There are two things we here at Gifford Gaming love above all else and we love them for the same reason, stories and leather. Both of these things get better and better with age. How much bigger is that first fish you caught now than it was when you caught it? How much better does your old wallet feel now than it did when you bought it? I can tell you that both the fish and the wallet are so much better now.
Storytelling is the world’s oldest art form. It is something that arouses our souls. It is versatile; you can entertain with a story, or teach a lesson, or maybe you want to preserve knowledge. Stories gain a patina with age and repetition. This is what draws us to gaming. It allows the normally individual art of storytelling to become collaborative. We create these moments and feelings together to make something greater than the sum of its parts. Some of the best times are after the game is over and everyone is standing out by their cars buzzing about the BBEG we just killed or the nest of beasties we just cleared out for the town. Being part of the story weaves you directly into it, gives you a connection that you simply cannot attain by hearing alone. Storytelling touches something deeper and that’s something we try to honor at Gifford Gaming.
Leather is the world’s oldest crafting material. It’s something that belongs with storytelling. It is versatile; you can use it as clothing, or a weapon, or maybe you need a nice bag to carry your dice in. Just like a story, leather will patina with age and repetitive use. It becomes more beautiful, more comfortable, it feels better and will always smell amazing. Leather is durable. So long as it isn’t abused it will be with you forever, some of the world’s oldest discoveries are leather shoes from over 7000 years ago. To see something so universal as a shoe, something that I put on everyday, that has lasted from so long ago. What an incredible way to connect with our forebears. What a story that shoe tells. Maybe, just maybe, someone 70 years from now will be wondering what stories your old Campaign Scroll could tell.
The beautiful thing that both storytelling and leather have in common is that they are both a form of creation. Starting from raw untamed material and allowing it to be molded in the hands of a craftsman they become something grander, maybe overwhelming, but always beautiful. It isn’t always easy, it can take some coaxing and always requires patience, but as long as the craftsman loves the material they work in, the end product will always be a reflection of that person. As we said before the beauty of gaming is it takes that individual work and makes it collaborative. We want our gaming gear and your storytelling to weave together to create something that refracts the light of both. J.R.R. Tolkien, the old bard, was a master craftsman when it comes to storytelling. He was able to put these ideas into much more eloquent words.
“We make because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.” -John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
Our goal at Gifford Gaming is to use the charm of leather to create something that deserves to accompany the stories you will tell. As the leather you buy from us gains its patina so too will the tales you tell at the table. Allow us to join you in reflecting and preserving the light of the stories that are sure to come. So, here’s to combining some of the world’s oldest traditions to create something much greater than the sum of its parts.
Join the party and happy adventuring!