Gaming in Montreal?

[Lanz]

Are there Warmachine players in Montreal? Is there a Press Ganger? I'll be moving out there in a few months, and I need to decide if I'm leaving the hobby behind or not.

[Sul-Menite]

My LGS in Montreal is Jeux Chimera Games http://www.facebook.com/ChimeraGames
The guys who run the place got me into the game and are really enthusiastic. Just an all around cool place.

I don't know if there is a PG.

[CharlieBee]

Hey Man.

Welcome to the other side (of the country). I've been playing at Gamer's Vault, http://www.gamersvault.ca/ , they have a forum, monthly tournies of about 8-10 people, Thursday games nights as well. I'm CharlieBee on the forums there as well if you want to schedule a game before I leave town in September.

There are a couple of Games Keeper locations where people play. Chez Geeks also has a selection, although their playing space is limited.

There's more as well, those are just places I have been. I also don't know about PGs in the area.

[Mukmeguil]

Le Grimoire close to radisson metro station as started to see a few players. I love the ambiance of the store and would strongly recommend it.

[Faze]

Does anyone know if Montreal has a big Warmachine/Hordes community? If so, are there really enough game stores?

[Critical]

There are tons of game stores in Montreal but there is a lot of variety in levels of interest in PP products. Some stores just sell it and don't bother to run events or even have open play. Club Chaos ran a tournament with 30+ players last November if I recall correctly and we yearly get together and send 16+ people to Templecon. Honestly the best way to see all the stores that support PP products is to look here: http://www.privateerevents.com/venues/listing .

Hope to see you around!
Cheers!
Critical (Dave around here)

[Lanz]

You'd be the PG for Montreal, then, PG_Critical?

I'll be flying out there on July 16th, but I won't likely be settled in enough to start gaming right away, so I'll probably be looking around a bit at first anyhow. Do you know offhand if all the stores that support WM/H are bi-lingual? I don't know very much french yet.

[Sul-Menite]

You'd be the PG for Montreal, then, PG_Critical?

I'll be flying out there on July 16th, but I won't likely be settled in enough to start gaming right away, so I'll probably be looking around a bit at first anyhow. Do you know offhand if all the stores that support WM/H are bi-lingual? I don't know very much french yet.

Jeux chimera is run by anglophones, in a pretty anglo area, and my roommate shops at gamer's vault and has never had any problems.

[Faze]

Thanks for the informative response, PG_Critical. I've always wanted to open up my very own game store. I just don't know if it would do well given there being so many game stores already.

[Critical]

I'm not a press ganger any more sadly , got too busy with family and job to stay one. I guess eventually they'll get around to changing my status and I always forget to remind them. A game store is a great way to get poor. I always ask a potential owner if they have $100,000 they are willing to lose. Staying on top of magic releases along can cost upwards of $5000 a month in inventory and it often takes 1-2 years to form a game community and start recouping the investment. Rent is not cheap and good locations are rare and already covered by other game stores. Another store in the West island could work or a store more focused on miniatures in the north/north west.

A lot more people speak English here than you might think. About 75% of the population is French/English bilingual (Emphasis French) and there are some English only holdouts. Generally the books with the rules are in English and that makes it the common gaming tongue though you will hear players switch back and forth all the time. Read bill 101 (Language Rights Law) carefully before you decide to move here and start a business since there are a lot of rules for you there.

Cheers!
Critical

[Lanz]

Jeux chimera is run by anglophones, in a pretty anglo area, and my roommate shops at gamer's vault and has never had any problems.

*cultureshocked* I had to google that because I've never been in a place where being english-speaking needed to have it's own category.

Duly noted, however.

[Mukmeguil]

I had quite a few problem getting answered in french at gamers vault a few times. I have given them a chance once in a while. But being served in french is extremely important to me and I will not shop somewhere that does not support french langage. I might try to go back there now that I have started Hordes again.

Overall, a lot of Game Store already. Finding the right one for you can be hard. I suggest having a look at each one. Seeing how easy it can be to set up a game. Best way to know is to try.

[Faze]

A store with an emphasis in miniatures would work? I would think an expensive hobby like that would be a gamble. If I did own a store, I would have weekly events in a sufficiently large play area. I'd offer prizes and have demo games to promote the game. It's like you said though, having a successful game store is dependent on many things. It is definitely a huge risk and an even bigger loss if you don't know what you're doing.

[Critical]

There are a couple of stores in town that started off trying to go the miniatures route to the exclusion of MTG, RPG and other stuff and they eventually decide they would prefer to eat regularly than squeeze the rock some more.

It is the expectation in Quebec that you can be served in the language of your choice. Some people are more militant about being served in french/english than others but by and large since most gaming products are American/British/English Canadian/New Zealand written (translations are usually awful) there is a high degree of bilingualism in Montreal gamers. By and large we are a polite and fun group with very few bad apples.

Cheers!
Critical

[Lanz]

Okay, so I'm in montreal now as of yesterday, and happen to be pretty much around the corner (few blocks anyways) from Chez Geeks, so I'm starting there. I'm still figuring out my way around the city though, and while I'd like to be able to check out other places, I'm still figuring out how to get around. I'm not used to the french street names. They're hard to remember, so it's hard to keep track of where I'm going and where I've been.

[hamelya]

You can take the subway to the Henri-Bourassa station (Orange line) and you'll be steps away from GameKeeper.
They have warmachines/hordes event every wednesday night and they have a really good customer service!

http://www.gamekeeper.ca/

Welcome to Montreal

[Lanz]

Thanks, I'll try to get out there and see if I can manage it without getting lost.

[Critical]

Steamroller at Gamers Vault this Sunday (22nd July) at Noon. 2 lists at 35 point with character restrictions. Snowdon Metro.

Cheers!
Critical

[Lanz]

Might be too soon for a Steamroller for me. I only barely have my first 35 point built, much less enough to make a second.

However, that said, is Sunday the usual day they play warmachine at Gamers Vault?

[mc94]

Well now it would be Thursdays, though me and a few people do come Sundays to go play. Also we started a journeyman's league there if your interested. We're in the second week so 15 points. A nice way to build up your force and start painting.

But come one thursday and meet the group. There nice people very beginner friendly and bilingual so you should have no problem.

Hope to see you soon!