Mario and Link might have to start looking for new players.
In the age of social media and digital entertainment, students are choosing to ditch their screens and have some old-fashioned fun playing board games.
Dietrich Geisler, a freshman in chemistry and computer science, started the Board Game Club because he loves the intellectual thrill of playing.
Geisler has always loved board games. He owns an impressive collection that expands far beyond the well-known favorites such as “Monopoly” and “Risk” to lesser-known games such as “7 Wonders,” “Dominion,” “Pandemic” and, Geisler’s favorite, “Arkham Horror.”
“I love being able to analyze and calculate ideas while simultaneously being able to interact with people and have a good time,” he said.
Geisler brought his collection and passion for games with him when he moved onto campus last semester.
“I wanted to find people who were into board games so we could get together and play, because board games are awesome,” he said.
He soon connected with other board game fans. One was Jarem Kilby, a freshman in biology. He too is a long-time board gamer. When he met Geisler in the Peterson Heritage Center cafeteria, their common interest naturally blossomed into an idea for a club.
Evan Hurlow, a freshman in biology, is another game fan. Through conversations with Kilby and Geisler, he learned about the club and decided to join in. Hurlow said the games move very fast, but for him the speed adds to the thrill. He recommends the club to anyone who is willing to learn the game rules and have fun with others.
Geisler currently acts as club chairman, organizing and running meetings. He combines the dexterity of a Vegas blackjack dealer with the clarity of an instructor as he simultaneously shuffles and deals while summarizing the rules of the night’s first game, “Citadel,” to new players in simple terms.
Hurlow describes the energetic atmosphere of the club as “boisterous nerds yelling at each other and playing lots of fun games.”
The club plays fast-paced games of strategy, understanding that students often do not have a lot of time to take out of their busy schedules. Geisler refuses to play “Monopoly” and “Risk.”
“The amount of time commitment that you have to put makes them not worth it, in my opinion,” he said.
Robert Henderson, a freshman in finance, came to play for his first time Friday night. He has played board games casually before, “but not so intensely like this.”
Kilby admitted that while he has invited his friends to come and play, only a few have accepted the invitation.
The club is open to anyone who would like to come, although Geisler tends to limit it to on-campus students because of the late meeting times.
“It’s still going to be a casual club. I just hope that we can keep playing board games and keep having fun,” Geisler said.
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