Mr Evil said:thats the trouble with peopel today, all self centered i guese.
my point is if no shop ever sold minis would you have ever got into the hobby ? if you dont support the store the store dies as doese slowly the hobby.
as for clubs, very few around me that arnt extensions of games workshop, or do just cards.
Sorry - I have to come back on that.
Yup we are all self centred, me, the shopkeeper and every other person around. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying, deluded or trying to sell you something. Unless I am wrong and you are not, in which case can I have your collection of EVO figs as a sign of your generosity? I'll pay reasonable P&P.
The suggestion that the hobby relies on the LGS does not hold water. In my limited experience - 30 years behind the dice, there has never been a games store in our town. We do have a club that meets regularly - hell we can play 7 nights a week if we want. Our club seems as healty now as it has ever been. As for the hobby, there has never been a better time for wargamers. I can't see how this can be seen to be anything to do with FLGS, but lots to do with the internet and how that has made small niche companies viable.
If you are worried about the future of the hobby and the spreading of the word, why not take your BF EVO stuff to one of those clubs you mention, and demo there, show them that there is something beyond GW and cards. This will have several benefits.
1. You can be unselfish (unless you are doing it to find new opponents for yourself)
2. If you join the MI (unless you already are on the programme) you can earn demo credits to buy more stuff.
3. You can open their eyes, and do MPS a favour as well by expanding their customer base.
btw - I have nothing against FLGSs - I think they are a very welcome idea. Our local one "Games of War" in Seaham is excellent.