Tag: games

Beating 100 people in row

Taylor BurianLeave a comment

There is a line of 100 people. If you beat them all one-by-one at one thing, you get a big fat cheque. What challenge would you choose?

https://thecoffeemonsterzco.com/blogs/midnight-blogging/journaling-prompts

I don’t know that I’m confident enough to pick something that would guarantee I win 100 times in a row. However, since it sounds like there is no cost to enter whatever this contest is, I don’t think I’d really care enough about picking something like that, unless the payout is truly exorbitant.

So, keeping in mind the stakes like that, I think it would have to be video game related. Maybe a game from the Battle Royale genre, like Fortnite or PUBG. Not sure how well this would work out, but it would be fun.

Maybe we could do highest placement rather than just flat out winning. As long as I placed high enough each time, it wouldn’t matter if I won the round of the game, because winning the match against the person would be what counted. If this were the case, then I’d say I have a solid chance. I’m decent enough at Fortnite these days, and I have a rough understanding of the general tactics employed by more skilled players, so I have a better chance in that regard.

Let’s run with that. Fortnite, with highest placement in each match up against 100 people, one at a time. Seems fair to me!

Current favorite game

Taylor BurianLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?
View all responses

I’ve brought it up a few times before, but the table top card game Magic: The Gathering is probably up there at the top of the list of my favorite games.

It’s easy to get into, although, in the long run, it’s also not exactly super affordable. I say that because you can buy a pre constructed deck (referred to as a precon) for a reasonable price, but if you want to expand your collection and have more than one deck or play multiple styles then you need to buy more and more cards.

All that being said, the main reason I enjoy the game so much is because of how many different ways there are to play. There are so many cards, with hundreds of new cards being added each year, which makes it possible to build and rebuild decks over and over again. The rules are relatively simple but there are a lot of different mechanics to choose from and play with/against. The simple approach is: draw cards, play lands/mana (kinda sorta like the Pokemon TCG, if you’re familiar), cast spells, and do things with those spells until you win. How you approach all of this can be determine by the cards you want to play. Some give you more draw power, others make it so you can reduce the random chance of draw what you need by just letting you search your deck for what you want (within reason), and some cards will activate effects or abilities that do a wide variety things to affect your opponents.

Through all of this, you can come up with very straightforward strategies to win, or you can develop convoluted plans that require several cards to even get your strategy off the ground. In that regard, it becomes almost like a puzzle. A puzzle against time and your opponents putting together their own puzzle. Get the right cards, do all the things. And yet, on top of the element of chance, there is also a certain amount of skill involved. Guessing what your opponent is planning, getting cards to offset their potential plans and protect yourself, remembering the cards in your deck versus what you think they might have in theirs. It can almost be like an incredibly complicated game of poker.

So many facets that can each make the game more interesting the more you choose to play. Unless you’re hyper competitive and build your deck for it, no game ever plays out the same as others.

Passions

Taylor BurianLeave a comment

What are you passionate about?

If there is absolutely one thing I am passionate about, it’s gaming.

Not just one category of gaming either. I love video games, card games, tabletop games, all of them.

I know at least a couple people who don’t see the value or appeal in gaming, so I’m sure there are millions more out there. That just means they aren’t wired for that kind of entertainment, and I don’t let what they say deter me.

Gaming has evolved so much since the inception of the first dice and card games. There are even studies about the benefits of gaming!

Intricate story telling and artistic expression. Mechanics to challenge the mind and keep it sharp. Hand eye coordination. Group/team/social dynamics and strategy. There are many layers and facets to gaming that most people don’t see either because they just stick to one game or they never bothered to look.

Now, granted, the majority of games are on screens (just like social media) so nowadays it can greatly disrupt development of children’s mental and social skills if that’s how they spend all their time, but that is more a parenting issue than anything. Don’t let them have games or social media, or heavily restrict their exposure and interaction. Simple as that.

That being said, if you’re a parent who doesn’t mind your children playing games and you DO monitor and restrict their access, good on you! Depending on your values and priorities, you could let them play games that help them develop their math and reading comprehension. (Trust me, they’re out there. I grew up playing games like Math Blaster.)

Gaming can be amazing, and there’s usually something for everyone.

Got skills?

Taylor BurianLeave a comment

What are you good at?

I’ve never been one for sports, so I’m not particularly good at any of them. That being said, I’m usually good with hand eye coordination and visualizing space around me.

Outside of that oddity (I really should do some kind of sport) I am fairly good at puzzles. Not jigsaw puzzles, mind you, but more like escape room puzzles. I haven’t done one of these IRL in a while, since they cost money for a single play and you usually need a group, but I have played a lot of Escape Simulator on the computer.

There are also the world-based puzzle/exploration games that I like to play and think I’m fairly good at, but I’m not perfect and will admit having used hints/tips to get through on occasion.