More than just a Store

For many hobbyists the inclusion of your friends is more dream than reality. And this one is not unique in that regard, however it is often a kin to team sports or graded material that have an inherent need of more than one person. It is always unfortunate when a gamer can't get the group together and a game on the table.

For me, the answer came in January and I began solo gaming. It was fun and refreshingly addicting. So much that I stopped going to competitive Magic tcg. No hassles choosing a game or distracted players wondering what they missed.

I figured I was odd, yet lucky to have found these redditors who showed me the way :) So in those months my flgs noticed that I wasn't at Magic twice a week anymore and that I was still there too often. Usually I pop by there on my commute from work and stopped in to pick up a game I knew they had and had risen to the top in my research. Shortly afterwards my conversations with the staff started to grow. They were always a top notch team but it began to really show.

See I hadn't realised I was safe there. The days of Magic TCG started very nervously. I'd grown up loving games and fantasy and such but I had this idea that Magic was strange and I was always intimidated for the first few weeks. Those staff members often assisted me and before solo games took my life I placed 3rd three to five times a month. I got very comfortable in that store or at least I thought so. When I say I realised I'm safe there it comes from remembering how easily I told them what I was trying. Effortless and natural.

Today I stopped in to with a WSIG mindset. Same old crew asked me by name what I was looking for. Told me all the ways I could get a self published game except through them, and helped me parse through options for other solo games. There isn't a way for me to show my gratitude enough, the greatest part of life is relation and I value the people there. Without them I'd still have my games and I might enjoy them too but I wouldn't have someone who actually wants to know what I like about Robinson Crusoe or how Mistfall flows.

I'd love to hear from the community, having been another great facilitator. Have you been revitalised by games? How do you purchase, online or in store? Do you have any realisations about your flgs?