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Author Topic: Support Your FLGS  (Read 9945 times)

Thondor

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2021, 11:07:23 AM »
Out of curiosity what kind of titles are you interested in these days?

I'd be interested in stuff for OSRIC (e.g., XRP's "Advanced Adventures" line), and I'd also look at Swords & Wizardry and Labyrinth Lord supplements. And I think highly of the material for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea.

I do carry the whole XRP Advanced Advenutres line in PDF (the latest three Advanced Adventures should be up later today). They're also listed as if $CAD and $USD is par, as Joseph Browning has generously decided to pass on the savings from the lower fees on my site to the consumer.
(Arden Vul is $109 CAD, flip the toggle at the top and it is ~$85 USD.)

I'll look into AS&SH. And maybe I'll reach out to Goblinoid Games too.

When I was growing up, my favorite game stores sold the big games of the day, but also had used and out-of-print material, new and used novels, lots of Avalon Hill wargames and other boardgames and miniature wargames, magazine racks that included things like Heavy Metal and Strategy & Tactics, miniatures (both for D&D and for various historical wargames), et cetera. I'm not expecting modern game stores to carry that exact mix of stuff, obviously, but it's a point of difference between then and now. That is, when I'd walk in one of those stores, I was interested in almost everything they carried -- or, at least, there was something for me in each section. That's not really true, these days, but if I found a store that had a big used/out-of-print section, and that carried a variety of "OSR" RPG material, and wargames/board-games, and novels, and stuff interesting to historical wargamers...well, I'd frequent that shop!

But like I said, I recognize that my gaming interests are no longer mainstream, so I understand why there are very few shops that seem to cater to my particular set of tastes.

Fandom II here in Ottawa still has this sort of mix, and used to carry XRPs AA line.  Same for Comic Warehouse in Brampton, and The Game Shelf in Thunder Bay. Hairy Tarantula in Toronto was similar but I haven't been their since they moved locations.
Red Dragon Games in Ottawa (Orleans) seemed to be heading in a similar direction and are actually a new store it's been open for maybe 3 years.
All but one of these are on our list of stores that have got titles from us with some frequency. There are probably others that are less top of mind at the moment as well.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2021, 11:30:14 AM by Thondor »

HappyDaze

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2021, 11:13:13 AM »
My local game store is CoolStuffInc, and I don't really feel compelled to support them as they've done a heck of a job killing off local competition by undercutting them while staying afloat on their online sales. Beyond that, there's really no browsing for RPGs--you used to have to go to an onsite computer and "order" something to be brought out from the warehouse in the back. They moved the warehouse, so now you pretty much just order it online and wait a few days for delivery...and if doing that, Amazon is often better.

Thondor

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2021, 11:23:40 AM »
I prefer to shop locally and have been trying to be generous since the pandemic started.  But if I'm going to buy something at a LGS I need to 1)  Be able to look through it in the shop, and 2)  get it while I'm there.  Plastic-wrapped books are a problem, as is the statement "we can order it for you."  I can order it for myself, thanks, and get it faster and cheaper that way.  This is something of a pet peeve.  I expect it's tough to judge stocking levels properly on RPGs, but if my experience at a LGS is inferior to buying online, I'll just buy it over the internet.

Being able to browse is critical, I agree. I've never seen the plastic wrap issue at anything but places with only a few books.

It's worth it to me to ask a store to order something in if they are clearly trying to keep in a wide variety of stock in (heck maybe they'll get in a few copies and someone else can enjoy it too.)

I prefer to support designers via Kickstarter.

The only LGS that interest me have game events. The best idea I've seen in years is the boardgame cafe where its a combo game store / gaming space / coffee shop.
Fair. Sometimes you miss that all important kickstarter though. The CDG Marketplace takes 10% after transaction fees, which is as close as you can get to kickstarter's rates (5% + transaction fees) that I am aware of.

I haven't seen many boardgame café fully leverage the game store part, and get in a significant amount of RPG material -- many do have a weekly RPG night.

A couple Boardgame cafe have gotten in some of the GMless story-games like The Quite Year and Hope Inhumanity repeatedly.

My local game store is CoolStuffInc, and I don't really feel compelled to support them as they've done a heck of a job killing off local competition by undercutting them while staying afloat on their online sales. Beyond that, there's really no browsing for RPGs--you used to have to go to an onsite computer and "order" something to be brought out from the warehouse in the back. They moved the warehouse, so now you pretty much just order it online and wait a few days for delivery...and if doing that, Amazon is often better.

