1. Boardgames
What is it?
Counters and/or cards on top of a piece of board. Some card games count too.
Examples of Boardgames I might have known?
Risk, Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, good ole Chess.
What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
There's so many boardgames out there! We just play whatever suits us at that time.
Why is it fun?
Boardgames are typically easy to understand so you can start playing in no time. (If you don't you can always check Youtube, forums, or even your friendly retailers.) Games are cheap and ranges around RM50-300. Chances are you'll get bored of playing one game only so you will get more and each is different. Boardgames can either be competitive, co-operative, sneaky which adds a variety to your game nights.
Downsides?
None really. This is a great place to start gaming
How do I start?
Go join a game club and join into games. Great if you are going alone. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
Go to a games cafe and pay by the hour. Great if you are with a bunch of friends and just wanna play one session. You can check out Funbox Cafe, heard Games Outpost Penang does them too.
Go buy a boardgame. Great if you have a group of friends who will frequently play. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum, Games Outpost Penang, or Borders Bookstores. (And yes you can use 1Malaysia Book Vouchers to buy in Borders.)
2. Tabletop Wargames
What is it?
Tiny plastic soldiers killing each other
Examples of Tabletop Wargames I might have known?
Warhammer 40,000
What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Fantasy
Why is it fun?
You leading an army to crush your enemy's army? Whats not fun!? However, the game is incredibly complex with lots of options to customise your army, and lots of different types of soldiers and tactics you can employ so it requires a lot of tactical strategy, which is pretty fun. The plastic soldiers (called models. Yes gamers play with models all the time, haha) is often very nicely modeled and painting/modifying/collecting it can be fun for the right type of people.
Downsides?
Them plastic soldiers are really expensive! Seriously, the smallest army can cost you RM300 and above and we often spend much more than that. Some people just wanna buy, take out the models and start killing, having to assemble and paint can be a hassle. Also being complex, the games requires a few days before you start grasping the gist of the game.
How do I start?
Go join a game club and watch them play and get a quick tutorial on how to play and how to build an army. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
Go buy the models, (WARNING: Only do it if you know at least how to play, the retailers might help.) play with friends or take them to a game club. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum, World Hobby Miniatures.
3. Role Playing Games (RPG)
What is it?
Create a character and go on a adventure as the character
Examples of Role Playing Games I might have known?
Dungeons & Dragons
What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Warhammer 40,000 Black Crusade
Warhammer 40,000 Dark Heresy
Why is it fun?
If you love the universe a fantasy is set in (its called fluff. We like Warhammer 40,000's fluff), Role Playing Games allows you to explore that universe further. Its allows you to do anything, you just tell the Game Master (GM) what your character is doing, as the GM tells you what happens, (though stupid actions come with consequences and GM loves dishing out said consequences.) that means you get creative with ways of accomplishing your mission and that creates good stories. We had quite a few memorable missions playing Role Playing Games.
Downside?
You need to know the universe you are going to play in or you will pay by doing stupid things (such as surrendering to Dark Eldars, selling a 8 pointed star artifacts to imperial traders, using a starship with a damaged Gellar Field to travel across the galaxy) and that requires a lot of reading. But you could learn it by playing a few games and see more veteran players deal with these challenges.
How do I start?
Go join a game club and join a RPG party, they'll teach you how to play and create a character. You can check out Penang War Gamers Group
You can go buy RPG rule book and play with a bunch of friends. However it takes a player with experience to be a good Game Master. You can check out Paradigm Infinitum
4. Trading Card Games
What is it?
Like Tabletop Wargames but replace plastic soldiers with cards
Examples of Trading Card Games I might have known?
Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon Card Game
What game/s is/are played often in Penang?
Magic: The Gathering, others too occasionally
Why is it fun?
All the fun of Tabletop Wargames minus the painting, assembling. Plus it is much cheaper and lots of people in Malaysia plays them.
Downsides?
Not as visually simulating as a Tabletop Wargaming. For a lot of the Trading Cards Games, in general, more money you spent on the deck of cards, the more powerful your deck is no matter how good your strategy is (remember paying lots for that foil Charizard card?). That being said, you still need to have strategy to win with a powerful deck, just saying that you might lose just because your opponent can get more super rare cards.
How do I start?
I do not play Trading Card Games so I don't know where you should start. Ask around, there are plenty of people that sells or plays Magic: The Gathering in Penang.
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