prize sniping happens in every game and is somewhat unavoidable.

stores giving away the TOs "cut" is kinda bull. FFG doesn't have a program in place for community drivers like other companies do where they are reimbursed for their time via product. If the store gave away the TO cut I would expect the TO to receive some kind of compensation. I would also contact FFG and report that store as that's just detrimental to the community if no one wants to run an event anymore.

Sorry I have to call BS on this. The store gave away the TO prize becasue the TO didn't want the prize and wanted to run a better tournament. The TO is the store owner who has enough general knowledge to get a tournament running but he doesn't own the game. He wanted everyone to walk away with a prize, his prize was having people walk away with a favorable view of his store which giving away the squadrons did. I now know 11 people who are skipping the discounts on coolstuff and mini market to buy from his store b/c he is such a cool guy.

This doesn't sound like you are calling BS so much as you are explaining the situation, which is fine.

No need to get uppity, if Berger has incorrect information a simply correction should be fine, no need to "call BS" senen you are really just explaining the reality that he was unaware of.

I don't know how defending my local game store owner makes me "uppity". And btw the word "uppity" has a specific negative connotation and I wouldn't advise you to find different syntax.

I don't see anything wrong with the TO giving their prize away. If they are awarded something for holding the tourney, it is theirs to do with as they please. If they keep it, ok. If they eBay it, ok. If they decide to throw it back into the local community, that is super OK. I don't think FFG would have any sort of issue with the TO actually giving more to the players.

They could not hand out the prizes. From what I have found, each store was required to tell their FFG reps what the turn outs were.

They SHOULD have asked for an extension till the next Saturday however.

Actually keeping them for future events is also a violation of the rules, even though done for good intentions. It's not quite as black and white as "he split them so was wrong".

Yeah, I don't know what the rules are exactly, I just show up to play. I think from a publishers perspective, however, I doubt FFG really cares a lot if the store does this as it is not worth the expense and time to ship the items back, and at the end of the day it's probably the best use that could be made of the items. (store is in Canada and is fairly small, I think that FFG does not deal directly with stores in Canada and ordering of promo kits and all that stuff is done via local distributor Lion Rampant, in other words, another layer of middle man that wouldn't care enough to manage the return of some items.)

Yeah, I don't know what the rules are exactly, I just show up to play. I think from a publishers perspective, however, I doubt FFG really cares a lot if the store does this as it is not worth the expense and time to ship the items back, and at the end of the day it's probably the best use that could be made of the items. (store is in Canada and is fairly small, I think that FFG does not deal directly with stores in Canada and ordering of promo kits and all that stuff is done via local distributor Lion Rampant, in other words, another layer of middle man that wouldn't care enough to manage the return of some items.)

Fantasy Flight does care, because it ruins their perception and advertisement. They set rules, those rules are to be adhered to, because otherwise, it can look very bad for their advertising and public relations.

On the case of Lion Rampant, I can tell you, Lion Rampant Cares. They Care, because FFG Cares, and Lion Rampant bends over backwards to retain their EXCLUSIVE right to distribute FFGs products in Canada. That is a very big deal.

Just so I am following this correctly.... the argument here is that the store owner should not have given away his TO "prize" to the community? Or is it the issue with the original post about the TO and the 1 player who showed tossing in extra money to split the prize pack entirely?

I don't like the term "Prize Snipe". I know people who travel long distances to play in tournaments. They have every right to do so, and usually they don't do it often unless they happen to perform well or stand a reasonable chance of winning. Too often, when a local store hosts a large tournament, locals feel some resentment towards any "Non-Locals" who win.

Also option 3 was incorrect, you CANNOT give Massing at Sullust prize support out as league prizes. Absolutely 100% against the rules. If the even was posted as a date change, then I understand - and they have that right.

