[SamuraiProgrammer]

My Wife plays this and other games. She prefers RPGs such as Baldur's Gate and the Might & Magic series. She has also played mucho grande hours of Heroes of Might & Magic.

She enjoys strategy games much better than tactical as she is a bit of an empire builder. She does complain that wishes the games didn't always come down to fighting, but I keep explaining to her that unfortunately, force is the final answer when survival is at stake.

She does like Quake, however, because, as she says, "it is very satisfying to blow my husband up with a grenade launcher." I don't know what to say about that. I'm torn..... to shreds (if you get my drift).

But anyway... she is working on her skills and is getting used to the idea of venturing out to PBW against opponents other than myself. She has played a few games in a tight group of local friends.

She would make the observation that "more women would play if they knew about it".

I would make the observation that women generally enjoy the exploration and expansion but most pale at the thought of backing up their policy with force.

If you want to introduce a member of the better gender to this (or other games), start by setting ground rules that prevent armed conflict. At the very least, they will have the opportunity to learn the workings of the game (and have a chance to build an addiction) before they are forced to learn strategy and tactics the only way they are effectively taught... by getting stomped.

For the record, we are both on the other side of 40 years old & one of the reasons I married her was because she understood my hobby.

P.S. --- we also play bridge... the best wargame around (believe it or not).