Helltown Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Congrats on the grand opening! Little bits of advice for ya: Don't heavily invest in Yu-Gi-Oh (check the ICV2 newsfeeds). Encourage booster drafts and Standard formats for Magic (so they'll always need new product). Last and most importantly if you're a Tournament Organizer for WotC, make sure your DCI Reporter Program WORKS. Delinquent events cost more than just DCI points for your players! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Snack Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 I haven't had any requests for Yu-Gi-Oh yet. Probably a good thing... Lots of interest in Magic, but I know very little about it other than I want to run Friday Night Magic. It's funny that you should mention booster drafts and Standard format, since I've already had a couple of players try to tell me to run Type 2 events (which I think are old cards - if I can't sell it, why run it?). As for actually running WotC events, well, we're having "issues" (and since a small LGS means nothing to WotC, guess which way it's flowing). Apparently they want "twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was" of my store before they even start the process of anointing me a "real store". It's funny, I see lots of their product on Amazon, who don't meet most of the criteria WotC wants me to, but the real slap in the face is that the local WAL-MARTS come up in their online store locator. I can't seem to recall them ever running Friday Night Magic. The rolling eye smiley doesn't convey my feelings adequately... Sure it's an uphill battle getting people to play something that's not number one, but I've hooked a couple people into playing the Call of Cthulu CCG already (and I've had someone approach me interested in demoing the WoW CCG) and I'll be more than happy to teach people to play Savage Worlds instead of D&D (the local RPGA DM is actively promoting another store anyway). If I've got to grow the market, I'll do it with companies who don't throw roadblocks in front of me (it should come as no surprise that Reaper sent me a nice care package, but even GW actually sought me out). I already have back-up sources that give me a pretty good discount on WotC products (most of them anyway, still looking for an AH source), so I can serve my customers who want them without buying direct. None of the Magic players I've talked to even cared about DCI anyway, they just want to play without having to drive half an hour. One thing that I really appreciate about my FLGS is that they have a stock of cold drinks and snacks that are not unreasonably priced. They have a small fridge that they keep stocked. It is a nice service and makes them a small profit as well. Man I wish I could make some more money on soda. I've kept my prices low to draw people in and I barely go through a case a week. I think it's highway robbery to sell a can of soda for $1, but both of the pizza places near me sell theirs for that - twice what I charge. I also sell my 20 oz bottles for 99 cents ($1.12 after tax and deposit), they charge $1.60! I have a Coke cooler (provided free of charge by Coke, talk about not putting roadblocks in front of your partners!) and a smaller one (my own, with Pepsi, Mtn Dew, water, and, soon, energy drinks) that I keep fully stocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I watch your progress with great interest as my goal is to start a store in about five years. Hopefully people will still have sources of income then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted March 2, 2009 Moderator Share Posted March 2, 2009 Lots of interest in Magic, but I know very little about it other than I want to run Friday Night Magic. It's funny that you should mention booster drafts and Standard format, since I've already had a couple of players try to tell me to run Type 2 events (which I think are old cards - if I can't sell it, why run it?). Because a lot of use have huge collections of old cards and like to make our own decks. Once we start playing, we always buy booster packs of the new stuff to augment our old cards. If someone says I can't play with the old stuff, I won't play at all nor would I buy (since I am not actively playing). Shutting out the old stuff is the quickest way to keep me (and the guys I play with) from attending and buying stuff in a shop. TS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yani Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I thought Type 2 is the "legal" one, which has all the current editions out.Type 1 is any card from previous editions, including the Nine, and type 1.5 is all the old cards except for the "banned". but congrats and good luck! Make your female customers welcome too, because they're a lot more sensitive to hygenically-challenged geek boys ^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildbill Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I had that happen to me here in Tulsa. I first showed up to the LGS to try out the local Magic scene. I only had old stuff. Granted, some of it had been reprinted in later releases, but I had mostly Alpha, Beta and Unlimited stuff with a few cards from other sets I had picked up for various reasons. I showed up with my fine tuned tourney deck and ended up facing lots of Type 2 lame-o decks. After cleaning house a couple of times, no one would play against me. Oh well. I discovered Warlord quickly after that and moved on. Wild Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helltown Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I haven't had any requests for Yu-Gi-Oh yet. Probably a good thing... Lots of interest in Magic, but I know very little about it other than I want to run Friday Night Magic. It's funny that you should mention booster drafts and Standard