Plainville vs. Abington: Tournament Frequency

[Benjamin]

9) I can promise that I won't be passing out hand jobs.  Sorry to those of you who are disappointed by that.  I can also promise that all of you can find someone that is willing to give you a handjob.

A clip from Wayne's World that's suddenly relevant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2BeBdEqmJ0

[MM3791]

Gamers now have the option of trading store credit for dating advice 

[Grand Master Steve]

Sorry i was just a bit annoyed with the individual feeling the need to open a matter that is scabbing over with me. I will keep the individual nameless on the message board. Im sure the person was just trying to troll me and It did get an emotional raise out of me.

I figured this subject was closed, Derrek and Chase are aware of whats going on and opinions and this individual opened something for me that was scabbing over not fully healed yet.

Do I 100% believe this individual? No the person can go fly.

Was I concerned about things? Yes I will admit I was.

Do I feel minature gaming is not getting as much attention as it used to? Yes. I think maybe more fun events even community run ones would be fun. In the past before BG ive seen veichle races, tank wars, Space Station battles it was a blast. I think we can create some terrain for new events. I am aware Magic is a time vampire for the Abington Staff because its constantly coming and going. I think we as a community need to step up and help out. with my current job, thats hard because I cant predict with any degree of accuracy when i will have free time. I am trying to get a new job to hopefully open my free time up.

Oddly enough i was in the store for Yugioh cards as I enjoy playing it among my circle of friends and my GF that do play. BTW Derrek are you aware on the official Yugioh web site BG Abington is listed as actively running tournaments? I saw that when i was getting an updated banned resdtricted list. A few other stores im sure dont run it any more are also listed, weird.

I have heard a few opinions out side the store and message board. I prefer to discuss it with the owner and management in person JUST so they know what I have heard im not trying to step on toes or throw some one under a speeding bus.

Lastly, am I  pissed? no. I think the situation regaurding mini gaming in Abington needs a little TLC. I heard a painting area is going to be established that will be awsome, a tourney is coming up, which should be sweet, i sadly do not think i can get the time off to do it.

[keithb]

The popularity of mini-wargaming stuff goes in cycles.  Magic is more constant.

Also, lets not kid ourselves.  GW games lately have been going DOWN in quality, that, combined with the player base growing UP and having less time to spend on a hobby, and less of a desire, because the game is not as good.

Mid 2000s'  We used to get 20+ to a WHFB event at Gamehaven, same thing for danger planet.   probably 10-14 at abington.   Now, we have a tournament like once every 3 months or so at best, and it has 12 people, and the other stores are closed.

Mini purchasing is also in bursts, magic is more constant.  Honestly, Magic is what allows game stores to be open so we all have a nice place to play.

[MM3791]

Also, lets not kid ourselves.  GW games lately have been going DOWN in quality, that, combined with the player base growing UP and having less time to spend on a hobby, and less of a desire, because the game is not as good.

This is purely speculative, I believe that 6th ed 40k is the best edition to date, especially with the allies ruleset. WHFB 8th ed is pretty solid too, an improvement over 5th ed "herohammer" and 6-7th ed cannons and calvary spam. 8th made infantry a lot more viable, seriously I don't remember any battle (real or fantasy) that only consisted of knights and warmachines. I understand the changes to magic might've been too extreme. Can't deny that support for both GW systems have skyrocketed in 2013, more then any other point in GW history.

Mid 2000s'  We used to get 20+ to a WHFB event at Gamehaven, same thing for danger planet.   probably 10-14 at abington.   Now, we have a tournament like once every 3 months or so at best, and it has 12 people, and the other stores are closed.

Mini purchasing is also in bursts, magic is more constant.  Honestly, Magic is what allows game stores to be open so we all have a nice place to play.

I definitely remember wargaming in the mid 2000s', lots of events in MA. Although there are multiple reasons that those stores could've shutdown, and I don't think any of us will truly know. I find it hard to believe they shutdown because WHFB all of a sudden became less popular locally. Derek has always stated that more diverse game system support is mandatory for any store to succeed, and BG always supports any game that has an invested player base. In that time BG has also opened a 2nd store while the others went out of business. This year there have been a TON of 40k events(3 events this month ALONE), if players want to put the effort into re-energizing a specific player base(WHFB), then BG will support it with appropriate events.

