Information about Playing Games & Japan Based Game Playing Groups

Pictured: The boardgame Settlers of Canaan


by Chris Zanella


To all interested,

Please check out the JIGG group. We as a whole meet once a month to
play all games from mini's to board to card games, but members also
host smaller sessions on different weekends. We rent a 2 story
building to play the games in, which is located along the Odakyu line
in Tokyo. The day starts at 9 AM and goes until 9 PM. With games
starting and ending at anytime, so you will always get a chance to
play. We have been averaging over 30 people everytime.

The next event is March 1st.

SUMMARY: (because its a long email, going to different Japan gaming
groups)

1. Links
2. Fees, no not a 4 letter word
3. Games
4. Games Workshop and the Miniature gaming
5. Players
6. Location

1. Links:

JIGG site - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/JIGG/

pictures of past game days - http://models.goblog.us/gamesdaydec07
http://models.goblog.us/gdjan08
http://models.goblog.us/jigg/

JIGG Wiki - http://www.wiki.jigg.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

JIGG Magic Players - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/jiggmagic/



2. Fees:

Such an ugly word but the building is not free. We all currently chip
in 500 Yen. The extra Yen has been used to buy games for a monthly
drawing for who shows and to pay for some food (breakfast and some
drinks). This is the current plan and may change (not a price
increase either)....stay tuned. We recently all discussed different
options from lowering the fee to using the money for other uses of
which ALL benefit the group as a whole and not just one persons
pocket. Or we would pummel them to death with our dice.


3. Games:

Like I said above we have a large group of players with different
tastes, ranging from card games (including Magic), to a lot of
different board games to an ever increasing amount of different mini
gaming including Games Workshop games, Battletech, Banana Republic,
DBA, car wars, and the list grows bigger every month. Including soon
Flames of War, if I get my a#s in gear.


Pictured: Roborally

Magic Players have been showing up to play also.

Within the group there are just a ton of board games to be had of
every type. Times can run from a quick 30 minute game to 6 hours per
game. But with so many players new games start up at anytime.

Also players have been talking about starting role playing campaigns.


4. Games Workshop and the Miniature gaming:

Matt has been organizing with some other players to have different
types of miniature gaming taking place every games day as the list
mentioned above.

I have been showing up with one of my 7 armies for 40K but so far the
one time more players showed to play they learned the hard way that
Talisman is not a quick game so we didnt get a chance to play. I have
made and been bringing terrain and pretty much all the books you
would need, except the codexes. I only have the ones for my armies.
We have gaming boards made, which Im making more of, and I have just
plain felt.

Currently for fantasy I only have the Battle for Skull Pass. I do
have Blood Bowl (5 teams plus many many extra characters), Dungeon
Bowl, Dead Zone, all the Star Player books, and Space Hulk. These
games I will only bring if asked a head of time because I travel
about 2 hours one way and this stuff gets heavy. But like I said
there are now other players coming with even more GW items to play
with so the list gets bigger and bigger.

Hopefully we can travel up to Nagoya or vice versa for a big GW
gaming event.



5. People:

We have a large range of characters, I mean players, who show up
every month. From all age groups and even married couples, moms and
dads, kids, you name it. But the best part is we do not have a bad
person in the whole group. Everyone seems to be just having fun no
matter what.



6. LOCATION:

Here's directions to the Oyama-cho Kaikan where we'll be having the
game day next Sunday on the 30th. Seems like we got about a dozen
people who are planning to come. Everyone is welcome, and you don't
need to let me know beforehand. Just show up if you want.

We'll be there from 9 am until 10 pm so come whenever you like, and
bring anything you want to play. Surely there will be someone who
will take you up on it.

A link to a map is here if you like that sort of thing:
http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?
uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/39/58.968&el=139/40/34.212&scl=25000&bid=Mlink

If you are coming by train, you'll want to go to Yoyogi Uehara station
on the Chiyoda/Odakyu lines or Higashi Kitazawa station on the Odakyu
line. The two stations are adjacent, so get off at whichever one
comes first depending on the direction from which you are coming.

Then follow the map, or these directions...whichever is easier (call
my cell phone if you get lost (090-2316-0491):

---Directions from Yoyogi-Uehara station (this is about a 10 minute
walk)

Exit the ticket gate and go straight down a short flight of steps.
You will see McDonald's on your left as you get to the bottom of the
steps. Turn right and go up few steps to the road. Turn right again
and follow the wall on your right. The tracks are above you.

About 50 meters down, the road ends in a T intersection. Turn left
and go to the 4-way intersection with a traffic light. You'll be on
the corner with Origin Bento. Turn right and cross the street. You'll
be heading toward the tracks and will go under them.

Proceed straight up this road about 200 meters (after going under the
tracks you will see a mosque on your left) until you come to an
intersection at the third traffic light. You will see the Daily
Yamazaki convenience store across the way. Turn to the right and walk
about 50 meters. You will see a Shell gas station on your right.
Right across the road from the station is a cement two-story building,
the Oyama-cho Kaikan.

---Directions from Higashi-Kitazawa station (about a 6 minute walk)

Exit the station on the side where the ticket office is (same side as
the train if you are coming from Shimo Kitazawa; opposite if from
Yoyogi-Uehara). Turn to the right and follow the tracks on your
right. When you get to the road where the cars cross the tracks turn
left. Walk straight down this road until you see the Shell gas
station on your left (you'll pass the intersection with the Daily
Yamazaki on your left). Right across the road from the station is a
cement two-story building, the Oyama-cho Kaikan.