Welcome to Gnome Games! We are dedicated to providing the community with the finest in non-electronic games and gaming opportunities possible.
We'd like to take a minute and introduce the gnomes that make all of this possible:
The Head Gnome travels the galaxy in search of the finest games for our customers!
Pat Fuge, CEO & Head Gnome
Pat began 'serious' game playing in the late 1970's when he was in college at UW Stevens Point. With graph paper, dice he had to color the numbers on and a bunch of friends he started his adventures as a soldier and gamer. Over the next 20 years much of the gaming was done as simulations created an run as an Operations and Intelligence MSG for the US Army, but the long lost books were re-discovered by his two sons during a move to a new duty station, and ultimately led to the opening of Gnome Games in Green Bay.
"My job is to find great games and help the community come together to play them. The most important part of my job is working with parents and educators to help them learn how to use games to communicate with the youth of the community."
Favorite Games: (In no particular order)
D&D (The story is what is important - no matter what the edition) Magic the Gathering - because no matter where I travel I can always find someone to play with Settlers of Catan - it's the game that allows anyone to enter the realm of the hobby game world Fluxx - because it's easy to teach, fun to play, and doesn't allow for rules manipulation by rules lawyers
When I'm not Gaming I like to chase salmon and ducks (sometimes I even catch a few) and downhill skiing.
Jocelyn brings a gret knowledge of all things Japanese to Gnome Games. Whether it is Manga, Anime, Pokemon or exotic Japanese snacks, she helps us bring the cool things the kids in Japan enjoy to our stores.
I have been around games my entire life. The early years consisted of the main stream stuff like Sorry and Monopoly but as I grew I began to slowly branch out. The first 'Gamer' game I played occured when I found a revised edition copy of Talisman in my basement. The board looked similar to Monopoly but the level of complexity allowed for an intense amount of strategy. My next big leap into the Gaming industry occured shortly after that when my brother introduced me to Magic the Gathering (I believe it was during Mirage). I took the last big leap when we found my dads old D&D 2nd ed books in the basement. I can still remember the first time playing, when asked what kind of character I wanted to play I remember saying 'A guy with a BIG BIG sword'. I also distinctly remembering not understanding any of the rules (which in retrospect probably added to the mystery and excitement).
Sinse then I have played just about every game I could get my hands on: Pokemon, Mageknight, Legend of the Five Rings, Shadowrun, Gurps, Settlers of Catan and many many more.
Through my gaming adventures I have found that it doesn't really matter what game you play, its more about the playing with the right group of friends.
That being said I still do have my favorites (no particular order): Pretty much any roleplaying system as long as the people playing are there to have fun Zombies!!! Settlers of Catan Megaman CCG Legend of the Five Rings Blood Bowl
It all started one dark and stormy day thirty years ago. I went to school with no inkling that things would be different from any other day, but wow, was I wrong! Little did I know my life was about to change forever. Sitting in grade math class, I was bored and my eyes were wandering when I beheld a large hardcover book with cool images on the cover in the book rack below a desk. There was a troll, a unicorn, a centaur, a dragon, and some funky thing that looked like an owl wearing a big bear-skin coat pictured on the cover. I asked the owner, a bespectacled, redheaded boy in the next row, what it was. "The monster manual," he said, as if that should have been explanation enough. But then, with a roll of his eyes, he continued: "it's for a game called D&D," and he passed it over to me.
It was the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual and it was filled with really cool (for a 6th grader in 1979) drawings of all kinds of weird creatures and beings. As I had no experience with role playing games at the time, his explanation of a game that used graph paper, my imagination, multi-shaped dice, 'characters', and a 'Dungeon Mater' was a bit beyond my comprehension. Seeing my befuddlement at his laborious explanation, he invited me over to his house to play it. That was the beginning of the end and in less than a year I was running the game for him! I practically lived at his house for the next few years and we were inseparable during high school as we played, talked, and day-dreamed D&D nearly every waking moment.
