Looking for some advice.

I’m in a small rural town. Got about 30,000 regular population but we’re a college town adding about 25,000 students each semester.

Our FLGS is also small but under new ownership. The new owner is committed to growing the current FFG games community of just two players.

He’s asked me to put together store demo lists for Legion that can be left set up in the store. I’m trying to think of the best and most economical route to take.

I’m a Rebel and Empire player so my first thought was to build the store a Hoth skirmish table and build Empire vs Rebel Hoth lists.

But, on second thought, I figured that our real targets, new player wise, would be the college student. Figured they would probably have more interest in Clone Wars.

So, thought just a Clone Wars Core set and build a Geonosis Skirmish table?

Thoughts?

I think either. Just playing the game and having someone see you playing is going to attract players. We have no one playing, our flgs owner won't have tournaments or anything. so we have no community, just tons of people with models playing in their houses I'm assuming.

Best thing to do is have models visible and ready to go. It helps if they are readily identifiable as Star Wars to grab even the casual fans. Things like Darth Vader and Stormtroopers over Shore or Death Troopers. Simple, small, balanced armies are also a good idea. Get them excited about playing Star Wars.

7 minutes ago, Commodore Gardner said:

Best thing to do is have models visible and ready to go. It helps if they are readily identifiable as Star Wars to grab even the casual fans. Things like Darth Vader and Stormtroopers over Shore or Death Troopers. Simple, small, balanced armies are also a good idea. Get them excited about playing Star Wars.

Which do you think would be more recognizable and interesting to younger players?

Recognizable Rebel vs Empire or Clones vs Droids?

Either way, I think Skirmish lists from just core sets would work???

A sandy board could pass for both geonosis and tatooine. That way you could maximise appeal with any faction. Styrofoam rocks are easy to do- paint them rusty brown.

16 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Which do you think would be more recognizable and interesting to younger players?

Recognizable Rebel vs Empire or Clones vs Droids?

Either way, I think Skirmish lists from just core sets would work???

How young ?

But I think regardless of age an AT-ST is always a looker.

21 minutes ago, drail14me said:

Which do you think would be more recognizable and interesting to younger players?

Recognizable Rebel vs Empire or Clones vs Droids?

Either way, I think Skirmish lists from just core sets would work???

I'd agree with core sets. Being that I'm in my 40s, I think Vader and Stormtroopers are the most recognizable to most people, but that might well be different with your stated demographic.

The problem with the AT-ST is how it can create a negative play experience, especially in the smaller games one should use to attract new players. It is a nice centerpiece though.

It would probably be best to have both GCW and CW sets. In any event I would build the lists from the core sets plus one expansion for each faction you do. For the theme of the terrain I would go for something iconic, but also something fairly simple so as not to be intimating for people starting out building terrain.

I think the original trilogy is still more iconic with the younger crowd, even if they are more inclined to also recognize clones and droids. I’m mid 30s though so what do I know about kids these days?

GCW is probably the most economical route, especially if you want to include anything in addition to the core set. In fact, you can build full 500-point Skirmish lists with a core set plus 1 Corps unit box (for Rebels it has to be Veterans to fill the points) for each faction. So $155 at full retail for both lists.

Either list would be fine, no need to do both. You're trying to attract them in by demonstrating the game; if they like the mechanics, they can go buy the faction they want. I would say it is advisable for the store to stock expansions for all factions, so new players can see the range of possibilities, but I don't think that's quite as necessary for demo games.

17 hours ago, drail14me said:

So, thought just a Clone Wars Core set and build a Geonosis Skirmish table?

I think this is a good idea.

A.) Geonosis Terrain is pretty easy to make and cheap too.
B.) Painting both clones and droids is super easy, so the demo board could even be fully painted.
C.) Clones and Droids have unique abilities (Coordinate, fire support, token sharing, ect…) that could have more draw.
D.) Core commanders are easier to use. (Grievous and Obi are much easier to use than the original core Vader ever was. IMO).

Back when I was building the Armada community at our local store we'd have a weekly night that we all showed up, the store advertised that day to potential players. Once people started to stop to watch our match I'd offer to run demo games for anyone there. Did the same thing when Legion came around. We picked up quite a few people like this.

I suppose it's harder in the era of Covid-19, certainly less people are going out to game stores (if they even have tables set up to play).

