Without realising it I’d become a Sid Sackson fan.

I’d enjoyed his push your luck game Can’t Stop.

But then recently I bought another game of his Acquire after finding out about it via my friend Gavin. Well Gavin was after a copy. I’d never heard of it and looked into it. Which made me think “oh that sounds interesting, I’d like to play that too”. So not long after the 60th anniversary edition with its bling was on its way to me.

At the same time I ordered a copy of Sid Sacksons book A Gamut of Games.

The 2011 printing of A Gamut of Games has three different prefaces from the earlier editions.

In the included preface for the Dover edition Sid Sackson says the following:

“1982 marked the end of what I consider a golden age of serious games.”

Which for me got me thinking has gaming been going down hill ever since?

Definitely when Sackson made that statement in 1982, he pointed out earlier in the same paragraph, video games were a thing. In the UK we were in the early days of the birth of the home computer boom. If memory doesn’t fail me the US was on the brink of the video game crash.

It was not hard to see where he was coming from. Video games pushing out board games for the attention of kids. Everyone and their dog trying to jump on the bandwagon. The writing was on the wall.

Sid Sackson passed away in 2002.

Catan aka Settlers of Catan was first published in 1995. Along with the likes of Carcassonne (2000), Ticket to Ride (2004) and many others to numerous to mention. A modern board game renaissance was born.

I can’t say Sid Sackson played or was aware of these games. I have no way to know. I do know he was not only a board game designer but also a collector. I have no way to know what he thought of those games that were out during his life time. But I’d be surprised if he had not at least heard of them.

Definitely since 2010 we have seen as some have called it a golden age of gaming, and numerous bubbles. Plus the rise of crowdfunding.

Each year somehow hundreds of new games get released. There is no way you can play them all, or buy them all.

Board gaming is more popular than ever. We have board gaming cafes, clubs, dedicated shops. Then add on the whole internet and what that brings to the coverage of board games.

Would Sackson think we are in a new golden age or renaissance?

Time heals apparently. But five years on and it’s still raw.

I miss Nan so much. I miss her love and wisdom.

I spent this mornings walk telling Dolly all about Nan. Diogo was on his first pick up and train walk with Heidi the dog trainer.

I know Nan would love the monster squad, especially Dolly. Everyone loves Dolly!

Miss you Nan.

This anniversary always seems to sneak up on me.

As I walked Dolly and Diego this morning instead of my usual thoughts I spent the time telling them about Dad.

Even now decades since his passing his words of “wisdom” live on and come to mind regularly. Such as “shit happens” or “size means nothing when they are on the ground”.

And despite what Stone Cold Steve Austin thinks Dad was and still is the toughest SOB I’ve ever known.

Luckily I still have slightly more hair than he had.

“How I wish, how I wish you were here
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground, what have we found?
The same old fears, wish you were here” Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd

Apparently today is World Suicide Prevention Day. I never knew that.
It’s also very appropriate considering the anniversary from my life it shares the day with.
On this day in 1988 my Dad took his own life.
If life seems too dark and you are struggling please speak to someone, reach out. You are not alone. You are important.
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Last Wednesday Stonemaier Games launched two new games and an expansion on their website.

The games went live whilst I was at a family meal called the cousins meal. This was the first one I’d been invited to.

So obviously come the magic launch time I was on my phone and logged into the EU webstore.

I selected 3 copies of Duel of Meloch, 3 copies or so I thought of Wingspan Pocket, a copy of the Original Story expansion Heroes and Villians, a set of the metal mechs for Duel, and a plastic airship.

About forty minutes later in my car I checked my email and discovered in the order confirmation email I had only put 2 copies of Wingspan Pocket. I’d also forgotten to order a copy of the Viticulture Bordeaux expansion.

So I quickly went back on line and ordered them. Paying postage this time.

I should not it’s always worth buying at launch from Stonemaier because for the initial 5 days of sale it is discounted, and then discounted again if you are a champion.

I thought this will be interesting which order will arrive first? Will it be at the same time?

Well I got the answer Friday afternoon.

Spiral Galaxy had shipped the single Wingspan Pocket and Bordeaux expansion. Not a whiff of my “big” order.

As expected the “small” order turned up this morning. Which is great because I’ll be able to show Wingspan Pocket at The Angle this evening.

But I can’t help feeling a tad disappointed that the big order wasn’t sent at the same time.

I know Jamey says when you place your order makes no difference to when it gets sent. I think this kind of proves it.

But I’m thinking maybe the size of the order does. Do small orders get sent first by Spiral Galaxy?

Being a Stonemaier Champion is meant to have an impact. Champion orders are meant to ship first. I’d love to know how Stonemaier checks that the third party distributors are doing this.

So that was my unintentional little experiment with Stonemaier shipping. I just got to wait for the “big” order now.