DM_Jeff
Explorer
I needed an excuse to get out of the house so as not to be in the way this weekend citing home repairs. I mapped out the three ‘Friendly Local Game Stores’ an hour from my front steps in southern New Jersey USA and went on tour.
The first was about 5 minutes away, a little thing called Ron’s Comic World. It’s pretty small but did have part of the store devoted to tabletop gaming (either RPGS or Card Games). It’s about 75% comics and 25% gaming…or, rather 4e. It had shelves lined with every 4e item from the launch last year right up to Monster Manual minis, but not a glint of any other RPG at all. Decent folk there, but hardly worldly on games. A classic comic shop dabbling in gaming.
The second was about 20 minutes away: All Things Fun, and it rocked. They had a tournament of sorts on and there had to have been 50 folks in their tabletop area playing games. It’s about 25% comics, 50% games, and 25% “all things fun” (like toys). It was very neat and clean. Despite the chaos, the owner took time to talk with me. He was very knowledgeable and energetic. Very well stocked, 4e naturally, and a surprise sampling of other RPG core books and supplements as well, and plenty of Paizo’s Gamemastery items like map packs and cards (but no Pathfinder books yet). To me, this is more of what a FLGS should be. They made sure to remind me of Free RPG day and to come and run something.
Last was one about 45 minutes away, The Gamers’ Realm. Back in the late 90’s into early 2000’s this was my hangout of choice before I moved. And, before it came under new management and went right down the tubes that is. I had a list of horror stories to share before I stopped going over five years ago, and they haven’t changed a bit. Despite the place looking nearly condemned (and a classy pile of garbage on the sidewalk outside; see the pic) the place was dark and gloomy. It is 100% games, and had a pitiful sampling of 4e, plenty of Paizo’s Gamemastery maps and cards (but again no books) and shelves and shelves of stuff like 3e 3rd party books, 2e boxed sets and board games from the past 20 years. There was a gaming section in the back that was dark and empty.
And that concluded my visitation. I have to hand it to All Things Fun, they are a legit, actual “FLGS” alive and well right here in 2009. Unlike the other places, they’re participating in worldwide D&D game day, free RPG day and host weekly tournaments like card games and Star Wars minis. Hat’s off to them!
Have any game stores you'd recommend or warn folks away from in your area?
-DM Jeff
The first was about 5 minutes away, a little thing called Ron’s Comic World. It’s pretty small but did have part of the store devoted to tabletop gaming (either RPGS or Card Games). It’s about 75% comics and 25% gaming…or, rather 4e. It had shelves lined with every 4e item from the launch last year right up to Monster Manual minis, but not a glint of any other RPG at all. Decent folk there, but hardly worldly on games. A classic comic shop dabbling in gaming.
The second was about 20 minutes away: All Things Fun, and it rocked. They had a tournament of sorts on and there had to have been 50 folks in their tabletop area playing games. It’s about 25% comics, 50% games, and 25% “all things fun” (like toys). It was very neat and clean. Despite the chaos, the owner took time to talk with me. He was very knowledgeable and energetic. Very well stocked, 4e naturally, and a surprise sampling of other RPG core books and supplements as well, and plenty of Paizo’s Gamemastery items like map packs and cards (but no Pathfinder books yet). To me, this is more of what a FLGS should be. They made sure to remind me of Free RPG day and to come and run something.
Last was one about 45 minutes away, The Gamers’ Realm. Back in the late 90’s into early 2000’s this was my hangout of choice before I moved. And, before it came under new management and went right down the tubes that is. I had a list of horror stories to share before I stopped going over five years ago, and they haven’t changed a bit. Despite the place looking nearly condemned (and a classy pile of garbage on the sidewalk outside; see the pic) the place was dark and gloomy. It is 100% games, and had a pitiful sampling of 4e, plenty of Paizo’s Gamemastery maps and cards (but again no books) and shelves and shelves of stuff like 3e 3rd party books, 2e boxed sets and board games from the past 20 years. There was a gaming section in the back that was dark and empty.
And that concluded my visitation. I have to hand it to All Things Fun, they are a legit, actual “FLGS” alive and well right here in 2009. Unlike the other places, they’re participating in worldwide D&D game day, free RPG day and host weekly tournaments like card games and Star Wars minis. Hat’s off to them!
Have any game stores you'd recommend or warn folks away from in your area?
-DM Jeff
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