As we dive pell-mell into the holiday season some folks continue
their quest to find the right presents for people on their list, each
with their own parameters based on relationship, etiquette,
interests, and budget. Even gamers can prove problematic since they
often have quite exactingly specific tastes in games...and frequently
own everything for game lines they particularly enjoy. I’m always
looking for ways to draw newcomers into the adventure gaming hobby –
both adults and kids – so this season I’ve assembled some
low-cost gift ideas for people who might like joining readers at
their gaming tables.
Some
adult newcomers to gaming might find satisfaction with the many
Eurogames and similar fare happily found in such ubiquitous venues as
Target and Walmart. Solid standards like
Settlers
of Catan, Ticket to Ride, King of Tokyo, Carcassonne, Castle Panic,
and
Pandemic
are good go-to games for adults seeking to break into the current
popularity of board games, yet their prices tend to run higher than
most casual gifts and they’re not always good for younger children.
I’ve
also featured a few specifically kid-friendly games –
Dino
Hunt Dice, Rory’s Story Cubes, Set, Dungeon!, Forbidden Island,
Stratego Battle Cards Game, Robot Turtles,
and the
D&D
Starter Set
–
in a
similar holiday gift post two years ago; they’re
all still valid recommendations.
The
games suggested
below adhere to a particular set of criteria best-suited to appeal to
non-gamers with some interest in gaming. They’re all available for
$25 or less (with an occasional, outstanding exception). While these
might seem easier to acquire through online retailers, I urge readers
to support their Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS)
when
possible; many can special-order titles they don’t normally keep in
stock. They’re all suitable for kids, though more often with adult
participation.
Most are physical products,
though I’ve included one highly recommended PDF (which has a
print-on-demand option if you prefer). Most games fall under the
category of board games, though a few focus on dice, some rely on
cards, and two are roleplaying games. This by no means represents a
comprehensive list, but we’ve played them all in our
house at some point, occasionally with kids.
Age of War, $12.95: Notable German game designer
Reiner Knizia created this push-your-luck, dice-rolling game with a
feudal Japanese theme. Players attempt to match die results with
“battle lines” on castle cards to claim them for their warlord.
Conquering a set of castles belonging to one clan not only provides a
higher score but prevents others from capturing a castle in one’s
control. The graphic design behind the two-page rules, castle cards,
and custom dice all evoke feudal Japanese elements.
Hey, That’s My Fish!,
$12.95:
Don’t let this game’s simple premise fool you. Players move their
three penguin figures across an ice field of hex pieces to land on
ice floes with one, two, or three fish; but they always remove the
hex on which they begin their move, causing the ice field to develop
holes, fissures, and huge gaps as the game progresses. Players who
aggressively pursue a strategy to amass the most fish soon realize
the game includes area-control themes
as players strive to cut each other off from choice ice floes and
isolate individual penguins.
Less,
$17: Touted as “like chess but less,” this game offers
a challenging two-player abstract strategy game in a small package.
The board consists of nine coaster-sized tiles that form a field with
square spaces and occasional thick walls. Players set their four
wooden pieces in opposite corners and attempt to move them across the
field to occupy their opponent’s starting position. Each turn a
player gets three moves: moving a piece one space orthogonally or
jumping a friendly or opponent piece costs one move; jumping over a
wall costs two; and jumping over a double wall costs three. Players
re-arrange the board randomly after each game, offering more than
100,000 configurations. The game is only available online, but even
with the $5 shipping fee it still comes to less than $25.
Visit the game's website to read the rules, look at the different coaster designs for the
back of the board tiles, and download a print-and-play version of the
game to try before you buy.
The Lord of the Rings: Journey to Mordor, $12.95:
This push-your-luck, dice-rolling game incorporates elements from the
popular
Lord of the Rings franchise. Players take turns
rolling dice, keeping beneficial results and trying to mitigate
results representing Sauron’s forces as they chart the Hobbits’
and Nazgul’s progress toward Mordor on paper map sheets (included
in a pad, but easily reproduced and laminated for repeated personal
use). Some player interaction occurs when Nazgul results appear;
sometimes they affect the active player, other times they hinder
other players based on the color of the die and the Hobbit they
choose to play. The game remains ideal for Tolkien fans who otherwise
haven’t immersed themselves in adventure gaming.
Minecraft Card Game?, $12.99: I
recently featured the
Minecaft Card Game? as a
nice crossover back
from digital to analog gaming. Both
the theme and gameplay reflect key elements from the electronic
experience, primarily collecting elements and constructing items
based on “recipes” found on cards. Player competition centers on
collecting specific elements and crafting particular items before
anyone else takes them, and occasionally causing other players to
lose actions. The price and theme help make this game a good bet for
fans of the digital game; I’ve seen copies
available in Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble stores, so it’s
also good for last-minute gifts.
I’ve saved my
recommendations for roleplaying game gifts for last; both ignore some
of my parameters above, the first coming in above the $25 price tag,
the second available as a PDF (but also print-on-demand if you
prefer).
Pathfinder Beginner Box, $34.99: I’ve featured the Pathfinder Beginner Box before; it fits my criteria for an
ideal experience for beginners to immerse themselves in fantasy
roleplaying games. Yes, I’ve also recommended the fifth edition
D&D
Starter Set – it’s a more affordable option at $19.99 and
offers an entry point to perhaps the most mainstream fantasy
roleplaying game and its legions of players – but the
Pathfinder
Beginner Box does a far better job walking newcomers through
various aspects of roleplaying games with wonderfully high production
values. It’s not a gift I’d just hand to younger players (neither
is the
D&D Starter Set); it still benefits from an
gaming-savvy, enthusiastic adult guiding them. But most adults
curious about fantasy roleplaying games will appreciate the clear,
step-by-step approach to explain game concepts that ultimately draws
them into the game itself.
Hero Kids, $5.99 (PDF), $11.99 (PDF & POD): This
is the ideal product to introduce kids to roleplaying gaming, albeit
with the guidance of a somewhat knowledgeable adult. I’ve featured
this game before, once when
I admired some of its design innovations
when it first released and again when
I used it to introduce my six year-old son to roleplaying gaming.
Hero Kids uses simple dice
mechanics to simulate combat and magic, all while translating typical
hack-and-slash fantasy roleplaying game elements to kid-friendly
language and concepts. Although it does not come with a sample
adventure, one can download several free PDF scenarios online, enough
to give creative adult gamemasters inspiration to design their own
adventures. I’d also recommend the
Hero Kids Monster Compendium
(also available in PDF or print-on-demand) to provide inspiration and
guidance in expanding your own original scenarios.
Simply handing
someone a gaming gift is convenient but often isn’t enough to
inspire them to play, let alone dive into the adventure gaming hobby.
As we gather for the holidays, don’t hesitate to offer guests the
chance to play some of these games to demonstrate the rules, answer
questions, and show first-hand how much enjoyment they can offer.
Learning a game right out of the box can seem daunting, especially
for non-traditional board games. Offer to help people explore their
new gaming gifts and join them when they seek players. A game is more
than a box with high production-value pieces, boards, and dice; it’s
a centerpiece for a pleasant group experience through which we can
form positive memories and reinforce bonds of friendship.
Comments....
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your
suggestions
for holiday gifts for non-gamers?
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