Nashville, Tennessee
August 2 – 5, 2001
Well, I must admit I had a great time.
For myself, it was great to meet all the people, enjoy a few games and generally try something a bit new. At the very least I have more than a few games to purchase and play.
The highlights:
The Family Atmosphere – I have often worried that boardgaming tends to be too male dominated, and seeing all the families playing really added a great deal to the atmosphere. I normally enjoy the slow, intense games with lots of planning, so this was a really nice change of pace.
Werewolf – First, I must say that Sandi did an excellent job as moderator. It was easy to get into the mood, though it was amusing that everyone suddenly noticed I was being quiet and decided it was time to string me up.The whole experience was extremely pleasant.
Union Pacific – I made the claim that the game is completely broken with six, and that the first player has the advantage in all the games. The game was then promptly won by the last player (something I have only seen done twice now). I still stick by my claim, but it was fun getting teased for it the rest of the weekend 🙂
Twilight – Derk refers to me as a trick taking snob, and so it was nice to play a trick taking game that I didn’t feel the need to compare with Bridge.
The Derk Reputation – I get to see Derk on a regular basis, so I was amused when I was constantly asked about him the first day. Finding out that he actually hosted a game was even better. Seeing Derk walking around with the whiner award made it all worth the experience.
The People – Finally, it was a pleasure to meet everyone. I was actually very saddened that I got separated from everyone else for dinner on Sunday (though the sleep was a real blessing too). It was particularly nice to put faces to names I have heard many times. The games were competitive without the need for rules lawyering.
For this, I thank all of you (Greg/Tim/Vickie/Lenny in particular, and if I missed somebody please kick me in the head), and look forward to meeting everyone again in the future.