Gather and Game FTW!

 Gather and Game FTW!

Looks cool, but kinda small, right? Super easy to underestimate, but don't make that mistake!

I spent this past week or so visiting family and friends in Buffalo, NY and it was a great time. I got to take my 4 year old son to the Strong Museum of Play with his grandfather, great aunt, and a couple of cousins and they had an amazing time. He got to spend an inordinate amount of time rocketing down an inflatable water slide, as well as swimming in a couple of different pools. And as he's very much a water bug, all of this made for a thrilling trip in addition to spending time with family he doesn't get to see often enough. I got to enjoy an evening watching Shakespeare in Delaware Park for the first time in ten or so years after I got to spend four or five years acting on that stage. But it was also a bit of a tight visit, and it'll be a tight turnaround as well, because no sooner do I get back to STL than I'm headed back east for CabinCon!

So naturally, I needed a new game or two to bring to the cabin. I'd been receiving text messages with pics of games others has bought and was feeling a little left out. When I visited Buffalo last summer, I visited a game store called Gather and Game over on Grant Street, and I was blown away by their selection! The storefront looks small, so I thought I might get lucky if I found an overlooked title or something. I'm spoiled by having not one, but several very good game stores in Saint Louis. But Gather and Game boasts an incredible selection! Last summer, I scored a copy of Ex Libris that I couldn't find anywhere else, as well as a couple of small games I'd never heard of. I was hoping I'd have a similar experience this time around, and this store did NOT disappoint.

Seriously, y'all: they pack quality games into this space.

My brother decides he wants to come with me to see this place. He's not a gamer, but he wanted to know why it was such a big deal that I visit this store when I didn't really have any other priorities besides family and Shakespeare in Delaware Park. I had scouted out the website ahead of time and man, they do an excellent job of keeping their stock up to date on their site. But with that said, they sometimes have a surprise or two in store. I knew going in that I was considering The King's Dilemma, Kanban EV, Pax Pamir, and a couple of other titles. Sure enough, I found all of those. But I didn't really expect to find a copy of Escape Plan there. It's not impossible to find, but it ain't necessarily easy to track down either. Even Amazon only has two copies left, and if I can avoid giving them my money, then I will. Anyway, I struggled a bit, but settled on Pax Pamir, Escape Plan, and Kanban EV. I'm a really big Vital Lacerda fan based on the pair of games I've played (The Gallerist and Kanban EV), so I was very excited to finally get my own copy of Kanban EV. And I've heard excellent things about Escape Plan, so I figured it had fallen into my lap and I should take it. I've heard nothing but good things about Pax Pamir and I really enjoy Cole Wehrle's designs, so that was a lock.

Anyway, I get up to the front of the store and I'm talking games with the gentleman who owns the place, and this guy knows his wares. That's not always the case in game stores, but he's terrific. Offers some great suggestions, happy to talk games, and never once did I feel like anything was being pushed on me. Seriously, if I lived in Buffalo, Gather and Game would be my go-to whenever I wanted a new game. And then my brother stepped up and declared he was buying me a late birthday/Father's Day gift and proceeded to buy these three games for me. Incredibly generous of him. He's generous to a fault and I frankly should've anticipated that was why he wanted to come along, but I was still pretty blown away.

ANYWAY. I'm lucky to have the family and friends that I have, but that aside, Gather and Game is a terrific resource for any gamers in the Buffalo area. If you've not been, you need to run and not walk over there to check out their wares. I love that they've got plenty of mainstream stuff, but they've also got a bunch of smaller games and RPG materials that are very much off the beaten path. I also want to share that though I've only been there a couple of times, I'm struck by just how friendly and inclusive this store is. The owners go out of their way to make sure everyone can feel welcome and comfortable in this space, and that is a big damn deal in a hobby that always needs more of that. It's been a really terrific experience each time I've walked in there and I can't say enough good things about the place. Gather and Game is a must-visit whenever I travel to Buffalo and it should be for you too.