Its one thing if they had a "preview" event, then on the kessel run weekend they had the official tourney… but 2 "kessel run" events where only 1 will get you prizes is pretty lame.

Just to correct some points which have been made.

Leisure Games has not entered into any agreement with FFG regarding the Kessel Run kits, so we are not proposing to break any agreement, and so 'fraud' is an extremely strong word to use, and I do not like it being associated with Leisure Games. Please do not use it unless someone points out how this is fraudulent.

We, the same as all other retailers, are paying for the single kit that we are allowed to buy. They are not free promotional items.

Our intention has never been to keep  for ourselves these miniatures which we are buying.

What we do intend to do is to get more people playing the game and previewing the new ships. We thought, and still do think, that the main objective of this event should be to get more people enjoying the game rather than focussing on getting free stuff.

Also to correct a slight misunderstanding, what we said is that we plan to award the miniatures after the second event. Maybe we did not make it clear enough that the winner of each event would receive a prize.

Somebody suggested that we are doing this to make more money. The miniatures will not be available to buy at the time of the tournaments, so we will not be making any money that way. We are not charging any entry fee, so we will not be making any money that way. We will be providing the kits, the venue (with lighting and heating) and the staff to oversee the events. We do of course hope that it will strengthen the local gaming community, and the awareness of this game, which hopefully in the long run will make us some return on this. We are, after all, a business trying to survive and pay our staff's wages.

If Fantasy Flight don't like this plan I am sure they will contact me and we can discuss it.

Leisure Games said:

Whatever your intentions are to 'grow the community', you've already annoyed at least one player by not participating in the prescribed manner.  So, I fail to see how diverting from the advertised event's format is in any way beneficial.  Expectations have been formed by FFG, and by diverging from that, you are doing more damage than good.  I would personally advise that you stick to the program.  

Panic said:

That is total and utter bullsh*t.

I know the guys who run the shop VERY well and they're not the type to do that.

You realy should get your facts right before spreading rubbish about honest people!

CaptainRook said:

it may not be a written agreement, but surely there would be some conditions that go along with ordering one of the 'Kessel Run' Packs that the pack is used in the final round of the tournament and that the winner will have 1st pick at one of the ships in that pack and the next 3 positions will be able to pick a ship each. With the final two going to the organizer rather than having two tournaments with the winner of the 1st day getting some other prize. If that was the case I'd only turn up on the 2nd day as should I enter a tournament and find I could not win on that day what was publicized as being the prize I would be massively p'd off. 

You may not want to focus on the free stuff, but every one that has heard of the Kessel Run event will be focusing on the free stuff, and not to give it away at the 1st tournament will annoy people. Plus if multiple people will be using the new models in matches in both tournaments and people are a bit rough to win something that has been quite well manhandled may not sit well with people either.

Why not charge an entry fee as well? The event I'm heading to (I don't live anywhere near london) is charging £5 which I think is pretty reasonable I have no idea how many people will turn up as you need a tournament legal squad to enter. if only 4 people turn up then I'm guaranteed a ship for a fiver (a win for me) and I get to meet some new people :D and it gets some revenue back to the shop as well, if many people turn up then it is a definite win for the shop and for all involved.

I agree with CaptainRook that sticking with the prescribed program would be the best bet.

yeah,

Leviatham said:

I quoted this from the stores own website
"The FFG web site states that the ships used in this event will be given as prizes, however we want to give more people a chance to see and play with these fantastic miniatures so we will be using them for other events."
 

I may have exaggerated what they are doing with them.. exaggeration happens on the internet…
why are you getting upset? 
My main point stands they aren't giving the Kessel Run Prizes to the Kessel Run Event Winners.
Which IMO actually doesn't seem all that 'Honest' when I think about it…

I don't understand what Leisure Games are doing? and as mentioned above I'd prefer it if the stuck with the program.
I wont be going to their Kessel Run. Which is a shame, it's been a while since I've shopped there.

And as FFG seem to have no other active Kessel Run Stores in London running the event as stated… its a sad times for X-wing gamers in London.

Panic…

I really can't understand how people can behave this way. I've read and re-read this entire thread and I just don't see why people are so venomous about this. Lets sumarize events here. There are shops that run events for free. You can come, use the shop's space, play games for free, in a tournament organized by the shop, and then complain that you're not getting free stuff essentially? Wonderful.

