I was listening to a gaming podcast recently (But Why Vikings?, in case you’re wondering), and they spoke about how kind they have found people to be at board gaming conventions. This has absolutely been my experience. Just this past GenCon, I was feeling pretty bad on Saturday morning, and I found a somewhat out-of-the-way patch of hallway to just lie down, put my water bottle on my forehead, and rest. Two different women stopped to ask me if I was ok, if I needed them to find someone to help. And a few years ago, I was in the wildly long line to pick up my badge when my loving husband came from another event, looking for me. We’re both big dorks, and not always aware of how we come off, and he approached with his phone camera out, saying, “Hey, you’re gorgeous, can I take your picture.” Now I knew it was my husband, but no one around did, and the guy in line behind me didn’t hesitate to step almost in between us and make sure I was ok. What good people!

And these conventions are full of good people. People who trade or just give away hand-made trinkets, people who call themselves cosplay medics who carry around all kinds of tools to fix people’s clothes, people who teach games to others because they love it, people who make things for a living because it’s fun, people who give away their time because they care. It’s amazing.

It’s true that any gathering of humans will have struggles—GenCon has its share of people being bad actors on purpose or by mistake. But it seems like the world wants us to hate each other, to fear each other, when we have more in common with each other than we have different. The bad behavior is counterbalanced by kindness.

I am reminded of the quote attributed to Kurt Vonnegut: “Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies—‘God damn it, you've got to be kind.’”

Alice C., board game librarian

Play 5-Minute Marvel!

Brand new to our library, 5-Minute Marvel is a fast-paced, cooperative game where players are famous Marvel heroes working against the clock to defeat minions and big villains. There are no turns, instead players simultaneously play cards into the middle with symbols matching those on the villain cards, then quickly turn over another card and play again. It’s chaos and hilarious and such a relief when you succeed as a group! It falls into a light strategy category, and good for players 8 and up, but adults, don’t let that fool you. It’s a great time, if you like speed and stress!

Try the new SuperLyte!

It’s sports drink flavors plus vodka, but no carbonation. It’s an easy-drinking hard seltzer alternative, so if you like something like a High Noon or a Stoop Dayz, but dislike the carbonation, this is for you! Try it next time you’re in over a game of 5-Minute Marvel.