I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted to just skip the SC this year.

I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted to just skip the SC this year.

And skip all these games being played at a higher level than the usual Wednesday night pub-stomp? Not a chance.

I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted to just skip the SC this year.

My first SC was last year and I wasn't much of a tournament player then, so I got smoked. This year I think I got really good chance at getting a range ruler which I want a fair amount.

But considering the other prizes are a coin which is cool but it's a coin, and 3PO which I have... I could see some people skipping it. Especially if you're someone who gets in a lot of good games anyway.

But considering the other prizes are a coin which is cool but it's a coin ...

But it's a really heavy coin.

The thing that's bugging me more this year is one of the local stores that is only allowing regulars to play in their event

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

You maybe need to check your entitlement there hoss.

Assuming that you've got players and tables packed uncomfortably close together, 16 games of X-Wing is going to take up 400 square feet of floor space (4x6 allotted area for each game). There's not a whole hell of a lot of stores that can dedicate that much of their store to host a tournament.

It's great that you've got the time to hit hit every store championship in a three hour drive from you, but you're not the guy that the store owner is deciding to host a tournament for. He putting it on to support and grow his local community. He can give two ***** about a guy that drives 3 hours and gives him $10-$15 a year.

You're actually underestimating the required footage. Because of fire codes and depending on store layout, you need to maintain certain aisle widths. Most stores pay more for frontage so a wide but shallow store will pay more for the same sq.ft. than a store that's long and narrow. Long and narrow means the exits are farther apart and farther from the center of the store requiring greater travel distance. All this goes into calculating occupancy loads. Any store that loses their C of O (Certificate of Occupancy) is in serious trouble. Though if a fire breaks out and someone dies because of too many people at the venue, losing the C of O is the least of their problems.

But it's a really heavy coin.

I'll admit I really do want one. But it's not as nice as an acrylic range stick. Which is nice that it's the top 8 this year. In Armada there's 8 sets of 2 sticks, range and speed.

The thing that's bugging me more this year is one of the local stores that is only allowing regulars to play in their event

Are they doing that because of space or what? My LGS isn't limiting it to locals only, but locals get their name on the list first. But it's kinda silly to turn people away just because they don't play there often.

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

You maybe need to check your entitlement there hoss.

Assuming that you've got players and tables packed uncomfortably close together, 16 games of X-Wing is going to take up 400 square feet of floor space (4x6 allotted area for each game). There's not a whole hell of a lot of stores that can dedicate that much of their store to host a tournament.

It's great that you've got the time to hit hit every store championship in a three hour drive from you, but you're not the guy that the store owner is deciding to host a tournament for. He putting it on to support and grow his local community. He can give two ***** about a guy that drives 3 hours and gives him $10-$15 a year.

You're actually underestimating the required footage. Because of fire codes and depending on store layout, you need to maintain certain aisle widths. Most stores pay more for frontage so a wide but shallow store will pay more for the same sq.ft. than a store that's long and narrow. Long and narrow means the exits are farther apart and farther from the center of the store requiring greater travel distance. All this goes into calculating occupancy loads. Any store that loses their C of O (Certificate of Occupancy) is in serious trouble. Though if a fire breaks out and someone dies because of too many people at the venue, losing the C of O is the least of their problems.

Good point. I was looking at somewhere around 400 square feet being the smallest amount of space that it would be possible to play 16 games of X-Wing in. I was not factoring in fire codes, safety, or comfort into it at all.

I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted to just skip the SC this year.

And skip all these games being played at a higher level than the usual Wednesday night pub-stomp? Not a chance.

You know, I'm really more just wanting to have fun more so than "higher level" games. I think playing a nice game of Epic sounds better than a tournament to me right about now.

I will say I want to bring my 4 x Tie Bombers list to see how it does. Just to kick the meta in the teeth.

I have to admit that I'm sorely tempted to just skip the SC this year.

My first SC was last year and I wasn't much of a tournament player then, so I got smoked. This year I think I got really good chance at getting a range ruler which I want a fair amount.

But considering the other prizes are a coin which is cool but it's a coin, and 3PO which I have... I could see some people skipping it. Especially if you're someone who gets in a lot of good games anyway.

I've been doing the tournaments since Wave 1 and have won a fair number and done very well at others. I've got enough bling and do like some of the tokens. The alt art cards don't do much for me, really.

