My family was always good at making games and cheap entertainment. Weekly visits to my grandparents led all the kids to wargaming (the earliest I can remember doing this was around age six), recreating World war II scenarios via the simple device of home made rules, a coin, a few dice pillaged from the Monopoly and Cluedo (Clue in the US) sets, my uncle's old toy soldiers, pillows and a heavy green blanket over the billiard table. Cannon and tank fire was simulated by flipping a coin (as though you were tossing it) from the barrel to vaugly where you wanted the shot to land. It was simple. It was fun.

My cousin, four years my senior, was making pen and paper sci-fi RPGs before I hit 8 (yes, I lifted part of this paragraph from an earlier post. It fits here). We travelled in super-hyper speeders to the Medusa galaxy, comandeered Transit Shuttles and journeyed to the limits of the galaxy, through wormholes and into alternate worlds. Then my uncle gave me a copy of Dungeons and Dragons for my tenth birthday - and worlds changed for me. Any time I had spare, I read, reread, memorised the books. I played the Fighting Fantasy games when there was no one else to game with. They're a choose-your-own adventure style book, with combat and dice rolling. They al seem to be getting a reprint - I shall buy these for my nephew (and a set for myself). Of course, other systems were played (Rolemaster, Hunter Planet, Traveller, Tunnels and Trolls, etc) but the staple remained TSR's offerings.

Judges Guild adventures were cherished, as they fit the three essential categories that were important to those of limited pocked money: they were extensive, readily customisable and, most importantly, relatively inexpensive. Dragon and White Dwarf magazines were the staple periodicals, when they could be found and afforded. Both magazines started their life as all encompasing, with articles and adventures spannning many systems, so they were not, as they both are now, exclusivly in-house. White Dwarf also had "Heavy Metal" - a section on painting miniatures.

The idea of using miniatures to represent people and monsters in D&D was old hat to us, as we'd always used Britain's knights (they were much cheaper then), plastic dinosaurs and any other toy that could be pressed into service. But the idea of one inch tall lead representatives of your character, that you got to paint, was striking. Citadel was the best, in my eyes, their figures were always cleaner. Ral Partha and Grenadier were also very good. There were a host of other manufacturers, and more latecomers and spinoffs (Mithril is one of the best I've seen lately). They were all 25mm (one inch to 6 feet) scale.

But Games Workshop (Citadel) moved into wargames in the early 90s. They progressivly made the figures more ornate, to appear striking, losing the elegant simplicity while simultaneously pumping up the size. One dwarf I measured stood at 30mm, overshadowing six-feet tall barbarians of a true 25mm scale. At the same time, White Dwarf became the in-house vehicle it is today, which was when about when I lost interest in the company.

I really do need to find a good RPG games store locally. Whilst online purchasing is well and good, browsing through an overcrowded shelf of games has something to be said for it.

And then a gaming group. Surely there's one in Manhattan somewhere who'll put up with not understanding me when I say "ite" (eight).

There is a Games Workshop store literally around the corner from me in the city, but I want something a eclectic, with offerings from many companies and, as was always my favourite, a large second-hand section, where occasionally you'll see something you wanted way back when and could not find or afford, or something you never knew about that piques an interest.

The game I chanced upon is Kobolds ate my baby! It's most definitely a beer, pretzels, music and more beer kind of game. ALL HAIL KING TORG! Burn cows! Bark Like a Kobold! Cast Magic Spells! Kill Chickens! Eat Your Friends! They're sick little monkeys over at 9th Level.

It's a game in which you play the kobolds. They're short, furry and have the life expectancy of a depressed lemming. They are all little gourmands (who knew?) and the finest food in the world is the chubby human child. The ways to get yourself killed many and varied, from the Angry Red God whose wrath is terrible and frequent, farmers wives, chickens, other kobolds and, of course, Random Horrible Deaths. It was fun to read, I'm rather looking forward to actually quaffing the beer while playing.

They also, it appears, make a companion game where the objective is to deliver burgers in 30 minutes or less.

Feeling a little hungry? Want a Ninja Burger? with a side of fries and a cola? Ordering from Ninja Burger? is simple! We already know where you are, so there's no need to enter an address. We can deliver anywhere, so unlocking doors or deactivating security systems is not necessary. To ensure your safety during the delivery process, please do not make any sudden movements. And please, do not tip the Ninja!

Now, if I can just round up a few people for beer, pizza and kobolds. Or Dungeons and Dragons. Anything.