December Grand Gaming Melee

Once again it’s that time of year when we put on our best gaming apparel and meet for one last Grand Gaming Melee with our old games before we open all the packages that we hope contain new games on Christmas Day. In the ancient AARGGH tradition, there will be board games, card games, dice games, tile games, and just about every other kind of game that can be played on a tabletop. Bring some of your all-time favorites, some that you play once in a while for a change of pace, or even some that have been gathering dust in the back of your closet. If none of these options appeal to you, come without games and play some that others will bring; there’s always a wide variety available. If you see a new one you want to try, there will be plenty of people eager to teach you.

It’s also the time of year when we bring our best snacks and beverages. And by best, we mean foods other than fruitcake, which has been prohibited since the Great Fruitcake Fiasco of 2015. You are encouraged in the spirit of gaming conviviality to bring something delicious to share. Cookies, crackers, and pretzels are popular options, as are sodas and juices. Some people bring doughnuts, cupcakes, or other substantial sweets; these are always appreciated and disappear quickly. Healthy snacks of vegetables and fruit are welcomed by people who like to snack on vegetables and fruit, and the people who like them are often the same people who bring them.

Official start time is 10:30am. You can come and go at any time, but your host appreciates anyone who arrives as early as 10:00am (the library’s opening time) to help with setup. Many hands make light work! Cleanup begins around 4:00pm (or whenever you decide that you can’t squeeze in one more game before the end of the event). Remember, whoever starts cleanup first gets the best choice of leftover snacks to take home!

As always, leave the room clean and tidy. Please observe these rules regarding cleanup at Beatley library:

• Please ensure that food scraps, crumbs, and bits of packaging are not strewn in the kitchen or auditorium. The library closes shortly after our event ends, so anything edible left on the floor or counters will attract vermin overnight. Night vermin are the worst!
• Please fold most of the tables and stack them under the coat rack – a few may remain where they were used – but DO NOT FOLD THE CHAIRS. Leave them out in any configuration that lets people walk around them easily. Many chairs are needed for programs the following day, so by folding them you only make more work for the organizers. On the other hand, more than a few tables left standing only impede the next day’s activities.