FFG Being FFG Again

By Markspinner, in Marvel Champions: The Card Game

5 hours ago, Kaijudo said:

They didn't do that with Android Netrunner. My LGS always had packs. Every time I'd ask they had the packs I needed.

Just the way it should be. Customers should not have to rely on pre-ordering to get the products they want, often where your money is taken weeks/ months in advance of supply. That's not customer service and doesn't help the FLGS in getting sales in store either.

Netrunner did have shortages in it's first year. It was very hard to get a core set early on (let alone 3x of them). I ended up preordering all the packs in the first cycle from one of the stores in my area so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

Nothing has really changed other than FFG co-op solo games I think are more in demand than the competitive games. Demand and production will normalize. I think we are just still in the wake of stuff being produced prior to the core set release. Clearly they reacted already to the increase in demand since we expect a Wrecking Crew reprint next month. That would have to have been ordered months ago.

Do I wish this wouldn't keep happening? Of course I do. The only game I had no issue with whatsoever was L5R. I think they overestimated demand for that game or something. There were tons of product for that at release and during the first cycle.

Edited by phillos
2 hours ago, phillos said:

Netrunner did have shortages in it's first year. It was very hard to get a core set early on (let alone 3x of them). I ended up preordering all the packs in the first cycle from one of the stores in my area so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

Nothing has really changed other than FFG co-op solo games I think are more in demand than the competitive games. Demand and production will normalize. I think we are just still in the wake of stuff being produced prior to the core set release. Clearly they reacted already to the increase in demand since we expect a Wrecking Crew reprint next month. That would have to have been ordered months ago.

Do I wish this wouldn't keep happening? Of course I do. The only game I had no issue with whatsoever was L5R. I think they overestimated demand for that game or something. There were tons of product for that at release and during the first cycle.

This isn't quite technically true about Netrunner. What happened is that they had some preview copies available at Gencon, but then the full release was in November. This was planned from the start, but some people got mad that those who attended the con (or were willing to pay exorbitant ebay prices) could get the game earlier. But it wasn't anything more than just trying to get buzz about the game at the major convention. Once November hit, the supply issues weren't an issue (except in the EU, where FFG has always struggled).

But yeah L5R got massively overprinted, it was always a bit of a niche game, so I'm surprised by that being the game that was overprinted. Still, those cores sell for years and years after. I bought a Warhammer Invasion core only a few years ago, the game came out in like 2009.

I really can't speak for anyone else, but the complete lack of supply for the expansions has killed by interest in this game.

You would think that FFG would have learned their lesson with Arkham Horror, but no. And given that this is a much more visible license than Lovecraft, you would think that they would have been better prepared this time around.

3 hours ago, Supertoe said:

This isn't quite technically true about Netrunner. What happened is that they had some preview copies available at Gencon, but then the full release was in November. This was planned from the start, but some people got mad that those who attended the con (or were willing to pay exorbitant ebay prices) could get the game earlier. But it wasn't anything more than just trying to get buzz about the game at the major convention. Once November hit, the supply issues weren't an issue (except in the EU, where FFG has always struggled).

That was not my memory of it, but it was a long time ago. I started preordering those packs for a reason and I was not a preorder guy at the time. I do remember the Gencon thing though, and the angst surrounding it. I am not talking about that. Literally L5R is the only LCG I recall that didn't have shortages the first cycle. I've played 7 of them now I think.

Edited by phillos
On 1/31/2020 at 6:54 AM, Hannibal_pjv said:

Ffg does it with every game... the start of arkham horror Lcg was a horror... very hard to get products.

Be happy! It means that this game seems to be popular enough to have at least some expansions!

Marvel is a new IP for FFG. If they screw this up and don't produce enough product and kill the game before it gets out of the gate, Disney will pull the IP. It's likely there are contract contingencies based on sales. Fortunately, FFG has Disney's SW IP as well, but if they rest back on their laurels with this, they will lose the game. The fact is, FFG needs to get their act together, not just with Marvel but with all of their lines.

13 hours ago, The Steel Unicorn said:

Just the way it should be. Customers should not have to rely on pre-ordering to get the products they want, often where your money is taken weeks/ months in advance of supply. That's not customer service and doesn't help the FLGS in getting sales in store either.

Right! I agree with you 100%.... It's not a good business model either. It's the same with that Star Wars Destiny (It's a TCG), I was lucky and found the last core set at my local gamestop, but they never have random packs. It's like FFG gives them like one box or they're not asking for it. I can;t tell which it is.

10 hours ago, phillos said:

Netrunner did have shortages in it's first year. It was very hard to get a core set early on (let alone 3x of them). I ended up preordering all the packs in the first cycle from one of the stores in my area so I wouldn't have to worry about it.

Nothing has really changed other than FFG co-op solo games I think are more in demand than the competitive games. Demand and production will normalize. I think we are just still in the wake of stuff being produced prior to the core set release. Clearly they reacted already to the increase in demand since we expect a Wrecking Crew reprint next month. That would have to have been ordered months ago.

Do I wish this wouldn't keep happening? Of course I do. The only game I had no issue with whatsoever was L5R. I think they overestimated demand for that game or something. There were tons of product for that at release and during the first cycle.

I do remember seeing some post on Board Game Geek with people having issues getting a core. I jumped on Netrunner about this same time in 2013 (Feb 2013) so maybe I missed that first month of issues. I was able to get a core from my LGS with out them having to order it and I got the first 3 packs. Maybe some stores had issues or there was a shortage online, I don't doubt it at all. I just know from my experience, my LGS always had copies. The only time they ran out of ANR stuff was in 2018 right before the game was canceled, they ran out of everything lol. My LGS has a lot of Marvel Champions core sets too, no shortage there, its only the packs.

