Wishing My LGS would support the players' wants...

[PG_KuVenet]

So here is the deal, my LGS is a.....decent place. I mean he carries a reasonable amount of product, and he will order just about anything you want, but rarely do his distributors have anything that isn't brand spanking new. But that's besides the point. So the Warmachine/Hordes group has been steadily growing. What I mean by that is that a little over a year ago there where 4 players at the store, myself included. As of last week we have over 18 players now. The problem I have is this. He(the store owner) won't run the privateer press league stuff. A lot of the players, myself included would love to play in these great leagues and league events. The store owner only wants to do his "in house" league which sucks for many of us. My question is this. How in the hell can we as players convince him to let up run the War-Torn league and future leagues? Any suggestions would be helpful. I think the biggest problem we have is that we don't have an "official" Press Ganger for the store and the store owner isn't that well versed in the greatness that is Privateer Press, he just carries the stuff. So I ask you all, ideas or possible ways to approach the Store Owner about this, aside from beating him over the head with a stick until he submits?

Thanks to all for CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

[PG_Ghool]

The best advice I can give is to start running the events in the store for him, and then the store owner has less work to do promoting the brand. Then, to apply to be a Press Ganger.

If he realizes that there's some one willing and able to support and sell the game, so the owner doesn't have to do this himself, then he's likely more liable to support the official events.

This is what I did, and now I have one of the most supportive and amazing prize support pools in town. My local events have bigger prize pools and prizes than the upcoming major convention in the city.

It's not up to the store owner to promote a game. It's only his job to carry the product, and order prize support kits. I would surmise that if some one (namely you) were to pick up the mantle of promotion by running and organizing events, he would be a lot more supportive.

[PG_KuVenet]

I can try that one, but I doubt he will go for it since it would conflict with "his league". That was his last excuse anyway.

[Puchembo]

As Ghool says, someone has to put up the effort. This is actively happening in the town where my buddy lives. No PG support, but there was scattered interest in the journeymen's league. Now "BAM" there is 9 people in the league within 10days of starting. Sure not a lot, but in a state this size it is a pretty impressive start.

It takes someone loving the PP product enough to work for it a little bit. Yes that is working for free, but a richer play experience means more interested players, etc.

[PG_Sobek]

The best advice I can give is to start running the events in the store for him, and then the store owner has less work to do promoting the brand. Then, to apply to be a Press Ganger.

This. Just prepare to be patient; you or whoever it is that will be applying. It can be several months before they get back to you about your application.

[The_Bionic_Labrat]

I can try that one, but I doubt he will go for it since it would conflict with "his league". That was his last excuse anyway.

and you have to play in his league because...?

Prove a point. play elsewhere. Like at someone's house. rent a room somewhere. "his league" is no reason to not do your thing.

[kolonelk]

I would explain (politely) that you think he will benefit from running one of the official leagues, as it will bring in more players, which means more money for him if nothing else. If he really won't make any move to keep customers happy, buy online and play somewhere else a while, see if he changes his mind a bit.

[PG_WolfpackEE]

I have the same issue with our LGS. That's why we are starting to play more and more at people's houses or in private rooms in restaurants. It's not worth the headache trying to work around his Magic and Pokemon league schedules.

[Karyle]

I would guess that his league has a buy in? Otherwise it doesn't make a lot of sense for him to be so adamant to give up "his" league.

[PG_KuVenet]

Yeah his league has a buy in. I am wondering how to get the league kit without having a store or press ganger. Because it looks like I would have to run it out of my house.

[PG_WolfpackEE]

Yeah his league has a buy in. I am wondering how to get the league kit without having a store or press ganger. Because it looks like I would have to run it out of my house.

I've wondered that myself. I've applied to be a PG. If I get accepted, I wonder if I can get league kits if there are no LGS to support us.

[Karyle]

In my experience, they used to allow you to get kits if you registered a "gaming club" if there wasn't a LGS. Granted, our group hasn't been organized enough for the last couple of years to even attempt the leagues (oh, how I wish they were...), but I've never heard that were suddenly unable to do so anymore.

[PG_Xardian]

There are a couple things you can try for prize support. Before I got PG tagged, I had my game store owner order the kits for me and I'd just buy them off them for the events. You may also be able to apply as a club and order kits for club events (though this was originally aimed more at those without a local store). Or there's always the good old stand by option of running the events without the official prize support and just make up your own.

On that last one I've run events where the entry fees turned around into gift cards for the store. And we've got an event running now where the prizes are home-made trophies crafted from wood stands and gobber bodgers or trollkin whelps.

