Board games making a comeback

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DOWN

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19 Reach a race of Man. A fashionable expression (6)

21 Airborne hunter base sounds weird (5)

22 Lady has nothing to go on foot (4)

Board games are making a comeback in Golden Bay, with sessions happening fortnightly at Ōnekakā Hall and GB Community Centre. The GB Weekly visited the session held at Onekakā Hall last Saturday.

Two tables of players paused their focus on the board games to give welcome, while a fire added to the already warm atmosphere. The youngest player, seven-year-old Felix Toynbee, was enjoying playing a game called “Chupacabra”.

“I’ve been here before,” he said.

Whereas for Rita Scholten and Vari Petterson, this was their first time. Rita was enjoying the challenge of playing a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game. Vari was delighted to have met up with other D&D enthusiasts.

Organisers Rebecca Rae-Hodgson and Karen Dransfield connected through a Facebook post that Karen had published, inviting the community to play Dungeons & Dragons.

“I made contact and we decided to set up an event,” said Rebecca.

They swung into action, advertising viaThe GB Weekly, a flyer drop, and a “Board Gaming in Golden Bay” Facebook group. Between the pair, they have a huge amount of all kinds of board games – except Monopoly. The group all agree Monopoly is not allowed.

Karen used to work at a gaming store in Auckland, and upon her return to Golden Bay she realised the first thing she needed to do was find other people who enjoyed playing.

“It’s very hard to meet people if you don’t play sports, or drink,” she said. “It’s a fun social way of meeting people…[and] a really cool way of keeping your brain active.”

All ages are welcome. A koha is asked, to help cover costs of hall hire, advertising, and refreshments.

“And it doesn’t matter if people haven’t played board games before,” said Rebecca.

Board Gaming in Golden Bay: First Saturday of the month, 12pm-5pm, Ōnekakā Hall. Third Monday of the month, 5.30pm10pm, GB Community Centre. Koha.