Yes that's true I think the co op thing is a big draw. I told a friend about it and he was like "yes this sounds like something me and my wife was looking for" and they're not card or board players. Any word on reprints of the other out of stock stuff?

I'm pretty sure this isn't popular opinion but I think it would have been better to release packs quarterly instead of monthly. Maybe monthly is too demanding.

L5R looks great. I've been wanting a core for a while now but I'm also a video gamer so my play money has been going to that hobby, but things seem to be getting slow in the video game world for me, so it might be a good time to get a L5R core just because it's a beautiful looking game that I'd like to bring out every now and then.

Edited by Kaijudo
8 hours ago, Supertoe said:

This isn't quite technically true about Netrunner. What happened is that they had some preview copies available at Gencon, but then the full release was in November. This was planned from the start, but some people got mad that those who attended the con (or were willing to pay exorbitant ebay prices) could get the game earlier. But it wasn't anything more than just trying to get buzz about the game at the major convention. Once November hit, the supply issues weren't an issue (except in the EU, where FFG has always struggled).

But yeah L5R got massively overprinted, it was always a bit of a niche game, so I'm surprised by that being the game that was overprinted. Still, those cores sell for years and years after. I bought a Warhammer Invasion core only a few years ago, the game came out in like 2009.

Ah, ok that makes sense. Cause like I already said my store always had cores, packs (cycles), big boxes, play mats... they were always stocked with anything Netrunner.

4 hours ago, urloony said:

Marvel is a new IP for FFG. If they screw this up and don't produce enough product and kill the game before it gets out of the gate, Disney will pull the IP. It's likely there are contract contingencies based on sales. Fortunately, FFG has Disney's SW IP as well, but if they rest back on their laurels with this, they will lose the game. The fact is, FFG needs to get their act together, not just with Marvel but with all of their lines.

The game isn't going to die because of underprinting. It isn't competitive, so building up an OP community isn't important.

It is a co-op game with a very very popular license. It is very easy to pick up with a distribution method that is very entry friendly. People can always buy in later with the reprints.

3 hours ago, Radix2309 said:

The game isn't going to die because of underprinting. It isn't competitive, so building up an OP community isn't important.

It is a co-op game with a very very popular license. It is very easy to pick up with a distribution method that is very entry friendly. People can always buy in later with the reprints.

I'm sure it won't die, but it will certainly lose the opportunity to maximise the revenue potential for the product lines for a game that has a very very popular following! Surely that means something to them. Sales are important even if building a community isn't. Look how big the LOTR LCG has become, that's not competitive either...

I for one will probably end up moving my base set on if I can't buy expansions soon to keep the challenges fresh!

Serious question, as it appears there were actually a lot more Wrecking Crews around than some of the initial fears would have suggested, did anyone actually have a problem getting Wrecking Crew? I’m in the UK and I only ordered it the Friday before it came out, and I got it on release day... the usual store where I bought it now seems to have it in stock, but was showing it sold out when I was looking around to pre order.

Yeah that was my experience in the U.K. - most online store were showing “preorder, sold out” but I managed to find one that had stock.

2 hours ago, Daft Blazer said:

Yeah that was my experience in the U.K. - most online store were showing “preorder, sold out” but I managed to find one that had stock.

I've not found anywhere that hasn't got a vague 'due in Jan 20' available for preorder, 'will take yer money an' not provide a date when you'll get it!' Not good enough for me 😒

Walked over to my LFGS and picked one of the wrecking crews. There were at least 3 more available.
Same store is unable to get ahold of any other product (guess we need reprints), but I have hope that I'll at least be able to pick up the future products in a timely fashion.

Now just need to get Capt America, and Green Goblin somewhere :D

8 hours ago, FearLord said:

Serious question, as it appears there were actually a lot more Wrecking Crews around than some of the initial fears would have suggested, did anyone actually have a problem getting Wrecking Crew? I’m in the UK and I only ordered it the Friday before it came out, and I got it on release day... the usual store where I bought it now seems to have it in stock, but was showing it sold out when I was looking around to pre order.

I had initially preordered mine through Team Covenant but got the dreaded "allocation" email so took their option for a refund. I was able to hit up mu LGS and got one on launch day. Granted, I did call about a week prior and paid for it over the phone to reserve a copy but they apparently got enough in for me to do so as late as I did.

Barnes and Noble still has stores with Captain America and Green Goblin. Green Goblin is when available online. Probably worth checking for anybody that has one nearby.

I was curious so I looked and the core set, green goblin and ms. marvel are all in stock at my local B&E. Kinda crazy. I knew X-Wing had made it's way into big box stores, but I guess I never noticed an LCG there till now.

18 hours ago, The Steel Unicorn said:

I'm sure it won't die, but it will certainly lose the opportunity to maximise the revenue potential for the product lines for a game that has a very very popular following! Surely that means something to them. Sales are important even if building a community isn't. Look how big the LOTR LCG has become, that's not competitive either...

I for one will probably end up moving my base set on if I can't buy expansions soon to keep the challenges fresh!

People will eat it up when they finish reprinting it.

I just walked into my FLGS on Sunday and there was a whole shelf of Wrecking Crew.

Captain America, Green Goblin, and Ms Marvel did sell out the week they came out last time.