The North American Championship tournaments of the award-winning collectible-card game (CCG), Vampire: The Eternal Struggle, are being held all this week at the Wellesley Inn down near the airport. Lots of newcomer-friendly events are in the works down there, too, organized and orchestrated by my buddy Oscar Garza (ask for him by name). If you play(ed) Magic or are into strategic, resource-driven board games, you’ll like V:TES. It’s a mature, complex and challenging game that’s maintained its popularity long after other CCGs have faded away.

Bias warning: I work for the company that makes and markets this game, though it’s not one of mine, per se. So in addition to hosting the national championships this week, it’s also a locally made game.