It would have been better to reschedule a week out, or to decline hosting a tournament with only 2 people. The rules don't say that the winner gets 1st, 3rd, and 5th pick of the prize support.... and the TO is supposed to get the 5th prize, not 2nd, and 4th pick. THAT is the real part that feels wrong.

prize sniping happens in every game and is somewhat unavoidable.

stores giving away the TOs "cut" is kinda bull. FFG doesn't have a program in place for community drivers like other companies do where they are reimbursed for their time via product. If the store gave away the TO cut I would expect the TO to receive some kind of compensation. I would also contact FFG and report that store as that's just detrimental to the community if no one wants to run an event anymore.

Sorry I have to call BS on this. The store gave away the TO prize becasue the TO didn't want the prize and wanted to run a better tournament. The TO is the store owner who has enough general knowledge to get a tournament running but he doesn't own the game. He wanted everyone to walk away with a prize, his prize was having people walk away with a favorable view of his store which giving away the squadrons did. I now know 11 people who are skipping the discounts on coolstuff and mini market to buy from his store b/c he is such a cool guy.

This doesn't sound like you are calling BS so much as you are explaining the situation, which is fine.

No need to get uppity, if Berger has incorrect information a simply correction should be fine, no need to "call BS" senen you are really just explaining the reality that he was unaware of.

I don't know how defending my local game store owner makes me "uppity". And btw the word "uppity" has a specific negative connotation and I wouldn't advise you to find different syntax.

i mean you did come across as a bit abrasiveness. Also, your initial post comes off a little bit negative. "So that does sound like a garbage LGS. My FLGS took the "TO" prize, i.e. the squadrons and broke open the pack and created a draft of choices using the squadron ships. of course 1-4 got the capital ships but 5-11 walked away with something cool too. The TO didnt take prizes at all." While you are clearly demonstrating what a good FLGS did, I initially interrupted it as a negative. Compounded by the fact that their is a LGS in my state that is known for taking the TO's cut selling it to make more money I assumed your TO was getting the shaft. My apologies.

As for prize sniping. It happens. Welcome to tournaments with awesome prizes. A store ran a tournament for its local group for WM/H and gave away a $140 model for first place. It got sniped by someone in my group (we play at a different store) and all hell broke lose. The guy complaining the most came from a third store which made it funny.

Just so I am following this correctly.... the argument here is that the store owner should not have given away his TO "prize" to the community? Or is it the issue with the original post about the TO and the 1 player who showed tossing in extra money to split the prize pack entirely?

both kinda. If the TO wants to split his cut of the prizes that's awesome and his prerogative. When a store withholds it so they can make a quick buck, that is when I have an issue.

The tossing in of extra money to split the pack is against the FFG policy. While a store may do that, I hope FFG doesn't give them the same opportunity again. Having a pretty "relaxed" (for a lack of a better term) store owner. He would do whatever he could to recoup his funds.

Yeah, I don't know what the rules are exactly, I just show up to play. I think from a publishers perspective, however, I doubt FFG really cares a lot if the store does this as it is not worth the expense and time to ship the items back, and at the end of the day it's probably the best use that could be made of the items. (store is in Canada and is fairly small, I think that FFG does not deal directly with stores in Canada and ordering of promo kits and all that stuff is done via local distributor Lion Rampant, in other words, another layer of middle man that wouldn't care enough to manage the return of some items.)

Fantasy Flight does care, because it ruins their perception and advertisement. They set rules, those rules are to be adhered to, because otherwise, it can look very bad for their advertising and public relations.

On the case of Lion Rampant, I can tell you, Lion Rampant Cares. They Care, because FFG Cares, and Lion Rampant bends over backwards to retain their EXCLUSIVE right to distribute FFGs products in Canada. That is a very big deal.

Ok, so where is all this "in Italics" care and concern? From what I hear from Sullust events around here (if you could find them) is that only one or 2 stores did them "correctly". When does this Hammer come down? How does this hammer come down without negatively affecting good and loyal customers like me that spend thousands on FFG products? How does it happen without shattering any toehold this game has in a region?

