Might be higher after Sullest, that event garnered alot of attention for the game.

Indeed, we had at least 4 people that I didn't know about, and the return of one player who I feared had left the scene. One of the new guys says he's coming to my tournament this Sunday, so hopefully we can add him to the ranks of regulars.

Bleh. . . No game for me this Thursday. . .

I wish we had 4-6 players. . . we are getting close. . . Sadly, 2 out of the 5 stores don't have any leagues but they are the most active Tournament wise. The 3 Main stores in the Portland Area are Guardian Games (which is a 10,000 square foot store, and has no league but is always ready for a game to go down), Red Castle Games (good sized store that loves to get tournament kits but no league yet), and lastly my current favorite The Portland Game Store (which I am working on a league that starts next month).

Guardian Games and The Portland Game Store are great because they offer alcohol which is a booster. All three stores are in the City of Portland but in completely opposite ends.

I think you're forgetting or neglecting the scenes across the rivers, which include Dice Age Games and Rainy Day Games. You may not get out there much/ever, but they are still within our communal sphere, so to speak.

But overall, by the numbers I'm reading here, we're still seeing this overall community in its infancy. We still have a lot of work to do to get more people playing. Lyraeus really is doing yeoman's work in this regard. As self-appointed organizer at Red Castle, which I'll probably be doing alongside X-Wing in order to help X-Wing make a return there, I know it's not ready for a league. Also, I'm interested in trying something slightly different and slightly more narrative.

But to all of you out there: Edsel62 you organized your Sullust, right? Are you employed by the store, or are you a volunteer, like Lyraeus and myself? How about the rest of you? Do your stores actively try to make things happen, or do they just offer the space and allow you to organize yourselves?

Yep, I am strictly a volunteer and gamer. Though, I have known the owner of Game HQ since the store opened a couple of decades ago I have never been employed there. He buys the tournament kits and I do all the organizing for Armada.

I was asked to TO sullust, which I did. Right now the store doesn't do anything to promote the game but is on board to promote it if me and my friend start the league for example.

I don't work there, am just interested in the game and want to grow and expand the player base to increase the opportunity to play.

If you are wanting to start a league I have done a lot of the work for starting one here in Oklahoma City. You can see my league materials in this post.

There are so many other good games to play it is hard to make more time.

I certainly understand this. When I was young I had no money but lots of time. Now I am older I have enough money and almost no time.

This one of the reasons why I became a teacher. I work 60 hour weeks during term time.... but i get 3 months paid leave a year.

The other reason is that it's the best job ever, if you get the right school.

Not me- I taught in Maryland and it was terrible. I went back into the Infantry to get better hours and a friendlier environment like Falluja Iraq. I have little time for gaming these days but it's mostly because my buddies all like about 20 miles away and are at that baby-having point in their lives when they never leave the house. I'm tempted to donate games to teenagers so they can live the good life now while they have the time but not the money...

There are so many other good games to play it is hard to make more time.

I certainly understand this. When I was young I had no money but lots of time. Now I am older I have enough money and almost no time.

This one of the reasons why I became a teacher. I work 60 hour weeks during term time.... but i get 3 months paid leave a year.

The other reason is that it's the best job ever, if you get the right school.

Not me- I taught in Maryland and it was terrible. I went back into the Infantry to get better hours and a friendlier environment like Falluja Iraq. I have little time for gaming these days but it's mostly because my buddies all like about 20 miles away and are at that baby-having point in their lives when they never leave the house. I'm tempted to donate games to teenagers so they can live the good life now while they have the time but not the money...

I've heard horror stories about teaching in the USA from our American expats. I won't repeat them here as they are not representative but I can see why you'd want to leave. My stories about why I left the UK for China as a teacher are quite soft in comparison.

If you want to donate anything and want some kind of control over where it goes and feedback on it being used, I usually use the local chapter of Rotary International. There will be a teacher there who could arrange for your games to be donated to a local school club.