Talking to Muggles about Meeples

The team at Cardboard Quest, as well as many friends I play regularly with, are exceedingly passionate about board games. Many of us trawl the internet on a daily basis looking for the latest news, sneak peeks at upcoming games art or the most amazing gaming accessory produced from rare woods. This hobby brings us endless amounts of joy, from the collections that line our shelves as trophies through to the regular game sessions that give us common ground to interact with friends and family through social play. Naturally when I get excited thinking about experiences I’ve had, I’m eager to share these moments with those around me by telling them all about it in the hopes that they too might find the same joy and fulfillment that I have through the hobby. Thing is, sometimes I don’t realise I can be a little overzealous when telling people about board games and occasionally get confused looks or create a less than perfect impression of the board gaming community.

Surely the best way to expose people to board gaming is through interaction with the community of existing players? Absolutely! However, after feedback from some friends and family, it was important for me to realise where I was winning hearts and minds and where I was sounding a little akin to someone Nurse Ratched would need to tuck in after the evening bell. While I’m no board gaming presidential spokesperson, I thought I’d share some of the tips I’ve picked up when introducing Muggles to the magical world of cardboard, without alerting the Ministry.

When you get a little passionate, it’s easy for you to seem a little like a cult follower.

Vegans, Cross-fitters and the Board Game Reformed?

People who have all found a new hobby, lifestyle and passion different to their previous habits or the general norm tend to stand out at parties a little more than most in their topics of conversation. It’s not that they mention to people that they enjoy cross fit or that they drink soy milk in their coffee, it’s that they can’t seem to talk about anything else and will find a way to steer each and every conversation with an anecdote relating to their lifestyle. Don’t be that person. Feel free to tell people that you played a great game of Game of Thrones before meeting them for dinner or that you enjoy adventure card games like Time Stories when asked about your hobbies, but try to refrain from starting to explain rules systems and why x game has changed how you feel about worker placement games. If they ask, keep the conversation flowing but should they switch conversations, you should too.

K.I.S.S. the Scrabble Tiles and Collect 200

Even after a couple of years in the hobby I’ll open a rule book, read a few lines and feel like someone slapped me with the “special” stick that makes everything a little fuzzy around the 2 die plus 3 meeples divided by the victory point equation. In similar ways, when you’re trying to explain foreign concepts of dice placement and simultaneous action selection in Roll for the Galaxy to gain points from consuming rather than trading, you’re going to make the hobby sound more like an economics report paper than a race to be intergalactic ruler. Imagine if someone introduced you to sport by telling you about every action possible by the players or how hit markers in video games are calculated for competitive play? Wait, don’t close the browser! Much in the same way, when you get the opportunity, tell people what the game is about and why it’s Fun!

Monopoly has been many gamers first.. even in retrospect if you think of it as going directly to jail..

Many people who are not hobby gamers have played some board games with parents growing up and enjoyed them. Chess, backgammon and checkers players understand abstract games and movement rules already. Monopoly players understand roll and move, set collection and barter mechanics whilst Clue players will already have a grasp of deduction. Never scoff at their experiences with these games and instead use their understanding to introduce them to hobby games by embellishing on these concepts. Listen to their stories of gaming and encourage them to try to try newer games by building on the foundation of gaming they have.

There’s a Game for That!

Game of Thrones offers a great entry point into board games, with almost everyone able to relate to characters and their quirks.

Often the board games we play reflect other interests in our lives that we already have. I’m a massive fan of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones universe and there is very little surprise that the second edition card game has resonated with me more than any other head to head card game. If you’re asked what kind of games there are, use examples that friends can relate to and understand to bridge the gap. Games based on IP’s work great for these types of explanations and discussions, but also think of sports games, historical games and games relating to lifestyles that people enjoy as perfect introductory titles to explain. Wine lovers easily relate to the appeal of producing your own wines in Viticulture and crafters can easily understand the frustrations of Patchwork. Betrayal at House on the Hill will seem fearfully enticing to pulp horror lovers and comic book readers have a wealth of titles that will allow them to become the hero they always wanted to be!

That looks really really cool…

While all your articulate musings may appeal to some audiences, nothing can sway the visual learners more than the site of beautiful boards, detailed miniatures and gorgeous decks of cards. If the situation allows it, let people take a look and explore your games for themselves without the pressure of you guiding them down towards the complex Euro. I’ve had many people sit at the table to watch us play games of Kemet, hold their breath while we rolled dice for a battle of blades in Arcadia Quest and admire the art of Tyrion Lannister card. I’m often so eager to show people something I think is going to blow their socks off instead of allowing them to ask questions, take it in themselves and choose their games to test out. I’ve discovered that keeping my personal tastes in my personal mouth makes their first bite of a board game that much sweeter. Open some boxes, invite them to look for themselves and you’ll be able to change the experience from that of a pulpit and pews to an activity center full of smiles.

Fantastical Creatures going to war in Ancient Egypt, It worked for the Mummy and Scorpion King!

Be Proud of Your Cardboard Kingdom

As much as the above points mostly revolve around the don’ts in discussing board games, I’d really like to encourage us to feel free to share the joy of our hobby. Don’t ever feel that you should be ashamed to say what you do when the you have friends come over on a Friday night. Through our gaming we’ve made friends, mortal nemeses, and maybe even found loved ones. We’ve solved problems, learned lessons and most importantly had moments that bring smiles to our faces and to those that we’ve shared the pastime with. These moments are not for ridicule, but for celebration. Cherish them and don’t hide this important part of who you are for fear of mockery. You’re a board gamer.

So those are some of my experiences in talking Muggles into trying Meeples. What are some of yours? How did you find out about hobby gaming before you became an addict? Am I completely off in comparison to experiences you’ve had? Let me know in the comments.