Why exactly would any store host a tournament where the publisher was so draconian in enforcing the LETTER OF THE LAW that running a tournament is an unnecessary risk? I agree that in the case the OP posted, some action may be justifiably taken, but don't underestimate the damage that can be done by being a hostile supplier, it can FAR outweigh the supposed (and I don't really understand how you come to the conclusion that what my local store did damages the FFG brand in ANY substantial way) damage done by punishing a small store owner for doing what he thought is best for growing the client base for the game (which he does, above and beyond manning a counter and ringing up purchases). You will find smaller stores will just stock product and end participation there, making it much harder for FFG to scale perception and advertisement.

Any intelligent company will have a pretty good idea where to draw the line on what damages perception. What the OP describes is an action that can cause grief and consternation in the local community, what mine did only improves it. I can't wait to play in upcoming tournaments at that store, I have already pre-ordered multiple wave 2 ships there and have already recruited 2 of my friends into the game. Reality check.

dare I say....(dare DARE!) that a low attended event is actually beneficial to the store.

Oh man did you hear about ManDolliesGames and Collectibles?

No what?

They had 2 people show up and they split the Wave2 Spacebattles stuff!

No way!

Yea brah, next big event we are gonna go and snipe that stuff

hell yea brah /knuckles

next big event, 12 people show up. Happens a lot actually. People like electricity, want the path of least resistance.

I had an equally shady experience with Massing at Sullust. Enough so that I have decided to never return to the store and to never play one of the players gain.

I would have everyone that had planned to attend and missed out due to the schedule change email the store owner/manager and FFG Sales about this. Option #1 was the only reasonable choice at that late notice. This is the first place I've seen the phrase "prize sniping" but I like it. It describes perfectly the practice of people going from store to store just for prizes. I don't mind if someone regularly plays at multiple stores in non-prize events, but in my opinion it's a sign of poor sportsmanship to only go to a store to take prizes away.

Edit: Inappropriate question on my part, ignore me.

Prize Sniping is mostly a matter of opinion I think. For example there's a small town near mine that doesn't have a LGS and as such doesn't have an Armada Community. There's a guy from there who drives to our store to play, and I consider him to 100% be a part of our gaming group. Him winning stuff means he'll keep coming back and we'll keep getting to play him.

What bugs me is someone who has their own local scene and drives to other scenes after winning theirs to win more. I get the allure of the big prizes, but I think it's kinda greedy. If you take first in a local tournament then congratulations, but you don't then need to go and take first place prize in other peoples tournaments. I realize that's probably weird, but it's how I feel.

sound like someone is pouting about not getting to play..... its not really that big of a deal.

Prize sniping doesn't exist. Why does someone only get to play at their 1 local store or be labeled a prize sniper. beat the traveling guy and win the prize yourself.

lol prize sniping, like he just shows up and the prize is ninja'd away. Just play and win and its a non issue.

sound like someone is pouting about not getting to play..... its not really that big of a deal.

I had no chance of playing that weekend at all, no matter when the event was held.

I'm upset that none of my friends in the community could attend. with ONE day notice they either couldnt change their own schedules or they simply didnt check facebook in time to see the change.

I had an equally shady experience with Massing at Sullust. Enough so that I have decided to never return to the store and to never play one of the players gain.

I would have everyone that had planned to attend and missed out due to the schedule change email the store owner/manager and FFG Sales about this. Option #1 was the only reasonable choice at that late notice. This is the first place I've seen the phrase "prize sniping" but I like it. It describes perfectly the practice of people going from store to store just for prizes. I don't mind if someone regularly plays at multiple stores in non-prize events, but in my opinion it's a sign of poor sportsmanship to only go to a store to take prizes away.

Edit: Inappropriate question on my part, ignore me.