The thing that's bugging me more this year is one of the local stores that is only allowing regulars to play in their event

Are they doing that because of space or what? My LGS isn't limiting it to locals only, but locals get their name on the list first. But it's kinda silly to turn people away just because they don't play there often.

He didn't say anything about a cap. When I called to ask when they're having it he said they're making it a private event for his regulars because he thinks thats what FFG intended the store championships be.

When I called to ask when they're having it he said they're making it a private event for his regulars because he thinks thats what FFG intended the store championships be.

I'd disagree with that, I don't think that's what FFG intends at all. But it's his store so it's his rules I guess. But turning away potential customers is almost never a good idea.

If a store told me that they were making it a private event, I would tell them that I was never shopping or telling/recommending them again. Then I would put it past me.

Caps that are in place to make sure that fire code and comfort of tournament atendees I have no issue with. And private events are even acceptable for close communities of players (with prize support of season kits or other prizes or none at all)... UNTIL your store is now advertised on the FFG website as hosting a store tournament. For that reason, store championships are NOT private. you may have paid for that kit, but you agreed and it was made known that your store is publicaly listed and contact information given for others to attend the tournament.

Just my 2 cents.

I've been wrong before.

If a store told me that they were making it a private event, I would tell them that I was never shopping or telling/recommending them again. Then I would put it past me.

Caps that are in place to make sure that fire code and comfort of tournament atendees I have no issue with. And private events are even acceptable for close communities of players (with prize support of season kits or other prizes or none at all)... UNTIL your store is now advertised on the FFG website as hosting a store tournament. For that reason, store championships are NOT private. you may have paid for that kit, but you agreed and it was made known that your store is publicaly listed and contact information given for others to attend the tournament.

Just my 2 cents.

I've been wrong before.

The thing that's bugging me more this year is one of the local stores that is only allowing regulars to play in their event

You should contact FFG. They've made venues aware in past years that that is not a option available to the venue, though capping the event is.

OP, you have a pretty strange attitude for someone who wants to play so many SCs just for fun and experience. A cynic might say you were really just hunting prizes. But I'll take you at your word.

Your expectations are still wildly over the top. When a store decides whether or not to hire space fro a tournament, he can't account for 32 people when his regulars number less than 10. Theres a very real chance he'll run a loss.

As for making a SC private, that tournament should not really be a store championship. But, he's looking after his locals, and they're his bread and butter. I can understand where he's coming from

I think the best way to cater for locals first, is to put tickets up for sale in store only for a week or two before making them available online

Well, the reason I am asking is from now until early March I can hit a Store Championship every single weekend with a drive time of 3 hours or less (I live in Kansas City), and there are even a couple held on Sunday for the option for two on those weekends. Some, like the one in Bellevue, NE (The Game Shoppe) have no maximum players. Others like The Geekery in Shawnee Mission, KS are capped at 32. There are even a couple like Hometown Games in Laurence, KS that have a limit far fewer (20).

It ticks me off that I will be unable to go to some of these smaller events because of the limit seating that doesn't even cover what FFG provides in their kit.

Of course, your first question is why go to so many? I love the competition, meeting new players, and seeing old friends. I love the community, where there is an almost no toxic atmosphere compared to other games like 40K, Magic, Pokemon, or similar.

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

I am affected by almost exactly the same set of caps you are--I'm in Manhattan, KS. I won't be at the Geekery later this month because there's no point in driving two hours in case a spot opens up under their 32-player cap.

On the other hand, I'm sure they'd be happy to accommodate more players if they could: that would mean more entry fees, and more people buying snacks, with a pretty small marginal cost. So I don't think it's necessarily poor planning or a desire to turn people away, so much as it is a known limitation of the venue.

(Speaking as someone who would be driving two hours each way to attend an event in KC, I also appreciate that a 32-person tournament ends about 90 minutes earlier than a 33-person tournament.)

I think the best way to cater for locals first, is to put tickets up for sale in store only for a week or two before making them available online

Or just to make the prereg handled in person, period. It's pretty easy for the FLGS to say, "Hey, are you coming to the event?" at their regular league night.

I'm still just aghast at the people who believe that small stores owe it to players to make room for 32 people to play in their event. It's bad enough for these stores that there's a minimum number of rounds, as that affects how long they have to stay open and keep their floorspace tied up with this game.

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

If you owned a FLGS, you would change your opinion within seconds.

