Back in the
old days, like 15 years ago, we used to play some pretty cool
boardgames. You could even say light wargames, some of them were that
complex. Actually, we did play a few wargames or wargame light games
like Divine Right, BattleTech, and Warrior Kings. I had a lot of fun
playing those games back then.
Nowadays we have the Euro invasion of game design. Relatively abstract,
more gamey, more family-oriented games designed to be easy to learn
with varying degrees of strategy. One of the early successful Euro
games in the US that I recall was Settlers of Catan. There must have
been others but that one stands out to me.
Frankly, I don't particularly like the current wave of games. I like
wargames. One of their appeals is the historical replay of a battle or
war. You have the chance to change an exciting part of history. The big
problem with the Euro games we play is that sense that I'm
actually there reliving the past. Everything is too abstract. The
mechanics are not simulationist enough, I suppose that would be the
term.
The board games that we've been playing for the last couple of years,
from train games to card games to games whose names I can actually
remember like Big Top, Bohnanza, Carcassonne, Den of Thieves, Diceland,
Dungeoneer, Light Speed, Lord of the Rings, San Marco, Ticket to Ride,
and Tongiaki, all those games have all been rather bland.
Not bland as they're not exciting for a game or two. Bland as in there
is no passion in playing them. I'm enthusiastic playing those games.
It's not like I'm thinking about winning strategies or how wonderful
the games are. I'm just wondering the game is going to end.
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And that is
not a good attitude to have. I'm getting to the point when I'm avoiding
games. I think about showing up late to gaming because if not everybody
is there they tend to play a board game or two. Also I'm trying to
definitely schedule something for after gaming because after gaming we
play a board game or two. Even if I happen to be there I'll try to beg
off the game and work on personal projects, though that usually doesn't
work.
Someday I really have to start playing those wargames I own. A few
years ago I started playing Star Fleet Battles by myself. Actually just
the Introduction to SFB. But then I got sidetracked with other things.
And I guess one of the problems with big complicated wargames: there is
a lot of time and space investment to play the game. If you don't have
those resources handy it's tough to actually get around to playing.
Still, I keep thinking that someday I'll be finished with this and that
project and then I'll have enough free time to actually learn, set up,
and play Enemy at the Gates, or a Gettysburg game, or one of those big
multi-game World War II sets. Of course there always seems to be yet
another project to do and I never quite seem to finish.
I minor problem is that I don't have anyone to play with. Dave doesn't
like wargames. I'm pretty sure neither does Pick nor Shannon. Doubt
Donald does. Don't know about Fulton and Woo but they haven't struck me
as wargamers. Rowe is the closest but playing one on one with him is a
scary prospect. Of course there's always conventions or the Internet.
Some day I'll subscribe to SFB Online. Assuming they ever come up with
a Macintosh client.
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