Its been quite a while since I put finger to keyboard to write up an article. I’m not arrogant enough to think that people have been waiting for an update or anything; but I feel obligated to put something out.
Sadly, I’ve been just getting reamed by life and trying to find time to game has been getting more and more difficult as the weeks go by. Just over two years ago I was clocking in around 4 games of 40k a week on average. The last month I got in one game and one game on Vassal. The biggest issue has been my move down to Puyallup, a suburb more of Tacoma than of Seattle. I still maintain my job in Woodinville, and that turns into a 105 mile round trip commute every day (through some of the worst parts of Seattle metro area traffic as well) to the tune of 3 hours a day commuting on average. While this has gotten me tapped into the really awesome 40k podcast community (I HIGHLY recommend the 11th Company and The Overlords) and listening to other podcasts I enjoy (the Sports Guy and Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History), its still drudgery. Essentially, by the time I get home, I’m wiped out and ready to just eat dinner, watch TV, and go to bed. In addition, I’m waaaay far away from my gaming group’s latest store, and, even though I can swing by after work for our usual Friday night gaming, I find the ride home on Friday to be perilous as I’ve fallen asleep behind the wheel a couple of times.
Essentially, my weekday gaming opportunities are done and gone (as well as my weekly RPG group that has met together for 8 years…); leaving me with only the weekend as an opportunity to get a game in. Well, it just so happens that that is the only real time I get with my wonderful and entertaining son, Ezra. Check him out:
How could I say no to that little guy? In addition, the weekends are the time that my wonderful, supporting, and awesome (and hot) wife needs time to get out of the house and interact with HER friends. While she has been over and beyond supportive of my gaming habits, and actively encourages me to get out and game; I can’t always drain her reserves of energy forever (and she gets really tapped when I have big tournament weekends where I travel and she has to watch Ezra for 12 straight days with no respite).
Essentially, I’m in a kind of bind because of time and other commitments that making time for 40k is just really, really hard.
What is my solution? I’m not really interested in giving up my gaming; I’m too invested in it and I find it super enjoying. Vassal is nice, but I find it takes way longer to play than a real game, and syncing up times is kind of tough.
In my head, I’m thinking of building up some terrain and tables at my house and putting on an RTT style event each month at my house. Make the buy-in food for the grill and the prize could be simply bragging rights. Maybe make a blog for the event?
Either that or tap into more of the local RTT scene; which I’ve eschewed for bigger tourneys and game nights for a while now (since the competitive level at Fire and Sword was always of tournament caliber).
Anyway, thoughts are rolling around in my head, and I’m trying to do something to get out of these 40k doldrums and muster up the time and energy to get some games in.
I recently went to the first 8th edition Fantasy TSHFT. Hopefully that will recharge some of my batteries and get my creative juices flowing.
Also, I’m thinking I’d like to try and set up, through BoK, a Vassal game night where I can regularly get a game in online on Fridays. That might sate my thirst for gaming.
Anyway, I know this isn’t a new story, but I thought I’d share.
TastyTaste here who would be up for some Vassal Integration into Blood of Kittens? As well any supportive advice for our intrepid Fluger?