It's always interesting to witness human behaviour, particularly the aura of self-entitlement that resonates from some players. I have seen some players who have NEVER played at my store, thinking that they have the divine right to compete for limited spaces, being able to displace the local, loyal, regular players who support the store every single week. They can't see past their own impression of what they think they should deserve, to look at the bigger picture. (Another game system, not X-Wing)

There's no way that I let casual drifters ever displace the locals if I have seating pressure for a tournament. Local players earn some good-will and standing because they are bread and butter for your business, not the out-of-town-drifters. I prioritise local player enrollments before places open up for the drifters - mostly.

You would be surprised how much you rethink the whole gaming scene when you become a store owner.

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

If you owned a FLGS, you would change your opinion within seconds.

It's always interesting to witness human behaviour, particularly the aura of self-entitlement that resonates from some players. I have seen some players who have NEVER played at my store, thinking that they have the divine right to compete for limited spaces, being able to displace the local, loyal, regular players who support the store every single week. They can't see past their own impression of what they think they should deserve, to look at the bigger picture. (Another game system, not X-Wing)

There's no way that I let casual drifters ever displace the locals if I have seating pressure for a tournament. Local players earn some good-will and standing because they are bread and butter for your business, not the out-of-town-drifters. I prioritise local player enrollments before places open up for the drifters - mostly.

You would be surprised how much you rethink the whole gaming scene when you become a store owner.

You're not wrong, of course--it's very reasonable to prioritize engaging local players. But outreach to other communities has benefits, too: there's a store about 90 minutes away that I've patronized several times because they're welcoming and generous to our X-wing community every time we travel. And I've purchased a few things online from Team Covenant on the strength of a really good Regionals experience there last year.

Saying I can't play because you don't have the room for at least 32 shows poor planning on your part, bad judgement on FFG for allowing championships to be held with less than 32 players, and can upset even local players who are unable to attend due to space restrictions.

If you owned a FLGS, you would change your opinion within seconds.

It's always interesting to witness human behaviour, particularly the aura of self-entitlement that resonates from some players. I have seen some players who have NEVER played at my store, thinking that they have the divine right to compete for limited spaces, being able to displace the local, loyal, regular players who support the store every single week. They can't see past their own impression of what they think they should deserve, to look at the bigger picture. (Another game system, not X-Wing)

There's no way that I let casual drifters ever displace the locals if I have seating pressure for a tournament. Local players earn some good-will and standing because they are bread and butter for your business, not the out-of-town-drifters. I prioritise local player enrollments before places open up for the drifters - mostly.

You would be surprised how much you rethink the whole gaming scene when you become a store owner.

I understand what you're saying, but that seems like it'd make community growth hard, no? I'd be a lot less willing to switch to another LGS if the alternative options seemed clique-ish with the staff giving preferential treatment to friends.

For sure, every FLGS WANTS to see new faces come and play. It's in the store's best interest to be welcoming and inclusive to all players. That's a given.

Only when there's a push-comes-to-shove situation, with limited seating, do you then put your regular, local players first.

It should mostly be a non-issue for Store Champs because the nature of the tournament is that it showcases the game for the local store area. Store Champs venues are not expected to cater for half the state arriving at the store's door-step on the morning of the tournament.

I don't see a problem with a store capping their Store Champs at eight players (if that's all they can fit) and pre-selling those tickets to their regular players. Unless the entry fees cover the cost of the kit, the tournament will be run at a loss for the store. I can understanding breaking-even, but losing money doesn't seem like the best business decision.

Having said that, the store's reputation might suffer if they cap at eight players when they can easily seat 20 people. Players can easily call 'shenanigans' in that situation.

Moral of the story: You can please half of the gamers all the time, or all of the gamers half of the time. Sometimes.

I think the best way to cater for locals first, is to put tickets up for sale in store only for a week or two before making them available online

Or just to make the prereg handled in person, period. It's pretty easy for the FLGS to say, "Hey, are you coming to the event?" at their regular league night.

That makes it unlikely that someone 2 hours away will come though. No-one should have to have to risk travelling with no guarantee they can play.

Giving locals a chance to get a spot first and then putting the remaining spots up on a first come first serve basis seems fair to me

To hear some of you guys talk maybe FFG should make World's locals only.

To hear some of you guys talk maybe FFG should make World's locals only.

InB4: do not feed the trolls