This seems slightly odd to me. I've found a couple stores that have a "warehouse vibe" but these let you into the warehouse to browse.

HappyDaze

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2021, 11:30:32 AM »
This seems slightly odd to me. I've found a couple stores that have a "warehouse vibe" but these let you into the warehouse to browse.
Customer area up front is for CCGs and board games, or occasionally a few other bits (X-wing game, a D&D5e new release might temporarily have a few copies up front, etc.), but it's not a place to look over for a hidden gem.

Thondor

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #19 on: January 11, 2021, 11:44:31 AM »
This seems slightly odd to me. I've found a couple stores that have a "warehouse vibe" but these let you into the warehouse to browse.
Customer area up front is for CCGs and board games, or occasionally a few other bits (X-wing game, a D&D5e new release might temporarily have a few copies up front, etc.), but it's not a place to look over for a hidden gem.
I wonder if all their locations are like that?

Charon's Little Helper

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #20 on: January 11, 2021, 12:42:21 PM »
I prefer to support designers via Kickstarter.

The only LGS that interest me have game events. The best idea I've seen in years is the boardgame cafe where its a combo game store / gaming space / coffee shop.

I haven't been (party because I barely drink - my wife even less so as she gets bright red and blotchy) but my city has a boardgame bar which is a combo of game store / gaming space / booze. (Which isn't that different from the several arcade/bars in my town.)

I think part of them coming out now isn't that people were too stupid to come up with the idea, it's that there are now enough adults with disposable income who grew up as nerds. They can't get as into it as they did as children, but they have $ to spend now to play occasionally.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2021, 12:45:22 PM by Charon's Little Helper »

Shawn Driscoll

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #21 on: January 11, 2021, 01:32:54 PM »
Some folks here may know that I run a small indie RPG marketplace. I also have an enduring affection for FLGS. My masters thesis involve visiting just over 50 game and comic stores in the Greater Toronto Area.

A lot of Canadian retailers are again under lockdowns, so for all of January, 20% all sales (both Print&PDF, and PDF only) from the CDG Marketplace go to support a Canadian FLGS of the customers choosing on checkout. If no particular store is selected then it is distributed among retailers who have purchased from us in the past.
 
I hope some of you will use this to support your FLGS, and if you aren’t in Canada (which is most of you I am sure), that you come up with your own innovative ways to support your local store. I’d love to hear about what you are doing.

If you happen to be a publisher, and you are interested in getting you titles up on the CDG Marketplace,  please get in touch! We expect to have numerous titles added throughout the month.

I just added The Halls of Arden Vul, at close to 1200 pages, it is likely the largest OSR megadungeon ever created!

I’d appreciate your thoughts, and questions! I'd be happy to talk about the titles available and any other relevant matters.
I don't fund Democrats.

KingCheops

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #22 on: January 11, 2021, 01:51:36 PM »
I like to shop at my local stores but for the FLGS they're multi-hobby places where the owners are more into things I'm not (primarily MtG -- except comics at the one place).  My buddy who runs a GW focused Miniatures store pretty much requires us to order everything ahead of time which is awkward.

Basically what happens is they're not often knowledgeable about the things I'm interested in or have the stock for me to impulse buy.  I understand the economics of them having to take a chance on stuff they don't know will sell but it kind of negates some of the reasons for shopping in person.

Semaj Khan

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #23 on: January 11, 2021, 01:54:10 PM »
I don't fund Democrats.

Spews coffee...

I hear ya, Lima Charlie.

Forgot to add: Game Goblins here in LR is also a micro-brewery. This slipped my mind since I really don't drink anymore and have never sampled their wares. :)
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SHARK

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #24 on: January 11, 2021, 02:22:35 PM »
Some folks here may know that I run a small indie RPG marketplace. I also have an enduring affection for FLGS. My masters thesis involve visiting just over 50 game and comic stores in the Greater Toronto Area.

A lot of Canadian retailers are again under lockdowns, so for all of January, 20% all sales (both Print&PDF, and PDF only) from the CDG Marketplace go to support a Canadian FLGS of the customers choosing on checkout. If no particular store is selected then it is distributed among retailers who have purchased from us in the past.
 
I hope some of you will use this to support your FLGS, and if you aren’t in Canada (which is most of you I am sure), that you come up with your own innovative ways to support your local store. I’d love to hear about what you are doing.

If you happen to be a publisher, and you are interested in getting you titles up on the CDG Marketplace,  please get in touch! We expect to have numerous titles added throughout the month.

I just added The Halls of Arden Vul, at close to 1200 pages, it is likely the largest OSR megadungeon ever created!

