Out of curiosity, how is the health of the game in your local area? If it's low, what do you think is the cause? If it's strong, what is the cause?

It helps in Lexington, KY we have a content creator for FFG products with lots of different podcasters.

It also helps we have Louisville and Cinci just a little over an hours away either direction, so larger tournaments see support from both cities represent.

We also have 2 game shops that have owners who love the game, so they put some focus on it with weekly games. One runs a nice league too aimed towards newer folks with a Starter League (runs 6 weeks, pick 1 starter, 6 initial packs, and then each week can buy 3 more packs for your card pool).

~D

Mine is fairly weak right now. Best reason I can think of is some just went onto other games, others are intimidated by the price and play magic already and those of that are playing just have very busy conflicting schedules so it is hard to set up a day for us all to play together.

The store where I hang out has two tournaments per week (one draft, one constructed), which routinely get 8-14 people each. For a few weeks before Across the Galaxy came out, attendance was down, as people weren't quite as excited about collecting more prize packs of the sets they already had, but we still always had enough people to make a tourney. We also occasionally have big, special events, like the big release event for AtG, which also attract our regular crowd.

The fact that one of the store employees where we meet is a player and does a lot to promote the game really helps. They also have a big collection of singles for sale, including a cheap common bin, so it's easy for new players to catch up a little on their collections. And the same store will be hosting our Regional event in a couple of weeks.

I've also heard that there are other stores that have Destiny events, two of them within about an hour drive, and one that's a two hour drive away, but I've never been to those.

On 11/18/2018 at 10:41 PM, mightyspacepope said:

Out of curiosity, how is the health of the game in your local area? If it's low, what do you think is the cause? If it's strong, what is the cause?

I come from Europe where the player base is not as strong as in the US. The number of players has diminished roughly by 50% within the last 9 months in my area. The rotation might have had some bearing on that number as well as the inaction of the retailer. The support from the FFG ,or the lack of thereof is one of the other reasons. There might also be some correlation between the expenditures and the number of new players. I have recently heard from several guys, some of whom have been playing MTG for years competitively, that SWD is too costly for them to join in (!).

I, for one, tend to agree with this assessment. SWD is by far the most expensive game I have ever played (among others, I have played Star Wars from Decipher, RINGS Decipher, Star Trek 1E and 2E, MTG). IMHO, the whole concept of legendaries is killing the game in the long run. In order to have the statistical probability to open all 17 legendaries twice (to have a playset) players need to open almost 6 (!) boxes. While certainly there are other ways how to obtain cards but so they are in other games that I have played so far and in none of them I have had to spend fortune to obtain a play set of cards. Because of the latter reason, I am pretty sure that the AtG was the last set I spent cash on since I sincerely doubt that there will be more than 1 other block. The game is doomed to end within the next 18 months, imho. After all, all card games lifetime expectancy should not exceed 5 years. I remember reading it somewhere.

My lgs' s turnout is lower right now, but not that bad we're just in a major metropolitan area so there are lots of shops. At our pique we had roughly had like 10 locally around EaW, but we're down to 6 right now. We had some turn over when a few left the game(2 converted to MTG, 1 left cause work conflicts with out game nights, 1 left cause of power creep(trying to get him back in though), 1 moved to Virginia for work, 1 left cause he was concentrating on pokemon worlds, & 1 dropped out cause the crowd shrunk) but we also gained like 3 new regulars over that time. So we're down but not out. Plus I carry like 6+ decks to lend out and help initiate new players.

Thing is we turned out 34 for our Store Champ, so the crowds in the area and we have a regional coming up at one of the other shops. I think the health of the game is fine, could be better but not too bad imo.

There were 66 people at our regional on Saturday.

We're down a few players compared to a year ago, but we've picked up a couple new ones so we get 4-8 weekly players instead of maybe 7-10 previously.

Our regional last weekend had 47 with a non-Snoke (local) winner, and I think that reflects our mix of competitiveness with a really great attitude of mixing things up, trying off the wall stuff even if it turns out to be janky garbage, and just generally having fun at weekly nights.

In short, I couldn't be happier with my local meta, short of adding a couple of the regular faces we lost over the spring and summer back in.

Dead here, magic got hot again and sucked the life out of destiny.

It’s fine here in Chicago. We have a number of game stores and each runs its own group so the true strength of the local meta is not apparent until a regional occurs, and the most recent one a bit over a week ago was totally mobbed.

Pretty good in the UK. I am in the Derby area and there is a community at my LGS of about 15-20 of us depending on timing that play. That is just at the store I frequent.

On 12/15/2018 at 2:50 AM, Joelist said:

It’s fine here in Chicago. We have a number of game stores and each runs its own group so the true strength of the local meta is not apparent until a regional occurs, and the most recent one a bit over a week ago was totally mobbed.

You were at the Chicago Regional too? While 64+ players was lower turnout than Feburary's it's still impressive considering the proximity of other ones like the Ohio one.

Is Pastimes your local btw? I tend to play at Top Cut on the southwest side.

9 hours ago, Atomisk said:

You were at the Chicago Regional too? While 64+ players was lower turnout than Feburary's it's still impressive considering the proximity of other ones like the Ohio one.

Is Pastimes your local btw? I tend to play at Top Cut on the southwest side.