Prize Sniping is mostly a matter of opinion I think. For example there's a small town near mine that doesn't have a LGS and as such doesn't have an Armada Community. There's a guy from there who drives to our store to play, and I consider him to 100% be a part of our gaming group. Him winning stuff means he'll keep coming back and we'll keep getting to play him.

What bugs me is someone who has their own local scene and drives to other scenes after winning theirs to win more. I get the allure of the big prizes, but I think it's kinda greedy. If you take first in a local tournament then congratulations, but you don't then need to go and take first place prize in other peoples tournaments. I realize that's probably weird, but it's how I feel.

I'm one of those that you don't like then i suppose. I went to two tournaments and took 2nd in both of them. (The same guy took 1st in both of them as well). As a matter of fact, 90% of the people at either event went to both. Orlando has a ton of game stores. It's not like I planned to win two big ships and screw others out of getting stuff - in fact I expected to do poorly.

It's that you typically plan for these things in advance. I had even paid for both events in advance. I figured that if I went to TWO events, I'd have a realistic chance of at least winning something. When I took home an ISD the first day, I suppose I coudl have dropped out of the 2nd day's tournament... (At a different store), but I had already paid to register. Besides, it was another day of playing Armada! Why would I want to pass on that?!

I did change my list though. Went with a more casual list - something I thought was fun. It just so happens that I ended up doing just as good day 2. I'm not going to purposely lose - but I did tone down my build.

Now I have brought both the Home One and the ISD to my store each weekend since, and given other players the chance to field them, see how they work against each other, etc. I even have a battle rep on my channel of one of those games. it's my way of sharing in the victory - but lets face it, I saved myself close to 100 bucks - and I've got a 3rd baby due in a few months. I need to save every penny at this point! can't afford to lose on purpose! =)

Ouch our store was waiting till Friday to get our Massing of Sullust prizes (do to a mix up by the store) our plan was if they didn't come in we would hold it the following week or next free weekend we could. But we got our stuff and everyone had a blast two imperial players faced off in round 4 and took the two imperial ships. I laughed cuz the person in 3rd place was rebels and freaked out that he got home one. Four place took rogues and villains and I was the T.O so I got the little frigate I was not expecting to get the frigate so now I need to build a rebel force lol.

Yeah, I don't know what the rules are exactly, I just show up to play. I think from a publishers perspective, however, I doubt FFG really cares a lot if the store does this as it is not worth the expense and time to ship the items back, and at the end of the day it's probably the best use that could be made of the items. (store is in Canada and is fairly small, I think that FFG does not deal directly with stores in Canada and ordering of promo kits and all that stuff is done via local distributor Lion Rampant, in other words, another layer of middle man that wouldn't care enough to manage the return of some items.)

Fantasy Flight does care, because it ruins their perception and advertisement. They set rules, those rules are to be adhered to, because otherwise, it can look very bad for their advertising and public relations.

On the case of Lion Rampant, I can tell you, Lion Rampant Cares. They Care, because FFG Cares, and Lion Rampant bends over backwards to retain their EXCLUSIVE right to distribute FFGs products in Canada. That is a very big deal.

Ok, so where is all this "in Italics" care and concern? From what I hear from Sullust events around here (if you could find them) is that only one or 2 stores did them "correctly". When does this Hammer come down? How does this hammer come down without negatively affecting good and loyal customers like me that spend thousands on FFG products? How does it happen without shattering any toehold this game has in a region?

Why exactly would any store host a tournament where the publisher was so draconian in enforcing the LETTER OF THE LAW that running a tournament is an unnecessary risk? I agree that in the case the OP posted, some action may be justifiably taken, but don't underestimate the damage that can be done by being a hostile supplier, it can FAR outweigh the supposed (and I don't really understand how you come to the conclusion that what my local store did damages the FFG brand in ANY substantial way) damage done by punishing a small store owner for doing what he thought is best for growing the client base for the game (which he does, above and beyond manning a counter and ringing up purchases). You will find smaller stores will just stock product and end participation there, making it much harder for FFG to scale perception and advertisement.

