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Lets talk about what to talk about
Session reports I'm only interested in as tutorial / learning aids, not much of that around anyway
I think I like after the fact reflection on games and how they've withstood the test of time, and discussions where games are discussed in context of a genre or historical chain or group, how design and mechanics have evolved and/or changed over time. Strategy and analysis is also good, but not so much that its attempting to reduce games to maths equations. Personal reflections on how you are into games compared to previous, musing on what you own and how you get the most out of it etc
Plus, just freeform arguing about stuff I own or know well, ie focussing on the negative aspects of stuff, then half the crowd turn up to defend it, or offer a counter or perhaps a bit more context. I think picking apart the flaws in stuff is more interesting by default, especially stuff you like, rather than have this nonsensical fanboy type unquestioning support of something. Liking stuff despite the flaws or the things you'd rather be different, is what makes your interest real and genuine somehow.
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I'm not too interested in new game reviews either, but that's no surprise. However, I assume we need current reviews to keep viewers coming to the site.
Naturally, I'd like to discuss older games, which is why I tend to stick more in the forums.
I would like to see more interviews with designers or investigation on those that seemed to have dropped off. (what happened to Richard Halliwell? What's Andy Chambers up to?)
I'm also interested in the history of some of the more niche areas of gaming that don't get much coverage. I know there was a big Railway Rivals PBeM scene in Europe in the 80's...what was that like? How about PBeM wargaming that used to go on...I've never done it, but used to see adds for it all the time in Dragon Magazine.
How about an article on the evolution of the C&C series? The rise and fall of Vampire The Masquerade (or whatever the LARP version was called) or the Mage Knight collectible minis game from the early 00s?
It seems there are a lot of interesting things to write and discuss, but probably take a bit more work than what we pay the writers around here.
But if it's new reviews that help keep the lights on...keep 'em coming.
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Trash talk is where I first came when I found this site, I immediately skipped the front page and started in with the forums. Where Weeks ripped me a new one (which I appreciate now). I am more interested in collective opinions and I get those here. My problem (if you can call it that) is that I like this site and the people who come here so I find that I get more out of the forums. I find them more fun, more playful, and that represents how I see games more than new game reviews on the front page. Also the forum gives me more to choose from. I can talk about my own likes and dislikes without derailing an article.
I agree with Jeff that more interviews would be cool, I also wish Sag would write more, his articles are outstanding. There's one on baseball specifically that might be my favorite boardgame article ever written. Design theory is kind of interesting but usually I have very little to contribute for fear of sounding even more ridiculously pretentious than my usual comments in Trash Talk which are already pretty bad to begin with.
My ego makes it tough for me to just be a passive viewer and trash talk demands participation so it simply suits me better.
Occasionally there is a review on something I'm interested in already, those situations are great and I'm thankful that people write these things for those situations. I don't envy them, it would be a lot of work that I would never do personally and it is an important part of the site.
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There used to be a few interviews. I think Robert Martin did one or two (one with Derek Carver and the other with the guy who designed Quest of the DragonLords. This was _years_ ago. I really dug both, but I don't remember a lot of comments for either).
Barnes' interview of Jim Bailey is the high water mark for interviews as far as I'm concerned. It was fantastic.
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- Cranberries
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I went over to ToS and did a search for recent games rated 8 or higher, which whips me into a frenzy for something like Dead of Winter, then I read a review over here where I discover its potentially tragic flaw:
"How badly these issues will affect you is dependent on your group. It's a game that very much demands to be approached a certain way, to be played as a shared experience rather than by the strict letter of the rules. Of everyone understands that, and can be trusted to uphold their end of the bargain, it works most of the time. " I want a game that is a-hole proof.
I get leery of games that require the right group to maintain narrative cohesion. I just want something that I can buy, pull out of the box, and have a finished game with polished rules that will generate some decent grade fun without too much coddling by the players.
Now that I don't visit BGG that often, my game lust has subsided. That place is a machine for breeding dissatisfaction with your collection, and this site generates dissatisfaction with the analytically paralyzed, soulless robots in your current gaming group.
Barnes' Jim Bailey interview appears to be off line now.
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- san il defanso
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That said, I'm not sure I could have kept pace even if my circumstances remained the same. And if I could have, I doubt I could have sustained it for more than a couple of months without becoming entirely burnt out.
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That's why I like Secret Satan--it gets me something new I could never internally justify.
I like talking about what I am doing. I am doing HEARTHSTONE. I can talk that shit up. Doing fucktons of indie gaming on my Sony Vindieita. Lots of SMASH. I have piles of kids--I can talk about them. I am a bleeding heart liberal in a conservative wealthy town. I can chat that up. And I do! But boardgames, especially current ones, probably aren't going to make me turn my head.
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- Jackwraith
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craniac wrote:
Barnes' Jim Bailey interview appears to be off line now.
web.archive.org/web/20100721163404/http:...Grindhouse-Games.htm
I've really enjoyed reading a lot more stuff by Michael, Nate, Pete and Drake over the last years, I obviously need to dig out Sags stuff, as I agree that a strong historical appreciation of where games have come from and have gone is great to read when presented well. I do like Sag even though I am often a fucking twat to him (and others). The phrase colossal cunt is probably fair at times, but this is a fun place with an irreverant crowd that stay on the right line of what boardgames are supposed to be. Theres some good stuff and people on the other sites too, but here its stayed small enough to avoid all the fucking dick then bullshit stuff
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- Cranberries
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That's why I like Secret Satan--it gets me something new I could never internally justify.
Someone sent me these really high quality, tiny cards from Japan that are used to play a game called Koi Koi. My daughter is in full Japanaphilia mode right now and teaching it to me. My grail game (off topic--sorry but not really) is some weird little game with a cool theme from Japan or somewhere off the boardgame radar that is totally fun and strange. I want to start a boardgame company that just releases fantastic little games, about fifty at a time, shrouded in mystery and obscurity. All I have to do is figure out how to write fantastic little games.
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fortressat.com/analysis-toc/2121-true-st...s-from-the-bleachers
fortressat.com/analysis-toc/3064-lessons-from-your-losses
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