FLIRTING 101

THROWING THE DICE IN
MUNCHKIN AND IN LOVE

Bonnie Burton

In a world of online dating and relating, it can be scary to interact face-to-face, away from avatars and screen names. Romance is tricky for geeks who have a hard time finding ways to meet others who share our love for dragons, swords, zombies, robots, and spaceships. Sure, we can attempt to make contact across a crowded room of cosplayers at a convention, but it’s not easy to forge a love connection behind superhero masks and stormtrooper helmets.

How can a geek find a mate while displaying intellect, humor, and bravado? That’s where Munchkin comes in! The best way to demonstrate your talent for wordplay, logical reasoning skills, and witty comebacks is to play a game. To succeed in gaming, you have to be quick in your reasoning as well as creative and imaginative. Flirting can seem like a paralyzing endeavor for some of us, but it’s easier than you think to start up a conversation if you treat first-time interaction like a game in itself. Tabletop games encourage you to interact with both friends and strangers in a way that’s much more rewarding than the usual bar scene or party.

Never jumped into a massive roleplaying game? You can skip all the background work they usually require and just play Munchkin. It’s easy to learn, so you can spend less time stressing over rules and more time concentrating on how to win both the game and the attention of that intriguing person across the table. And for those of you lucky enough to have found a partner already, playing Munchkin can be a great way to rekindle the flirty side of the relationship, which humdrum day-to-day activities may have buried. Partners who play games together seem to have more fun.

Here are some handy tips on how playing Munchkin can be your gateway to making flirting fun:

1. CHOOSE YOUR MUNCHKIN GAME
BASED ON YOUR FAVORITE OBSESSION!

There’s a Munchkin card game for everyone. Love spy movies? There’s Munchkin Impossible! Think vampires are sexy? Try Munchkin Bites! Love to fight crime? Super Munchkin is right up your alley! Hungry for brains? Munchkin Zombies is calling your name! Wanna show off your best robot voice? Star Munchkin is for you! The key is to pick a theme you already know a lot about so you can come up with the most knowledgeable and entertaining chitchat. If you’re comfortable with the subject matter, you’ll already be at ease for small talk. It’s so much more fun to chat about zombies and brain matter with someone else who appreciates undead factoids and doesn’t consider people who offer them creepy.

2. DUCK OF DOOM OR GLOOM?

Most people are either optimists or pessimists. In the Munchkin world, that places you in either the Duck of Doom or Duck of Gloom camp. Bring up the ducks in conversation to see which one your crush identifies with the most. You might discover they believe everyone should know better than to pick up a duck in a dungeon – it could be a devious, feathered-covered trap! Or perhaps they think the opposite is true, and you find out all ducks deserve to be taken somewhere more pleasant. Either way, it’s a great conversation starter – and conversation is the best way to get to know someone better.

3. SIZING UP YOUR COMPETITION!

If you have discerning taste, chances are you’ll have some competition not only in winning the game, but in winning the attention of your crush. The key here is to avoid looking like an ass when playing both the game of Munchkin and of love. When making jokes and challenging your opponents in witty banter, be careful not to go overboard. There’s kidding and then there’s not-so-charming kidding. Sexist, racist, or homophobic comments will definitely get you plenty of attention, but not the kind you want. No one likes to play with someone who crosses the line from entertaining to insulting. Being a jerk during a game sets you apart from the competition in the worst way possible. Back-and-forth banter is best when the remarks are more pithy than nasty. Think Humphrey Bogart in his film noir detective mode, Joss Whedon’s heroes, or even Bugs Bunny.

4. TELL FUNNY STORIES BASED
ON THE CARDS YOU DRAW!

This is your time to show off your bard skills. Got the “Shrieking Geek” card? Bring up that one time when you encountered a loud, screaming fan that pushed you out of the way to ask Mark Hamill for an autograph at a comic book convention. Ask others at the table if they have any crazy nerd tales to share, too. Or maybe you have to fight the Large Angry Chicken? Now’s your chance to admit to the group that you kept your chicken Halloween costume just so you can occasionally wear it to amuse busy commuters by crossing busy streets. Use the cards to transition to life stories that spark conversation. When others realize there’s much more to you than tabletop gaming skills, they’ll be more apt to let their guard down and chat with you. A gaming table is most welcoming when it is treated as a shared storytelling space.

