Let The Games Begin

Just before I turn in for the night, I decided to start my first blog.  It seems odd to me to be having a go at it and I’m sure that my daughter, Evie, will be blogging all the time in her version of the future.  For now it’s just me and a first attempt.  In truth, it’s a first attempt at trying something new and almost by coincidence the reason for my blog is about the people reading this blog trying something new for themselves.    

When I was younger, on a weekly basis, I would play board games with my family.  I grew up in a large extended family and it wasn’t uncommon for a game to be out on the coffee table on a Saturday evening with me looking on eagerly, just wishing I could join in.  At the time the games I was playing were fun but the adults games always seemed to have so much more to them than the ones that I’d been playing.  Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s meant that I was in a time when games consoles were only just beginning to have a foothold in the family homes and so board still had an active role in family time.

Many years later my passion for board gaming has not diminished and I now have a collection of over one hundred different board games on range of themes, age ranges and styles. I would add at this point that my collection is nothing more than a drop in the ocean compared to all that is available out there.

The enjoyment that I get from gaming is the reason that I wanted to share my collection of games with a wider audience.  I want to dispel the myth that board games begin and end with Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble and Operation.  These are good games in their own right but there is a host of games out there that when played show that these games are just the tip of an incredible iceberg.

When I talk to people about gaming there is never a lack of enthusiasm for the aforementioned games but it comes with a slight reluctance toward the unknown.  I guess it’s a fear that I could be trying to persuade people to play something like Dungeons and Dragons or something ‘nerdy’ that could damage someone’s reputation.   These are the ideas I would like to challenge through this blog; not all games are for everyone but everyone will find a game that is right for them.

In believing this I wanted to create ‘The Board Game Compendium’ which, over the coming months, is where I am intending to review as many of my games as I can.  I’ll give them scores, tell you if they have won any awards and give you an overview of the gameplay.  I’ll try to give you a balanced view and my recommendation on what kind of person would enjoy it.   If I can figure it out, there might be photos and links to useful websites.

The scoring will be based on the following:

Game Play:  4pts (Excellent), 3pts (Good) , 2 pts (OK),  1pt (Unsatisfactory), 0pts (Poor)

Components: 2pts (Good) 1pt (OK) 0pts (Poor)

Theme: 2pts (Consistent) 1pts (Intermittent) 0pts (Inconsistent)

Replayability: 2pts (Can’t wait to play again) 1pt (Take it or leave it) 0pts (Will only play again if there’s nothing else to play)

Then I might do a rundown nearer to Christmas of my top games to buy as presents, and perhaps if I’m still blogging next year, a lead up to and review of TableTop Day 2014. There’s nothing like planning ahead when you have all the enthusiasm of something new.  We shall see what happens!

So the question for me is, who I am to have such an opinion that I believe I am in a position to give a recommendation on what’s a good game or not?  Well in truth, nobody.  All I can say is that I like my hobby and I’ve a good few years’ experience under my belt to (if nothing else) type up some thoughts into a blog.

The question for you however is different.  Would you like to come inside and experience a little of the crazy ramblings of a big kid, who just might leave you wanting to give something new a try?