Any intelligent company will have a pretty good idea where to draw the line on what damages perception. What the OP describes is an action that can cause grief and consternation in the local community, what mine did only improves it. I can't wait to play in upcoming tournaments at that store, I have already pre-ordered multiple wave 2 ships there and have already recruited 2 of my friends into the game. Reality check.

I agree to a certain extent a distributor probably wouldn't completely cut off a store but let's say something only available in limited quantities comes out (say regional kits, or a inventory falls short on a new release, like a new Aces pack) they could preferentially give those to the stores that do follow the rules.

It isn't perfect but if inventory does fall short of pre-orders for example the distributor has to decide somehow which stores get their's first or how much they get, and this seems as like as good of way as any to "punish" the rule breakers.

I don't know how defending my local game store owner makes me "uppity". And btw the word "uppity" has a specific negative connotation and I wouldn't advise you to find different syntax.

The defense of your game store would have been fine had you merely clarified the obvious misunderstanding. "Oh, no, the store owner TO'd for us, so he chose to give up his expansion to the next players." Would have been a perfectly acceptable way to defend the store. Without getting an attitude.

I didn't use uppity because I wanted to compliment you on your behavior. The implication was negative on purpose.

I will assume you that are advising me to choose a different diction (rather than not advising me to choose a different grammar structure - I assume there was a typo and word misuse - your meaning is still clear.)

If my understanding is correct then I thank you for the advice, but I'll decline. I deliberately chose uppity. It conveys how I interpreted your attitude well, and it certainly shouldn't be insulting, more like an attitude check.

Yeah, I don't know what the rules are exactly, I just show up to play. I think from a publishers perspective, however, I doubt FFG really cares a lot if the store does this as it is not worth the expense and time to ship the items back, and at the end of the day it's probably the best use that could be made of the items. (store is in Canada and is fairly small, I think that FFG does not deal directly with stores in Canada and ordering of promo kits and all that stuff is done via local distributor Lion Rampant, in other words, another layer of middle man that wouldn't care enough to manage the return of some items.)

Fantasy Flight does care, because it ruins their perception and advertisement. They set rules, those rules are to be adhered to, because otherwise, it can look very bad for their advertising and public relations.

On the case of Lion Rampant, I can tell you, Lion Rampant Cares. They Care, because FFG Cares, and Lion Rampant bends over backwards to retain their EXCLUSIVE right to distribute FFGs products in Canada. That is a very big deal.

Ok, so where is all this "in Italics" care and concern? From what I hear from Sullust events around here (if you could find them) is that only one or 2 stores did them "correctly". When does this Hammer come down? How does this hammer come down without negatively affecting good and loyal customers like me that spend thousands on FFG products? How does it happen without shattering any toehold this game has in a region?

Why exactly would any store host a tournament where the publisher was so draconian in enforcing the LETTER OF THE LAW that running a tournament is an unnecessary risk? I agree that in the case the OP posted, some action may be justifiably taken, but don't underestimate the damage that can be done by being a hostile supplier, it can FAR outweigh the supposed (and I don't really understand how you come to the conclusion that what my local store did damages the FFG brand in ANY substantial way) damage done by punishing a small store owner for doing what he thought is best for growing the client base for the game (which he does, above and beyond manning a counter and ringing up purchases). You will find smaller stores will just stock product and end participation there, making it much harder for FFG to scale perception and advertisement.

Any intelligent company will have a pretty good idea where to draw the line on what damages perception. What the OP describes is an action that can cause grief and consternation in the local community, what mine did only improves it. I can't wait to play in upcoming tournaments at that store, I have already pre-ordered multiple wave 2 ships there and have already recruited 2 of my friends into the game. Reality check.

