Board and card games, BBQ's, movies, and any other excuse to socialise
Hi there.
My name is Mark Hodge and I host game nights every Wednesday from 7:30pm til late for friends and friends-to-be. Games are also on many weekends. There are no fees of any kind so drop me an email if you would like to come along and join in the fun :-)
Location: 71 Viscount Road, Waldronville, Dunedin, New Zealand (Map)
Contact details: Phone 03 479 8598 or 021 614 134 or email
Most of the games we play are what are colloquially known as 'German', 'Euro', or 'Designer' games. These names come from the history of designer games - the most popular have predominantly been from Germany, though this has changed slightly in recent times with more coming from the rest of Europe and the US.
If you're completely unfamiliar with designer games it may take some time before you start to understand why these games have caught on with so many players. But if you make even a minimal effort to learn about them, your time spent with friends will be the richer for it.
The Settlers of Catan is the game that introduced many English-speaking gamers to the world of designer games, and it includes many of the elements that mark the best of the genre: relatively simple rules, deep strategy, trading and negotiation between players, excellent replay value, and appealing to both experienced and casual players.
Obviously, not every designer game is going to succeed on every level -- or with every player. There are many who love the work of game designer Reiner Knizia, for example; others would be quite happy to live their lives without ever playing another Knizia game.
Most of the games we play are listed here at boardgamegeek.com if you would like to read reviews and explanations of gameplay.
For boardgamers wanting free simplified game guides, video reviews, foam insert designs, and other resources click here.
In order to ensure the night runs smoothly and everyone has fun, please consider the following house rules...
Playing games with new people can make people nervous at first. You will be coming into an established group that normally knows each other well. You will want to make a good first impression. The best advice, as cliched as it sounds, is to be yourself. Just try to enjoy the games.
Most regulars are in their 30's to 50's, but we do also occasionally have people bring along their kids, and welcome people of all ages :-)
Some players will take time deciding their moves, particularly in more complicated games, or towards the end of the game. If this annoys you, I recommend you avoid complex games later in the evening when people are more tired and this becomes more common.
Once your first meeting is out of the way you will know the group better. Different people come on different weeks so while you'll probably meet the same people the next time you come, you'll probably also meet some new faces. Make more friends - introduce yourself!
If you would like to use a computer for internet access just ask. We have a guest PC for visitors and can set up a login account for you on request. We also have wireless and most regulars have access to this on their assorted gadgets.
If you would like to be added or removed from the mailing list drop me an email. The list is used to keep in contact for weekly reminders, as well as get-togethers (BBQ's, birthdays, movie nights). We also have an email list for announcing specials on boardgames, card protector sleeves, and so on. Let me know which list(s) you would like to be on.
Currently I have 200+ boardgames in the library - all are free to play (and there are no membership fees).
Most of the games we play are listed here at boardgamegeek.com if you would like to read reviews and explanations of gameplay.
In the past when we had access to wholesale pricing I added a whole lot of games including several Ticket to Ride versions, Thurn and Taxis, Dominion, Battlestar Galactica, Pillars of the Earth, Drakon, Endeavor (designed in New Zealand!), Age of Empires III: The Age of Discovery, and the Power Grid with lots of the map expansions, the 1999 version of Acquire (much better quality than the cardboard re-release), Saint Petersburg, Guillotine, The Gates of Loyang, Carcassonne, StoneAge, Starship Catan, King of Tokyo, Airlines: Europe, Timeline, Eniment Domain: Escalation, and Five Tribes along with many others. There have also been LOTS of other games purchased by club members and these are getting plenty of table time too :-).
My buys are more selective since we no longer have access to wholesale pricing on games but I still add a reasonable number of games most years. Recent additions include a bunch of Railways of the World maps, Dune Imperium and Dune Upsiring, Tyrants of the Underdark, Ark Nova, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, Beyond the Sun, Hansa Teuronica Big Box, Underwater Cities, Taverns of Teifenthal, Abyss, Quacks of Queldinburg, Photosynthesis, Galaxy Trucker Anniversary Edition, Brass Lancachire, Azul Stained Glass of Sintra, Sagrada, Azul Summer Palace, Fantasy Realms, and many others.
If you are looking for protective sleeves for your cards, the club is the New Zealand agent for Mayday Games, Sleeve Kings, and Swan Panasia.
We currently have over 100 different sizes of card sleeves covering thousands of board games, including the most popular Euro and Trading Card Game sizes (Dominion, Magic) as well as slightly odd sizes like Settlers of Catan, Thunderstone, Dixit, 7 Wonders, Civilization, and Powergrid. We even have self-adhesive tile protectors for Carcassone. Swan Panasia and Mayday Games also supply a small range of boardgames and Mayday Games supply a range of game accessories including wooden game tokens.
For a fraction of the cost of your Euro games you can use these card sleeves to protect them from getting worn and dirty during play. Especially important if your friends eat food then play games.
See our sleeving guide for the best fit. If you have a game not listed
contact us here.
These sleeves are made from clear archival safe polypropylene. They are acid free and contain no PVC.
Pricing is dependant on how many packs you order, but to get an idea of pricing check out our TradeMe listings. If you are buying direct or in bulk pricing per pack is usually lower. Non local buyers can email for pricing.
Any income goes back into covering games for the club and running games nights :-)
If you are local and have a game or two you are interested in, we have good deals from Megazone for club members - ask about the discount code on games night :-).
I've also had a chat with Dave, the new owner at Seriously Board, and arranged for a 10% discount code (now for local group members only sorry). Contact me for details.
And, if you would like to "try before you buy", then BoardGameRentals might also be of interest. We have a club code of DGG2013 that you can use there for a 15% discount off any 2/4/6 rental or new game purchase. There is also a 30% off option for frequent buyers, email me for details.
If you use one of our links, please let me know.
Cheers,
Mark
If you have any feedback on this website, how game nights are run, or general suggestions, please email them here.