Not your grandparents' games: Erie Board Gamers forge tabletop community, competition
In an era when many people turn to online gaming platforms like Steam for their entertainment, a group in Erie finds fun in old-school tabletop games.
For at least 15 years, the Erie Board Games group has gathered at various locations, from Wegman's and Giant Eagle, to the Erie Movie House and now Gateway Games, 642 W. 26th St.
People of all ages meet Wednesdays from 6 to 11 p.m. and for a monthly 12-hour gaming event at Game Corps, 2920 Buffalo Road.
While interest in playing tabletop games has ebbed and flowed, Erie Board Games has remained a constant.
"This group is mobile, so if this place closes shop tomorrow, we’ll find a new home," said Clark Pease, organizer of Erie Board Games.
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As popular as classic games such as "Clue," "Sorry!" and "The Game of Life" remain, they're not behind the growing number of people turning to board games.
Games have become more strategic and story-driven, offering players more in-depth experiences. In 2017, board game revenue worldwide was about $1.16 billion, according to market research by Statista. By 2027, revenue is expected to reach $4.91 billion.
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"Now they’re thematic," Pease, 41, said. "You can play games about civilizations, about being a scientist, making potions, go on quests — there’s all types of different themes. There’s all kinds of new mechanics in board games that didn’t exist before that make them a lot of fun."
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At the group's Jan. 25 gathering, Pease brought "Age of Civilization," which he described as an engine-building game, a genre of board game where players build up a system that generates resources, money or victory points.
It was a game Carol Toczylowski, 52, had never played, but she said playing new games every week is the norm for her.
"I like trying new ones all the time," she said. "I tend to prefer the longer games. I like that experience of building something up over time, but some people like things that are more quick and dirty, and that’s fine. Some days I want light, fun stuff and there’s a lot of that, too."
For nearly 30 years, Toczylowski has been collecting and playing tabletop games. In 2018, she discovered Erie Board Games.
"I had been out of the hobby for a while and I saw Clark’s pictures (of games on Facebook) and thought, 'Oh, those look familiar, it’s like the stuff I used to do,' so it was nice to meet new people and get back into it," she said.
Toczylowski credits online platforms for her re-introduction to all things board game-related.
"A lot of us have accounts on boardgamegeek.com where we post our collections for people to check, you can track your whole collection and search for local gamers in your area, game conventions, tournaments, anything you can think of," she said.
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BoardGameGeek is an online forum that includes reviews, images and videos for almost 126,000 different tabletop games.
"It’s like any hobby and I think the internet has helped unite people and promote things like this," Toczylowski said.
Forging friendships one move at a time
As Pease and Toczylowski made their way through "Age of Civilization," others in room played games like "House of Danger," "Roll for the Galaxy" and "The Tea Dragon Society Card Game."
Regulars Maggie Forsell-VanHorn and Karen Biebel opted for the tactical game "Uk'otoa."
Uk'otoa is part of Biebel's collection of nearly 65 games, which occupies a large built-in structure in her home. Biebel, 41, started attending the weekly game nights in October and makes it out nearly every Wednesday.
"I went to the dentist before this and was like, 'You guys need to finish up, I got game night,' " she said.
Through laughter and sabotage, Biebel and Forsell-VanHorn played with others who have become close friends.
"About a month or so ago I was thinking I have more friends now than I’ve ever had in my life, and a lot of them I met here," Forsell-VanHorn, 60, said. "I spend a lot of time with them, more than I do my family."
The environment of Erie Board Games' weekly get-togethers is why Toczylowski and many others have stuck around.
"When I first came out I had major anxiety issues. I was practically having a panic attack when I walked in," Toczylowski said. "But everybody was patient with me and taught me new rules. This group is really welcoming."
To learn more about Erie Board Games, visit facebook.com/ErieBoardGames.
Baylee DeMuth can be reached at 814-450-3425 or bdemuth@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @BayleeDeMuth.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Board Games provides space for community, friendly competition
