I have spent around twenty hours in the last week or so playing games - tabletops and RPGs., without computers. I played these games with friends and family of various ages. I have been the DM and a player, played competitive and cooperative. I have robbed trains, fought Gondarks, settled worlds, talked in at least three different ridiculous accents, rolled countless dice and played endless cards. I have stretched my brain and imagination, been confused and frustrated, won and lost and laughed my ass off. In short, I have been in the special kind of heaven that is gaming. If you claim to not be "a game player", I really encourage you to get over it. Some reasons why:
- you get to think and engage. Instead of just being given and passively consuming input, you process and respond, hopefully in a thoughtful way. I swear I use more of my brain playing certain games than most areas of my life.
- you get to use your imagination. Making things up, picturing based on basic description, creating characters and their personalities, inventing.
- you get to socialize. Playing games with people engages them in a totally different way, one that in my experience often reveals different sides. And, hey wow, you do it in person with real words and expressions and everything. Go figure!
- it is cross-generational. I got to play in an RPG my son was running, DM a game that my daughter had organized for her friends and get into two tabletops with both peers and kids. With what seems to be an ever-widening generation gap, this is priceless.
- it is fun. All along the spectrum - from simple to complex, basic to strategic, competitive to cooperative, "Sorry" to "Settlers of Catan" - you get to kibbitz and joke and laugh. And laughing is good for you! Actually literally good for your health. And certainly good for the soul.
So put down the phones, turn off the TV and pull out a game or two! I highly recommend it.
Stay tuned for some personal favorites.
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