Gamemaster Show Gen Con Interview

[luke]

Here's the other interview I did at Gen Con. This one with Mario from the Gamemaster Show:
http://thegamemastershow.com/content/view/146/1/

[Berandor]

So why don't you like Scrabble?

[luke]

Because it's not about making cool words or even having a big vocabulary. It's about scoring points on the board and memorizing the Scrabble dictionary.

[stormsweeper]

Because it's not about making cool words or even having a big vocabulary. It's about scoring points on the board and memorizing the Scrabble dictionary.

I like Scrabble, but I don't consider it a "word" game for pretty much those reasons. It's a strategic tile-laying game with a heavy random element.

[Berandor]

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[Dwight]

Because it's not about making cool words or even having a big vocabulary. It's about scoring points on the board and memorizing the Scrabble dictionary.

Me and my Grandma played it like the former and it rocked. Of course we had no idea that the Scrabble Dictionary existed. Maybe it didn't back then? (70's)

I still refuse to pick up the Scabble Dictionary but I've conceded to use a dictionary when I play with my wife. And I still largely play to come up with new obscure words so she'll blow a turn challenging me. ;)

But playing optimal to win the actual game as written? Agreed, not so great.

[eruditus]

Those are the reasons I like Scrabble. There is a word element. But yeah it's less of a word game.