Board Games

            I like board games. I like to think that I’m somewhat more advanced in the genre: I play all sorts of board games, mostly board games that people haven’t ever heard of. I love the strategy of these games, and most of the time what defines a board game is the variety of strategy. I could never get into chess because it seemed to me to be a solved game (I know that this isn’t true; I just feel so inside), and in chess’ stead I have developed an affinity for nearly every other kind of game.

            When I’m looking at what I want in a board game, usually it is good mechanics and gameplay. I want a game that’s fun to play. I also want a game that I can play many times. That doesn’t just mean I get better at strategy or refine my gameplay over time. It means that every time I play, I am forced to play an entirely new strategy and adapt in ways that require me to make hard decisions. When the crosshairs align in the right kind of game, I find myself wanting to play it as often as I can, because every game is different in the most fascinating ways. That’s how I feel playing my two favorite games: Dominion and Twilight Imperium. Even though they are very different generally, they both give me reason to play very different games and strategize in unique ways.

            The primary limitation of board games is that I must play them with other people. This provides two limitations: firstly, I often can’t find other people to play with; secondly, I often can’t find people who match my level of skill. It can be quite a hassle to get together with a group of people who are interested in playing the same games as me. Most of the time, things fall apart due to scheduling conflicts, the bane of any true board game devotee. This is especially true with Twilight Imperium, which is not a ‘get together and play sometime’ kind of experience, but rather a ‘set aside an entire calendar day and prepare meals beforehand’ type of thing. I also often find that the people I play with are either much better or much worse than games than I am. It is a process to elevate an opponent to be ready to face me in a game I’ve played for years, and most people who are better than me at a board game similarly don’t have the time to teach me the ins and outs of such. I have found a good equilibrium for most of these, but it still can be somewhat frustrating.

            I will write here about my experiences in a variety of board games, as well as what I think of the respective board games. I may be harsh in some board games, and I might write extensively on others. Overall, I have found a lot of bonding through board games and am excited to write about such.