[keithb]

You can speculate all you want or look at numbers, there were Fantasy events 2-3 times a month that had 15-25 players across multiple stores.   Now, there are events once every two months at best.  When they do happen, they get like 12 people.

Sounds like Fantasy is much more popular now!

[MM3791]

Yea I know that, that's why I said "locally", you said GW as in "as a whole", which I disagree with because 40k is doing really well. Hopefully WHFB 9th ed will come this coming summer.

[Benjamin]

I don't know what the financial numbers look like, but I can attest even in Plainville, the number of regular players seems down. Last summer we'd struggle to have enough tables, topping out at 12. This summer, we'd struggle to fill the 6 already set up. It makes hard work even harder.

ETA: We're steady, just not growing like we have in years past. A polarizing rules set, a subdued economy and the rising prices of the hobby all contributed to this.

[PhoenixFire]

I don't know what the financial numbers look like, but I can attest even in Plainville, the number of regular players seems down. Last summer we'd struggle to have enough tables, topping out at 12. This summer, we'd struggle to fill the 6 already set up. It makes hard work even harder.

ETA: We're steady, just not growing like we have in years past. A polarizing rules set, a subdued economy and the rising prices of the hobby all contributed to this.

Just going off the last five doubles events we had...

Oct 13: 19 teams/38 people
June 13: 20 teams/40 people
Feb 13: 27 teams/54 people
Nov 12: 22 teams/44 people
May 12: 25 teams/ 50 people

Seems pretty consistent in the doubles department

going off the last several singles...

Aug 13 1500: 28 people
July 13 1850: 29 people
April 13 2000: 23 people
March 13 1850: 37 people

mostly consistent

then you have the odd ball ones...

500pt ones are interesting and tend to draw large crowds of people old and new to the game

this new armor war is an interesting change up and hopefully pulls in the people

I've been wanting a 2500 pt tournament forever and we're finally having one... unfortunately i'm working... and it's in Abington... so hopefully enough Abington people step up and this gets enough interest that Chase will want to do another one down the road.

Trios is always fun and i understand Chases reservations on doing them because it requires 3 people to commit to a team and to actually SHOW UP. Every event at BG constantly has people dropping out at the last minute unfortunately, but hopefully we can try for a Trios again next year.

Doubles seems to be the biggest 40k moneymaker for BG, and singles provides the GT practice and other point levels fun for everyone else.

thanks to Chase and Sam for doing all the heavy lifting for all the 40k tournaments

[Loranus]

I think Ben was talking about Thursday 40k moreso than the Tournaments Phoenix. I myself have been struggling with both Time,Energy, and Money to drive down to either store to play and I feel a lot of people are that way right now.

The best thing I think people can do is to keep playing. This is a game and the only way that game becomes popular is when people play it.

[Benjamin]

I think Ben was talking about Thursday 40k moreso than the Tournaments Phoenix.

I was, but those stats are very, very interesting.

[Chase]

I hadn't taken the time to put all the numbers in front of my eyes at the same time, but it's definitely true that tournament attendance has tapered off since 6th edition.

There's lots of reasons for that though, only some of which have to do with the game / price of models.

[Mad Dok Rob]

I don't know what the financial numbers look like, but I can attest even in Plainville, the number of regular players seems down. Last summer we'd struggle to have enough tables, topping out at 12. This summer, we'd struggle to fill the 6 already set up. It makes hard work even harder.

Part of the problem with 40k (at least for me, which is why I pretty much never play anymore) is Orks are not fun in 6th...actually, they are pretty bad.  Until GW decides to update them in some fashion, there is no reason to throw them down on the table.

I used to be there pretty much every other Thursday, but now I would rather play Warmachine or something else.

[Grimwulfe]

Chase the simple fact that there was no Invitational this year could of had a direct effect on attendance.  I know of many people that went out of their way to attend tournies for that simple reason.  And I know a good number of people that were bummed it didnt continue.

[Tharcil]

Chase the simple fact that there was no Invitational this year could of had a direct effect on attendance.  I know of many people that went out of their way to attend tournies for that simple reason.  And I know a good number of people that were bummed it didnt continue.

I definitely had more pressure on me to get in more events or make my schedule work to try and get a slot for the invitational last year.  For the middle of the pack players attendance was the way in and definitely factored in for me when I was on the fence for attending an event or not.