From a pure bulk standpoint, most of the Star Wars visual media out there is Clone Wars. I know it's the era that my own son connects with the most.

But, really, I think young folks will connect with any Star Wars they see on the table.

IMO to attract interest make sure the recognizable characters are on the table.

18 hours ago, Commodore Gardner said:

The problem with the AT-ST is how it can create a negative play experience, especially in the smaller games one should use to attract new players.

Most new players will be more focussed on the basics; whose turn, movement, shooting and defending. Something cool looking might get passers by interested.

6 minutes ago, Alan Noir said:

Most new players will be more focussed on the basics; whose turn, movement, shooting and defending. Something cool looking might get passers by interested.

Until they get shot off the board by an invincible (in small games) unit. You've only got once chance to give them a first impression of a game, especially if they aren't gamers already. Getting destroyed in short order sours them from the beginning. I've watched players get put out of X Wing and Legion by their first games being power lists instead of the basics. Darth Vader duelling Luke Skywalker surrounded by Storm Troopers and Rebels looks cool without being unbalanced.

32 minutes ago, Commodore Gardner said:

Until they get shot off the board by an invincible (in small games) unit. You've only got once chance to give them a first impression of a game, especially if they aren't gamers already. Getting destroyed in short order sours them from the beginning. I've watched players get put out of X Wing and Legion by their first games being power lists instead of the basics. Darth Vader duelling Luke Skywalker surrounded by Storm Troopers and Rebels looks cool without being unbalanced.

I remember playing a game against a new player who I was resoundingly beating and I threw luke into Vader without using son of Skywalker thinking that odds were Vader would take out Luke over two rounds of I played him bad. Go figure that Luke saved

44 minutes ago, Commodore Gardner said:

Until they get shot off the board by an invincible (in small games) unit. You've only got once chance to give them a first impression of a game, especially if they aren't gamers already. Getting destroyed in short order sours them from the beginning. I've watched players get put out of X Wing and Legion by their first games being power lists instead of the basics. Darth Vader duelling Luke Skywalker surrounded by Storm Troopers and Rebels looks cool without being unbalanced.

I disagree. If a player is new to Miniature games and enjoys the theme, they won’t feel bad when an ATST one shots a Rebel Trooper unit. They will more likely be in awe at its raw power. It won’t one shot the whole army, so I think it’s fine.

In our learning games for our store, we had a Core Set Luke vs Vader table, a Han/Chewie/T47 vs. Veers/ATST, and one other table. The players all had a blast. then there was a pandemic 🤪

Alternatively, split the difference and do Rogue One. Bonus, sandy beaches are easy.

the terrain doesn't matter. Something simple and good looking.

as for armies. I'd do Stormtroopers vs Droids.

Best of both worlds and very recognizable to all ages.

Rebels you won't recognize except for maybe Luke Skywalker. Clones look like stormtroopers. Droids are very recognizable for anyone in their mid twenties.

On 8/6/2020 at 3:17 PM, buckero0 said:

the terrain doesn't matter. Something simple and good looking.

as for armies. I'd do Stormtroopers vs Droids.

Best of both worlds and very recognizable to all ages.

Rebels you won't recognize except for maybe Luke Skywalker. Clones look like stormtroopers. Droids are very recognizable for anyone in their mid twenties.

I can’t imagine that age group didn’t see Rogue One though. Jyn and Cassian should be very recognizable.

If its uni/college age, I'd definitely go for CW. Judging from my peers, not a whole lot have actually seen the OT or any of the films at all and would be hard pressed to recognise much past the stormtroopers and vader, but nearly all of them recognise clones, B1s, and especially Grievous and Rex. I know a lot of people who never cared much for Star Wars but watched the show religiously as a kid. When season 7 dropped and I'd bring it up to people who would never in a million years be into SW and I was shocked how many people I've heard go "Oh man, I used to love that show, man those clones with the orange were my favourite" or "Dude Rex was so cool, I completely forgot about that show". It's honestly surprised me how popular that show was, even among people who never were really into SW.

If you can get some clones and droids on the table, with some iconic Characters like Grievous, Rex and probably Anakin when he drops all painted up in the classic colour schemes then I think that'd be great for recognition. If you can get 2 tables then I'd definitely have a GCW settup as well, I just think that CW has some serious nostalgia power for that particular age group.

Right now is going to be a really tough time to grow any game.