My sister and I always had board games growing up. We loved them, and it was probably the only time we didn’t fight. Ok, well we’d fight, but it was usually focused on the game, so at least it was a fight worth having? Looping Louie, Don’t Wake Daddy, Pretty Pretty Princess, if it was on the Target or Walmart shelves, we probably had it.

It wasn’t until I went off to college that I was first introduced to board gaming as a hobby. My first hobby board game was Settlers of Catan. How cliché is that? Guess that just speaks to the power of the game. I mean, if as a board game you can bring so many into the fold, you’ve gotta be good. Right?

Late nights playing Settlers of Catan with friends had opened my eyes to this world of board games I didn’t know about. I didn’t know there were shops that were dedicated to just shelves and shelves of board games. I was looking up board gaming podcasts, board gaming YouTube videos, ALL THE BOARD GAMING THINGS.

As you can imagine, I was ecstatic when Will Wheaton produced TableTop on Geek and Sundry. Finally, hobby board games were becoming popular, and I could talk about boardgames in the same way that comic book lovers talk comics. TableTop provided the medium for me to spread board gaming to other people. Board Gaming nights happened more often, and more spaces were being created for board gaming.

Through board games, I’ve made some amazing friends and expanded my world. Board games gave me the opportunity to hear other people’s truths, and to form bonds and memories that I can treasure. Board games don’t care what race, creed, sex, color, or gender you are. While playing a board game, everyone is under the same rules, and everyone can be who they are. Human beings, just trying to connect with other human beings.

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What are your favorite board games? What about your favorite story as a board gamer? Also, what would you like to see from me in the future? (Both in my blog and on YouTube). I’d love to hear from you in the comments!