Why another festival?

When the idea of SpielMas came to me in October 2020, I was reading Twitter posts of gamers who were lamenting the loss of their in-person groups.

But I had a different reaction.

I had managed to create a new gaming group but with old friends who I had always wanted to play with. They live in different time zones, however, and the last time we played games together collectively was 18 years prior on a camping trip in New Mexico.

Back then, we stayed up all night playing multiple games of Settlers of Catan. Over the years, we lost track of each other or couldn’t replicate that trip. In the last few years, however, I was finding ways to connect with some of them to play games IRL, although it always took significant travel.

Then the pandemic hit.

Online

Somehow we found ourselves playing more online games, either in iOS or via the Web. Then I discovered Board Game Arena, Tabletopia, and Tabletop Simulator on Steam.

Everything changed.

My group started to develop month-long tournaments and leagues that lead to tournaments. And we find ourselves “coming over” to see if anyone wants to play a game on our off-nights.

My hope is the idea of SpielMas will spur you to find your old friends and connect with them online. Call them up. Teach them a game. Make up for lost time.

And celebrate.

Published October 26, 2020.