For those that have been to Gen Con before, how does FFG handle early release sales? When do they do it? Where do they do it? Are there purchase limits? Can anyone attending Gen Con purchase or do you have to do some special event to be eligible?

Wyrd does it best. They do huge early releases at gencon + LE freebees for buying a certain amount...AND you can order from their online store during Gencon so you need not go there or find a ninja shopper.

Sucks for LGSs but great for players.

7 minutes ago, Pewpewpew BOOM said:

Wyrd does it best. They do huge early releases at gencon + LE freebees for buying a certain amount...AND you can order from their online store during Gencon so you need not go there or find a ninja shopper.

Sucks for LGSs but great for players.

Wyrd?

Wyrd

15 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Wyrd?

Wyrd Miniatures. Makers of Malifaux, Puppet Wars, Into the Breach, and other games.

FFG does it best. You can’t buy the pre-release stuff online, so there is actually an incentive to attend the con.

They sell from their booth, and usually hand out cards on Thursday that you can use to reserve your models, to keep the line down. Just return later that day and turn them in for the proper ships (or other PR items if you are buying for their other games as well).

After the first day, PR models are first-come, first served I believe.

Usually the participants in the Thursday Qualifier get cards during the event that can be used Friday. Qualifier Tournament lasts all day, so you would miss out of the PR stuff otherwise. Doubt they will do that this year though, as it looks like the Qualifier is Friday.

12 minutes ago, Pewpewpew BOOM said:

Wyrd

Wyrd Miniatures. Makers of Malifaux, Puppet Wars, Into the Breach, and other games.

Ah! Thanks. Any idea how FFG handles it?

FFG has a well run booth. If they have stuff they know is going to be popular the have a space reserved for the queue and people wrangling it. Stuff is available all day and you don’t need to participate in particular events (for early release stuff, obviously event prizes are something else).

Lines for FFG stuff tend to be long. I had an exhibitors badge last year, letting me get into the dealers hall an hour before it opened and I was still waiting in line for 90 minutes.

They try to have plenty of stock, but stuff does frequently sell out. I “think” they have stock set aside for each day, so if it sells out Friday, there should be more on Saturday, but I’m not positive about that.

They also like to spring surprise stuff on people through the weekend, so it is possible that something we didn’t know about on Friday will be announced and available in limited quantities on Saturday.

11 minutes ago, Forgottenlore said:

FFG has a well run booth. If they have stuff they know is going to be popular the have a space reserved for the queue and people wrangling it. Stuff is available all day and you don’t need to participate in particular events (for early release stuff, obviously event prizes are something else).

Lines for FFG stuff tend to be long. I had an exhibitors badge last year, letting me get into the dealers hall an hour before it opened and I was still waiting in line for 90 minutes.

They try to have plenty of stock, but stuff does frequently sell out. I “think” they have stock set aside for each day, so if it sells out Friday, there should be more on Saturday, but I’m not positive about that.

They also like to spring surprise stuff on people through the weekend, so it is possible that something we didn’t know about on Friday will be announced and available in limited quantities on Saturday.

Thanks! I've never been to Gen Con. Wanted to go in the past but didn't have the motivation. The early release of 2.0 gave me that motivation and is my main reason for planning a trip. If I go through with it, I want to make sure I have a good chance of picking up a copy.

man if you thought FFG had long lines before, this 2.0 release is going result in ruptured dam levels of flooding

going to be super jealous of everyone who gets to play early

1 hour ago, drail14me said:

For those that have been to Gen Con before, how does FFG handle early release sales? When do they do it? Where do they do it? Are there purchase limits? Can anyone attending Gen Con purchase or do you have to do some special event to be eligible?

I have a question. Do you like lines?

I hate early releases at gencon am a big fan of everyone getting it same day.

But am not an idiot the fact people are playing will make others jelly and build hype if done correct. Meaning more sales it’s clever marketing.

an early release to me says they are confidant it’s good game. If it wasn’t and they early release and people hated on it, they screwed the pooch

12 minutes ago, Sithborg said:

I have a question. Do you like lines?

I don't mind them if it's a successful wait! But yeah, if there were 90 minute lines last year for an early wave release then I expect many many hours for a 2.0 release. Hopefully they have a plan.

I love the pre-releases. Even in years when I’m not there, it just means I have to wait until release day. It’s not like the stuff is con-only LE. Even their prize LEs are just alt art cards. I love that too. These things all provide incentive to attend, but don’t make it feel *mandatory*.

Yes, the lines will be long, though the reservation cards help a lot. I am prepared to buy a Rules box and one conversion kit (Rebels) there. I pre-ordered the other two faction conversion kits because I wanted the discount and didn’t want to have to fit them in my luggage, but I gotta get some stuff while I’m there.

1 hour ago, drail14me said:

Thanks! I've never been to Gen Con. Wanted to go in the past but didn't have the motivation. The early release of 2.0 gave me that motivation and is my main reason for planning a trip. If I go through with it, I want to make sure I have a good chance of picking up a copy.

Be advised. Last year, for the first time ever, GenCon sold out of tickets before the show. People who showed up on Thursday to buy tickets had to be sent away.

Also, hotels are seriously hard to get for the show. One year we had to get a hotel on the edge of town and take a shuttle bus (with a specific schedule) into the show.