Hi there! Whether you're here by choice or just because some professor told you to be here, I welcome you to The Pampered Boardgamer!
Over the next couple weeks I hope to share with my readers elements of two passions, one I've had for several years, and one I hope to cultivate this semester!
For the past few years I've hosted game nights every Tuesday at my apartment, inviting my friends to play games from my collection of board/card games from all over the world. I invite you now to stop and think about the first three board games that come to your mind. If you thought Monopoly, Sorry! or Chess, I don't blame you. Most of us have fond memories of moving colorful pieces around a board, rolling dice, and playing cards. A lot of board games designed and produced in Europe over the past decades have captured the appeal of childhood games - colorful bits, competing against our friends - while introducing strategic elements, cutting down on the length of time needed to play the game, and eliminating some of the dumb luck that dominates the games of our youth.
I teach games with the belief that almost anyone can learn how to play a game and do well. Yes, ANYONE. I also believe that, when exposed to the right games, anyone can develop an interest in the hobby and want to come back to game night. I deal with absolutes because I'm confident in the gaming enjoyment provided by European board games, and the social enjoyment of bringing a group of people together to play games.
However, this blog is no replacement for trying out a game yourself. I invite anyone interested in playing a game to come to my Tuesday night game nights, details are at the bottom. You can also look around BGG (Boardgamegeek.com) and see where your favorite games rank!
And while board gaming is my hobby, I should make it clear here that I don't consider myself to be a hardcore gamer. I'm inept at most competitive video games. Video games are out of the scope of this blog, but I think games like Wii Sports, Just Dance, and Mario Party have taken great strides towards making gaming less of a niche, and more of a hobby anyone can enjoy.
Another element of this blog will follow my adventures into the culinary arts! I'm quite tired of cooking pasta for dinner and packing deli sandwiches for lunch. It's amazing how much motivation one can get to cook when his professor is checking his blog every week and making sure he follows through on his goals!
Next week I'll delve into one of the games in my collection, and update you on the progress of my culinary journey.
~Mark
P.S.
If you're interesting in trying out some new games and truly discovering what this weird hobby is all about, leave a comment or send me a private message. I host a game night every Tuesday at Fordham University in my apartment, and I'd love to meet you and share more. Take care!