format, since I've already had a couple of players try to tell me to run Type 2 events (which I think are old cards - if I can't sell it, why run it?). As for actually running WotC events, well, we're having "issues" (and since a small LGS means nothing to WotC, guess which way it's flowing). Apparently they want "twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was" of my store before they even start the process of anointing me a "real store". It's funny, I see lots of their product on Amazon, who don't meet most of the criteria WotC wants me to, but the real slap in the face is that the local WAL-MARTS come up in their online store locator. I can't seem to recall them ever running Friday Night Magic. The rolling eye smiley doesn't convey my feelings adequately... Type 2 is 'Standard' format, it's the most recent stuff which encourages sales. Type 1 (Vintage) is the old cards, which is harder to get up and running because of the misconceptions that everyone's got Moxes and a Black Lotus that plays that format. As for the long list of tasks to become a WotC Premier store, jump the hoops because in the end it's really worth it. Ron _still_ complains about all the photos he had to take and he's been an 'approved' store since Legends was the newest Magic set. As for Amazon and Walmart, WotC sells their stuff to distribution which means that the big box stores and Amazon-types can buy through distribution. To keep your local Wal-mart and Borders types in check, be sure to swing through a few days before release of a new WotC product and see if it's already on the shelf there. If it is, call WotC and report them. Half the WalMarts in Maine aren't allowed to carry WotC products because of putting out new Magic early. A book distributor that supplies smaller chain book stores lost their distribution agreement after shipping 4E books early to stores without a shelf date on invoice or cartons. WotC, despite all the hassle to sign up for direct shipments, does care about little stores in their own strange way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helltown Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I thought Type 2 is the "legal" one, which has all the current editions out.Type 1 is any card from previous editions, including the Nine, and type 1.5 is all the old cards except for the "banned". but congrats and good luck! Make your female customers welcome too, because they're a lot more sensitive to hygenically-challenged geek boys ^^ Here's a quick breakdown of the formats that are 'legal' for sanctioning with the DCI that are commonly run: Type 1 (Vintage) - This is where all the cards can pretty much be played. Only cards involving ante are banned while there's a long restricted list. Any card from any set, including Portal sets, Starter sets, and book promos can be played if they're not on the banned list. (Talespinner would like this one) Type 1.5 (Legacy) - Similar to Vintage, this format has only a banned list to deal with but it's LONG. Some people prefer this format to Vintage because the Power Nine and a lot of other high value cards are banned. (Talespinner wouldn't like this format) Extended Format - This is easily the most confusing format. It consists of the latest 3 base sets (8th, 9th, and 10th) and the 'blocks' that came out with each. The oldest set available for use in Extended right now, I believe, is Onslaught. It does have a banned list, but it's never very long because cards are only banned when they 'wreck' the format. Standard Format (Type 2) - This is the most recent base set coupled with the two most recent blocks. By far the most popular for both players and retailers because it's constantly evolving (causing players to spend more money to keep up). It's also the format of choice for the annual State/Provincial Champs tournaments and the Regional Qualifier tournaments for Nationals. (Talespinner would absolutely hate this format). There are two sets that are completely banned from all tournament formats of Constructed (bring your own deck) formats and they're Unglued and Unhinged, the 'funny' card sets with silver borders instead of black or white edges on the card face. There's also Booster Draft and Sealed Deck for 'Limited formats'. Two-headed Giant, Team Trios, Team Quads, etc... can be Constructed (bring your own decks) or Limited (tournaments that use sealed Magic product) but those tend to be less popular formats. Personally, I prefer Vintage to all other constructed tournaments and Sealed Deck over Booster Draft when it comes to the 'Limited' formats. That just means I like to play with all my toys and hate sharing said toys with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TaleSpinner Posted March 3, 2009 Moderator Share Posted March 3, 2009 I thought Type 2 is the "legal" one, which has all the current editions out.Type 1 is any card from previous editions, including the Nine, and type 1.5 is all the old cards except for the "banned". but congrats and good luck! Make your female customers welcome too, because they're a lot more sensitive to hygenically-challenged geek boys ^^ Here's a quick breakdown of the formats that are 'legal' for sanctioning with the DCI that are commonly run: Type 1 (Vintage) - This is where all the cards can pretty much be played. Only cards involving ante are banned while there's a long restricted list. Any card from any set, including Portal sets, Starter sets, and book promos can be played if they're not on the banned list. (Talespinner would like this one) Type 1.5 (Legacy) - Similar to Vintage, this format has only a banned list to deal with but it's LONG. Some people prefer this format to Vintage because the Power Nine and a lot of other high value cards are banned. (Talespinner wouldn't like this format) Either would be fine with