Okay, they've already told you about the local stores but here's a wealth of additional detail, cut & pasted from a thread that we had running a few weeks ago about game stores all over the place. This is from three seperate, so some of it is out of context:
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Maerdwyn,
you beat me to it -- I was planning on starting a similar thread but instead of just naming favorites, I was going to try to get people to give the pros and cons of the stores in their area. That way we'd have sort of a directory of game stores, which would be great to have when visiting different places. I've found lots of classic stuff used in random stores that I found as I was just passing through some places. At any rate, if anyone else thinks that'd be a good idea, let me know via email and we can either start a new thread or maybe I'd even throw something more solid together on a spreadsheet or Word document or something.
At any rate, without hijacking (sort-of) your thread any further, my favorite store around the Boston area is Your Move Games in Davis Square (Somerville). They have two decent size rooms of merchandise - a great selection of rpgs, including lots of D20 stuff, as well plenty of miniatures, especially by Games Workshop. The employees are very helpful (once you manage to edge into their conversation) and are always happy to order anything that they don't have in stock. They have a large playing room with several tables, sell snacks (soda, candy and ice cream) and don't mind when you bring your own food (or order out for food to get delivered to you in the store). They also have a small room with computers that you can use, although I'm not sure what games are on them as I've never checked it out. Best of all, they're open to midnight all week (maybe not on Sundays). The only thing that I think they could do to improve is carry a selection of used games.
Second favorite is Pandemonium Books & Games in The Garage in Harvard Square (Cambridge) which has a great selection of RPGs (including used stuff) but only a minimal selection of minis. Plus the aisles are small and the store is usually pretty crowded so you always tend to feel like you're in someone else's way.
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Well, okay then. This will be a long one. First off...Boston area, my hometown and current residence:
Your Move Games is the best store in town, see my full description earlier in this thread.
Pandemonium is next, again see my first description. A few other things to note as well. They have a 10% discount if you join their club/mailing list. It costs $5 or $10 a year but quickly pays off if you buy a lot of stuff, but unfortunately there's no discount on the used stuff. On the other hand, the used stuff is very reasonably priced to begin with. Also, the location in Harvard Square is very convenient, on the T (subway) and several bus lines. Plus Newbury Comics is right across the hall so you can pcik up your new music and new games at one stop. No gaming space here, though.
The Compleat Strategist on Mass Ave. by the Christian Science Center is good too, but their hours are extremely inconvenient, especially if you work a full time job. They close at 6:00 most weeknights and Saturdays, 7:00 on Wednesdays. Sometimes they're open on Sundays and sometimes not, it seems to change every six months or so. The selection of RPGs and minis are good. They also carry board games, wargames, and those Men-at-Arms books of historical soldiers and weaponry. The mangement has changed recently so I'm not sure about the staff currently but in the past they've often had employees who fit the Simpsons comic store guy stereotype to a 'T'.
The Game Keeper in the Chestnut Hill mall in Newton is like most other Game Keeper/WOTC stores - decent selection of their stuff, D20, some minis, and lots of boardgames.
Local mall bookstores (Waldenbooks and B. Dalton's) generally carry a small selection of WOTC and Sword & Sorcery products but not much else D20.
I've heard that there's good game shops in Waltham and Malden (or maybe Medford) too but haven't found 'em yet. If anyone know more, feel free to jump in.
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quote:
Originally posted by Maerdwyn Is "Games People Play" still around on Mass Ave? I used to get my board games there.
It sure is, I forgot about them. For everyone else, here's the details...on Mass Ave in Cambridge between Central and Harvard (but closer to Harvard), it's a cool store but focuses on more traditional games and puzzles. There are a couple of shelves of
RPG stuff including D20 and the selection is random but pretty good. The staff are real nice. Hours are a okay - open until 7:00 most nights, I think.
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the original thread, if you're interested:
http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1033&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
There is Pandemonium in Harvard Square Cambridge, Your Move Games in Davis Square Cambridge, Games People Play (mostly board games) in Cambridge, and The Compleat Strategist on Mass Ave in Boston.
