Fort Smith (Jan 15/07) - A club in Fort Smith is introducing people to a whole new world of board games beyond Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit.

The Fort Smith Game Club, founded by Joe Tomkins in November, features the more complex and challenging board games from Europe.

Joe Tomkins, who founded the Fort Smith Game Club in November, owns close to 60 board games. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"They're a totally different mindset," he explained, although he added the games are still lots of fun.

And Tomkins should know -- he owns close to 60 board games, almost all from Europe.

Tomkins said most well-known board games like Monopoly and Risk depend on the roll of the dice, meaning there are not many options for players.

However, European games offer players different ways and strategies to win, he said. "There is more creativity and problem solving in game play. It challenges your mind, rather than just rolling the dice."

One of Tomkins' favourites is the German game The Settlers of Catan.

In it, players compete to build settlements and cities on a grid of an island. The game involves planning what resources are needed and trading with other players.

Another game, Robo Rally, involves manoeuvring a robot through obstacles in a factory.

Tomkins said everyone loves the game because nothing ever seems to go right.

"It's a long way beyond Monopoly," he said.

Adam Priest, one club participant, enjoys the fact the games are different.

"It's not like cookie-cutter ones," he said, noting the games require different skills.

Jeff O'Keefe is another new player.

"It's fun," he said. "Sitting around and socializing while you play some board games."

O'Keefe said the European games are not the typical kinds most people have played.

One of his favourites is Ticket to Ride, in which players build rail lines between cities in North America.

Tomkins, a 29-year-old pilot who began collecting games just over three years ago, started the club partly as a way to get more people to play with.

It also brings different social circles together, he said. "It's a good way of spending time with people in a social environment."

While the club focuses on European games, Tomkins said people are welcome to bring any game they like to play. The club, which meets the first and third Saturday of the month at Aurora College, is designed for adults, although young people 12 and over are welcome if accompanied by a parent.