Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dominick Mar 24, 2010 7:03:42	When they cancelled the convention support, WoTC said they were going to releaunch it. Months later I have not seen it, anybody heard a word about it?
#2 Jiji Mar 24, 2010 15:30:33	I have rumblings of April so keep your eyes open or you may miss the launch as it goes squeak in the night
#3 frupton Apr 12, 2010 22:42:39	Any word on this?
#4 WolfStar76 Apr 19, 2010 14:35:02	I just poked around, but so far there's no news to report.
#5 mickeyt66 Apr 28, 2010 16:04:59	Here is the information for the new convention support: www.wizards.com/Company/About.aspx?x=wz/... It is no longer a grab bag of stuff and seems to be for new players mostly. The other caveat is that you have to order it through a local game store. I am on the fence on whether to continue to use it for judge support as I don't think there is a lot in there for judges except the reward cards.
#6 Jiji Apr 28, 2010 16:25:15	Thanks for the link and the update Here is the information for the new convention support: www.wizards.com/Company/About.aspx?x=wz/... It is no longer a grab bag of stuff and seems to be for new players mostly. The other caveat is that you have to order it through a local game store. I am on the fence on whether to continue to use it for judge support as I don't think there is a lot in there for judges except the reward cards.
#7 22_Over_7 Apr 28, 2010 18:47:10	Yikes.
#8 ibixat Apr 28, 2010 21:33:18	With the kits as they are I'd hope they open up the option for a con to order just rewards cards and not have to get multiple starter sets dice and PHB's since those really probably aren't needed.
#9 dominick Apr 29, 2010 19:30:06	To order your Convention Support Kits, contact a local WPN Premier Store utilizing the Store and Event Locator. The store will then order the kit through their WPN Premier Team representative at Wizards of the Coast. The maximum number of kits that may be ordered for each brand for a single event is three (3). Can you relate the problems that independent conventions don't have a store affiliation. We have exactly six Premiere Stores in the whole State of Florida. The Store then will order something for me, without a profit. This is a really bad idea. I felt like I couldn't get help before from WoTC for Con support, but now it appears we will not support you unless a store does it for free.
#10 WolfStar76 Apr 30, 2010 10:45:07	To order your Convention Support Kits, contact a local WPN Premier Store utilizing the Store and Event Locator. The store will then order the kit through their WPN Premier Team representative at Wizards of the Coast. The maximum number of kits that may be ordered for each brand for a single event is three (3). Can you relate the problems that independent conventions don't have a store affiliation. We have exactly six Premiere Stores in the whole State of Florida. The Store then will order something for me, without a profit. This is a really bad idea. I felt like I couldn't get help before from WoTC for Con support, but now it appears we will not support you unless a store does it for free. Do we know for a fact that the $30 price tag is the price a retailer pays?  I could check with my FLGS to see for sure. Assuming that the fee is the same for the FLGS as it is for the convention organizer - a little quid pro quo could help offset the retailer passing the kit along for no profit.  The con organizer(s) can turn around and advertise for the store at the convention for having helped out.  (Via a sign, or a "special thanks" on any official convention booklets or other signage/paperwork). Seems to me that a store would be pretty happy to have a local convention, filled with their target audience, know that they helped the convention out, and that additional gaming supplies can be had there.
#11 vinciente Apr 30, 2010 16:57:56	Do we know for a fact that the $30 price tag is the price a retailer pays?  I could check with my FLGS to see for sure. Assuming that the fee is the same for the FLGS as it is for the convention organizer - a little quid pro quo could help offset the retailer passing the kit along for no profit.  The con organizer(s) can turn around and advertise for the store at the convention for having helped out.  (Via a sign, or a "special thanks" on any official convention booklets or other signage/paperwork). Seems to me that a store would be pretty happy to have a local convention, filled with their target audience, know that they helped the convention out, and that additional gaming supplies can be had there. The "footnote" on the page explaining this specifically states that is the price paid by the Premier Store; and that the store may charge more to cover shipping, etc. It also says to contact the local store to get details from them as to how much it will cost & what information to provide them in order to be able to get the kit.
#12 dominick May 01, 2010 19:54:42	There are six stores in Florida, what benefit does a store in Tampa get from ordering a convention pack for me to play in Ocala, Lakeland or Orlando? We have had stores tell us that they can't offer space for a full four hour game, or want to charge us for space. Now in this down market, they are asking the stores to do WotC's job. Compared to Living Greyhawk, numbers are down in stores and at conventions. This doesn't help.
#13 vinciente May 02, 2010 22:59:40	I would talk to the store that is most favorable in how they deal with you personally & ask them to get ahold of their WotC contact for details on becoming a "Premier" store. The store I host games at is very small compared to others just a town over & yet ours is a premier; while the others are not.
#14 Alphastream May 04, 2010 10:53:34	Compared to Living Greyhawk, numbers are down in stores and at conventions. This doesn't help. I agree with what everyone is saying, but the quoted part above is not true everywhere. A number of areas are seeing increased play. In Portland, OR, play in stores is through the roof as compared to LG. Play at conventions is probably higher than towards the end of LG, and probably stable when compared to year 5 or 6. But, yeah, this idea is really weird. Why can't a convention organizer just order a kit? Maybe it has to do with the recent lawsuit with people that were faking a convention and selling Magic stuff. Still, you think they could do a better job, such as to require something that proves a convention. The kit contents are certainly all wrong. This is a kit that would work well for D&D Encounters, not for a WPN/RPGA convention. It wouldn't work well at any convention outside of PAX, and that's assuming you gave the rewards to attendees. Normally the rewards go to judges, who tend to own a lot of things. Those folks want the latest books, reward cards, minis, and tiles. They don't want beginner stuff.
#15 Thanlis May 04, 2010 11:17:02	But, yeah, this idea is really weird. Why can't a convention organizer just order a kit? Maybe it has to do with the recent lawsuit with people that were faking a convention and selling Magic stuff. Still, you think they could do a better job, such as to require something that proves a convention. I'm guessing it matches with the store focus for D&D Encounters and the pre-release program. WotC is doing a lot of things in an effort to keep game stores relevant and happy.
#16 dominick May 04, 2010 11:32:04	But, yeah, this idea is really weird. Why can't a convention organizer just order a kit? Maybe it has to do with the recent lawsuit with people that were faking a convention and selling Magic stuff. Still, you think they could do a better job, such as to require something that proves a convention. I'm guessing it matches with the store focus for D&D Encounters and the pre-release program. WotC is doing a lot of things in an effort to keep game stores relevant and happy. Since conventions never happen on wednesdays, Encounters is pointless for a convention. I know they say you can run other days. Players at conventions pay for gaming. Some do nothing else. Hard core convention goers are also hardcore book buyers. Most want me to offer 12 hours of gaming a day, and many take in the four hour midnight madness session. The majority of not-new gamers all buy multiple books, multiple miniatures, and clamor for the latest offering for an LFR session. The really hardcore guys have two or three PHBs. The non LFR players usually don't play 4e. I don't think they ever will. They buy the heck out out of the offerings from brand P. Looking at the kit, it may be better to ask a store to sell me a case of minis and use them for prizes. The old kit gave me repaints, some books, and the cards. New and old players loved them, and the had at least $100 of goods for the $20. e: Alphastream, in the Southeast the numbers for LFR are nothing like LG. If they don't play LFR they don't play 4e here.