Being the holiday season kind of caused the dip in attendance. I know three people from my Wisconsin group could only make it. I could not make it myself. Locally in Jan. there will be another region in Green Bay. Three weeks later will be another in the Milwaukee area which I assume the folks from the Madison area plus Ill will go to it. Our local group fluxuates but things have been solid at least once a week.

On 12/15/2018 at 2:50 AM, Joelist said:

It’s fine here in Chicago. We have a number of game stores and each runs its own group so the true strength of the local meta is not apparent until a regional occurs, and the most recent one a bit over a week ago was totally mobbed.

The Regional turnout might have been ok, but it was also down from last time. And of course, the Regional pulls from a much larger area.

Locally, I know that the northern Chicago area in my local scene has taken a hit, losing 3+ players from the local group while adding maybe 1? And it wasn't a big group to begin with.

3 hours ago, kingbobb said:

The Regional turnout might have been ok, but it was also down from last time. And of course, the Regional pulls from a much larger area.

Locally, I know that the northern Chicago area in my local scene has taken a hit, losing 3+ players from the local group while adding maybe 1? And it wasn't a big group to begin with.

What's your shop? If it's Dojo, I thought they didn't have a real crowd? Or at least according to a few of my group that played there. Regardless just probably gotta commute to another shop. I don't know what Pastimes regular crowd is but they should be bigger. There's also Fair Games that I know has a big crowd, but they're a hike for me.

18 hours ago, Atomisk said:

What's your shop? If it's Dojo, I thought they didn't have a real crowd? Or at least according to a few of my group that played there. Regardless just probably gotta commute to another shop. I don't know what Pastimes regular crowd is but they should be bigger. There's also Fair Games that I know has a big crowd, but they're a hike for me.

Farther north even than that. Gift of Games in Volo has a regular Star Wars group that rotates between games, but has dropped 2-3 Destiny players in the last couple months. A few miles away in Wauconda is Lindsay's Gamer Garrison, which hasn't seen regular Destiny play in months. I think Everthing Games in Buffalo Grove might still be holding draft events, but I don't make it out that far very often. It's certainly cooled considerably up here, and the new set seems to have not brought any new players in.

2 hours ago, kingbobb said:

Farther north even than that. Gift of Games in Volo has a regular Star Wars group that rotates between games, but has dropped 2-3 Destiny players in the last couple months. A few miles away in Wauconda is Lindsay's Gamer Garrison, which hasn't seen regular Destiny play in months. I think Everthing Games in Buffalo Grove might still be holding draft events, but I don't make it out that far very often. It's certainly cooled considerably up here, and the new set seems to have not brought any new players in.

That's rough, but when do you guys usually play? I could maybe make a trip up there with my guys to bolster numbers. Sometimes all it takes is people playing to draw New players in too. Or if you feel like it, we do a League($5 for the month, you play 3 games each week, prize at the end of the month) on Sundays so that's an option too If you're up to commuting and like I said before Pastimes should be closer for you too.

Compared to last year we have had about a 50% cut across the board. Nationals had 50 down from 100, Regionals 20 down from 40 and at a store level we are now getting 5-6 each week.

The main reason is we get very lackluster support from FFG in Australia.

Prize kits are late if they come in at all and the whole mess with Store Championship Kits not being ordered hasn't helped. I have given up asking for or even hoping for Galactic Qualifiers and I don't think our distributor has any drive to push.

For the most part FFG seems to want to treat it like they would a boardgame, and it just doesn't get the effort it needs to grow and get new players.

20 hours ago, Atomisk said:

That's rough, but when do you guys usually play? I could maybe make a trip up there with my guys to bolster numbers. Sometimes all it takes is people playing to draw New players in too. Or if you feel like it, we do a League($5 for the month, you play 3 games each week, prize at the end of the month) on Sundays so that's an option too If you're up to commuting and like I said before Pastimes should be closer for you too.

I've pretty much dropped the game. My experience at Adepticon last year started a serious negative experience with the game, and my last purchase was a box of Way of the Force. I've mostly moved on to other games.

But the groups were meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, with Wednesday being the main night now.

11 hours ago, kingbobb said:

I've pretty much dropped the game. My experience at Adepticon last year started a serious negative experience with the game, and my last purchase was a box of Way of the Force. I've mostly moved on to other games.

But the groups were meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, with Wednesday being the main night now.

Ah, sorry to hear it! I know when I played in the Standard GQ I was pretty bummed by my brews performance too at Adepticon, So I feel you. Luckily I ran pretty hot in Trilogies(4-0 before I lost 2) and was able to get 2 spot gloss cards by the end once you factored in pods after I bombed in standard. But upside is they overhauled the GQs after feedback from last year, so even though you don't play anymore know they are getting better.

And Wednesday's are hard for me(usually me and the wife have a weekly thing) but I'll try to make it out sometime.

not good. here in the Philippines there aren't much people playing, shops selling, tournaments held. actually, there aren't any tournament's. the only people i know who play here are me and my friend.

It’s strong in my household between me and my daughter. However outside it is weak. There are a couple of game stores by me but none of them deal with Destiny. Everything is Magic. It would be nice to have Destiny type game store here to buy, sell and play.

Completely dead in Toronto. I'm sad I even bought a box of the original set.

Going strong in Baltimore Maryland.

In eastern KY it is dead. I am the only one playing the game currently.