I agree to a certain extent a distributor probably wouldn't completely cut off a store but let's say something only available in limited quantities comes out (say regional kits, or a inventory falls short on a new release, like a new Aces pack) they could preferentially give those to the stores that do follow the rules.

It isn't perfect but if inventory does fall short of pre-orders for example the distributor has to decide somehow which stores get their's first or how much they get, and this seems as like as good of way as any to "punish" the rule breakers.

Sure, but again, that punishes the players. Especially in a situation like mine where there are only 2 small stores, I'm not even sure the other one carries Armada...so if my store "breaks a rule" I have to drive 45 minutes to buy something without having to eat shipping? I don't think FFG wants that.

In any case, I imagine rule breaking like this is what they call "complaint driven enforcement" in other words, no one has the bandwidth to monitor all the stores that run these things so only things like what the OP posted that antagonize a bunch of players and lead to a complaint being registered will lead to a response of any sort (still struggle to understand what the response would be that doesn't ultimately penalize the players, the only thing that comes to mind is if the prizes are provided at a discount, the retailer be made to pay full price for not correctly using them).

I think FFG already has a pretty hard time handling the logistics of actually designing, manufacturing and producing their products. I don't think they want to be nannies to naughty stores too.

I had an equally shady experience with Massing at Sullust. Enough so that I have decided to never return to the store and to never play one of the players gain.

I would have everyone that had planned to attend and missed out due to the schedule change email the store owner/manager and FFG Sales about this. Option #1 was the only reasonable choice at that late notice. This is the first place I've seen the phrase "prize sniping" but I like it. It describes perfectly the practice of people going from store to store just for prizes. I don't mind if someone regularly plays at multiple stores in non-prize events, but in my opinion it's a sign of poor sportsmanship to only go to a store to take prizes away.

Edit: Inappropriate question on my part, ignore me.

Prize Sniping is mostly a matter of opinion I think. For example there's a small town near mine that doesn't have a LGS and as such doesn't have an Armada Community. There's a guy from there who drives to our store to play, and I consider him to 100% be a part of our gaming group. Him winning stuff means he'll keep coming back and we'll keep getting to play him.

What bugs me is someone who has their own local scene and drives to other scenes after winning theirs to win more. I get the allure of the big prizes, but I think it's kinda greedy. If you take first in a local tournament then congratulations, but you don't then need to go and take first place prize in other peoples tournaments. I realize that's probably weird, but it's how I feel.

You last paragraph there is what I feel about prize-sniping. I suppose it's a matter of intent, which is nearly impossible to judge. If someone doesn't have a local store and plays with their friends mostly, but goes to a store for a tournament, that's not prize-sniping. That's great, really. They get a chance to meet and play different people. Maybe make a friend.

If someone regularly goes to multiple stores to participate in leagues and tournaments, regardless of prizes, that's ok too.

It's the person that only shows up to get a prize, doesn't interact with the community or store, behaves like an outsider and/or bully, that I don't like. That's a prize sniper to me. But see my caveat below...

Most of you guys defending "prize-sniping" in your posts have shown me some valid points. I don't think you guys are the ones I have a problem with. And, looking a little deeper at the issue, you're right: in any kind of competitive game there are people that are there for the competition, not the game. And while more "casual" gamers might not like them, they have the same right to play as anyone else. They also tend to drive a good game up in popularity as most everyone appreciates a challenge.

I had an equally shady experience with Massing at Sullust. Enough so that I have decided to never return to the store and to never play one of the players gain.

I would have everyone that had planned to attend and missed out due to the schedule change email the store owner/manager and FFG Sales about this. Option #1 was the only reasonable choice at that late notice. This is the first place I've seen the phrase "prize sniping" but I like it. It describes perfectly the practice of people going from store to store just for prizes. I don't mind if someone regularly plays at multiple stores in non-prize events, but in my opinion it's a sign of poor sportsmanship to only go to a store to take prizes away.

Edit: Inappropriate question on my part, ignore me.

