Once again Worlds are somewhere in Minnesota. I'm not sure why I keep hoping FFG gets his mind right about that just to get disappointed every year...

They're wrong to host their main event in their home location?

25 minutes ago, Sunitsa said:

Once again Worlds are somewhere in Minnesota. I'm not sure why I keep hoping FFG gets his mind right about that just to get disappointed every year...

Y'know... I can't fault FFG on this one. Moving the nationals around some of the bigger countries would be good... More system opens elsewhere other than the US... yes, absolutely.

Showcasing one of their flagship games at "the" top premier level kinda makes sense in their own gaming area setup. If I ever did steal an invite to worlds, I'd have to consider the time off and international flight... but I think I'd do it. It costs as much as a flight to Europe for me too...

I've never questioned the location. I question why, even after moving to another time, they need to limit the attendance from outside US/Europe even more

I've spent months trying to encourage as many australians as I can to come to worlds next year, only to find out that our whole country now has a cap on how many can attend

38 minutes ago, Sunitsa said:

Once again Worlds are somewhere in Minnesota. I'm not sure why I keep hoping FFG gets his mind right about that just to get disappointed every year...

Yeah, sorry, Worlds is always going to be in Minnesota because that's where FFG HQ is. It's the most neutral place for them to hold it, so theoretically it should anger the fewest people.

46 minutes ago, Sunitsa said:

Once again Worlds are somewhere in Minnesota. I'm not sure why I keep hoping FFG gets his mind right about that just to get disappointed every year...

they are never, ever going to change the location of worlds, because of $.

They just aren't. I doubt x-wing will ever be big enough to change their minds on it. Right now, we all get a weekend (actually, most of us don't even get a weekend).

10 minutes ago, Tlfj200 said:

they are never, ever going to change the location of worlds, because of $.

They just aren't. I doubt x-wing will ever be big enough to change their minds on it. Right now, we all get a weekend (actually, most of us don't even get a weekend).

Yeah I sadly know. Thing is, it's not like having worlds in Europe would cost that much to them. THeir European OP team is very good, has already all the mats and **** needed to run a tournament and arguably even more experience than FFG USA employees (considering the amount of larger events they already run). They will lose on food and product sales, but other than that? It's not like they have to ship anything other than the prizes (and they are already shipping kits for any other tournament, so that very minor).

Having said that, I don't get how the others answering me could actually defend FFG greedy choice. I get it's better for you to have it in Minnesota rather than somewhere in Germany, but using any other reasoning than personal comfort is laughable at best.

I get you prefer Roseville, I know that FFG won't consider any other places because they are cheap, but considering it a good place to hold an event called "Worlds" years after years is ridiculous.

Bring a little intellectual honesty here please, I'm an heartbroken addict to plastic spaceships too broke to pay for a trip to Minnesota who probably won't even won a paid trip if somehow manages to win his national in september...

@Sunitsa I actually have been trying to be as fair as possible in my assessment of FFG. Their HQ is the most sensible place for worlds to be, and if they hold it anywhere else, then, when someone complains about where it is, they won't have a simple explaination.

A side-effect of the world being so globalized is that sometimes things are ridiculously far away. I have been a hopeless addict to small interlocking plastic bricks since before I could walk. The LEGO HQ and most of their great factory tours and LEGOland attractions are in the middle of nowhere in the Danish countryside. In an amazing vacation that we combined with my dad's business trip to be able to afford it, when I was a teenager, I finally got to go to Billund. And as much as I enjoyed it, that's likely the only time I'll ever go there. The LEGO company has LEGOlands, stores, and factories here in the states, but they don't compare to the official one. But I can't complain, that's where there HQ is, and it would be unfair to the country that created LEGO if they had better LEGO stuff here in the US than in their own country. And moreover, even if there are more LEGO fans in the states than in Denmark, there is an easy fair answer for me when I say "why is it all in Billund", but if they moved it here's there's no easy answer to a Danish teen who asks "why is all the cool LEGO stuff in the USA?"

8 minutes ago, Sunitsa said:

Bring a little intellectual honesty here please, I'm an heartbroken addict to plastic spaceships too broke to pay for a trip to Minnesota who probably won't even won a paid trip if somehow manages to win his national in september...

I don't thin intellectual honesty is anyone's issue here. Frankly, the people you'll find in this thread treat worlds as FFGcon already, not some holy ritual of sacred ranking.

I'd be down for worlds in Germany - sounds fun. The issue is FFG will never do it, not my personal preference.

12 minutes ago, Sunitsa said:

Yeah I sadly know. Thing is, it's not like having worlds in Europe would cost that much to them. THeir European OP team is very good, has already all the mats and **** needed to run a tournament and arguably even more experience than FFG USA employees (considering the amount of larger events they already run). They will lose on food and product sales, but other than that? It's not like they have to ship anything other than the prizes (and they are already shipping kits for any other tournament, so that very minor).

Having said that, I don't get how the others answering me could actually defend FFG greedy choice. I get it's better for you to have it in Minnesota rather than somewhere in Germany, but using any other reasoning than personal comfort is laughable at best.

