MIB North Extras: Director's Cut: Road Trip?

Director's Cut - Road Trip?

One of my side gigs is announcer for the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band. The UT Rockets have developed a reputation as giant-killers over the past few years or so, and as two victories have proven this year (wins over #9 Pittsburgh and #23 Northern Illinois), our tradition has continued. In fact, the football team has amassed an impressive home-field mystique (and record) for the Glass Bowl. Opponents would much rather host us than play us at home.

The thing is, we have lost a couple of games this year, and a couple here and there each year -- they're just not home games. "Home field advantage" is very real, whether it is because of fans, facilities, or some intangible. As a fan, you can attend a game at the Glass Bowl confident that the Rockets are going to have a fighting chance, no matter who the opponent.

Do you rely on home field advantage for your gaming?

Most people have a home group -- a group of players that know each other, play well with each other, and are familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses. Every game goes down to the wire; each player knows that they can beat the others sitting around the table with them. A home group provides a guaranteed solid and enjoyable experience.

But how often do you sit down at a table full of strangers? When is the last time you sat at a game with people that you knew nothing about, couldn't predict their play style, and found yourself only able to rely on your game skills to pull you through? When is the last time you challenged yourself by trying a game that you did not know how to play?

One of the things I enjoy doing at large conventions like Origins or Gencon is to take a half-day and get as many demos from as many companies as possible, even if I can tell at a glance that I will not enjoy the game. Usually I am right, but forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone is the only way that I may find other, new interests and skills to explore and enjoy.

Too often, groups fall into ruts, and the longer you're in one, the deeper it gets. Groups who play the same game with each other, over and over again, may develop terrific techniques to win within their group, but often those rote skills don't translate into wins against opponents who have tested their playing skills against a wide variety of opponents. Conventions, tournaments, game demonstrations, and public game play are all ways to challenge your approach to games and gaming. The more you play, and the more people that you play with, the better you'll get at games in general -- especially when you have home field advantage.

Alex Yeager
AlexYeager@yahoo.com
SJ Games North US MIB RD/Cheapass Games Demo Monkey