Now we have to pay for Game Days? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Now we have to pay for Game Days?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
opskt
Sep 05, 2010 12:20:11 Now it turns out that the Gamma World Game Day requires people to buy stuff for it.

Players purchase 2 D&D Gamma World booster packs and create their own characters when they arrive at a participating location to play. DMs are required to have a copy of the D&D Gamma World Boxed Set and the adventure materials, available prior to the event day in the game day kit, to prepare to run their game.

From - www.wizards.com/DnD/Event.aspx?x=dnd/4ne...

One wonders if their new 'format' for RPGA organized play is less designed about game support and more about selling stuff. While that might be good for the retailers, I'm not sure it will work. One big difference between CCG/Mini games vs RPGs is that traditionally, the GM bears most of the cost already for the game (rules, minis, maps, time invested in game prep) while PLAYER investment is low. That is part of the reason you can get people into stores for D&D Game Days is that the players before this were not required to buy the $35 book, just show up with dice (or buy them, which was cheaper).

While the 'booster cards' are cheaper, having to buy stuff for a Game Day event seems... odd. Personally, I think trying to make RPGs more like a CCG just for profit margins is going to backfire. 4e generated enough of a split in the fan base, this will just make it worse I fear.
#2
Dragon9
Sep 05, 2010 19:10:57 You're kidding yourself if you think that the game days aren't about sellign stuff. It's to give people a chance to try somethign new so they might enjoy it and buy it. It may not be the same as requiring someone to buy somethign to participate, but it's marketing all the same.

Same with the Living campaigns. they've always been about moving product.
#3
WolfStar76
Sep 13, 2010 11:15:21 Keep in mind that Gamma World is a different sort of product than what we've seen before.

One of the ways that WotC envisions people playing Gamma World is that players will show up to a game, buy two booster packs, roll a few d20's, and in 10 minutes have their new randomly-generated character ready to go.

Unfortunately, those booster packs have a cost. While I think it would have been ideal if WotC had included those boosters free in the kit - there are enough unscrupulous people out there that would have ordered a bazillion kits (whatever the max is per-store), and kept the boosters for themselves - perhaps not even running the event.

It's my understanding that in a convention setting (DDXP, GenCon, etc) WotC will try to include the cost of boosters in the cost of admission - but Game Day is something a little different.

I don't think this is a portent of a dark future where all game days will have an "admission fee" from here out. I think it's just an unfortunate side-effect of this particular game's format.
#4
festivus
Sep 13, 2010 14:15:27 Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow.
#5
battles14
Sep 25, 2010 0:26:57
Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow.

That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back.

#6
WolfStar76
Oct 05, 2010 13:55:58
Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow.

That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back.

I can't get any details, but a WotC insider who's a big fan of GammaWorld tells me the promo cards are "AWESOME".
#7
battles14
Oct 05, 2010 14:12:47
Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow.

That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back.

I can't get any details, but a WotC insider who's a big fan of GammaWorld tells me the promo cards are "AWESOME".

Can't wait.

#8
festivus
Oct 05, 2010 14:23:00 I just need to figure out a way to get more people into the store for the event. I am thinking a challenge. If we can get 6 tables to run, I'll give a copy of Gamma World away to some lucky person. Promo cards would be good to mention too, if I knew they were exclusive to the event, in order to draw some players in.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 opskt Sep 05, 2010 12:20:11	Now it turns out that the Gamma World Game Day requires people to buy stuff for it. Players purchase 2 D&D Gamma World booster packs and create their own characters when they arrive at a participating location to play. DMs are required to have a copy of the D&D Gamma World Boxed Set and the adventure materials, available prior to the event day in the game day kit, to prepare to run their game. From - www.wizards.com/DnD/Event.aspx?x=dnd/4ne... One wonders if their new 'format' for RPGA organized play is less designed about game support and more about selling stuff. While that might be good for the retailers, I'm not sure it will work. One big difference between CCG/Mini games vs RPGs is that traditionally, the GM bears most of the cost already for the game (rules, minis, maps, time invested in game prep) while PLAYER investment is low. That is part of the reason you can get people into stores for D&D Game Days is that the players before this were not required to buy the $35 book, just show up with dice (or buy them, which was cheaper). While the 'booster cards' are cheaper, having to buy stuff for a Game Day event seems... odd. Personally, I think trying to make RPGs more like a CCG just for profit margins is going to backfire. 4e generated enough of a split in the fan base, this will just make it worse I fear.
#2 Dragon9 Sep 05, 2010 19:10:57	You're kidding yourself if you think that the game days aren't about sellign stuff. It's to give people a chance to try somethign new so they might enjoy it and buy it. It may not be the same as requiring someone to buy somethign to participate, but it's marketing all the same. Same with the Living campaigns. they've always been about moving product.
#3 WolfStar76 Sep 13, 2010 11:15:21	Keep in mind that Gamma World is a different sort of product than what we've seen before. One of the ways that WotC envisions people playing Gamma World is that players will show up to a game, buy two booster packs, roll a few d20's, and in 10 minutes have their new randomly-generated character ready to go. Unfortunately, those booster packs have a cost. While I think it would have been ideal if WotC had included those boosters free in the kit - there are enough unscrupulous people out there that would have ordered a bazillion kits (whatever the max is per-store), and kept the boosters for themselves - perhaps not even running the event. It's my understanding that in a convention setting (DDXP, GenCon, etc) WotC will try to include the cost of boosters in the cost of admission - but Game Day is something a little different. I don't think this is a portent of a dark future where all game days will have an "admission fee" from here out. I think it's just an unfortunate side-effect of this particular game's format.
#4 festivus Sep 13, 2010 14:15:27	Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow.
#5 battles14 Sep 25, 2010 0:26:57	Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow. That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back.
#6 WolfStar76 Oct 05, 2010 13:55:58	Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow. That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back. I can't get any details, but a WotC insider who's a big fan of GammaWorld tells me the promo cards are "AWESOME".
#7 battles14 Oct 05, 2010 14:12:47	Think of it as supporting the game store that is offering up the space to run the event at their own cost. That made it easier for me to swallow. That's exactly the right way to think of it. Plus, I believe that everyone at the gameday is going to get two promo cards. So if you don't like the game, you could probably sell the cards on ebay and get your money back. I can't get any details, but a WotC insider who's a big fan of GammaWorld tells me the promo cards are "AWESOME". Can't wait.
#8 festivus Oct 05, 2010 14:23:00	I just need to figure out a way to get more people into the store for the event. I am thinking a challenge. If we can get 6 tables to run, I'll give a copy of Gamma World away to some lucky person. Promo cards would be good to mention too, if I knew they were exclusive to the event, in order to draw some players in.