"Arizona and War Gaming" Topic

Looking to retire from military early next year.
Just visited Florence, AZ and it looks like a good bet for where we'll be buying a house.

I'll try just about any game but actively play the Mantic stuff, FoW, and Bolt Action.

Anybody got the inside scoop on gaming around that area?
Thanks in advance.

Congrats on your upcoming retirement. I retired in 2004 in Tucson.

There's a few game groups here, but mostly GW and Fantasy types. Our group is historical, but does Sci-Fi every so often.

I know there's a few other historical gamer groups in Phoenix.

P.

I don't know that area, I lived in Yuma which was/is a gaming wasteland unless you play 40K or Warmachine-Hordes. But Florence is only 60 miles or so from Phoenix, which does have a pretty diverse gaming scene. I would drive the three hours there, one way, every couple months to get in some gaming.

3 hours.. 60 miles ? what were you driving, a ride-on lawnmower?

Downtown Phx to Florence takes about 75 minutes. Heading to the East Valley would take less time. There is an active group of gamers there and that will probably be your best option. Three hours to Phx is absurd and closer to what it takes from Phx to Yuma.

Florence is a little cooler than Phx (especially at night) and will be quieter and more laid back. However, there is not a whole lot to do there and the job prospects are limited. Good luck but go with your eyes open as to the realities.

Upon rereading my post I can understand the confusion. But the three hours is what I drove from Yuma to Phoenix to game, not the time to drive from Florance, which I have never been to.

I Florence you will be between the two main areas for gaming in AZ. To the NE is Phoenix as Gray Bear details although you don't have to drive all the way into PHX to game. There is a good game store in Tempe, Game Depot where there is regular gaming.

South of Florence about the same distance is Tucson where there are a couple of gaming groups one of which plays Fow.

So if your willing to traveling some, and in AZ it's better that you are, the gaming scene isn't bad.

Personally my choice of place to retire to in AZ is Payson, less heat in the summer and mild winters.

Flying buffalo games is in scotsdale, AZ.

In Flagstaff was 15 years ago a small group of gamers…

Thanks for the help, folks. Seemed like it was a good remote place (retiring with last 5 years stationed in DC).

Sheesh, I doubt that there are a dozen people left in the greater PHX area that have even heard of Flying Buffalo much less know that it is still around.

I'd probably go to Tucson over Florence for retirement. Davis-Monthan AFB has a commissary and takes Tricare. Being remote makes doctor visits really onerous as you and your spouse get older – the closest specialists will probably be in Mesa. Florence does have a lot of open desert vistas and the opportunity to be removed from the neighbors, though.