CONFESSIONS OF A NERDY GAMER GIRL

Sometimes (okay, all times) I feel less than cool. I have all kinds of reasons for that, but today it's because of the amazing women whose stories I read pretty much every day.

Often they're through my Twitter feed.

I consider myself a feminist, but I've never had to prove it. I have never fought for my place as a woman. It's always been granted, and usually graciously.

I know that I'm incredibly fortunate in that.

And that includes the world of tabletop gaming.

More than a year ago, I accidentally set off a firestorm on Board Game Geek by saying I thought there should be more games for women.

I wasn't thinking.

The women there immediately let me know that all games are for women.

I hear them. I really do.

So many of these women had to fight to play fantasy, horror, and role-playing games.

Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures tournament; Photo by Benny-Mazur

Who was I, a woman who had barely played anything at all, and nothing like those games, to tell them what games women could and could not play? I was being arrogant and ignorant. Bad combination.

I wasn't trying to say women couldn't play any games they want, or that all men like games where they're beating up monsters in a dungeon.

I was really trying to say that sometimes — and only sometimes — I want to play something that doesn't feel like it was designed by a dude.

I touched a nerve.

Eventually, we sorted it out, I think, but I admit I haven't spent much time on the women's forums on Board Game Geek since. I'm a little too girly, a little too nerdy, not much of a geek. I'm just not cool enough.

No.

I don't feel cool enough. Which is my problem.

The women I read and admire from the sidelines seem not to care what people think of them.

I've decided to do the same.

That's part of what this blog is all about.

Love Letter by Henri Lejeune; PD-Art

I'm bringing pink and turquoise and characters from fashion catalogs from Regency England to board gaming.

Why?

Mainly because all of those things — yes, even the colors — are a little funny. I like the juxtaposition.

And because I believe board games are for everyone, the women I admire because they fought so hard to play D&D (thank you, by the way!), the dudes who would rather be caught dead than play Love Letter unless it's got Batman in front of it, the guys who prefer playing female characters, and even me — who loves Tokaido and Onward to Venus equally.

If you're here, they're for you, too. Whatever labels you do or do not put on yourself. Welcome.