vec<&Cast>>()
+        //         // should equal the number required this turn
+        //         .len() == t.skills_required()
+        //     )
     }
 
     // requires no input
@@ -590,75 +598,24 @@ impl Game {
         self
     }
 
+    fn phase_timed_out(&self) -> bool {
+        Utc::now().signed_duration_since(self.phase_start).num_seconds() > 30
+    }
+
     pub fn upkeep(mut self) -> Game {
+        // give teams a ready status
+        // on time out if not enough skills selected
+        // add a warning
+        // on 3 warnings forfeit
+
+        if self.phase == Phase::Skill &&  self.phase_timed_out() {
+            self = self.resolve_phase_start();
+        }
+
         self
     }
 }
 
-pub fn game_skill(params: GameSkillParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Game, Error> {
-    let query = "
-        SELECT *
-        FROM games
-        WHERE id = $1
-    ";
-
-    let result = tx
-        .query(query, &[&params.game_id])?;
-
-    let returned = match result.iter().next() {
-        Some(row) => row,
-        None => return Err(err_msg("game not found")),
-    };
-
-    // tells from_slice to cast into a cryp
-    let game_bytes: Vec<u8> = returned.get("data");
-    let mut game = from_slice::<Game>(&game_bytes)?;
-
-    if game.phase != Phase::Skill {
-        return Err(err_msg("game not in skill phase"))
-    }
-
-    game.add_skill(account.id, params.cryp_id, params.target_cryp_id, params.skill)?;
-
-    if game.skill_phase_finished() {
-        game = game.resolve_phase_start();
-    }
-
-    game_update(tx, &game)?;
-
-    Ok(game)
-}
-
-// pub fn game_target(params: GameTargetParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Game, Error> {
-//     let query = "
-//         SELECT *
-//         FROM games
-//         WHERE id = $1
-//     ";
-
-//     let result = tx
-//         .query(query, &[&params.game_id])?;
-
-//     let returned = match result.iter().next() {
-//         Some(row) => row,
-//         None => return Err(err_msg("game not found")),
-//     };
-
-//     // tells from_slice to cast into a cryp
-//     let game_bytes: Vec<u8> = returned.get("data");
-//     let mut game = from_slice::<Game>(&game_bytes)?;
-
-//     game.add_target(account.id, params.cryp_id, params.skill_id)?;
-
-//     if game.target_phase_finished() {
-//         game.resolve_phase_start();
-//     }
-
-//     game_update(game, tx)?;
-
-//     Ok(game)
-// }
-
 pub fn game_write(tx: &mut Transaction, game: &Game) -> Result<(), Error> {
     let game_bytes = to_vec(&game)?;
 
@@ -847,7 +804,7 @@ pub fn game_update(tx: &mut Transaction, game: &Game) -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     let query = "
         UPDATE games
-        SET data = $1, complete = $2, updated_at = now()
+        SET data = $1, finished = $2, updated_at = now()
         WHERE id = $3
         RETURNING id, data;
     ";
@@ -869,6 +826,34 @@ pub fn game_update(tx: &mut Transaction, game: &Game) -> Result<(), Error> {
     return Ok(());
 }
 
+pub fn game_skill(params: GameSkillParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Game, Error> {
+    let mut game = game_get(tx, params.game_id)?;
+
+    game.add_skill(account.id, params.cryp_id, params.target_cryp_id, params.skill)?;
+
+    if game.skill_phase_finished() {
+        game = game.resolve_phase_start();
+    }
+
+    game_update(tx, &game)?;
+
+    Ok(game)
+}
+
+pub fn game_ready(params: GameSkillParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Game, Error> {
+    let mut game = game_get(tx, params.game_id)?;
+
+    game.player_ready(account.id, params.cryp_id, params.target_cryp_id, params.skill)?;
+
+    if game.skill_phase_finished() {
+        game = game.resolve_phase_start();
+    }
+
+    game_update(tx, &game)?;
+
+    Ok(game)
+}
+
 // pub fn game_pve_new(cryp_ids: Vec<Uuid>, mode: GameMode, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Game, Error> {
 //     if cryp_ids.len() == 0 {
 //         return Err(err_msg("no cryps selected"));
@@ -1325,4 +1310,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(game.team_by_id(x_team.id).skills_required() == 2);
         return;
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn upkeep_test() {
+        let mut game = create_2v2_test_game();
+        game.phase_start = Utc::now().checked_sub_signed(Duration::seconds(31)).unwrap();
+
+        println!("{:?}", game.upkeep());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/server/src/instance.rs b/server/src/instance.rs
index c043ae50..2529cff0 100644
--- a/server/src/instance.rs
+++ b/server/src/instance.rs
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ impl Instance {
         current_round
     }
 
-    fn current_game(&mut self, player_id: Uuid) -> Option<Uuid> {
+    fn current_game(&self, player_id: Uuid) -> Option<Uuid> {
         if self.phase == InstancePhase::Lobby {
             return None;
         }
@@ -388,7 +388,10 @@ impl Instance {
             .all(|p| p.ready);
 
         match can_start {
-            true => Some(current_round.game_id),
+            true => match current_round.finished {
+                true => None,
+                false => Some(current_round.game_id),
+            },
             false => None,
         }
     }
@@ -401,37 +404,54 @@ impl Instance {
             .ok_or(err_msg("account not in instance"))
     }
 
