Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/05) - The Ogre's Lair occupies the space at the bottom of the steps in the Panda Mall. Proprietor James Crozier opened the business part-time six-years ago. Back then, he squeezed his boxes and shelves into a 20-square foot cubby hole.

He expanded his cave two years ago by moving into an adjacent 250-square-foot store space. He left his job with the GNWT to work as a full-time entrepreneur.

With more than $100,000 worth of stock lining the walls, Crozier's store carries a bit of everything. He sells high end model kits, board games, X Box and PS2 video games, gaming magazines, fantasy novels, paintball equipment, eight kinds of dice and collectable card games such as Hero Clix, Yugio and Legend of the Five Rings.

But the most popular stuff is the role playing and tactical games. The Dungeons and Dragons fantasy game is still a hit. Other role playing games involve futuristic battles, Napoleonic wars, vampires and werewolves.

Crozier describes tactical games as "chess with randomness." Players build armies with pewter pieces and model backdrops. Warhammer 40k is the most-played, he said. A table in the store provides space for customers who want to hang out and play.

The games involve rolling dice and measuring moves with a ruler to out-manoeuvre an opponent in battle.

Tactical games require an investment comparable to the price of a video game or two. If customers want items not found in the store, Crozier will order them in.