Forget your friendly local game store I've got a friendly local gamer bar!
I've been sitting on this for a bit because I wanted to see how it developed and find out a little bit more about it, but there is a new establishment opening in my area called the AFK Tavern.
AFK is a place by gamers for gamers, providing friendly social hub where geeks of all kinds can gather, drink, eat, and play games. The owners have come in and completely set the place up for modern gamers, installing extra outlets for laptop plug ins at the tables, in-house super fast wireless Internet access, as well as tables to accommodate friendly card games all the way up to mega D&D groups or tabletop wargames. In addition to a tasty sounding gamer-themed menu they also have in-house terrain for gaming tables, event scheduling and even a DM policy that allows the DM to order off the Happy Hour menu all day.
To me, this is just a great idea and I hope it succeeds. My gaming group is planning on going there tomorrow for opening night to show our support and if it is any good I see no reason we can't make it at least a semi-regular place to play and hang out.
Beyond my own personal excitement over this place, what I feel is even more important about it is that AFK will provide a much needed social hub for gamers in the area that has been lost by the slow death and near extinction of the FLGS. Sure it won't be open to the younger gamers, but I really think it is hardest for adult gamers to network nowadays. We don't have high schools and as much social mingling as our younger counterparts and a place to go where you won't be looked at funny for wearing a Beholder Hat or steampunk costume might be kind of nice.
More on this after I have a chance to go. This was posted from work and so I didn't have a chance to put in adequate links, but Google is your friend.
Stay tuned folks,
-Eli
Posts
This is a great idea. Please give us an update on how your visit goes!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this sounds really cool.
ReplyDeleteDitto the above, sounds like a great idea. look forward to hearing more about it.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely post more about it. We have some really enterprising gamer folk in the area, so I know the skill and talent are around to make this work. I just hope that now that they've built it, people will come.
ReplyDelete-Eli
brilliant idea, I hope it prospers
ReplyDeleteI hope they do well! I could see a nice LARP ran there too.
ReplyDeleteJust so long as the AFK doesn't get a TPK! ;)
ReplyDeleteJay, even if AFK gets a TPK so long as everyone isn't DOA they can get FUBAR after they put their EXP toward LVL in another CHA.
ReplyDeleteSounds bloody good.
ReplyDeleteThere was a place up in episode #9's guest host Pad Prik's hometown called Thunderdome. The place was awesome, great food with a full service menu, not just bar food. Huge area for PC and console gamers, at least a dozen beers on tap, check out cabinet with boardgames...the works. I hope your place is every bit as cool as that place was...
ReplyDeleteso jealous. But, I bet the beer's cheaper at my house.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fabulous idea ! I hope for the success and look forward to some reviews and pictures of this establishment
ReplyDeleteThis really does sound like one of those excellent opportunities to connect with local gamers.
ReplyDeleteThe north end of Washington state has been lacking a hub for its gaming community for some time. We haven't got a lot of FLGS up here and no clubs that I know of.
The old gamer in me is really telling me that I should come up with at least some sort of monthly organized club type thing to host there.
We shall see what the rest of the gaming group wants to do. Already there has been discussion of lunches and casual games there as well as game design sessions there.
-Eli