Yes, loyal readers, it's that time again. December. The month where I totally phone it in by having a gaming gift guide, year after year, always telling you to buy the same stuff but in different order. Hey, I'm not getting paid to write this, and you're not paying to read it, so I think that this is still a pretty sweet deal for you, all things considered. And while we're on the vein of paying for things, I know what you're probably thinking. "Gee AJ, the economy is in the dump. I'm broke! How am I going to still give my favorite geek a good holiday present?" Well folks, I'm here for you. This year's theme is getting the biggest bang for your budget, even if you only have $10 or $20 to spend. One thing I've observed is that sometimes, when it comes to buying gifts, people have a bad habit of buying the first thing that's within their budget that the person will like, without really thinking of whether it's really worth the price. Some gifts, while appropriate, just don't have a lot of impact. Through careful shopping, you can spend just as much money but give something that really wows them. The most important thing is to not be ashamed to look for a bargain. If there's a used bookstore in your town, hit it up. They're a great source for out-of-print gaming books, novels, and awesome old mythology or fantasy art books, all things that geeks like to get. If you don't mind spoiling the surprise a bit, ask the person or people you're shopping for for a list of hard-to-find sourcebooks they're looking for. Let me tell you, back when I was playing and running Changeling, a copy of the Eshu kithbook would have been the best present ever. Keep an eye out at department stores for endcaps of DVDs. I've frequently seen geek favorite movies for $10-20 at Target. For $20, you could give your favorite nerd a copy of Princess Bride (to replace that old broken-down VHS copy), and enough movie snacks to tide them through a few viewings. You can also visit your local dollar store, and stock up on a ton of things that gamers like. Put together a gaming survival pack: mechanical pencils, a pad of graphing paper (for mapping the dungeon!), a neat notebook (for writing down loot, riddles, NPC names and more), hand sanitizer (for when there's no soap OR paper towels in the game shop bathroom), lots of candy (just make sure it's not almost expired, yuck), and maybe some silly toys (to play with while you wait for the game to actually start). Don't be afraid to shop clearance sales, either. A lot of on-line t-shirt retailers eventually clear out older t-shirt styles, and you can get a hilarious shirt for only $10 or so. I think everyone in my gaming group has at least one well-loved geek humor shirt, and we're always on the lookout for more. If your bargain-hunting doesn't turn up the perfect present, don't despair. There are still lots of items you can get at normal price that have a lot more "wow" factor that $10 worth of dice. Look for prints by fantasy artists. You can get some surprisingly nice prints of dragons, faeries, pirates or whatever, sometimes even by artists who do work for major game companies, for $15-25. Then wait for the craft store to have a 50% off sale on frames (Michael's and JoAnn's have these sales all the time). You can even check thrift stores and such for an especially cool used frame. The most awesome frame in my house was $5 at the used bookstore. And while we're on the subject of art, it's sad to say, but you can score some very nice arts and crafts for very cheap on Etsy.com, eBay.com or your local art and craft fair. Many people undervalue their work, especially in this rough economy. You may be able to find something very unique and cool for your favorite geek while still staying in budget. If you're short on money but you have lots of free time, you can also try creating gifts. Your options are myriad... Sew a dice bag, paint or embroider onto an existing bag, build a dice box, construct a dice-rolling tower (ideal for games like Scion or Shadowrun that involve very large numbers of polyhedral dice rolled at once), draw your friend's favorite character, create a piece of geeky jewelry, sculpt a dragon out of clay... Or for that matter, give a platter of home-baked goodies. Why do you think gamers are stereotyped as being in horrible shape? We LOVE cookies. If you're short on time and money, give a gift that shows that you know and care about your loved ones' past-times. Look for a silly trinket directly related to their favorite game or character. Think of the gaming story they tell over and over again and get something that reminds you of that. If you know where they play their game, scope out the area, and then give them a gift card to a nearby restaurant or shop, to facilitate dinner or snack runs. For that matter, give a gift certificate to the local gaming store, so they can buy just what they want. The most important thing is to not let the budget crunch impair anyone's enjoyment of the holiday. You want to have as much fun shopping for and giving the gifts as the receiver has getting and using them. So relax, imagine the smile on their face, and go forth and shop. We'll all get through these tough times a lot better with a positive attitude. (Good grief, where did that come from? I'm usually Miss Cynicism. Someone must have tampered with my hot cocoa.) I'll return to giving my usual gaming and writing advice next month. Until then, happy holidays, happy gaming, and be sure to read League of Explorers, Chapter Two (alright, a shameless plug! My cynicism is back!)

[Back to Collector Times]

[Prev.]

[Return to Gaming]

[Disclaimer]

[Next]

Copyright © 2008 By AJ Reardon E-mail AJ at: ErtheFae@aol.com Visit AJ at: www.erthefae.com