The Michael Barnes Multiplier

In every gamer there is a bit of a salesman. You've spent months searching for that rare game and finally you've gotten your hands on a copy. Now the challenge is to get the thing to the table. Problem is, you're going to have to contend with a crowd of other gamers all angling to get their games on the table. Much like any good negotiation game, there are a variety of tactics you can use to achieve your goal. Physical threats. Blackmail. Sabotage. But there are those who prefer more subtle methods

Enter Michael Barnes - infamous international board game villain. Those who have gamed with Barnes are undoubtedly familiar with what I call The Michael Barnes Multiplier. You see, one of the obstacles to getting your dusty old AT game to the table is the amount of time that it takes to play. In this Euro-obsessed hobby, nobody wants to sit down at a table for 3 hours and suffer through a game they've never played. But this is no obstacle for Barnes. He will look you dead in the eye, and confidently shave a good 50% off the playtime when asked. Maybe even more depending on the game. To get the playtime back into the realm of reality, you generally double whatever he says.

So consider this a word of warning to all of you AT gamers out there. The next time someone tries to tell you that Twilight Imperium 3 finishes up in about 2 hours, listen to that little devil on your shoulder calling bullshit. And the next time you want to get a group of six people to play Dune, just tell them that it finishes up in about an hour. It works for Barnes.

Disclaimer: While this post does lampoon a board game politician, it is not a personal attack. Thrower, don't ban me.