Hey, everyone! This is my third post in the new Change-up category. I originally wrote this as one long piece but it was just too massive. So I’ve broken it into three parts. As always, leave comments and let me know what you think!
How do I pick the right tabletop game for me and my friends?
Like anything, I’m going to tell you to do a little bit of research.
Start with something you like. Maybe it’s a theme like fantasy, or more specific like DC superheroes.
Read reviews. Watch reviews. Check out Board Game Geek’s website, they have a ranking of board games. They have their ranking, as well as a theme ranking, and a user review ranking. Associated with the same website, Dice Tower has some great reviews on Youtube.
If you’re really lost, go to Youtube and watch some of Wil Wheaton’s series called Tabletop. It’s not really a review but you actually see a bunch of people playing the game, having fun, and it’s a great gauge for how the game actually plays out.
If you’re feeling social, look for a local game shop. Give them a call and ask if they have demo copies of games, along with a designated game day/night. I like my local game shop a lot and it draws a pretty nice crowd of people.
In the summers, I would frequent Cloak and Dagger here in the Daytona Beach area.
And these are all just starting points because it’s really kind of a trial and error thing. That’s why demo copies and game nights are great. Though, I’ve made some great game purchases based off of just watching Tabletop with Wil Wheaton. Since they don’t really do reviews, they seem to play some pretty top notch games. If it looks like they’re have fun, give it a shot.
Conclusions?
So this post went a lot longer than expected and that’s why I needed to break it up. I was away from the blog for a while and I guess I just had to get it out.
My point is really that there are a ton of board games out there. If you think you’re not into tabletop games or board games, I would honestly say that you just haven’t found the right one. The industry is so vast that writing it off completely would be like writing off television, movies, or books. Sure, you might not care for the vast majority. However, there are probably a few out there that would capture your interest entirely.
Ultimately, this is an activity in building, broadening, and enhancing your community. And by community, I really mean your friends. And new people you meet. You get the idea. Old friends and new can enjoy a good game. So get out there and try something new!
Heroclix was my game of choice in 2007. Just remember, you’re playing to have fun! Always make that the important thing!
This is the end of part three and the end of the week. Please let me know what you think. This topic is so vast, that writing these posts (while enjoyable) was like trying to hold smoke in my hand. Coming up, I’ll be talking about GenCon and other great things. Be sure to stop by and share your thoughts!