I get you prefer Roseville, I know that FFG won't consider any other places because they are cheap, but considering it a good place to hold an event called "Worlds" years after years is ridiculous.

Bring a little intellectual honesty here please, I'm an heartbroken addict to plastic spaceships too broke to pay for a trip to Minnesota who probably won't even won a paid trip if somehow manages to win his national in september...

It's toy spaceships dude.

I'm looking forward to store champs and regionals being cut throat World qualification events.

I may consider taking part in some locally, even if it's just to steal those seats I'd never use ?

Just now, Kieransi said:

@Sunitsa I actually have been trying to be as fair as possible in my assessment of FFG. Their HQ is the most sensible place for worlds to be, and if they hold it anywhere else, then, when someone complains about where it is, they won't have a simple explaination.

A side-effect of the world being so globalized is that sometimes things are ridiculously far away. I have been a hopeless addict to small interlocking plastic bricks since before I could walk. The LEGO HQ and most of their great factory tours and LEGOland attractions are in the middle of nowhere in the Danish countryside. In an amazing vacation that we combined with my dad's business trip to be able to afford it, when I was a teenager, I finally got to go to Billund. And as much as I enjoyed it, that's likely the only time I'll ever go there. The LEGO company has LEGOlands, stores, and factories here in the states, but they don't compare to the official one. But I can't complain, that's where there HQ is, and it would be unfair to the country that created LEGO if they had better LEGO stuff here in the US than in their own country. And moreover, even if there are more LEGO fans in the states than in Denmark, there is an easy fair answer for me when I say "why is it all in Billund", but if they moved it here's there's no easy answer to a Danish teen who asks "why is all the cool LEGO stuff in the USA?"

They could just bounce between Europe and Roseville every year and I don't see others than the poor Australians complaining.

Your Lego example is totally flawed and unrelated. Since when are lego bricks a competitive game who label its most prestigious tournament as "Worlds"?

FFG HQ might be neutral only for USA west coaster (and again, poor Australians who don't seem to get OP support from FFG for reasons). Having Worlds in Minnesota is sensible only for NA players actually. Especially since it has been there forever.

Well, if you're not going to listen to my explanation and just stubbornly continue to accuse me of being biased by saying it's normal for FFG's biggest event of the year to be in their one and only headquarters, sure I guess I'll just leave.

Boring conversation anyway

FFG is an american company, expecting them to take a worldly view of what the world is is just wishful thinking.

They want full control on their biggest events, to do so, you have those at your headquarter. Those headquarters happen to be in the middle of the mainland US, where COL is low and pay can be similarly low. It fits with the FFG way.

1 hour ago, LagJanson said:

Y'know... I can't fault FFG on this one. Moving the nationals around some of the bigger countries would be good... More system opens elsewhere other than the US... yes, absolutely.

Showcasing one of their flagship games at "the" top premier level kinda makes sense in their own gaming area setup. If I ever did steal an invite to worlds, I'd have to consider the time off and international flight... but I think I'd do it. It costs as much as a flight to Europe for me too...

On the bright side, you'll probably know more than a month or two in advance if you have a spot at World's - unlike this year. A bit easier to plan. If I ever make it back to World's, first round is on me.

6 minutes ago, drjkel said:

FFG is an american company, expecting them to take a worldly view of what the world is is just wishful thinking.

They want full control on their biggest events, to do so, you have those at your headquarter. Those headquarters happen to be in the middle of the mainland US, where COL is low and pay can be similarly low. It fits with the FFG way.

Also living in a rich man a hoth for 2/3rds of the year really incentives you to come up with things to do in doors. I suspect ffg would not do as well in San Diego or Miami

18 minutes ago, catachanninja said:

Also living in a rich man a hoth for 2/3rds of the year really incentives you to come up with things to do in doors. I suspect ffg would not do as well in San Diego or Miami

You barely get any snow and enjoy balmy winters ?

I've just been brooding for about four hours..... I'm about ready to dump this ******* game

41 minutes ago, jokerkd said:

I've just been brooding for about four hours..... I'm about ready to dump this ******* game

I understand your frustration amigo, I'm also super pissed. Hopefully there's something in store to rectify the situation?

46 minutes ago, jokerkd said:

I've just been brooding for about four hours..... I'm about ready to dump this ******* game

What's the current trigger for the anger? The World qualification format or did I miss something else?

25 minutes ago, drjkel said:

What's the current trigger for the anger? The World qualification format or did I miss something else?

It's not anger. It's sadness. I appreciate the fact that it's not entirely rational

I put a lot of effort into promoting this game, not to mention my own money because OP in Australia is a joke.

The one thing I really wanted for myself was a trip to worlds in 2019, to meet all the people I've only even spoken to online. now that's not going to happen.