5. LISTEN AND LEARN!

You don’t need to spend the entire session impressing players with your storytelling prowess, wit, and gaming acumen. Remember to listen so you can learn more about your table companions. Does the gal on your left get excited about certain monster cards? What kind of stories does the guy on your right tell when he gets “The Four Horsies of the Apocalypse” or the “Creature From the Pink Lagoon”? You can tell a lot about people from the monsters they prefer. When others have a chance to tell funny stories, unusual anecdotes, and bons mots, they let their personalities shine. Discovering people’s passions, quirks, and eccentricities through their storytelling is half the fun when gaming with others.

6. HELP!

In Munchkin, you can ask another player for assistance during battle. This not only helps in game play, but also gives you an opportunity to interact with another player. Ask for help from that cutie you’ve been eyeing. But don’t take it too personally if you only get a couple of gaming pointers and not much else. For some people, winning is everything.

Or better yet, offer to help another player out of a bind. Being a good sport goes a long way in Munchkin and in life. When you show that you’re at the gaming table not necessarily to win but to have fun with new people, it will make others feel at ease around you.

7. BE AN ELDER GEEK GUIDE!

Does the person you like have a hard time understanding the game? Offer to sit out a few rounds and be a Munchkin sensei. Play “open” for a while, meaning with the cards face up. That way you and the others at the table can offer suggestions. Most new players will welcome the chance to play this way for a while, since it eliminates the pressure of having to learn the mechanics quickly.

There may be other opportunities to be of assistance, too. If the game theme is Cthulhu and the player is unfamiliar with H. P. Love-craft, you can impress your crush with your knowledge of tentacles and Elder Gods. Even if the game is just a normal non-themed Munchkin deck, you can still help your crush figure out the best cards to play and what strategy to use to gain the most levels. When you offer to be someone’s Jedi Master at Munchkin, your advice might receive appreciative attention. It can also be incredibly flattering to have someone spend so much one-on-one time with a newbie.

8. TIME FOR IMPRESSIONS!

If you don’t act like a fool at some point when you’re in love, you may not be doing it right. Someone who talks like a pirate occasionally during a session of Munchkin Booty is endearing. If you’ve got improv skills, now’s the time to use them. But if you plan on staring hungrily at your crush during Munchkin Zombies, you may set the wrong impression. Watch the body language of the other players to see if you’re being entertaining or just plain creepy. Every comedian beginning a daunting career in stand-up is told to know their audience. Watch other players carefully for their reactions to your behavior. If there’s more laughing than eye rolling, you’re golden. If your gaming crew prefers more subtle witticisms, keep the goofball antics to a minimum.

9. COSPLAY CAN BE CUTE!

If you really want to go full throttle in this flirting challenge, why not dress up in a costume worthy of the game you’re playing? Wear a cowboy hat or a sombrero for The Good, the Bad, and the Munchkin! Dress in a tuxedo or a fancy evening dress for Munchkin Impossible. Superhero capes look impressive during Super Munchkin. And if you’ve got a Viking hat, by all means don it for the original Munchkin game! Wearing a funny chapeau or a costume shows that you’re willing to embrace your silly side. Life can be too serious, so you might as well use a game of Munchkin to prove that you can throw caution to the wind.

10. THROW THE DICE!

Nothing reveals more about someone’s personality than the type of dice they collect. All gamers have their special lucky dice, and in the Munchkin world, there’s a lot to choose from. Whether you prefer Jolly Jumbo, Rainbow, Radioactive, or Fairy Dust Dice, there’s a selection that’s just right for everyone. If you’re hosting the game, you might want to have a bunch of different dice on hand for your fellow players. This shows you’re welcoming and might even get you a sneak peek at your crush’s inner desires, depending upon what gets picked. Dice always make for a fun gift. You can never have too many of them, and gifts of dice are a nice way to tell the special people in your life that you appreciate their gaming spirit.

