Are these becoming essential gaming accessories?
I'm sure there are many more important questions in life that require an answer, or warrant the attention of inquiring minds way more than 'what is a beer and pretzels game?' However, the puzzle of what actually makes a game a so called 'beer and pretzels game' has started to bug the hell out of me recently. Because of late I'm being told every game out there is pretty much a sodding 'beer and pretzels game', by design it's how they're meant to be played. The implication of which is quite startling... You're all alcoholics!!!
So why has this phrase started to bug me? Well you see it never used to bug me at all, it actually wormed its way into usage in my gaming circle probably about 15 years ago now. It was brought in by an American acquaintance. This friend assures me the phrase comes from the U S of A and originated from the time honoured tradition of grown men sitting in front of TVs together getting drunk and eating snack food, while screaming at whatever sporting event happened to be on. Or playing poker! I'm going to say I buy this explanation of the phrase mostly because the phrase was used pretty much exclusively by American's around the time. However, Wikipedia seems to think its something else entirely here have a look at their beer and pretzels games page. As we all know Wikipedia is never wrong.
I took the phrase to mean a game played with friends that wasn't taken seriously, a fun night if you will. Not necessarily that's all a game was designed for, but that you could play any game for fun in this way if you liked. Now in our gaming group that normally meant board games where if we'd failed something we were forced to take a shot of some good foresaken spirit as 'punishment'. A time honoured tradition in these parts once again introduced by my American friend. God I love American culture. We did also though partake of some 'beer and pretzel' wargaming. Now this meant playing a wargame in a silly way.
Read more �
0 comments:
Post a Comment