me as I have almost no "Power" cards. In fact, I sort of specialize in taking the stuff that no one else wants and figuring out a way to make it into good decks that makes the guys who tossed them aside rather angry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yani Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I thought Type 2 is the "legal" one, which has all the current editions out.Type 1 is any card from previous editions, including the Nine, and type 1.5 is all the old cards except for the "banned". but congrats and good luck! Make your female customers welcome too, because they're a lot more sensitive to hygenically-challenged geek boys ^^ Here's a quick breakdown of the formats that are 'legal' for sanctioning with the DCI that are commonly run: Type 1 (Vintage) - This is where all the cards can pretty much be played. Only cards involving ante are banned while there's a long restricted list. Any card from any set, including Portal sets, Starter sets, and book promos can be played if they're not on the banned list. (Talespinner would like this one) Type 1.5 (Legacy) - Similar to Vintage, this format has only a banned list to deal with but it's LONG. Some people prefer this format to Vintage because the Power Nine and a lot of other high value cards are banned. (Talespinner wouldn't like this format) Either would be fine with me as I have almost no "Power" cards. In fact, I sort of specialize in taking the stuff that no one else wants and figuring out a way to make it into good decks that makes the guys who tossed them aside rather angry. I had to dig up my old Revised edition starter pack late last year, because my hubby wanted to see what I had. I do best in Draft tournaments, where it's more about skill than having a deck built of Rares that I see on occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Snack Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 If someone says I can't play with the old stuff, I won't play at all nor would I buy (since I am not actively playing). Shutting out the old stuff is the quickest way to keep me (and the guys I play with) from attending and buying stuff in a shop. But for an every week thing? If all I ran was games with your own decks, wouldn't it end up being "TS is here with his killer deck, why bother playing..."? I've already had a couple of guys tell me that they don't like going to another store because they know who they will beat and who will beat them. As for the long list of tasks to become a WotC Premier store, jump the hoops because in the end it's really worth it. Well, I'll get there eventually, but it annoys me that I have to run an "organized event" before I can run an event for them. Apparently a Savage Worlds game and a Paint And Take don't count... There's also Booster Draft... Here's a question for you, can you run a booster draft with just Conflux? I was going to do that just to run a FNM, but one of my customers says you can't do it (not enough land or monsters?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haldir Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 My local card shop that deals in WoTC stuff had to do the take photos, mark them stuff to get a direct link to WoTC. In the end he just goes through a distributor for his Wizard products now. Said it was too much of a hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helltown Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 If someone says I can't play with the old stuff, I won't play at all nor would I buy (since I am not actively playing). Shutting out the old stuff is the quickest way to keep me (and the guys I play with) from attending and buying stuff in a shop. But for an every week thing? If all I ran was games with your own decks, wouldn't it end up being "TS is here with his killer deck, why bother playing..."? I've already had a couple of guys tell me that they don't like going to another store because they know who they will beat and who will beat them. We have a few players that cause that sort of dismay that turn up but we also have a way to deal with that as well. It was made especially clear to the handful of 'dreaded' players that in order to make it fair for the others they routinely stomp that their prizes are capped to a fixed amount so the prizes can be spread one or two places further (so instead of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes, it may go as far as 4th or 5th). If by chance they should lose, it will be the normal amounts. One had hard feelings about it but the others understood that it's better for the store and the tournaments if other players get a chance to win something as well. The one that had hard feelings whines about everything, but still shows up so I guess it didn't matter _that_ much. There's also Booster Draft... Here's a question for you, can you run a booster draft with just Conflux? I was going to do that just to run a FNM, but one of my customers says you can't do it (not enough land or monsters?). We tried to do a booster draft of just Conflux but it really didn't play well that way so since then we've been drafting 1 Shards of Alara booster and 2 Conflux boosters. Conflux simply doesn't stand well enough on it's own to be playable and WotC knew it since all the pre-release tournaments and release day drafts were a mix of Shards and Conflux boosters. The real issue with it is that in order for players to get their manabase right they need the 'fetch' lands and tri-color lands that are in Shards of Alara to really get it right. This current block just really doesn't work for players who want to build a one or two color deck in draft or sealed. In the end, however, the product mix is entirely up to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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