The New Gaming Season

By S. Craig Taylor, Jr.
November 4, 2003

A few days ago, I was reading an article revealing that the “free” television networks were in the midst of their most disastrous new fall season ever. Viewers are staying away in droves. Most mysterious, none of the “experts” could figure out why this was happening. Wow, who would’ve thunk it? Like with most things in life, I am no “expert,” but have my own warped theories.

For years now, the viewers who wanted spicier fare have gradually turned to the cable channels. This left a “rump” group of viewers who preferred more sedate fare. Disregarding the preferences of their remaining viewers, the free networks have followed the lead of the cable channels, opting for more racy dramas, more situation comedies featuring potty-mouth children, sophomoric “humor” and “jiggle jollies,” more sports events with enough advertising to double game lengths, more “reality shows” featuring people who will, quite literally, do anything to get on television and newscasts that are so opinionated that surveys show that nobody believes a word they say anymore.

Maybe I’m old fashioned…well; actually, I am old fashioned. I yearn for a return to the days when “The Rockford Files” could be entertaining without people hopping into bed together at every rip stitch, when “I Love Lucy” could be hilariously funny without off-color language, when I could enjoy a baseball or football game in less then three hours, there were no shows that considered eating worms, performing idiotic stunts or watching bimbos throw themselves at a supposed millionaire to be entertainment and Dan Rather didn’t seem to be the center of weirdness in the universe. However, I’m enough of a realist to realize that there is no turning back, only turning away. That’s why I’m suggesting that those of you who are fed up with television turn away from the boob tube and try games.

Winter is coming and winter is the season when we stay indoors. Indoors can mean watching television but, if the new television season is not worth watching, why not try a new gaming season? Pull out old favorites and get others to recommend some new games to try and sit down with family and friends in a pleasant social setting to play some card and board games. Just try it, for crying out loud; don’t be such a couch potato! If there is something on the tube you just can’t miss, record it or wait to see it two more times when the rerun season starts in December. Board and card games actually give you something to do with your hands besides shovel munchies into your mouth.

If you’re like me, you often talk (or shout) at your television set, but it never replies and all the exchange does is raise your blood pressure. Even if you are not like me and do not talk to your household appliances, live gaming opponents never seem to shut up. Seated around a game table, the conversation can be lively, animated and from diverse sources. It might still elevate the old blood pressure but you’ll actually be thinking and having fun.

Now, since I thought of it first, I could be parochial and demand that you play only our fine LBG games during the new gaming season. You can consider that done, as I never pass up a chance for a plug. However, I have never been of the opinion that we are the only ones doing good games and you should look at and get opinions from friends about some of the other newer games available. What I propose to do with the rest of this column is to recommend a few of my old war gaming favorites with which I had nothing to do from the design end and just liked on their own merits. These are all fairly simple games that can at least be taught to the whole family—think about it; did you learn MONOPOLY by reading the rules or was it taught to you before you got out of grade school? Some of these are only available in used game venues but others are still in print and available at various stores and web sites.

• HOUSE DIVIDED : I still prefer the “elegant simplicity” of the original version before all the extra rules were added but, at its most complicated, this is still a quick game to learn and can be played in two to three hours. The Confederacy had a significant edge in earlier versions but the balance was improved in subsequent editions. This is one of the better two-player war games around.

• JUNTA : This is another game where this old Luddite prefers the original version, which had no three dollar bills. Any version gives you ample opportunities to practice a comical Spanish accent and polish up those final speeches to a firing squad, in case you ever really need one. I’m not sure that I ever played this correctly or if anyone really knows all the rules but it doesn’t really matter. Played best with a crowd of people who appreciate the significance of the ceremonial bombardment of the presidential palace, this is always good for a fun two or three hours.

• KREMLIN : The Russian bear has been unceremoniously placed in an under-funded zoo but this game brings back all your fond memories of the Cold War. The object of the game is very simple: have your guy claw his way to the top and wave to the troops at three May Day parades while avoiding purges or a death from “natural causes.” The problem: is he really your guy? Are you really sure? This is a multi-player game that can usually be concluded in two hours or so.

• NUCLEAR WAR : Be the first one on your block to destroy the world! Another multi-player gem, no game should be started without first passing out copies of Tom Lehr’s “Who’s Got the Bomb” and “So Long Mom, I’m Off to Drop the Bomb,” so everyone can sing along. If the Super Germ doesn’t get you, the B-70 Bombers and Polaris missiles will. There are also two modules that update the hardware and increase throw weight. This is usually good for one or two hours of glowing entertainment.

• PRO QUARTERBACK: This game is so old that the celebrity jock sponsor is Y. A. Tittle and was one of my college favorites. If you can find a copy, it is still a finely-tuned board football game for two players with a unique system of timing and recording the plays. If you can’t find a copy, try finding the more recent FOOTBALL STRATEGY. I enjoyed being a member of a FOOTBALL STRATEGY league for seven years.

• RISK : Be the first one on your block to conquer the world! There are numerous slightly different versions of this game now available. It plays best with three to six players, is easy to learn and can be played in less than two hours. When I was callow youth in college, we used play it with teams and gambled with it, paying one cent per army, winner take all. Why, there were evenings when I walked away almost six dollars ahead!

• UP FRONT: This is the granddaddy of all combat card games and is still an enjoyable game for two. The cards make every playing different and there are so many good features that you can compare this to many newer combat card games and wonder what their designers were thinking. If you should get your hands on the BANZAI module, say hello to crusty old Sergeant Taylor for me (I was a play tester on that module).

See Also Fall In!