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Notes -
What are some fun activities for male friends to do that are low effort and quick to set up?
I've done some grilling with friends and cooking is nice, but looking for another cheap, more active thing.
I suppose we could hike, though it's cold here right now. Bowling is kind of lame and expensive. Frisbee golf is another option but again, somewhat cold.
Perhaps I'm being too picky, but I wish there was an easy equivalent for men to the 'going shopping' that women seem to default to. They get to walk around and chat in a nice climate controlled environment.
I guess I'm just one more casualty in the culture war :'(
Shooting is the hobby of choice for my male acquaintances. They meet at gun ranges or someone’s house in the sticks to fire rifles at targets. Guns are expensive, though.
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Chess. Vanilla if everyone’s skills are comparable, duck chess for the novelty if there is a big skill gap.
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I have a few friends for whom the only activity is "drink a few", which unfortunately has dwindled as I drink much less often. On the other hand, grabbing a drink is something that can happen somewhat impromptu. I've rarely had a last minute itch to get out of the house and successfully leveraged that into some kind of organized activity.
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Board games, card games, dice games, video/computer games, hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, having a bonfire, darts, Jarts (even better if you can find the old metal-tipped ones), horseshoes, cornhole, hillbilly golf, bocce ball, shooting, axe throwing, kubb, strolling around town (either downtown or through any parks or trails nearby)…. As Ioper said, there are a million possibilities.
Generally, especially during colder months, I would recommend card games and dice games. Once learnt, most games are usually hard enough to keep your attention but easy enough to allow for plenty of side conversation. I’ve found that most board games require more attention.
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Sports
Yeah I guess I should get into sports. Oof.
Don't surrender to the macroculture. Don't live the lie of pretending to like something as mind numbingly boring as live broadcast sports. Just fucking go shopping for shit ya'll like. Go to home depot and lust after expensive tools.
Fuck it, go look at cloths and maybe get "dripped" so you may become the "rizzler". No, fuck you. I am old in spirit.
Any activity is fun with friends, so just pick any activity with a level of time commitment and expense everything likes.
Playing sports and watching sports is not even in tbe same universe of things.
I meant playing.
Oh shit! Playing sports is fun as heck, but not really a hang out activity.
It definitely can be! Going bouldering with a mate is more talking than activity, because you need to rest between attempts. I do a lot of hiking (&flying), and when I go with a friend we're talking the whole way up. Joining a sports club generally means you'll grab a beer together afterwards, or drive there/back together.
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Back when I still lived near friends, we'd usually drink, fence, shoot or play board or computer games.
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Board games, video games, just meet up and watch sports, indoor sports like basketball or volleyball, indoor golf, bouldering, going out for a beer at a bar, etc.
There are a million things you could do.
We aren't really sports people, and my friends are a few years sober. But yes board games are good.
Know any good ones for 2-3 people?
Arkham Horror
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I'm a fan of detective games myself.
chronicles of crime
Watson and Holmes
Sherlock Holmes consulting detective (lots of reading) (variable quality across releases) (lots of depth)
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2 players:
Patchwork (short and very light)
7 Wonders Duel (short and medium depth)
War of the Ring (or Star Wars Rebellion if sci-fi is more your jam) (long)
2-3 players:
Splendor (short and light)
Race for the Galaxy (short and medium depth)
Le Havre (long)
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I'd say generally that you want to be more than 2 people playing board games, 3-5 players is usually ideal.
There are a few that work for just two though, like Robo Rally.
Games for 3+ players:
Then there are larger expensive multi session games like Gloomhaven
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