11. DON’T CHEAT!

Remember all those old Western movies where they shoot the guy who tries to cheat during a poker game? Yeah, don’t be that guy! Respect the people at the table with you. This should go without saying for any game. No one likes a cheater. (Unless you have the special Munchkin “Cheat!” card to play – that makes it okay!) When you cheat, your crush might wonder if you not only have problems with the rules of the game, but also the rules of life. No one wants to date someone who might cheat and break a heart.

12. BE ENCOURAGING!

If your crush plays a good hand, offer some praise. Thumbs up, high five, and sexy winking all work for successful flirting. A handful of confetti or glitter thrown in your crush’s face might be going a bit far. Try to keep your congratulations simple and sweet. This is especially important for those of us who are playing for the first time with a bunch of experts. (Nothing is scarier than learning a new game with a group of people who know all the tricks.) If you want to be the kind of person everyone wants at the table, offer some sincere kudos when another player figures out a complicated maneuver or bluffs like a gaming veteran.

13. ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN!

When you let loose and are yourself in Munchkin – or any game – you show that you’re comfortable in your own skin. Self-confidence and a good sense of humor go a long way in relationships. Munchkin is about fighting monsters, looting the treasure, and having a blast while being a goofball. There’s nothing sexier than people who can laugh at themselves and help others have a good time . . . all while wearing Viking hats!

TOP 5 MUNCHKIN CARDS
FOR FLIRTING

Need a great flirting springboard? Try playing these Munchkin cards for a chance to break the ice or at least have a reason to look good in front of your crush at the gaming table!

1. Friendship Potion

You play this card during any combat to discard all monsters. You won’t gain any treasure and you can only use the card once, but friendship is a great idea to demonstrate when you want to show your crush your softer side.

2. Yuppie Water

Is your crush an elf? If they ask for help, play the “Yuppie Water” card to help fight a monster, and you could end up being the hero of the battle.

3. Leather Armor

C’mon, everyone looks better in leather. Plus this is a great way to bring up sexy armor as a conversation point. When else are you ever going to get to talk about it with your crush without looking too obvious?

4. Tuba of Charm

This card captivates your foes with beautiful tuba music so you can run away. In fact, if you successfully escape combat through your musical talent, you even get to grab a treasure card. When playing the “Tuba of Charm” card, be sure to mention what musical instruments you play in real life, or the ones you want to learn. Who knows, your crush could be an expert guitarist or pianist who’d be willing to teach you how to make sweet music.

5. Kneepads of Allure

Play this card to ask for help against a monster from someone special whose level is higher than yours – they can’t refuse your request. While you can’t gain the winning level in a combat if you use this card, it’s still a great way to break the ice with someone you’ve had your eye on during the game.

San Francisco-based author Bonnie Burton writes about everything from Wookiees to mean girls. Her books include The Star Wars Craft Book (Random House), Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Planets in Peril (DK Readers), Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Klutz Books), You Can Draw: Star Wars (DK Children), Girls Against Girls: Why We Are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change (Zest Books), and Never Threaten to Eat Your Co-workers: Best of Blogs (Apress). Bonnie also contributed to Womanthology: Heroic (IDW Publishing), Womanthology: Space (IDW Publishing), and The Girls’ Guide to Guys’ Stuff (Friends of Lulu). Bonnie writes for CNET.com and SFX Magazine, and has written for Wired, Star Wars Insider, Geek, Bust, Craft, CNN .com, and Huffington Post. She hosts the web shows Geek DIY for Stan Lee’s World of Heroes, Vaginal Fantasy Book Club Show on Geek & Sundry, and her vlog Ask Bonnie. Learn more about Bonnie on her site, Grrl.com.