+    pub fn vbox_action_allowed(&self, account: Uuid) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if self.phase == InstancePhase::Lobby {
+            return Err(err_msg("game not yet started"));
+        }
+        if self.current_game(account).is_some() {
+            return Err(err_msg("you cannot perform vbox actions while in a game"));
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn vbox_discard(mut self, account: Uuid) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_discard()?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
     pub fn vbox_accept(mut self, account: Uuid, group: usize, index: usize) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_accept(group, index)?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
     pub fn vbox_combine(mut self, account: Uuid, indices: Vec<usize>) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_combine(indices)?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
     pub fn vbox_reclaim(mut self, account: Uuid, index: usize) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_reclaim(index)?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
     pub fn vbox_apply(mut self, account: Uuid, index: usize, cryp_id: Uuid) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_apply(index, cryp_id)?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
     pub fn vbox_unequip(mut self, account: Uuid, target: Var, cryp_id: Uuid) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
+        self.vbox_action_allowed(account)?;
         self.account_player(account)?
             .vbox_unequip(target, cryp_id)?;
         Ok(self)
@@ -541,7 +561,8 @@ pub fn instances_need_upkeep(tx: &mut Transaction) -> Result<Vec<Instance>, Erro
     let query = "
         SELECT data, id
         FROM instances
-        WHERE updated_at < now() - interval '5 seconds';
+        WHERE updated_at < now() - interval '5 seconds'
+        AND id != '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000';
     ";
 
     let result = tx
diff --git a/server/src/net.rs b/server/src/net.rs
index 7ca1cc94..4346efcf 100644
--- a/server/src/net.rs
+++ b/server/src/net.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ use std::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
 use serde_cbor::{to_vec};
 
 use std::env;
-use std::thread::spawn;
+use std::thread::{spawn, sleep};
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 use r2d2::{Pool};
 use r2d2::{PooledConnection};
@@ -72,7 +73,16 @@ pub fn start() {
     let server = TcpListener::bind("0.0.0.0:40000").unwrap();
 
     let warden_pool = pool.clone();
-    spawn(move || warden(warden_pool));
+    spawn(move || {
+        loop {
+            let db_connection = warden_pool.get().expect("unable to get db connection");
+            if let Err(e) = warden(db_connection) {
+                println!("{:?}", e);
+            }
+            sleep(Duration::new(5, 0));
+        }
+
+    });
 
     for stream in server.incoming() {
         let db = pool.clone();
diff --git a/server/src/vbox.rs b/server/src/vbox.rs
index 9f752f26..3ddb994c 100644
--- a/server/src/vbox.rs
+++ b/server/src/vbox.rs
@@ -558,19 +558,19 @@ pub fn vbox_combine(params: VboxCombineParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &A
 }
 
 pub fn vbox_reclaim(params: VboxReclaimParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
-    let mut instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
+    let instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
         .vbox_reclaim(account.id, params.index)?;
     return instance_update(tx, instance);
 }
 
 pub fn vbox_apply(params: VboxApplyParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
-    let mut instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
+    let instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
         .vbox_apply(account.id, params.index, params.cryp_id)?;
     return instance_update(tx, instance);
 }
 
 pub fn vbox_unequip(params: VboxUnequipParams, tx: &mut Transaction, account: &Account) -> Result<Instance, Error> {
-    let mut instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
+    let instance = instance_get(tx, params.instance_id)?
         .vbox_unequip(account.id, params.target, params.cryp_id)?;
     return instance_update(tx, instance);
 }
diff --git a/server/src/warden.rs b/server/src/warden.rs
index 0187abb2..4c6e08dd 100644
--- a/server/src/warden.rs
+++ b/server/src/warden.rs
@@ -11,10 +11,13 @@ use r2d2_postgres::{PostgresConnectionManager};
 
 use game::{Game, games_need_upkeep, game_update};
 use instance::{Instance, instances_need_upkeep, instance_update};
+use net::{Db};
 
 fn fetch_games(mut tx: Transaction) -> Result<Transaction, Error> {
     let games = games_need_upkeep(&mut tx)?;
 
+    println!("warden: {:?} games active", games.len());
+
     for mut game in games {
         game_update(&mut tx, &game.upkeep())?;
     }
@@ -32,16 +35,12 @@ fn fetch_instances(mut tx: Transaction) -> Result<Transaction, Error> {
     Ok(tx)
 }
 
-pub fn warden(pool: Pool<PostgresConnectionManager>) -> Result<(), Error> {
-    loop {
-        let db_connection = pool.get().expect("unable to get db connection");
+pub fn warden(db: Db) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    fetch_games(db.transaction()?)?
+        .commit()?;
 
-        fetch_games(db_connection.transaction()?)?
-            .commit()?;
+    fetch_instances(db.transaction()?)?
+        .commit()?;
 
-        fetch_instances(db_connection.transaction()?)?
-            .commit()?;
-
-        sleep(Duration::new(1, 0));
-    }
+    Ok(())
 }
\ No newline at end of file