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One of my Father's Day gifts was a $50 gift card to the local gaming store. They are a small little shop, but stuff just about anything and everything you can imagine in there. Not so good for me; they don't discount anything at all. They also make me feel like I am stealing things left and right, but I have to spend the money there.
Some ideas I have been thinking about (these are not set in stone as I am open to most anything).
Things I like or want:
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Interesting boardgames that my family can play. My kids are 9 and 11. My son likes everything I am into, naturally, and my daughter is into anything cute and cuddly. My wife doesn't "get" games. So maybe something that she could feel interested in playing.
Warhammer 40K - Imperial Guard, Daemonhunters
(I haven't played 40K in a VERY long time. However I wouldn't mind getting a tank or some sentinals. I have never played Daemonhunters but they would look badass finished on my desk). I could probably get a small squad of DH and a sentinel with $50.
Any interesting Fantasy or Sci book collections. I have read a LOT of mainstream fantasy and sci-fi. Think LoTR, WoT, and SoT for fantasy. Some of the 40K Horus Heresy books (don't know if it is just me but the first book really creeped me out), some of Neil Gaiman's stuff, Richard Morgan, and Orson Scott Card. Sadly I have never read any Star Wars books.
Anything else you feel would be a good choice for money.
Things I don't need or not under serious consideration
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As far as RPG stuff goes I have the 4th core books and the KotS module. A large chunk of Pathfinder material except for the Modules and the latest CoTC book, #10 I think. Since I have so much extra stuff I am not even using now, pen and paper things are not on the top of the list. Of course if you know of something I HAVE to play post it anyway.
Any types of CCG (I usually play Pokemon with my son. Anything else would seriously cut into my hobby money).
Pokemon: I have a pretty killer deck using Darkrai, at least my son thinks so :)
M:TG: I used to play M:TG, but I made a VERY STUPID bonehead decision 5 years ago by throwing away the whole shoebox full of cards. My whole collection including cool counters, and other things. I still regret that decision to this day, and refuse to throw anything else away as a result. For some reason I have the urge to pick up this more adult oriented tcg.
Yu-Gi-Oh: My son seems to have left this serious behind and moved even deeper into Pokemon.
WoW TCG: never played it but I have a few cards that game with the Burning Crusade expansion pack.
Settlers of Catan
Carcasonne
Two lovely little board games that are easy to learn and fun to play.
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With kids 9 and 11, perhaps its time to introduce them to RISK or Conquest of the Empire or Star Wars Monopoly.
You could always begin a minis collection - that will use up the $50 fast. Get a vynal mat and some German markers, and play some d & d.
Sometimes bargin bin stuff is good - old 3.0 stuff, or even software for worldbuilding has come a long way now.
New dice is a fun thing to buy, maybe a wooden dice tray or that new Castle Tower dice roller. Its great as a DM to toss those d20 in and still be looking right at your players, listening to their actions - the dice stay in the tray at the bottom of the tower, waiting for you to be ready, rather than getting mixed up with your other death dice.
You could get a fancy dice bag, or buy a Star Wars minis starter set for the kids (I'm not sure if they're interested though).
IMHO, if you can find the 2005 updated version of CONQUEST OF THE EMPIRE, I can tell you that it is AWESOME! It comes with two rule sets: 1 Classic and one all new!
Have Fun!
Kill Doctor Lucky: Often called the "prequel" to Clue, your goal is to off a sad sorry old man. Problem is, his moniker is very true and it's a lot harder than you think to get rid of the coot!
Fluxx: Comes in several varieties (Original, Family Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx to name a few), starts out with two simple rules: draw one card, play one card. Heck, you can't even win until somebody has played a Goal card! As the name of the game implies, things are in constant change - you may have the capability to win one round, but somebody might play a new Goal card (or a new Rule card) and completely change the dynamics of the game.
I would be happy to spend the money for you. Honestly, I don't think you should feel the temptation or stress of shopping in your local gaming store, let Eileen do it for you! Do they have shopping carts there? I'm likely to go over your $50.00 budget.
Molech:
The boards are more fun than work right now. :P
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Fluxx: Comes in several varieties (Original, Family Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx to name a few), starts out with two simple rules: draw one card, play one card. Heck, you can't even win until somebody has played a Goal card! As the name of the game implies, things are in constant change - you may have the capability to win one round, but somebody might play a new Goal card (or a new Rule card) and completely change the dynamics of the game.
A hoot AND a hollar for a low price! Loony Labs has a great series of card games with Fluxx. I haven't played Zombie Fluxx yet, but I want to. Great game!
Also, Zombies (and the expansions to it) are quite fun for an off-rpg night. And the Munchkin games are freakin'hysterical.
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Fluxx: Comes in several varieties (Original, Family Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx to name a few), starts out with two simple rules: draw one card, play one card. Heck, you can't even win until somebody has played a Goal card! As the name of the game implies, things are in constant change - you may have the capability to win one round, but somebody might play a new Goal card (or a new Rule card) and completely change the dynamics of the game.
A hoot AND a hollar for a low price! Loony Labs has a great series of card games with Fluxx. I haven't played Zombie Fluxx yet, but I want to. Great game!
Also, Zombies (and the expansions to it) are quite fun for an off-rpg night. And the Munchkin games are freakin'hysterical.
At first glance, this suggestion might seem a little sedate, but after lots of flashy, noisy games centered around ponies or Dora etc., I recently bought a "traditional" game thats quite a hit with my 7 yr old daughter - Othello. Sometimes getting back to basics with your kids can be fun.
Blockus is a great game that takes about 3 seconds to learn. Taboo is also a lot of fun.
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Once Upon a Time is a great game that anyone can play. My daughter and I play it all the time. Your wife might very well enjoy it, too.
Apples to Apples is one of those rare games that is actually MORE fun when played with a group of folks of varying age groups. I have seldom had more fun than when I played that game with a 9-year-old.
Highly recommended.
Also: Kill Doctor Lucky. :)
--Erik
Also works for maturity levels. I can win any hand with one guy playing with one card: Hand Grenades. Or, depending on the topic, Rosie O'Donnel.
Horrible? Rosie
Unethical? Rosie
Delicious? Hand Grenades.
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I would be happy to spend the money for you. Honestly, I don't think you should feel the temptation or stress of shopping in your local gaming store, let Eileen do it for you! Do they have shopping carts there? I'm likely to go over your $50.00 budget.
I really appreciate your since wish to want to help my out. Not many people would be as caring as you are. Where do I send the money?!? :D
Well there have definitely been some great suggestions. None of which came to my mind when I posted yesterday. I think I will see if I can pick up the following:
Apples to Apples (Crate edition if they have it or can order it quickly)
Fluxx
Kill Doctor Lucky
Yeah, I know that goes above my $50 gift card, but hey it's stuff for the family.
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Just to give a quick update to anyone who reads this thread. I ordered Kill Doctor Lucky and Fluxx. Those two should be here this week. Apples to Apples was bought and played a few nights ago. It is a pretty good game, but with two adults and two kids you can kind of figure out who put what cards out. Especially when my son who is the biggest clown I know of, honestly I don't know where he gets it, will put out some totally random cards and just laugh his little butt off.
So just a thank you to everyone that responded. Hopefully the game store will get those other two in before the 4th so I can play them with the family this long holiday weekend.