Please be aware of the fact that we have only rated a tootsy part of our current collection, mainly the ones that have seen recent play at that. Better games are more likely to be requested to the table, and as a consequence our current ratings tend to average out relatively high.
There is still a pleasantly large lot kicking around the flat, ready to be rated and over time even our quantified enthusiasm for games in general should become a bit more evenly spread ;-)
A note for my Secret Santa:You poor sod!
Tip 1: don't panic or be intimidated!
What might look like a scary collection to add something to, the oposite is the case. We love games, and you're gonna be struggling to get us something we don't like, let alone something we don't appreciate.
Tip 2: don't worry about language.
English, German, Dutch, French, anything else... we have coped so far. Most of our collection comes with funny words.
Tip 3: don't overstretch!
This should be fun, no exercise in competitive giving. And being surrounded by water, the UK is probably not the cheapest place to get things to anyway. As a rule of thumb, I can guarantee you we tend to enjoy something small and cute that can only be found locally far more than the latest BGG big game fad, enjoyable as they are too. If you live on the other side of the world, don't think Risk Black Operations. Think something (handmade?) and local. Some of our most cherished possessions are small well-known traditional games made from recycled material by African children or craftsmen.
Tip 4: ignore that wishlist if you want to!
I use it all year round to keep track of things that caught our eye, I am not gonna redo it for Secret Santa and then tick 'em all back on after that. And it is far from complete anyway. Just follow your instincts, if yours are any like the last couple of Santas, you'll be doing more than fine.
Tip 5: if you want to save yourself postage, the UK is not the cheapest place to buy games, although the sinking pound is helping!
If you want to go that route, it might be paying off to contact my local game shop. They don't know me as bigwoo, but should be able to track me down as I have bought from them in the past (bigwoo at the start of the email), or drop me a line via the Secret Santa account that there is something there.
http://www.black-lion.co.uk/Alternatively, and cheaper for games, is Milan Spiele in Germany, and if you get a shock at you post office when they tell you how much it would cost to ship this way, you might want to consider "Milan" Michael. I am sure you can get your surprise tucked into the next box that is coming this way. The Dutch bloke in Edinburgh should probably ring enough bells.
http://www.milan-spiele.de/Or any of the shops on the list that Tom Vassel has put together. Shipping from a UK shop CAN be as cheap or expensive as shipping from other European countries, Germany and Holland in particular.
Tip 6: if you leave me a note, and hope I react quickly, don't get frustrated if I have been on BGG and stay quiet. The "last log-in" date has lost all meaning here, as anytime ANYONE at any of the PCs I work from opens a browser I have visited BGG (homepage), even if I haven't been around a PC for a long time.
Tip 7: have fun! And I hope your Santa is good to you too.
And am early merry xmas from us to you! Hope you have as much fun doing this as we have had over the last couple of years. Best of wishes from Edinburgh.
