Patience, babe!
July 2005, the beginnings of the gaming industry in Poland. My friends from Galakta Games release „The Lord of the Rings: Confrontation” in the budding Polish market. Words cannot express how excited I am. Well, let me try – I’m so excited that I’m going nuts. I’m so excited that I’m traveling to Krakow to get a copy. I bring it home. I read the rulebook, set up the game. I’m on fire with enthusiasm like Stannis’ fleet. I explain the rules to my wife, we play, Frodo rushes into Mordor, I win, it’s wonderful.
Only one being in the world can bring a person down to earth with a single word. That being in question is the wife. She can do that. „Boring,” says Merry. One word. I put the game back into the box. I place it on the shelf. Stannis dies.
But I’m a patient man. Five years later, in 2010, my son turns 8. The box says 8+, so I take it off the shelf, wipe off a centimeter-thick layer of dust. I read the rulebook again, set up the game. Once again, I’m on fire with enthusiasm like Stannis’ fleet. I explain the rules to my son, we play, Frodo rushes into Mordor, I win, it’s wonderful.
I see the expression on his face, I see that look, and I can already feel that I’m about to lose it. „Boring,” the little rascal says, and I wonder if he took some training from Merry on how to drive me crazy.
I give him a week-long computer ban, I tell him to vacuum the entire apartment, take out the trash, and clean his room. I put the game back into the box. I place it on the shelf. Stannis dies, dies for the second time.
But I’m a patient man. Thirteen years later, in August 2023, my fifteen-year-old daughter gets hooked on The Lord of the Rings. I see an opportunity. I take „Confrontation” off the shelf, wipe off a five-centimeter-thick layer of dust. I read the rulebook again, set up the game on the table. Once again, I’m fired up with enthusiasm. I explain the rules to my daughter, we play, Frodo rushes into Mordor, I win, it’s wonderful.
„I like it,” she says.
I’ve been waiting for those words for 18 years. It was freakin’ worth it.
Patience, baby!
I strongly believe that good board game is the one that tells a good story. You play it and suddenly you are sucked into it, you feel chills on the skin. Emotions grow. In a moment you defend castle. You hear roar of warriors. You smell boiling oil. You are into it.
That's how I design my games. I always want to tell a good story. I want players to be into it. As deep as possible.
Maybe she didn’t want to vacuum the apartment, take out the trash, and clean her room?