Novelty or Mastery?

This is just a fun discussion topic I wanted to bring up. Though there is definitely a bit of a spectrum, I have noticed that people that play board games regularly could be categorized in to two camps. I think its worth bringing up because each group approaches games differently, especially when it comes to the idea of picking and purchasing new games.

First is the novelty camp. They love trying new games, finding new experiences, exploring new themes, and experiencing different mechanics. They enjoy the process of getting into a new game and learning about its components, concepts, and characteristics. They want to try every game and often don't want to be left behind as new and significant releases come out. These folks can sometimes be found buying dozens of games per year. I definitely fall mostly in this camp. I relish the idea of a new game. To me that feeling of figuring out a game and building connections as I begin to understand its strategy is one of the best parts of gaming.

The second camp is the mastery camp. They find pleasure in truly unraveling the levels of a game, trying different approaches, and optimizing their strategy. They often don't feel as inclined to try out new games, and don't feel the need to keep up with all the new releases. Instead they love to bring out the classics and experience the tried and true joy they get from strategizing and competing. My dad, one of the more serious board game lovers in my family, is the epitome of this type of player. There's nothing wrong with this of course, but as a lover of variety and novelty it makes it more difficult to get new games to the table.

Of course there's some of both in every gamer. Which one are you?