72 Days Till GaryCon! So it's 2013.

I stopped making New Year's Resolutions a while back when I realized that anything that was important to do was worth not putting off until January 1st. But the start of a new year does provide some impetus to start up new things and make changes that we really need to make.

Now, most of my 'resolutions' revolve around non-gaming stuff. I need to lose 50 pounds. I need to study for the PE Exam. I need to save money. I need a girlfriend. You get the idea. But since this is a gaming blog, I should probably get a few gaming resolutions set as well.

So here goes.

I will find myself a regular gaming group.

I will introduce someone to tabletop gaming that hasn't done it before.

I will stay at GaryCon until it closes.

I will make sure to hang out with people at GaryCon.

I will try to attend another con this year.

I will try a new game I haven't played before.

I will try an old game I haven't played before.

I will get a decent bookshelf to carry all my gaming stuff (the one I bought at Target is falling apart under the weight of all my books.)

I will find a Friendly Local Game Store.

And finally, I will try to keep up with the rest of the online gaming community even after this 100 day challenge ends. Lord knows I have enough people on my Google+ account I should be connecting with.

78 Days Till GaryCon!: Post-Christmas Day Gaming Swag.

I hope everyone's holiday went well. While I didn't ask for any gaming materials for Christmas, being in the Chicago area for the holidays means being able to hit one of the best gaming stores out there. I've mentioned Games Plus before when I first started this blog. Now that I live in upstate New York, I only get to visit it twice a year, during Christmas and GaryCon. So after spending the annual Boxing Day family get-together with my Dad and stepmother at Olive Garden, I headed to Mount Prospect to pick up some gaming gear.

The first order of business was to get 8 d3s for HackMaster. I chose the standard d6 labeled 1-3 twice as opposed to the "three-sided" die since they are easier to acquire and read in my opinion. These are pretty popular among HackMaster players like myself. Particularly among those that favor battle axes, which do 4d3p damage. I could have used a lot of these at last year's GaryCon, so I decided to stock up prior to GaryCon V. I also grabbed the latest two issues of Knights of the Dinner Table while I was at it.

In non-gamer swag I managed to get nine movies including Blade Runner and Layer Cake, both of which get the old gears turning when coming up with adventure ideas. Hopefully I'll be able to watch a few of them when I get home.

Speaking of which, Friday is going to be a travel day for me. Since this may impede blogging, I'll be posting Part Two of Memories of GaryCon II tomorrow.

F is for Friendly Local Game Store(s)

For the gamer, the game store is more than just a shop. It also serves as meeting place, rumor mill and communications hub. Though the internet has made it possible to acquire gaming products more easily, the game store provides the social atmosphere that is necessary for tabletop role-playing.

Now, no two stores are alike. Some stores simply provide a place to purchase games, and that is it. Nothing is wrong with this business model. But, it is simply a business and nothing more. Some game stores are the stuff of gamer nightmares: poor product selection, employees with next to no product knowledge, and an atmosphere that says, "get your shit and get out!" These stores drive away both new and veteran players alike, which hurts the hobby. But then there is the Friendly Local Game Store, or FLGS as we gamers like to say. These stores go out of their way to provide a wide range of product, an inviting environment, and a place for gamers to meet and play. Today, I'm going to talk about two such stores.

Games Plus in Mount Prospect, Illinois is one of the best game stores, if not the best in the Chicagoland area. Seriously, I have heard stories of gamers coming through Chicago just to visit this little store in the suburbs. It is worth the trip. Games Plus has a wide selection of current and out-of-print games; role-playing games, boardgames and tactical simulations. Their walls are covered with miniatures for all genres. And best of all, they have a large game room for groups to play in. The store is also well-lit, clean and the staff are knowledgeable and personable. In addition to all that they offer a program to their regulars where, for every $100 spent in a six-month period, they give a $10 discount on purchases of new product. Games Plus is also the host for events such as ENWorld's GameDay. Overall, they provide great selection, great staff, and a great place to call your store.

The second store I have to mention is my current FLGS, Griffon Bookstore in South Bend, Indiana. The Griffon is a bit smaller than Games Plus, but in turn, it provides more than just games. As it's name suggests, it is also a seller of books. And by books, I am talking everything from science-fiction to military history to philosophy. Normally, a game store that sells items other than games would do so to their detriment. But by keeping their stock in the realm of things gamers are normally interested, they manage to keep things from veering away from gaming. On an interesting side note, when my father and stepmother came to visit me this past Februrary, we stopped by Griffon just to show them where I spent my Saturdays. Despite neither one having an interest in gaming, they walked out having bought around $20 of books and cards, as well as a better understanding of my favorite hobby. I can't think of a better endorsement.

Games Plus is located at 101 West Prospect Avenue in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The Griffon is at 121 West Colfax Avenue in downtown South Bend, Indiana. If you are in the area for either one, it's worth taking the time to check them out.