[drachenfels]

also very easy to get him to see the consumers point of view? have a few players show up one week with big shiny new things they didnt purchase from him. go online buy a battle engine, or the new collosals when they come out. then all go in with them at the same time. Hit him in his bottom line and he will be forced to comply.

[PG_Sobek]

While I don't mind occassionally playing at someone's house, I've never liked the idea of a private residence being the main play location. Being in an environment where new people can't see or become interested in what you're playing can sometimes cause things to become stagnant; it doesn't stimulate the growth of a community. I like playing at stores so that people can watch what we're doing and say, "Hey, that looks neat. Can you tell me more about it?" To which the natural reply is, "Sure. Would you like to try a small little demo game?"

[scout's honor]

also very easy to get him to see the consumers point of view? have a few players show up one week with big shiny new things they didnt purchase from him. go online buy a battle engine, or the new collosals when they come out. then all go in with them at the same time. Hit him in his bottom line and he will be forced to comply.

You're assuming the players at that store all effectively get all their new stuff via that store. In my experience, that's not usually the case. Chances are this store owner sees new models appearing he didn't earn anything on already anyway.

Yeah his league has a buy in.

If you're going to rustle up prizes, official or otherwise, I'm assuming you'll want to have something of a buy-in as well? Or are you just going to spring for it?

Unless the buy-in for the store owner's league is unreasonable, why not suggest that next time you'd prefer it if he'd went with an official league? Maybe offer to help out with it? There are some minor financial considerations, but on the whole your store owner should only stand to gain from such an arrangement.

[PG_WolfpackEE]

In my experience, they used to allow you to get kits if you registered a "gaming club" if there wasn't a LGS. Granted, our group hasn't been organized enough for the last couple of years to even attempt the leagues (oh, how I wish they were...), but I've never heard that were suddenly unable to do so anymore.

Perfect. I found some information on registering clubs. We have an official gaming club in my town and one of the games we play is Warmachine. So I'll try that path. Thanks

[ForestZ]

Does your store offer any kind of open gaming night? Or have plenty of tables to play? You could just stop playing in the league. If you get some friends together and all decide to opt out, but still show up and play (either on the official night if there are other tables available, or on an open gaming night), and just say you're not interested in his league, you're still interested in WM/H and playing/purchasing at his store, and you'd rather play the official league, I would hope he'd get the hint. You can't run a league without players, after all.

[PG_UndeadDan]

1. What is the opposition to his league? Specifically, why don't the players like it.

2. What is the league fee going toward? Is it just going into his pocket or is he using it to finance actual prizes?

[allistorpreist]

Forest has most of the right of it. Don't pay for a league you don't want to play in. I would take it one step further though.

Round up the other dissatisfied masses who don't want to play in his league. Commit to playing in the official league, but not the custom league and explain this to the store owner politely. That last part is very important.

[PG_KuVenet]

I like your Idea allistorpriest. I am going to use that as a discussion point.

[PG_KuVenet]

SUCCESS!!!! I got the Store Owner to agree to the league, and I am running it WOOT! the idea of someone other than him running it. Wish me luck. First League I am running.

[kaneblaise]

Congratulations.

[MagnustheJust]

So here is the deal, my LGS is a.....decent place. I mean he carries a reasonable amount of product, and he will order just about anything you want, but rarely do his distributors have anything that isn't brand spanking new. But that's besides the point. So the Warmachine/Hordes group has been steadily growing. What I mean by that is that a little over a year ago there where 4 players at the store, myself included. As of last week we have over 18 players now. The problem I have is this. He(the store owner) won't run the privateer press league stuff. A lot of the players, myself included would love to play in these great leagues and league events. The store owner only wants to do his "in house" league which sucks for many of us. My question is this. How in the hell can we as players convince him to let up run the War-Torn league and future leagues? Any suggestions would be helpful. I think the biggest problem we have is that we don't have an "official" Press Ganger for the store and the store owner isn't that well versed in the greatness that is Privateer Press, he just carries the stuff. So I ask you all, ideas or possible ways to approach the Store Owner about this, aside from beating him over the head with a stick until he submits?

Thanks to all for CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

Let him know your feeling with your wallet, and advise your group to do the same. A sudden sharp downturn in profits will open even the blindest of eyes...

Just remember to be polite about it.

[Jhokalups]

Congratulations and good luck on running your league KuVenet.

[IMakeGoodwin'sLawHappen]

Congratulations, hope everything goes well!