Deep Thoughts: The Road to Geekdom

Royal Assassins, Sorcerer Queens and Ali From Cairo are three names that were burned into my memory at an early age when I first bought my first pack of cards. At the time I didn’t know how to play or what it would all lead to, but there I was buying my first pack of cards with lawn mowing money. Fast forward twenty years and here I am, blogging about sharing that same experience with my children.

My clones outside the local gaming store

Pokemon is a gateway drug, just like 'Magic the Gathering: Arabian Nights' was for me, my oldest has now started Pokemon. They sit at the kitchen table playing with neighborhood kids much the same as I once did. Not really knowing the rules they make up things as they go and occasionally ask for help with things they can’t make up a house rule that everyone can agree on. I have held two gaming sessions for them where we go step by step through the rules and the game, slowly teaching them the rules. One concerned father even came to the house asking me to explain the game to him so he could converse with his children about it.

my main army 4 years ago...

My father was never involved in anything like role playing, tabletop wargaming or card flipping, in fact he still thinks it is slightly odd that I play even to this day. Other people moved on to newer and even more expensive hobbies like fly fishing or motorcycles but I never grew out of mine. Will my kids end up playing tabletop games like their old man? Who knows for sure, but I have copies of Space Hulk and Necromunda waiting if one day they ask me about them. But until that day I will be perfectly happy watching and encouraging them to see how far down this road they travel.

still practicing_

Tallarn