THE Broken Hill Game Club (BHGC), a recently formed tabletop games club, held its first ever event, The Forge of the Outback.
The multi-tabletop gaming event was held over the Australia Day weekend, showcasing a multitude of trading card and Warhammer events hosted over two days.
The first day, Saturday, featured MTG Chaos Draft and Warhammer 40k 1000-point round robin, and the following day featured a MTG Standard Event and Warhammer Kill Team round robin, with prizes handed out for winners.
Various other tabletop games were available for casual games as well, and a sausage sizzle lunch was offered.
BHGC vice-president William Learmonth said the group, which is only seven months old, was born out of a need for a fun, safe and sober place to meet people and play games.
“There was a group of us just at our house and then it started to get bigger and bigger and bigger, and there were too many people at our house,” he said.
The group then found a spot to hold the meetings weekly at the South Broken Hill library.
“Then we met Adam Scanlon, who is the president, and we got more of the Magic: The Gathering community to actually come in,” he said.
“It just grew and grew and grew and got to a stage where it was like, ‘let’s make a real club and have a real good red hot go at it’, and that’s when we actually became an official club in November.”
Mr Learmonth said that without avid gamers and group members Shaun Vance, Chris Hancock and his partner Amanda Gasmier, building the club wouldn’t have been achievable.
“They have gone above and beyond like so many of the people we have in this group,” he said.
Mr Learmonth said the community had reacted positively to the new club offering a sober after-work activity.
“We’d like to have alcohol sometimes, but at the same time it’s a nice comfortable place where we know that everyone’s got a level head. Everyone’s in a safe area,” he said.
“I’m trying to make it as friendly as possible, and as inviting as possible.”
The group is open to anyone over 15 years of age, and all tabletop games are welcome.
“We try to put a photo up on the Facebook page to actually show what we offer, but can only fit so many in,” he said.
Mr Learmonth said for those interested to have a look on the BHGC Facebook page to see the games on offer.
“If someone else has a game they really enjoy playing, but they can’t get someone to play with them, bring it down and teach us how to play,” he said.
The club is meeting at the South Broken Hill library every Tuesday from 6pm, and every second Friday from 6pm. The next Friday match is February 7.
Membership for the year is $60, and newcomers can attend five meets before committing to becoming a member.
For more information, go to the BHGC Facebook page.
