Lock Down 3: Beyond Thunderdrome...
With coronavirus cases spiking in the UK and hospital admissions now higher than the first peak in the pandemic, the government has imposed a third national lockdown. Many will be working from home again (if not still!) and game stores, much like our store, Meeple Games, will be closed across the country. Things once again seem uncertain, though the presence of a vaccine rollout might mean that things will go back to normal at some point in 2021.
With all this uncertainty, the pandemic can have a real strain on your mental health, increasing stress and anxiety as we worry about when it will all end and what's going to be left afterwards. For me, gaming has provided a means to mitigate that. While I can't say that I haven't been hit with some level of stress and anxiety over the last 9-10 months, playing games, working on gaming projects and discovering new ways to connect with gamers has definitely helped me. I certainly played more games throughout 2020 than I did in 2019. I finished up some languishing war games projects (some of which had been kicking around for over 10 years!). And I put out my first self published RPG project.
Not everyone is going to have time to do all that. Much of what I achieved was due to being furloughed and I spent a lot of time undertaking these projects to alleviate stress as well as boredom. But there are certainly some gaming related activities that you might enjoy that will help you get through the current lockdown. Here are some suggestions from me...
Play through your backlog
If you're an avid gamer like me, then you probably have a backlog of board games, RPGs or even video games that you've picked up over the years that perhaps haven't received the love they might deserve. Perhaps the last great game only got a few plays, so can you truly say whether it really grabbed your attention and was worth the purchase? I personally have a weighty shelf of shame (if not several shelves when it comes to RPGs!) and I plan on trying to play/read through some of it. Perhaps I'll try and determine if those purchases I made were actually worth it too - whether they "spark joy" to quote Marie Kondo. I usually have a spring clear out of games due to having a finite amount of shelf space, so this is probably the time to see what makes the cut and what doesn't.
Try something new
Now might be the time to try something new too. Perhaps there is a game you have been looking for the time to try out, or a new RPG you've been itching to play or run? Maybe you want to try your hand at painting miniatures? Treat yourself and give it a shot! You might ask whether some activities are possible given that none of us can meet up at the moment, but the wonders of modern technology mean there are a whole host of ways to continue playing games. I've been running RPG sessions on Skype, Zoom and Discord, plus there are ways to play board games online using webcams and applications like Tabletop Simulator (which seems to be on sale every five minutes at the moment).
There are also loads of sites to play games on, from Yucata.de to Board Game Arena. Even card games like Magic: The Gathering, Dragon Ball Super, YuGiOh! and Arkham Horror can be played online with the help of webcams and apps like SpellTable, Dueling Book and Octgn.
Plus, with social networks abound, there are plenty of ways to find players. Meeple Games has its Facebook groups and Discord server, as many other stores no doubt have. Plus sites like BoardGameGeek and RPGGeek connect gamers the world over! So, if there is a game you want to try, get out there and give it a shot!
Support your local game store!
Eventually (hopefully!) the pandemic will be over and there will come a time when you will be able to shop in your friendly local game store once more, and even better actually play some games there! However, lockdowns are not the friend of you FLGS and many out there might be struggling due to reduced (or non-existent these days!) footfall and competition with bigger online retailers and game stores. So, how do you help your local store out?
First, I'd recommend looking to see whether they have any social media groups you can take part in. These are great ways to connect with local gamers and maybe even find new friends or people to play remotely with. Often, you FLGS will advertise events in these forums, which may be free or paid in - if these concern something you enjoy, perhaps your favourite card game or a tournament for a board game you love, consider taking part. Usually the entry fees are manageable and stores often offer prizes and promos for winning or even taking part!
If you have the time, ask your store if there is anything you can you can do to help out. This might be something like running an online game for their RPG nights or promoting their weekly card game events. Even something as simple as sharing their social media posts so they get a better audience will help in a small way!
Finally, if you're looking to pick up a new game, consider your FLGS first before hopping on over to Amazon or other big online retailers. Most game stores have an online presence now as well as delivery or click and collect options, so you should be able to see their stock with a few clicks and get hold of your games relatively quickly. And, even if they don't have what you want at first, consider giving them a ring or shooting them a message - they might be able to get it in from their suppliers if you can wait a little. Yes, you might pay a little bit more for your games, but consider that the extra money you might pay is going to help keep your local store alive and able to provide you with a play space in the future. Often, though, you'll find that your FLGS is cheaper (and quite a bit so!) compared to places like Amazon, so always remember to check them out first!
That's all for now
I hope that you, your friends and family stay safe through the next UK national lockdown and that you find some element of the gaming hobby to keep you entertained and help mitigate any stress or anxiety you might find yourself under. It's important at times like these to treat yourself with love and respect. So, whatever you choose to do to get yourself through the next few months remember that you are awesome, and you have the support of your friends, family and loved ones. We'll get through this together and see each other on the other side.