D&D Encounters: Admission charge or free?

[Primitive Screwhead]

Seonaid.. no disconnect there, the game stores running promotional events need a GM which is either a volunteer from the local players like evildmguy or someone who 'works' the store. Either the store eats the cost of an employee's hourly wage, asks the employee to 'work for free', or finds a volunteer. In this limited economy we have nowadays, its hard to take that first option.

N0Man, my apologies for the 'entitlement' comment, you are correct that the way it is written above is rude. That comment was not directed at you and was the culmination over the last month or so with various game and non-game related face-to-face interactions with people who very much live in the entitlement generation.

 

[Mark Chance]

All this hoopla over 5 bucks? Sheesh, that's a cup of coffee...

$5 is more money than I made last week and the week before combined. One man's way overpriced cup of coffee is another man's hoopla. Isn't diversity great?

 

[Seonaid]

Seonaid.. no disconnect there, the game stores running promotional events need a GM which is either a volunteer from the local players like evildmguy or someone who 'works' the store. Either the store eats the cost of an employee's hourly wage, asks the employee to 'work for free', or finds a volunteer.

What I was trying to say is that for most people, spending time at work while not being compensated is not desirable. I know I sure as heck wouldn't be at my employer unless there was some tangible benefit! However, game stores who ask their employees to "work" as volunteers to run games aren't exactly in the same category . . . unless they're a) forcing their employees to be there (which is illegal) and/or b) having people who are not qualified do it (i.e., having people who only CCG DM).

That being said, I also would not want to play in a game with a DM who is in it "for the money," even if that money is only $30 for the couple of hours. I want a DM who is there because s/he wants to be there.

THAT being said, how many stores have to pay people to run these events? I always kind of figured there'd be volunteers who want to do it for swag or something similar. I've known many "community outreach" gamers "working" for a company for the love of the game and a little bit of free stuff.

 

[N0Man]

THAT being said, how many stores have to pay people to run these events? I always kind of figured there'd be volunteers who want to do it for swag or something similar. I've known many "community outreach" gamers "working" for a company for the love of the game and a little bit of free stuff.

Actually the swag factor has tempted me a few times to volunteer to run games at promo events in the past. At some of the past Gameday events, DMs were often allowed to keep monster minis, and often let players have the PC minis.

Volunteers often use it as an opportunity to find new gamers too. Most of my current playing is with a DM that I met as a volunteer DM at a previous event. It's a great way for both the players and DMs to meet others (which helps fuel interest in the game, which potentially can help fuel more sales for a store).

 

[CharlesRyan]

As one of the posters who brought the staffing cost issue into the debate, I'll point out that I wasn't talking about the DMs.

Few shops are willing to simply hand the keys to a bunch of gamers and leave for the night. So even if the staff has nothing to do with the actual event, running OP in the evenings and weekends creates staff costs as somebody from the shop staff needs to be present.

 

[CharlesRyan]

My FLGS is hosting these events free of charge [. . .] We were so flush with players last night that each table had to go over its limit.

This is awesome and is exactly what we'd most like to see.

To be clear, I'm definitely NOT advocating fees. What I am pointing out is that even in the above scenario, it's conceivable the shop is picking up considerable cost without a significant uplift in sales. (How many gamers do you know that play but never buy? Or that play in shop but buy off the internet?)

All I'm saying is that while free is best, before being surprised and shocked by a modest fee, consider the cost to the retailer AND the value to you.

 

[Insight]

This is awesome and is exactly what we'd most like to see.

To be clear, I'm definitely NOT advocating fees. What I am pointing out is that even in the above scenario, it's conceivable the shop is picking up considerable cost without a significant uplift in sales. (How many gamers do you know that play but never buy? Or that play in shop but buy off the internet?)

All I'm saying is that while free is best, before being surprised and shocked by a modest fee, consider the cost to the retailer AND the value to you.

Not that I'm by any means the 'typical' gamer, but I spent about $15 USD on merchandise at each of the D&D Encounters sessions so far. I would have purchased PHB3 had I not already purchased it as a store closer to my house the week of the first D&D Encounters.

 

[Seonaid]

I make it a point to buy something from a store that holds a free event, whether it's snacks and a set of dice or a sourcebook or a board game. Unfortunately, the only stores that I frequent for free events are in different states, so it's not exactly easy for me to make my regular purchases from them, but if I lived nearby, I would buy regularly from them.

However, I do understand that there are many people who don't have the common courtesy to do that. I'd think that perhaps one or two of those people have a valid reason, but most are just thoughtless or rude. Obviously it's a fine line.

 

[Siberys]

I'm the one running the game at my FLGS. Play is free, but the shopowner has asked that everyone brings two bucks for pizza. Hey, works for me!

 

[Seonaid]

I'm the one running the game at my FLGS. Play is free, but the shopowner has asked that everyone brings two bucks for pizza. Hey, works for me!

I'm not trying to be difficult, but do attendees still have to pay if they don't eat anything?