What was on the table in September?
September wasn’t a bad month for gaming, with a respectable 24 plays of 14 different games. The highlight of the month was the games afternoon we hosted. We didn’t have quite as many people as last time, but we had a nice houseful, with two tables of games running for a fair bit of the afternoon. Thanks to everyone who came, played, shared food, and took photos!
Thanks to Sam of In Any Event Photography for the photo.
The games that we played multiple times were led by traditional counter-flipping game, Tiddlywinks, and house favourite (though not played so much this year), Dobble, each with three plays a piece. We also played Array, Codenames Pictures, Magic: The Gathering, Push It, Spyfall, and Yardmaster Express twice each.
Array was a gift brought back by S on a recent trip to the USA which, unfortunately, we found unenjoyable using its intended rules (“We don’t have to review this one, do we?” asked Miss B — no, we don’t), but we gave it a second play with some alternate (speed play) rules that we made up on the spot and had a fun time. Codenames Pictures was also a gift, this time from some of our visitors at the games afternoon, and I think we actually prefer it to the original Codenames, which is great in its own right (and won this year’s prestigious Spiel des Jahres prize).
Which brings us to the running totals for the year… Well, Push It has pushed its way into the lead with 12 plays, nudging ahead of BraveRats, still on 11. In a Bind is still on 9 plays (though Miss B has played a few more times without me), alongside 6. Then there is a gap before we hit Dobble on 6 plays and a whole heap of games with 5 plays.
So we are now three quarters of the way through the year. We’ve played a fair bit less than last year, and it has been a bit patchy, but that is fine. You know that whole “training a gamer” thing? Well, I think I am finally getting trained properly. Sometimes I’ll suggest playing a game, and sometimes the idea is accepted, but increasingly we get situations when Miss B comes in and points out a game that we haven’t played for a while and fancies having a go at.
Patience is rewarded.
Training A Gamer 
“You know that whole “training a gamer” thing? Well, I think I am finally getting trained properly.” 🙂
You know that I too find myself largely lead by what my son (occasionally sons) want to play, rather than actually having to suggest something. Well, at least he is fairly forthright in what he wants to play (even if it is sometimes unrealistic given time constraints!). As you say, you have to roll with it and enjoy it for what it is – even if some of the games might not be your first family game choice.
Actually, he has a Boardgame After School Activity at school at the moment and he decided he wanted to take a game in to play (given the poor choices available). Indeed, I thought of donating a few (which we may well do), though the timescale heavily restricts the options. But in the end he chose a game that we haven’t played at home for a long time to take a long – one simple enough for him to teach – Sleeping Queens. And I think it was a good choice for the 45 minutes ASC timeslot.
(Sadly, I got the impression that the teacher taking the ASC isn’t actually greatly interested – and is just there to make sure no one goes wild – as he took no interest in the fact my son had taken a game along and was teaching it to other children.)
Sleeping Queens is definitely a bit of a gem, and B has also been known to introduce her friends to it. It’s a shame it took me so long to acquire a copy (we’d been running the blog for a couple of years by that time), but it has certainly earned its keep since then — even though it has been somewhat outgrown now.
Codenames pictures sounds epic
I think you’d like it. Have you played the original Codenames?
Yes we’ve got our own copy and I really like it
Subsequent weeks at the Boardgaming ASA have confirmed the status of Gamewright games as the game of choice in this context – Sleeping Queens was followed by Rat-a-Tat-Cat and, this week, Zeus on the Loose…. games I thought, as you say, we’d outgrown. But he is enjoying taking them into school and teaching them to other children (or at least his best friend).
I’ve played quite a few Gamewright games, but never tried Rat-a-Tat-Cat or Zeus on the Loose, despite them being two of the titles that show up in local toy shops. Maybe I never will now…