Dear Dr Vaccarino,
Lately I've noticed that I like talking about board games, reading about board games and arguing about board games much more than I like actually playing board games. What is wrong with me?
Confused
Albuquerque
It's not uncommon to find your game life missing a little spice as you get older. Here are some handy tips to help you out in the game room.
- Put on mood music. Perhaps the Queen album The Game, or something from Game Theory.
- Wear a special outfit. You could dress up like that guy from Monopoly, or a meeple.
- Get scented dice.
- You can make a game out of playing a game. Whoever wins the game, wins the game.
- Try playing games in public. It can be a real rush.
- Try unusual positions. In a game of Chess, group all of your pieces on the right side of the board. See where it leads you.
- Incorporate food into the action. Use gummi bears for meeples, or play Dominion using slices of cheese, drawn on with food coloring.
- Take a bath first. Man. I wasn't going to say anything but really. You don't have to fit a stereotype to be a gamer.
- Roleplay. "I go to my village... I visit the smithy..."
- Videotape yourself playing. Then you can put it online later as a podcast.