Ok, I get it, FFG said there will be prizes. Well, if FFG provided those prizes for free, they'd have some say in how they're distributed. Unfortunately, shops have to pay for stock to have the privilege of providing these prizes. But you know what? Leisure Games is giving them away and are not even charging for entry, just not quite how you expected it. Yet still you complain. I think it's admirable that they're trying to get more use out of those ships. London after all is a big place, and I don't think there's that much gaming space that they have. They want more people to have a chance to play the game and I see nothing wrong with that. So before you all start shouting 'I want my free stuff' have a good think about how you come across to everyone else. Shame on you.

Leisure Games said:

I agree with what others have said.  When you applied you clicked the link on the page that explained the event (http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=3721).  It is very clear that you are supposed to run the event in a certain manner give 4 away as prizes to the top 4 players.  Deviating from the event rules just pisses people off and gives you a bad name.  Some stores here in the US are charging $5 per person, and some are charging $10 per person. I think it is in the spirt of the event for stores to charge a small fee to cover the expense (I hope these stores even end up making some money because you get a lot of participants).  But, your totally violating what is written about the event is wrong in both the spirit and letter of how FFG advertised the event (and, I hope they do discuss it with you if they have the manpower… but even if not it's not too late for you to do the right thing). Not sure if it is technially fraud (guess that depends on what you said and had to sign when you applied), but it is certainly very bad form.

EDIT: And, I think failure to offer prize support generally reduces and not increases participation. 

El_Tonio said:

Why would that be? I could understand if the Players spent the time and Money to attend the event only to have these changes dropped on them day of. Yes, that would piss people off.

So the Game Store changes the parameters of the event., As long as it anounces the changes it well enough in advance for all potential players to decide whether they want to attend, I don't see where the problem is.

I would understand if FFG provided the LGSs the Prize suport free of charge. This is not the case. The Stores have to 'Purchace"  the kits which, coinciidentally happens to be about the same cost as if they were purchacing them from FFG or their distributors. It's their goods, they paid for it, thay may do with it what they see best for their Business. As long as they are transparent well in advance, they may do what they please.

I find all the angst over this event very dissapointing. I mean really! One can't wait for two months for some Models? Sad.

Fantasy Flight Game established very clear guidelines for how this event is supposed to be conducted.  These terms were not thrust upon those of us who chose to apply and participate, we agreed to them by taking the offer.  While most players will likely be informed of this event through their Local Game store, and not the Fantasy Flight Games site, enough will have reviewed those terms to expect them.  These kits were sold under conditions, and while I seriously doubt there will be any repercussions from Fantasy Flight for not upholding them, you should still play by the rules.  

Chairborne said:

They had to apply to do this event. It was competitive (I know some stores who applied but didn't get selected).  There were conditions to the application.  It was not a burden for them to participate, it was a privilege to be selected. To change the terms after the fact is wrong in just about every way.  Other stores that did not do this would have been selected if this was known up front. They are free to charge a fee to make up their expense.  I absolutely would not go to an event held by a store who did this. 

I ask them again to do the right thing and run the event as it was intended. 

FFG did a real good job with this one. They dissapointed their fans so to make it up they offer tournaments for free where you can win sweet prizes. FFG then sells those prizes to local game shops, who are then instructed to not charge entry fee and take the full burden of loss on this promotion. If anyhting goes wrong the little people will jump down the throats of the game stores(who are running these events at a loss) while FFG looks like the heroes.


FFG sold these packs for what? $60? I'm pretty sure that is about what their profit margin would be on these 6-ships sold at a local retailer normally. So they hit their normal profit margins, stores lose out, people scream at stores for not following FFG guidelines. Brilliant.


If FFG wanted to have these events for free and have them conform to specific guidelines then they should have given the prize packs for free. The minute they sell them, they lose any moral right to tell people they are doing something wrong.


If your local game store took on the burden of this tournament then they should be praised and you should make every attempt to go and support them, and buy other products when you are there. They are the guys doing all the good work. 

Who said the LGS can't charge a fee to make up for their expenses?  All three stores in AZ are charging either $5 or $10.  Most will break even and some will probably make a little money (which I'm a.o.k. with).

El_Tonio said:

It was stated on the B2B application.

I am sure FFG expected many stores to charge $5-10, but by stating that they shouldn't it makes them look good, and the store take all the heat. It's pretty genius really.