For gamers in and near Orange County, California; and all OC gaming groups!
As with any guild, if you join this guild, you will be able to locate games owned by any of the members, by browsing the guild games. (My Geek: Guilds: Orange County, CA, USA: Browse.)
The zip code of the guild is of the largest meeting I know of in OC. Meetings are held as far away as NW Anaheim--almost at the Orange Curtain. ;) All groups, game stores, and conventions are welcome! At any time, this list is only the groups etc. who have listed themselves or I (Tall_Walt) have had time to contact and list. I hope it will be expanding rapidly until it is comprehensive.
Gaming is FREE unless stated otherwise.
Gaming Groups (in order of size)
The gaming groups in OC are very friendly, making every effort to welcome spouses-of-gamers to grognards. While the primary focus of the larger groups is Eurogames, virtually any board (or card) game is played. If you want to try a specific game, you can usually find someone to bring it and people to play it.
Only the largest groups are listed here: several smaller groups, 5-10 people, also exist; however, naturally these groups could be disrupted by even a few new people--the venue might get too full, regulars might get pushed out in groups using an RSVP system, and so forth. These smaller groups meet anything from weekly to ad hoc. Please attend one of the larger groups, and ask about other groups.
- Orange County Board Gamers
OCBG is the largest group in OC, having over 300 members, despite frequent pruning of inactive members. All of the larger gaming groups cooperate with OCBG and usually their events are listed on the OCBG site. OCBG uses the Meetup.com system, and you should RSVP using this system. Meeting dates are mostly regular, but you should check the OCBG site in case of changes. Times are usually around noon (11am-1pm) to at least 10pm--OCBG meetings have been known to stretch into the morning.
OCBG meets in Irvine. Its largest venue is the Duck Club, with as much capacity as some conventions. The Duck Club is on a private road so you must follow the directions or use the map on the OCBG site--all electronic and paper maps will lead you to the mailing address, over a mile away from the venue!
OCBG scores games in an annual contest to see who plays most and wins most.
OCBG has its own OCBG Guild
- Strategic & Adventure Game Association
SAGA, meets at a community center near El Toro and the I-5, just south of the El Toro Y. Maps are available on the web site. SAGA games every other Saturday, 12-6, and has been at this site since 2003. The current dates are at the link, and SAGA dates are locked in 1-7 months in advance.
You may usually RSVP for SAGA through OCBG (above). Or, please contact Tall_Walt by Geekmail or by sending a message on SAGA's Yahoo list if you're planning on coming. Like OCBG, we do our best to welcome all gamers.
SAGA scores count toward the OCBG tournament.
- North Orange County Board Gamers
NOCBG holds meetings on the first Saturday of the month in a community center in Northeast Anaheim, noon-5pm. Meetings are rarely pre-empted due to commitments of the organizer. You may usually RSVP through OCBG (above), or through Seal Beach Gamers.
NOCBG scores count toward OCBG tournaments.
Gaming Conventions (in date order)
OrcCon was originally named for Orange County Convention from its origins as a convention at Cal State Fullerton, but it hasn't been there (in the OC) since Son of Orccon back in the 1990's (which was a fourth Strategicon convention over Thanksgiving weekend) and rumors of Orccon moving back to Orange County are not true.
Game Stores (alphabetical)
TBD: (Please Geekmail Tall_Walt with your address, telephone, web site, and mall [if any]; I will be happy to format things for you.)
