From: bill@frog.CRDS.COM (snow)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board,rec.games.frp.advocacy
Subject: Re: Hostility in Gamers toward Certain Games
Date: 8 Sep 92 18:57:16 GMT
Organization: Charles River Data Systems

I like to play games.  I find that the most extreme filter on the games
I play are (a) the people I play with and (b) the time required to
play (not just a single game, but a series of games).

Board games are fun because after you have learned how to play them you
can play a complete game in a fairly short period of time (yes I know
there are exceptions, but overall it is true).  Short boardgames have
the added advantage that you can get better in an evening! The game
mechanics have a large impact on the quality of the game. 

"Classic" board games (like scrabble, clue, monopoly, etc) are generally
good games and have the added advantage that many more people can play
them.  I just prefer other games.  Often you have the problem that
each move takes a long time.  Then you have dead time waiting for other
players to move.  This problem is particulary bad with Trivial Pursuit.
(A great, but it flopped, trivia game is Stage 2.  According to
Milton Bradley, it took too much intelligence to play!)

RPG games are fun if you have the time and a good group to play with. 
Here the quality of the players (rather than the quality of the game
mechanics, IMHO) determine the quality of the game.  The problem for me
is time.  I do not have enough (or am not willing to commit enough) time
to play them.

Miniatures is an interesting subculture.  One problem I have is that
some people think miniatures are superior because they are more
"historically accurate" than board games.  One of my more interesting
experiences was playing (6th edition WRG) a Alexandrian army after
reading about Alexander's campaigns.  I had no idea what was happening
because it had no relation to the historical tactics.  Again for me it
is the question of time.  I don't have the time to study the rules,
paint the troops, to get ready to play a game.  I would rather just
play the game.

Cards are fun and provide almost as much diversity as board games.  They
also have the advantage that the games are short and even better that
many people can play them.  They have the generic problem (for me) that
they generally require you to memorize the cards that are already out. 

Most computer games are not interesting because they are generally either
dull or bad opponents.  There are exceptions, generally for me as games 
where you play against the system, rather than any particular game.
My generic problem with most interesting computer games is time.  They
take too long to play.

I find for me that the games I play depend on the people I am playing
with.  I enjoy many games so if someone really likes something I would
play that.  As I've gotten older (and have less time to play) I must 
limit myself to the fewer games.  I've also play with fewer players 
because I play fewer types of games.


In short I believe that the people you play with will determine the
quality your games.  I think RPG games have the infantile reputation
because of some of the people who play them, not because of the quality
of the game itself.
-- 

bill masek		charles river data systems, inc
(617) 275-4565 (h)	(508) 626-1122 (w)
mit-eddie!frog!bill	eddie.mit.edu!frog!bill
Newsgroups: rec.games.board,rec.games.frp.misc