I realise that not all of Australia's issues have been caused by one person or company, or even that they were all avoidable, but this is the latest in a non-stop series of d*** punches for people like me

3 hours ago, Sunitsa said:

Yeah I sadly know. Thing is, it's not like having worlds in Europe would cost that much to them. THeir European OP team is very good, has already all the mats and **** needed to run a tournament and arguably even more experience than FFG USA employees (considering the amount of larger events they already run). They will lose on food and product sales, but other than that? It's not like they have to ship anything other than the prizes (and they are already shipping kits for any other tournament, so that very minor).

Having said that, I don't get how the others answering me could actually defend FFG greedy choice. I get it's better for you to have it in Minnesota rather than somewhere in Germany, but using any other reasoning than personal comfort is laughable at best.

I get you prefer Roseville, I know that FFG won't consider any other places because they are cheap, but considering it a good place to hold an event called "Worlds" years after years is ridiculous.

Bring a little intellectual honesty here please, I'm an heartbroken addict to plastic spaceships too broke to pay for a trip to Minnesota who probably won't even won a paid trip if somehow manages to win his national in september...

Actually, no one is super stoked to go to Roseville. It's not a particularly cheap airport (not expensive, either).

Like, we go because we can. If it was in Europe, less Americans would go, but those that would have a great time. I'd love for it to be in Europe, or rotate.


I'm just saying they, FFG, won't do it, because they basically don't want to do it, likely a mixture of budget, profit, and they just don't care about the competitive side enough to make it that big.

1 hour ago, jokerkd said:

It's not anger. It's sadness. I appreciate the fact that it's not entirely rational

I put a lot of effort into promoting this game, not to mention my own money because OP in Australia is a joke.

The one thing I really wanted for myself was a trip to worlds in 2019, to meet all the people I've only even spoken to online. now that's not going to happen.

I realise that not all of Australia's issues have been caused by one person or company, or even that they were all avoidable, but this is the latest in a non-stop series of d*** punches for people like me

Do we know for sure Australia will never get a system open? I feel like that will help at least a bit.

As far as worlds being in Minnesota, yes, it’s unfortunate if you don’t live in the area. It’s especially unfortunate if you live outside the states.

But honestly, I think it was and is a privilege to be able to go for anyone. I’m still amazed how many people, even state side, can manage to find a way (and reason) to pay for airfare and lodging, the time off work, and the time away from their family. Especially when you consider that, love for the game aside, we ARE playing a game of plastic space ships with little to no return even for success.

As for my personal outrage- It seems the highest level of play is the “we made this up” format? Or “this is thematic which is cool screw your non thematic lists you love” format?

No one bothered by this? Or am I missing something?

As someone who loves a diverse meta, I’m sure most would think I would love something like this. But I don’t. At All. I prefer only rereleased waves available over this.

I’m not even sure I can pin point why I dislike it, but I think what irks me is that my favorite “legal” lists/ships can be made available to me at one point, then pulled from me the next.

It’s like we will always be using a toolkit that will randomly have tools disappear at FFGs whim. Except Xwings probably, because FFG won’t let any format go without its namesake Im sure. But G1As and Punishers and the like? Ya, that stuff is going to be lucky when it’s legal.

1 hour ago, jokerkd said:

It's not anger. It's sadness. I appreciate the fact that it's not entirely rational

I put a lot of effort into promoting this game, not to mention my own money because OP in Australia is a joke.

The one thing I really wanted for myself was a trip to worlds in 2019, to meet all the people I've only even spoken to online. now that's not going to happen.

I realise that not all of Australia's issues have been caused by one person or company, or even that they were all avoidable, but this is the latest in a non-stop series of d*** punches for people like me

I've had a conversation with FFG directly a few months back; and they seem to think that there is no issue in Australia. It starts with the distributors and then the issues trickle down to the retail outlets. They get little (I'm being generous as I believe they get zero) support from FFG to run events. Aussies already suffer from the tyranny of distance, but we're dedicated to the cause.

All it will take is a couple of events in the major cities, once a year, leading to a national, which launches into the worlds. Like I said, I've tried to open a dialogue - the people I've spoken with at FFG just don't feel there's a problem.

1 hour ago, jokerkd said:

It's not anger. It's sadness. I appreciate the fact that it's not entirely rational

I put a lot of effort into promoting this game, not to mention my own money because OP in Australia is a joke.

The one thing I really wanted for myself was a trip to worlds in 2019, to meet all the people I've only even spoken to online. now that's not going to happen.

I realise that not all of Australia's issues have been caused by one person or company, or even that they were all avoidable, but this is the latest in a non-stop series of d*** punches for people like me

it does suck that Worlds will not be a open invite anymore. but there will surely be something that becomes the spiritual home of international xwing in its place. Either one of the community events or whatever fills the place of large gatherings like NA champs. the wider community wont settle for anything less and will likely be improved by being a community driven decision.

as for Worlds, Australia should still have around 15-20 potential candidates to send each year. considering the price of the Hyperspace Kits i think its reasonable to expect 1 per season per state. With Nats gone i think we should reasonably expect an Australian System open to replace it, considering our nats numbers can match or beat the smallest opens from 2018.

Honestly at first glance a System open would be better than nats for the store that is hosting because the day 2 can run a Hyperspace qualifier and get them a better return.