Inspiring Citations

 “Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.”

— Franz Kafka

I love reading books and even internet articles that reference their sources. Most of the non-fiction I read includes such handy research tools as foot- or endnotes and bibliographies. Many authors rely on these to document the information they used for their books. Internet writers use them to allow readers to cross-reference terms, concepts, and prior work beyond simply citing sources; a hyperlink can enable instant access to relevant material that might shed additional light on the topic and expose readers to new concepts they might wish to pursue on their own. Writers — even game designers — should include references not simply to substantiate their work but provide readers with inspiration. And readers — and game players — should seek them out to enhance and expand their own experiences.

Watch, Read, Play

 “I’m always learning new techniques and improving beyond my own knowledge because there is always something new to learn and new horizons to discover.”

— Jose Andres

I’m often looking for ways to engage people in learning through games. I believe games can provide experiences to expand our horizons and expose us to new or different perspectives; to better inform our lives, whether it’s simply spending time interacting with others or examining a more profound topic through play (and everything in between). But it’s sometimes a challenge to tempt people to play games at all, let alone entice them to try new ones, especially given our 21st century’s reliance on — and often obsession with — electronic devices and the diversions they offer. So many game experiences connect with other media, notably films/television and books (in all their varieties). Each of these forms varies in our engagement: our commitment of time, attention, and imagination. I think this trifecta of watching media, reading books, and playing games, all on a related topic, can help us immerse ourselves in something new, learn about it, and broaden our understanding through these different experiences.

The Ever-Growing Painting Pile

 “My failures have been errors in judgment, not of intent.”

— Ulysses S. Grant

At the beginning of this summer, as I evaluated my current gaming activities and future purchases, I made a resolution not to purchase any gaming miniatures that required painting. I have a long list of minis to paint (grognards often call it “The Pile of Shame”), some from ages ago, some more recently acquired. So I thought I’d try making a concerted effort to avoid purchasing anything I needed to paint, along with an effort to paint more regularly. Oh, I managed for a bit. I bought some old pre-painted plastic Lord of the Rings tradeable miniatures to rebase and use for Skirmish Kids playtesting and photos. But then I ran into an occasional and irresistible dilemma: the purchase of opportunity...those must-have items you might not find again or might forget about later. And after that, well, my resolve quickly faded.

Support Indie Bookstores

“The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.”

— Somerset Maugham 

After my recent missive on summer reading recommendations I came to realize I’ve been short-changing independent bookstores I usually link book references to Amazon, just as an unthinking default, because the Internet Age has programmed us to do that. As with most conditioning, it takes an awareness of why we do certain things and then a conscious effort to undo that thinking and adapt different behavior. Independent bookstores have always struggled against big-box retailers like Barnes & Noble and other chains; the prominence of online conglomerates that can well afford to offer discounts and free shipping further endangers them. Although not everyone can afford to pay a little more to support their book-buying habits through independent bookstores, every little bit helps. We can wean ourselves off ordering books on Amazon to divert some of the money we’d spend anyway to support local, community merchants who appreciate our love for reading.

Signs of Games Past

 “Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.”

— William Butler Yeats

I have two stand-up, flip page easel folios I use when running game events. They fold up flat, easily fold out into a standalone display, and inform attendees what game I’m hosting (and some other details, like rules summaries or historical context). I offered to loan them to my wife for a conference she was attending. So I had to remove all the letter-sized signs I’d slipped into the inserts; since I just keep adding signs and never really cleared it out, it reminded me of all the various games I’ve run over the past 10 years at regional game conventions and local game days.