Tabletop gaming means a lot to me. It is a fixture in my life to play tabletop games with family and friends. Nearly every weekend I play some form of tabletop RPG with close friends (Pathfinder, D&D, Star Wars, Marvel, etc). Every other day I usually have one of my two girls approaching me with a worn box in hand asking to play games such as Candy Land, Minotaurus, Shoots and Ladders, and Zombie Dice. Closets, cabinets, and shelves are crammed with boxes, books, and other paraphernalia supporting the tabletop habit. As an anniversary gift last year, I even made my husband a gaming table with my own two hands. Though we are steeped in video games, the tabletop variety have a health grip on our household.
As you can imagine, I am a big fan of Geek & Sundry's Tabletop series. While there are more than enough sites and blogs giving attention to the world of video games there seems to be a media blind spot where tabletop is concerned. I was further delighted when Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day announced their International Tabletop Day event for March 30th. It also seemed rather fortuitous that the chosen day actually fell on our regularly scheduled game night with friends.
Gaming often gets a bad wrap as a pursuit for loners with no more social skills than a rock. This view is unfortunately persistent and in my personal experience (severely anecdotal, I know) very untrue. Those I have met over the table are usually charming, creative, and engaging folk. Several valued friendships have begun by extending an invitation for an impromptu game. I often feel that my quality time with my children is enhanced by our shared love of games and imaginary play.
Hasbro has promoted "Family Game Night" for years and though I feel that their motivations are more profit based than anything, I am a big supporter of regular gaming with family and the important face time that naturally comes with it. My hope is that Geek & Sundry's International Tabletop Day becomes a force to be reckoned with and can build more on the success of their initial year. Whether or not that comes to fruition, Tabletop gaming will continue to be an important facet in my home.
