The games the Chattanooga Board Game Club plays vary wildly in difficulty and skill, although chief organizer Lee Walker says the group often leans toward more straightforward games when someone new joins them. However, the club does plan day-long gaming sessions a couple of times a year for members who want to sink their teeth into a long-form war strategy game such as 7 Ages.
Chattanooga Board Game Club members play the card game Dixit for a "Galentine's Day" meetup. Chief club organizer Lee Walker estimates a little under half of the regular players in the club are women.With the Chattanooga Board Game Club approaching 600 members, the group's growth is mirroring that of the industry itself, with no signs of stopping.
ICv2 trade magazine president and trend analyst Milton Griepp said the hobby games industry has seen double-digit annual growth for the past half-decade.
That suits chief club organizer Lee Walker just fine.
A software developer originally from England, Walker has been a fan of board games his whole life. He's tried to share his large collection of games with anyone interested since starting his small business and making a home for himself at the foot of Signal Mountain about six years ago.
"Really, it's just fun to sit around, socialize and play some games," Walker said. "We try to create an inclusive environment where anyone can come to an event and have a good time."
Any of the group's roughly 560 members can organize an event on the Meetup page, and Walker said there are opportunities to play nearly every night - but don't expect another boring game of Monopoly.
"Monopoly is not a good game," Walker laughed. "Even if it goes quickly, everyone knows one person is going to win, and people get frustrated."
Instead, the club tries to focus on what he describes as more European game designs - ones that emphasize strategy and the ability to come back from a losing position - listing examples as award-winning games like Settlers of Catan, Dominion and Ticket to Ride.
"Catering to newer players is something the group is big on," Walker added. "We don't want to pull out something complicated and difficult for someone visiting for their first time."
Despite being a small-business owner, husband and father, he finds time to invite people to his office to play every other week. Other locations for regular meet-ups include Game On Chattanooga, a gaming store in East Brainerd; the Bitter Alibi bar in downtown Chattanooga and the many homes of members scattered throughout Hamilton County and North Georgia. Some have collections of games that rival Walker's, and the play dates are open to the public.
"We have attorneys, doctors and emergency call center representatives attending. Our group is pretty diverse," said Walker. "Having a good time playing a game definitely isn't just for kids."
Walker said he met some of his best friends through his love of games as an adult. When he first came to the United States in the late '90s, his first friends outside of work came from email groups designed for people to meet up and play. After a few months of regularly meeting with a few people in Atlanta, he was invited to his first Thanksgiving in 1998.
"I've made some longstanding friendships through this," said Walker.
He suggests anyone interested come along for an evening. After they've tried it once, they'll probably find themselves coming back again, he said.
For more information about the group's meet-ups, visit meetup.com/Chattanooga-Board-Game-Club.
Email Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com.