Thirty years later, D&D is still a major portion of my life. I am an avid 4th Edition D&D player with a home campaign and many hours of RPGA experience as well. Since that 'dark and stormy day' - actually, it was probably sunny, but that doesn't start out a story nearly as dramatically - way back when, I have played and DM'd campaigns through every version of D&D and AD&D (and now back to D&D) that has been published. I'll play every new version that comes out in the future and I have requested that my first edition 'Dungeon Master Guide' and my original set of blue-box D&D basic set dice be buried with me when I pass.
Outside of D&D (if there is such a thing) over the years I have served in the U.S. Army, sold and refinished antiques, rebuilt hot rods, engineered a catapult or two, and, among other things, earned three college degrees. Today I am a mild-mannered and self-confirmed computer geek. I teach computers and networking at NWTC, I work in the IT department of a local company, and I have my own computer consulting and programming business. At home I have a very understanding wife who encourages me to game, two wonderful kids (one of whom plays D&D as well), and four dogs (they don't play, but I have tried). In addition to D&D, I have a serious interest in astronomy and when I am not gaming I am probably in the observatory I built on my property outside of Pulaski, looking at, and taking pictures of, the night sky.
Like so many others, gaming has always held a place in my heart. I was really introduced into the gaming world back during my summer between 8th and 9th grade. My junior high had a Gaming Club that tried to meet once a week, even during the summer. The club advisor had mentioned to me that he thought I might be interested and so I showed up. My first game was a 6 hour session of Axis and Allies and I was locked.
I preceded to focus on board games, my real passion, for the early part of my gaming career. I was then introduced to RPG's by one of the adult club members. The epic tales we all shared were ones that I continue to tell friends about to this day. However, my interests soon led me in a new path.
By the end of the second year I was the recognized student leader of the club. I found that I enjoyed working with the younger kids and organizing meetings, at least what you could organize with +40 junior high kids. It was the third year of our annual convention, Evercon, and I had taken on the role of student organizer. After 7 years of coordinating the convention and training new students to take on the role, I'm very proud to see the leaps and bounds they have already taken. I always enjoy returning in January to visit with old friends and make a few new ones.
I'm currently attending UWGB and am working on a dual major in Computer Science and Human Development. I found that my experience in running a club has helped me in my role as Gamers' Club Dictator (President). I've coordinated Chaoticon for three years now and am looking forward to volunteering down at Gen Con once again at Customer Service.
Favorite Games:
Lunar Rails - What better place to build railroads than on the moon! Magic the Gathering - I've always enjoyed how customizable the game is. Settlers of Catan - Such an easy game to learn and teach, and sooo addicting! Ticket to Ride - Come from behind victories are the best. Just keep drawing!!!
Mowing the lawn, taking out the trash and emptying the dish washer. Every week I was at my grandma's house helping her around the house. My payment, was two packs of Pokemon cards. I was excited that after my day of work I had my chance at the legendary foil Charizard card. With my steady income of Pokemon cards I was one of the coolest kids in the 5th grade! I continued to play pokemon throughout middle school. I was asked by my parents many times "When are you going to grow out of card games?" My only response to them was "Not anytime soon."
Once I was in high school I witnessed a giant game of Magic the Gathering playing at one of the lunch tables. I knew right away that I wanted to join that circle of players. Once I figured out rules and started making strategies I moved on from the lunch table to tournaments at local game stores. The strategy of the card games is what has captured my interest in the gaming world.
My friends have also all enjoyed playing card games with me, but they liked to branch out also. I was never one to turn down a new game. I have dabbled into the White Wolf and D&D RPG world. I have spent many nights at a table of Axis and Allies, Risk, and Settlers of Catan.
Favorite Games:
Magic the Gathering - A great strategy game with an always changing environment Settlers of Catan - An easy to learn game of bartering, building, and sheep! Fluxx - Fluxx is great to throw in a pocket or a backpack. You can play anywhere, and if you can read the card you can play the game. D&D - I haven't played in a while, but I can never resist an epic tale.
When I'm not Gaming I like to chase salmon and ducks (sometimes I even catch a few) and downhill skiing.
