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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PatEllis15" data-source="post: 3620770" data-attributes="member: 1718">I've read a similar thread over at Boardgamergeek.com...  There to, everyone is debating whether this is good/bad for board game companies, and whether any of them will actually take advantage of the ruling.From my perspective, I kind of doubt that they will.  BUT, I'm surprised by the general anti-FLGS sentiment on this board.First regarding WotC's retail stores:  I have only ever seen ONE FLGS located in a traditional shopping mall (Legends near Towson, MD).  As far as I know (I could be very wrong), all of WotC's game stores were located in shopping malls.  None of their stores offered in store gaming.  The costs of operating a retail establishment in a mall are prohibitive.  That is why you just don't see a M&P store in a mall all that often.  The rent is too high, profit sharing, minimum hours requirements etc.   I don't see any connection to their stores, and what WotC seeing in FLGS.For me, I too didn't get introduced to D&D at a FLGS.  My brother, and a friend taught me.  HOWEVER, it is not introduction per se that Dancy is talking about.  Growth can be going from an introductory buyer, to a larger scale buyer.  In my case, I saw the owner of my FLGS playing D&D with some friends...  I saw the "lead figures" that they were using (1984 or so), and decided that I needed to start using Mini's...  Now of course I have about 3000 prepainted ones!  Additionally, going back to that store, 8 times out of 10, the owner would have "The Russian Campaign" set up, as he was a big fan of that particular title.  Seeing that type of board game introduced me to Avalon Hill by 1985 or so, and I've continued to buy "hobby" or "Euro" board games ever since.My first taste of Magic was in a FLGS.  I was pulled into my current game group via particpating in an RPGA event in the store, I kept buying Babylon CCG cards for several sets because I had a chance to actually USE my cards at an event at the FLGS, ditto for the original Star Wars CCG.  I was first introduced to a "convention" when my FLGS put on a Games Day.  Now, I make sure I go to Gen Con every year (and D&D XP, and I do what I can for a few local shows as well).Having FLGS around may not introduce complete novices to the hobby.  But they serve as an excellent gateway to get people slightly involved DEEPLY involved.  Note that WotC requires that a store have open gaming space available to qualify for their "Premier" store status.  Customer X see's Spiderman 3 at the local cinema, and thinks it's cool, so he decided to go to the store to pick up the comic.  While there he sees people playing HeroClix, or Mutants & Masterminds, and checks it out...Sure, it doesn't happen for everyone, nor do such examples happen at every store, every day.BUT:  What I do know is that it cannot happen if the FLGS isn't actually there.Pat E</blockquote>

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