Name: Murray Provan
Course: Games Design and Production
Year: 2nd Year
What made you choose to join the Tabletop Games Society?
Board games offer a wide range of enjoyable experiences for all sorts of people and aspects such as social interaction, escapism and the sheer variety of board games today make for a great time to spend with friends.
What’s the most challenging board game you’ve ever played and what made it so difficult?
A game called Twilight Imperium as the ruleset is fairly complex but robust and the strategic depth you need to concentrate on for its lengthy run time makes it difficult to navigate combats and exploration on many fronts while juggling diplomatic and political relationships with the other players all in a far future setting.
What’s your all-time favourite board game and why?
For me it would be a toss-up between Talisman - an epic fantasy adventure game and carcassonne, a Euro-style game where the players build a medieval landscape together. Both games are serviced by unique and extensive expansions, adding more depth and variety to each of the games.
If you could combine two board games to create the ultimate gaming experience, which ones would you choose and how would they work together?
Two games I would combine would be Catan and Wingspan. I love the idea of exploring the different wildlife as you expand across a new land and building a powerful and unique engine to gather resources to facilitate more exotic and rare wildlife.
If you could live in any fictional world, which one would it be and why?
I think it would be really cool to live in Shangri-La from lost horizon - it just seems like a peaceful and idyllic refuge away from all the stresses and troubles of our current world.
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would you choose and how would you use it?
I would choose the power of teleportation as it would allow me to explore breathtaking natural wonders, swiftly reach areas struck by disaster to provide immediate assistance or make some great personal connections.
If you could have a dinner party with any three celebrities, who would you invite and why?
Sir David Attenborough, for his vast knowledge and storytelling abilities, Malala Yousafzai for her insights into important issues and Tom Hanks for his charisma and genuine personality. The evening would be filled with laughter and meaningful discussions.
