Hello!

I'm interested to know how the allocation of organized play tournament kits (winter/spring/summer) is handled in the USA and different countries.

* can every store order tournament kits? Or do they have to be special stores (e.g. flagship stores)?

* Do the shops have to be brick and mortar? Or can online stores order kits for tournaments?

* Are the shops allowed to transfer the kits to private people to run their tournaments?

How are the regulations in your country? Do you think the regulations in your country does encourage your tournament scene?

Thanks for your help!

Considering that the kits are not for resale, I don't see any reason for online stores buying them. Near as I can tell, every store that can order from FFG can order the kits.

As I understand it, you have to have a retailer number and order directly from FFG.

For things like game night kits I think they're a lot more lax on what you can do with them. I think if FFG found out someone bought a kit and didn't actually host any events they might stop selling to that store.

But they are a lot more strict about who gets Store Championship kits.

In Germany it's like that only special stores (Flagship stores of the distributor) can order tournament kits. That is so these stores have a "unique selling point". I think this is unfair because stores that are good in organizing tournaments, but don't have the status of "flagship store" don't have a chance to get any kits.

I don't know how much control FFG has over what's done in Germany. As I understand it the distributor over there is the one who controls things like that.

Although with Asmodee being in France perhaps that will change.

So people can can have an "on line" store, then sell stuff on eBay. Not cool.

So people can can have an "on line" store, then sell stuff on eBay. Not cool.

Well people can't sell game night kits. I suppose they could sell the tokens and such on ebay though. But if FFG found out that someone who was buying game night kits were just selling them on ebay they'd stop selling to that person/store.

The "Not for resale" label isn't just decoration. FFG has also commented on cracking down on the practice at GAMA.

The thing that is truly maddening is that clubs, even those with their own bank accounts and so forth cannot buy kits as they are not retailers. I can understand wanting to support bricks and mortar stores, even if I think they are an outdated model, but refusing to support other venues for organised gaming seems completely nonsensical.

The thing that is truly maddening is that clubs, even those with their own bank accounts and so forth cannot buy kits as they are not retailers. I can understand wanting to support bricks and mortar stores, even if I think they are an outdated model, but refusing to support other venues for organised gaming seems completely nonsensical.

Yeah, this sucks. I live in a rural area and the closet game store is a seven hour round trip. I'd love to start an x-wing league and be able to buy tournament kits to run our own events. But alas....

The thing that is truly maddening is that clubs, even those with their own bank accounts and so forth cannot buy kits as they are not retailers. I can understand wanting to support bricks and mortar stores, even if I think they are an outdated model, but refusing to support other venues for organised gaming seems completely nonsensical.

It's mainly to keep things simple. Where you would be able to order the kits, you need to access their retailer site. Do you think it is a good idea to allow clubs to that site?

I see both sides I suppose.

As a club leader, I sometimes don't want to have to have our events at the store simply for the fact that I don't want to monopolize ALL their space for the day (and there is no beer there).

But from FFG's point of view, they want these to be special and something to help encourage the community.

FFG is making money off x-wing right? and tournaments are a big part of why players keep playing. so it's not out of this world the idea that one employee at FFG would be able to check individual clubs to see they are legit and allow them to order kits. and since they are the owners of the game, they could simply tell local distributors like in Germany to implement a similar system

It's mainly to keep things simple. Where you would be able to order the kits, you need to access their retailer site. Do you think it is a good idea to allow clubs to that site?

Why not let clubs access the retailer site? Other companies do. I'd be willing to bet more units of X-Wing kit are shifted every month due to games at our club than are shifted from the tiny display in the back corner of our LGS even in a month that they do have a tournament, and that's with some of us picking up the odd pack from them for convenience rather than Chaos Cards or Gameslore (our usual preferred suppliers). We're promoting X-Wing harder than the LGS, much harder most of the time.

So... Fuzzy and Fuzzy Jr. Play at home. Are we considered a club? Then why can't I just order a pack too?

Personally I see no reason to stop groups of friends clubbing together and buying a kit to play a league at each other's homes or suchlike. Given that (going by the price on Amazon from third parties) they cost 70 notes or so I suspect that market would not be huge. The idea of the kits is to promote people playing X-Wing, with a side helping of doing so in a social environment. Why that social environment has to be a retail establishment I don't get, especially as (on this side of the pond at least) many have to hire outside space or play the tornaments in, let's say a less than ideal environment.

one employee at FFG would be able to check individual clubs to see they are legit and allow them to order kits.

Given the number of clubs out there... That's nearly a full time job by itself, and one that may do little in terms of FFG's bottom line.

My LGS owner told me what a game night kit costs, and FFG makes little money off them, no where near enough to pay for a a full time person.

Why that social environment has to be a retail establishment I don't get...

Because it's not easy to get a retail number, so they know anyone with one isn't just some guy who wants to relist everything from the kit on ebay.

Sure that sucks for legitimate clubs, but it's really as simple as the cost/benefit ratio.

Just sell "club kits"...

Different crap in it.

Problem solved. Customers happy.

Huzzah!

NEXT!!1!11!

Except for FFG's true customers, the retailers.

yeah and what about folks in the military stationed overseas? = No game store but most bases do have rec centers. would be cool if they could order kits...

The thing that is truly maddening is that clubs, even those with their own bank accounts and so forth cannot buy kits as they are not retailers. I can understand wanting to support bricks and mortar stores, even if I think they are an outdated model, but refusing to support other venues for organised gaming seems completely nonsensical.

Yeah, this sucks. I live in a rural area and the closet game store is a seven hour round trip. I'd love to start an x-wing league and be able to buy tournament kits to run our own events. But alas....

Get in touch with a local distributor. It can't hurt to ask.

The thing that is truly maddening is that clubs, even those with their own bank accounts and so forth cannot buy kits as they are not retailers. I can understand wanting to support bricks and mortar stores, even if I think they are an outdated model, but refusing to support other venues for organised gaming seems completely nonsensical.

Yeah, this sucks. I live in a rural area and the closet game store is a seven hour round trip. I'd love to start an x-wing league and be able to buy tournament kits to run our own events. But alas....

Get in touch with a local distributor. It can't hurt to ask.

good idea but not sure how I would find a local distributor when there is no one local being distributed too.

FFG is making money off x-wing right? and tournaments are a big part of why players keep playing. so it's not out of this world the idea that one employee at FFG would be able to check individual clubs to see they are legit and allow them to order kits. and since they are the owners of the game, they could simply tell local distributors like in Germany to implement a similar system

I'd love to be that employee, get to fly to rural areas and play x-wing to suss out fake clubs.