I heard Wil Wheaton once say, 'Gaming is the glue that binds friendships together'. It's true. I've been roleplaying as long as I've been board gaming. Having that fortnightly excuse to huddle around the table has always been extremely important to me.

However, as I've got older, priorities have increased almost inversely to the free time I have available. Max arriving was a big part of that. Don't get me wrong, being a Dad is awesome, but with limited windows of opportunity to play, prioritization becomes important.

Board games have become an easier alternative to the longer commitment of a role-playing game. Numbers at the table can be flexible and continuity isn't an issue. Also, board games appeal to more people, so there are more options to play. And I believe there's a board game out there for everyone.