The Tao of Gaming

aka Sinners in the hands of an Angry Blog.

In an interesting article, David Fair writes the following tidbit:

Race to the Galaxy by Tom Lehmann has been discussed online, and most people who are fans of ... [the] Tao of Gaming will recognize the name.

I'm not sure what David's trying to say. I've never mentioned that particular name here, so he must mean that I personally know all of the readers of this blog, and they all know what I've been hinting around. Sadly, that's a fair reading of the facts. [Or he could just be trying to pimp my readership...[1]]

In any case, I googled and I can safely say that this post is the first time that "That name", much hinted at, is mentioned here. And yes, it's a damn fine game.

Anyway, David's post is really about the "onesies," games played a single time last year. Hm, that's a good topic. Here's a breakdown by categories:

• New Games -- I'd have played these more, but they were too new. Gemblo, Kreta, Twilight Struggle,
• Rares -- Games I don't own and have little access too. Also games that are too long to hit the table often. 7 Ages, Das Spiel, In the Shadow of the Emperor, Jambo, La Citta, Manifest Destiny, Neuland, Ingenious, Tower of Babel, Reef Encounter, Twilight Imperium 3, etc etc
• Oldies -- The game that I've played to death, stopped playing for a while and now play when the mood strikes. Celebrities, Chess (!), Fast Food Franchise, Puerto Rico, Rette Sich Wehr Kann, Traders of Genoa, Traumfabrik, Ursuppe ...
• Eh -- Australia, Amazonas, Dork Tower, Cranium, Java, Keythedral, Lawless, Poison ...
• Precious time I'll never get back -- Thankfully a small category last year, best left unmentioned. (But "Eh" covers many games).

Of course, some games fall into several categories. Many of the games on the lest are those that I can be talked into, but never suggest. A fair fraction of my list comes from trying a game once, and then deciding it's not interesting. Usually those games go into the "Eh" category, as I usually spote games I hate from several hundred yards. Sometimes I'll agree to a game that I don't care for to be sociable, so it gets a play.

Not sure that there's anything here, but I love armchair psychology based on five and dimes. (And onesies).

And Greg Schloesser asks the question "Hey, you, on the net? Do you game too much?"

Nope, thanks for asking! I'm just teasing, Greg. But my keen reading senses[2] detect a touch of defensiveness:

Lest I sound too much like a preacher....

This is difficult to talk about without sounding “preachy” or come across with a “My way is better than your way” attitude.

Now, I’m not trying to be all high-and-mighty here.

I have a serious answer; but mainly I'm giggling at the thought of Greg sounding preachy. Perhaps he's worried what gamers who've never met him think (If there are any). Greg carries the weight of a heavy gnat on his shoulders.

People like David and Greg make gaming fun. You can't game too much when the company is good. If it weren't for them (and those like them) curmudgeons like me would have a hard time finding enough people to make Greg's question relevant.

Anyway, over the course of the next few weeks I'll find several new games to play, many that make me go "Eh", and game far too much. I'm looking forward to it.

[1] Now that I think about it, I'm surprised that isn't a show on TechTV or somesuch.

[2] I was bitten by a radioactive librarian. Didn't work out, though.