I’d appreciate your thoughts, and questions! I'd be happy to talk about the titles available and any other relevant matters.
I don't fund Democrats.

Greetings!

Savage, Shawn! ;D

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SHARK
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Thondor

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #25 on: January 11, 2021, 02:27:56 PM »
I don't fund Democrats.

And just who are you referring too? I'm pretty conservative for a Canadian, which is one of the reasons I like this place.
Our politics up here don't really match up to yours regardless.

And just to be clear - I don't care what a publisher or designers politics are. If you want to be on the marketplace you are welcome.

Basically what happens is they're not often knowledgeable about the things I'm interested in or have the stock for me to impulse buy.  I understand the economics of them having to take a chance on stuff they don't know will sell but it kind of negates some of the reasons for shopping in person.
Stores that do have a staff member who works really hard to get in a wide variety of RPG titles are rare (and it is hard).
One of the goals is to make it easier for retailers here to get in a wider variety of titles.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2021, 02:31:18 PM by Thondor »

Philotomy Jurament

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #26 on: January 11, 2021, 05:04:53 PM »
I do carry the whole XRP Advanced Advenutres line in PDF (the latest three Advanced Adventures should be up later today). They're also listed as if $CAD and $USD is par, as Joseph Browning has generously decided to pass on the savings from the lower fees on my site to the consumer.
(Arden Vul is $109 CAD, flip the toggle at the top and it is ~$85 USD.)

I'll look into AS&SH. And maybe I'll reach out to Goblinoid Games too.

Cool.

FWIW, I think the difficulty I run into is that pretty much every RPG I play is out of print, so I'm really only interested in adventures and supplements for "clone" games that are reasonably compatible with those systems (or out-of-print material, much of which I already own). AS&SH is an exception, since it's in print. I like it because it's well written and I like the art and "tone" of game, and I like the setting (Hyperborea), and I like the subclasses it presents. Also, the adventure modules are usually quite good, too.
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hedgehobbit

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #27 on: January 11, 2021, 06:55:49 PM »
Being able to browse is critical, I agree. I've never seen the plastic wrap issue at anything but places with only a few books.
You can't browse board games or video games, so I don't see why browsing RPGs should be different. Besides, it's fairly easy to download just about any RPG book and look through it before deciding to buy.

Thondor

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #28 on: January 12, 2021, 09:25:27 AM »
Figured I'd share some info on a sampling of the titles that folks around here might find interesting:

Like 5e D&D but looking for rules for a modern setting? Check out Resistance: EARTH by Sword’s Edge Publishing.

Fans of Planescape may be interested in Sig: Manual of the Primes, for it’s planar nexus setting, or even for it’s easy to run Spark based rules. (by Genesis of Legend Publishing)

Cyberpunk? Check out The Veil (Samjoko Publishing), or Headspace (Green Hat Design). The Veil is a more extensive volume for more general Cyberpunk fun, while Headspace focusses on the premise of your characters sharing a technological mind-link. Both are Powered by the Apocalypse engine.

Superheroes? Simple Superheroes from Compose Dream Games could be your jam if you love the freedom of defining your own powers and appreciate rulings vs rules within a solid framework.

Intrigued by Japanese Folklore? Check out Fox Magic, from Fool’s Moon Entertainment, where you get to play a kitsune of Japanese Legend.

OSR fan? The Pod Caverns of the Sinister Shroom is one of many of XPRs excellent adventures. If you are more interested in new monsters, pick up their Malevolent & Benign.

Do you remember Fighting Fantasy and Choose Your Own Adventure books with fondness? Pick up one of Chris Challice’s Choose Your Own FATE books, for some excellent solo-play fun.

Are detailed planning and careful execution your style? Then have a look at Killshot where you play assassins setting up the perfect hit, from Broken Ruler Games.

Many other titles are available, to see more RPG titles and support some local retailers head over to composedreamgames.com/marketplace


Happy to answer questions about any of the above titles, or others of interest.

Theory of Games

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Re: Support Your FLGS
« Reply #29 on: January 12, 2021, 12:06:56 PM »
I miss my old FLGS that closed years ago, leaving local ttrpg fans to deal with a shop that's a MtG shrine. That and the owner doesn't want ttrpgs played in his shop "because we don't buy stuff". Our reply? Stock product other than D&D5e, PF2e and Starfinder. I brought up PbtA games and the staff just shrugged like I asked for Vibranium.

So Noble Knight Games is my new friend.
TTRPGs are just games. Friends are forever.