Prize Sniping is mostly a matter of opinion I think. For example there's a small town near mine that doesn't have a LGS and as such doesn't have an Armada Community. There's a guy from there who drives to our store to play, and I consider him to 100% be a part of our gaming group. Him winning stuff means he'll keep coming back and we'll keep getting to play him.

What bugs me is someone who has their own local scene and drives to other scenes after winning theirs to win more. I get the allure of the big prizes, but I think it's kinda greedy. If you take first in a local tournament then congratulations, but you don't then need to go and take first place prize in other peoples tournaments. I realize that's probably weird, but it's how I feel.

You last paragraph there is what I feel about prize-sniping. I suppose it's a matter of intent, which is nearly impossible to judge. If someone doesn't have a local store and plays with their friends mostly, but goes to a store for a tournament, that's not prize-sniping. That's great, really. They get a chance to meet and play different people. Maybe make a friend.

If someone regularly goes to multiple stores to participate in leagues and tournaments, regardless of prizes, that's ok too.

It's the person that only shows up to get a prize, doesn't interact with the community or store, behaves like an outsider and/or bully, that I don't like. That's a prize sniper to me. But see my caveat below...

Most of you guys defending "prize-sniping" in your posts have shown me some valid points. I don't think you guys are the ones I have a problem with. And, looking a little deeper at the issue, you're right: in any kind of competitive game there are people that are there for the competition, not the game. And while more "casual" gamers might not like them, they have the same right to play as anyone else. They also tend to drive a good game up in popularity as most everyone appreciates a challenge.

With my limited meta i try to hit events for games. As they are often designed to do which is something FFG achieves really well. They have some of the best organized play out there i feel.

One player showed up to my massing event and after losing the second game 1-9 tried to talk people into changing the event to a 3 round event so he could try and battle back for better prizes. He had already won a MoS event that weekend and was trying to get more. He wound up placing 5th and I took First (as TO) and he was still able to get a raider, but a lot of people were annoyed by his attitude. It happens. The MoS event had "big ticket prizes" by armada standards. Its easier to get the kit prizes that come out even if you don't play. They are reasonally priced on the secondary market. The 5 expansions being prizes meant that the secondary market would be very high (i think i saw an ISD go for $100+) this just brings out the worst in people who figure if I win an ISD, sell it for 2x retail I can buy 2 on release date.

It happens in all games and if you are newer to the miniature gaming scene it can be frustrating at times.

I know my post does not fit the topic 100%, but its related.

So there is no Massing tournament in my country, no chances on a shiny new ship. I think, maybe one of those nice looking alternate art cards, lets see in ebay. How come people there sell 10+ copies of one card for 25$ each? In this case it was a VSD, so not the Sullust promo afaik, but still. I admit I do not know how much such a prize bag costs when ordered from FFG, but I guess its not as high as the prize of those mass sales.

My question is, assuming those people are not players who won 10 of those cards themselves in tournaments, it ok to sell like this? Of course there are other ways to get to those cards, and dont claim to know the specific circumstances, but I am genuinely interested re conditions on how to use prizes from FFG.

I know my post does not fit the topic 100%, but its related.

So there is no Massing tournament in my country, no chances on a shiny new ship. I think, maybe one of those nice looking alternate art cards, lets see in ebay. How come people there sell 10+ copies of one card for 25$ each? In this case it was a VSD, so not the Sullust promo afaik, but still. I admit I do not know how much such a prize bag costs when ordered from FFG, but I guess its not as high as the prize of those mass sales.

My question is, assuming those people are not players who won 10 of those cards themselves in tournaments, it ok to sell like this? Of course there are other ways to get to those cards, and dont claim to know the specific circumstances, but I am genuinely interested re conditions on how to use prizes from FFG.

