Board gaming Night with a New Group in Columbus GA

So, I was able to attend a board gaming gathering last night at Moxie in Columbus Georgia.  There were a half dozen folks around who got together for this (the first) meeting of what could turn into a regular Tuesday night board gaming group.

There was a wide diversity in the back ground, as far as who has played what games, and also a wide diversity in interest in different types of games.

The games played last night were Kingsburg and also a five player version of Ticket to Ride.

Unfortunately, I got to Moxie late (more about the store in a moment), so wasn't able to play in the Kingsburg game, but it is one of the titles I have been wanting to play for some time now, so maybe I'll get to give it a go in the near future.

Kingsburg, set up and box cover

The game that I did get to play, however, was Ticket to Ride.  This was a five player version of the basic (original) game.  Still a great game, and a real challenge with 5 players.  Of course the thing that makes it so much fun with a full round of players is that it is very, very easy to cut someone off, inadvertently. Great fun for everyone except the person being cut off, that is.  And it happened, a couple of times, in the game.  I ended up taking a -21 points from tickets I didn't complete, which from my imperfect memory, and faulty math, seemed like it would have propelled me to victory if I WOULD have been able to complete them.  Oh well, that's why there are other chances to play this classic again.

Ticket to Ride, picture of an endgame situation, using 1910 cards

The place where we met and played was Moxie Paintball.  The person running the shop (I believe he is the Owner) Was Jerry - a great fellow who helped to organize the get-together, and who is also interested in a lot of games, and the one who broke out the Ticket to Ride game.  What a really friendly guy.  He started the paintball business three years ago (and kudos to him for doing so well), and only recently decided to branch out into gaming.  A really nice store, with a small, but already strong - and growing - gaming product collection.  In fact, he had a copy of Small World Underground in stock, and I plan to stop by and pick it up tomorrow.

Part of the Gaming selection at Moxie's Paintball, Columbus GA

For those interested, the store is located at 7519 Fortson Road, Columbus, GA (706) 221-6700

The group is planning to get together again next Tuesday night for more gaming.  I believe there is talk of a classic Axis and Allies game, and also some lighter Euro game filler.  Should be a good time.  Lots of talk last night about Arkham Horror and other titles - perfecto!

History of Games and Gaming

So with my new position as a member of the faculty at Columbus State University, I was lucky enough to be engaged by one of the professors in my department who teaches game design. He asked me to do a guest lecture on the history of games.  So I did.  And it was a lot of fun.

I started out pointing out that in three of the ancient river valley civilizations in the world - the Nile, the Yangtze, and the Mesopotamian valleys - that some of the earliest artifacts we have of civilization include games and gaming equipment.  From there, a brief foray through the use of games to train nobles and the military, including mock combats through history (Roman wargames, Medieval tournaments and melees, drilling, mock combat, etc) along side a history of board games, leading up to the wargaming developments of the 19th century.

It was a lot of fun, especially once we got into the 20th century, and starting talking about games as recreation once again.  This led through the introduction of hobby wargames (HG Wells, Fred Jane, Charles Roberts, etc), into roleplaying games, computer gaming, and euro games.

A very satisfying lecture.  I wish I could do a whole semester on the subject.

GwC CHQ has been undergoing a bugout maneuver

Yes it's true, the HQ and staff of Gaming with Chuck have been involved in a cross country move lately.  This has had some interesting effects.  First, it has forced a cataloging and assessment of the greater boardgame library at HQ, and second it has rekindled a desire to play games that were long forgotten at the bottom of the stygian abyss of the slush pile.  Those games will rise again!  Look for some more retro reviews, and some other articles coming soon as we settle into a new HQ location.

This one, btw, will be located in a new state, and the goal is to keep the location secret long enough to build defensive structures around the HQ.