You're the best, daddy.

I'm not sure how a majority of people keep friendships going without games. Most of the people I consider friends I met over a game of some sort (the rest I met in college, but have played a game with at some point). My relationships with Bahie, Nate, Marcus, and Dave were all forged through Dungeons and Dragons. Andy and Paul I got to know with board games (and video games). Leslie and Carrie I know from college, but have played Werewolf and board games with Leslie, and board games with Carrie. Shea and I met at work and started talking about video games and now he plays Shadowrun at my place Monday nights.

Additionally, I don't know what other friends do when they hang out together, especially as one's age goes up and the pull of responsibility makes just "hanging out" a less attractive option. Once a board game hits the table, or game night rolls around, then it's active leisure, not just wasting time. We were storming a corporate front trying to save the client till 2 am; which is different than just screwing around with your buddies. I think that's why social drinking exists, and why I don't usually imbibe. It's hard to hold your shit together in a game of Settlers, say, if you're several gin and tonics down.

Now, that's not to say that I haven't used games as facilitators to drinking. Last Night on Earth has been used in such a way, but Liar's Dice has got to by my favorite. After three shots, the dice and pips and numbers swim in your mind like a school of fish and you become more bold and brazen in your bluffs, calls and accusations. Then the game comfortably and naturally dissipates when everyone has had enough. It's also alot easier to follow than spades for new players. Fucking spades. Stupid game.

So people drink, I believe, in general, forthwith, to facilitate socializing. Games do the same. It gives everyone involved something to talk about, but it's not all we talk about. We talk about work, and relationships, and what we're watching on TV. But it fills the voids and works as a jumping off point for conversation. I guess other hobbies can be used in the same way, but few are as social as gaming, which makes me wonder at the stereotype of gamers as anti-social or loners. I mean, some are and they are a sad, sad lot, but the nature of the hobby requires you to have at least a few people who can stand you for a while.