Some stuff they have 16(or 32) of in tournament kits, and if it is the casual game night kits stores can order multiples. So for example my local area would get 3 X-wing kits so 48ish of the consolation cards and there were only like 4-6 people making these events so everyone would get like 2 every time so we all ended up with a bunch of these generic alternate arts. Armada is probably the same way, small player bases mean multiple of the consolation prizes go to people who already have them so some people try to turn around and flip them.

That said there are some Scummy Stores that buy the kits just to Ebay the contents and run 0 tournaments, I am unaware of any Sullust Events but I believe it happened at some Imdaar Alpha and Kessel Run Events for X-wing

prize sniping happens in every game and is somewhat unavoidable.

stores giving away the TOs "cut" is kinda bull. FFG doesn't have a program in place for community drivers like other companies do where they are reimbursed for their time via product. If the store gave away the TO cut I would expect the TO to receive some kind of compensation. I would also contact FFG and report that store as that's just detrimental to the community if no one wants to run an event anymore.

Sorry I have to call BS on this. The store gave away the TO prize becasue the TO didn't want the prize and wanted to run a better tournament. The TO is the store owner who has enough general knowledge to get a tournament running but he doesn't own the game. He wanted everyone to walk away with a prize, his prize was having people walk away with a favorable view of his store which giving away the squadrons did. I now know 11 people who are skipping the discounts on coolstuff and mini market to buy from his store b/c he is such a cool guy.

This doesn't sound like you are calling BS so much as you are explaining the situation, which is fine.

No need to get uppity, if Berger has incorrect information a simply correction should be fine, no need to "call BS" senen you are really just explaining the reality that he was unaware of.

I don't know how defending my local game store owner makes me "uppity". And btw the word "uppity" has a specific negative connotation and I wouldn't advise you to find different syntax.

i mean you did come across as a bit abrasiveness. Also, your initial post comes off a little bit negative. "So that does sound like a garbage LGS. My FLGS took the "TO" prize, i.e. the squadrons and broke open the pack and created a draft of choices using the squadron ships. of course 1-4 got the capital ships but 5-11 walked away with something cool too. The TO didnt take prizes at all." While you are clearly demonstrating what a good FLGS did, I initially interrupted it as a negative. Compounded by the fact that their is a LGS in my state that is known for taking the TO's cut selling it to make more money I assumed your TO was getting the shaft. My apologies.

As for prize sniping. It happens. Welcome to tournaments with awesome prizes. A store ran a tournament for its local group for WM/H and gave away a $140 model for first place. It got sniped by someone in my group (we play at a different store) and all hell broke lose. The guy complaining the most came from a third store which made it funny.

Assuming that winner did win legally, how could someone else complain? I'm really curious s about that one!

I had an equally shady experience with Massing at Sullust. Enough so that I have decided to never return to the store and to never play one of the players gain.

I would have everyone that had planned to attend and missed out due to the schedule change email the store owner/manager and FFG Sales about this. Option #1 was the only reasonable choice at that late notice. This is the first place I've seen the phrase "prize sniping" but I like it. It describes perfectly the practice of people going from store to store just for prizes. I don't mind if someone regularly plays at multiple stores in non-prize events, but in my opinion it's a sign of poor sportsmanship to only go to a store to take prizes away.

Edit: Inappropriate question on my part, ignore me.

Prize Sniping is mostly a matter of opinion I think. For example there's a small town near mine that doesn't have a LGS and as such doesn't have an Armada Community. There's a guy from there who drives to our store to play, and I consider him to 100% be a part of our gaming group. Him winning stuff means he'll keep coming back and we'll keep getting to play him.

What bugs me is someone who has their own local scene and drives to other scenes after winning theirs to win more. I get the allure of the big prizes, but I think it's kinda greedy. If you take first in a local tournament then congratulations, but you don't then need to go and take first place prize in other peoples tournaments. I realize that's probably weird, but it's how I feel.

I don't understand this....

Do they drive there and just automatically win or do they have as much chance to win/lose as anyone else in the tourney?

If same chance, then what is the issue?