So does Mongoose stuff get stocked in Gaming shops much?

[duncan_disorderly]

a GOOD FLGS will stock what it's customers want. If you go into your local shop and they don't carry MRQ stuff it may be that no one has asked them for it, or people who were originally interested were put off by the multiple expensive thin hardbacks of early MRQ1 or the curly covers of later books when production was moved in house.
We know the new material is better than this (or we wouldn't be here) but if stores have had problems selling stuff in the past they may not be prepared to take the risk on further products without knowing that they have customers interested.

Have you tried asking these stores if they can get the books you are interested in for you? If you know in advance that you will want a new release then let them know so they can get it when it comes out.
If they see the books are better produced and selling then they may be prepared to stock copies "on the shelf" to encourage other buyers.

(OK, not so convenient if they are a significant journey away, and shops where games are a sideline may have more of a problem depending on who their distributors are)

 

[danskmacabre]

Ebay sellers typically charge $10 + on a $20 book, so that's a poor option really. Fine for something obscure, but the latest version? The only corebook on ebay is charging $70. Sure there are one or two Canadian on-line game stores from other cities, but if I'm just a casual gamer, how would I even know about them?

That's not my experience with Ebay here (UK).
I got the Elric GM screen for £8, including delivery (That £2 cheaper than direct from Mongoose and that's not including Mongoose delivery).
The core Rules book I got for £24 (Including delivery). £6 cheaper than Mongoose also not including Mongoose delivery.

So I got a bargain.

 

[sdavies2720]

I should probably also add that since I converted my campaign over to MRQ2 last fall, I know of 4 people who bought the core rules through the store.

So, to cross topics to the discussion of making MRQ2 more popular, by running games at a local store (which is what I do), you can have a measurable impact on RQ's popularity.

Steve

 

[danskmacabre]

sdavies: yes I agree running a game in store is a great way to advertise a game.
There used to be quite a few RPG stores in my area some years back, but now there's only one left and he's only interested in running MTG sessions in his shop, as he sells loads of MTG cards.

 

[Pruneau]

I also feel that brick and mortar shops tend to stock only a selection of systems, mostly based on what sells well and their personal gaming preferences. I live in Antwerp and the only remaining store stocks RuneQuest, so I guess I'm well off. Prices are higher than when I order in from the UK, even when taking postage into account, but I prefer buying in the store nonetheless.

I think the issue for shopkeepers is that there is a gazillion of systems nowadays, and a part of the clientele has a short attention span. So when you follow everything, you just know you are going to have leftovers which you are gonna have to sell at a lower price eventually.

 

[danskmacabre]

Looking back to the 80s and 90s my FLGSs had loads of RPG systems, arguably a greater variety than is on stock in stores today. So I'm not convinced there's more stuff out there than in the past, creating more competition.

There was AdnD, Basic DnD, Runequest (and the various settings associated with Runequest sytems, Stormbringer, CoC, Ringworld, Elfquest)
Rolemaster (lots of), Spacemaster, GURPS, Traveller, Tunnels and Trolls, Warhammer FRP, many many others.

I think it all started going downhill once the trading cards really kicked off (I.E> MTG).
Now that trading cards have died down LOT (apart form MTG) I reckon MTG is actually contributing to getting people into RPGs.

I DO think MMORPGs and computer gams in general has teken away a lot of potential Roleplayers, but maybe it also contributes as well, but probably has taken more away than contributed.

 

[Pruneau]

I have played Everquest for a few years, but it's just not the same. But yeah, computer games are popular. I imagine the respond to the need for instant gratification: no need to drive to the club, set up the game, just plug in and go.

Call me an old fart, but I prefer the face to face thing.

It's true that there were a lot of games back then as well. Must be shopkeepers hurting from the internet sales then? And just stocking stuff that is gonna go fast?

 

[danskmacabre]

I have played Everquest for a few years, but it's just not the same. But yeah, computer games are popular. I imagine the respond to the need for instant gratification: no need to drive to the club, set up the game, just plug in and go.
Call me an old fart, but I prefer the face to face thing.

I have in the past played a lot of MMORPGs, but only as at the time I lived in an area where there were no tabletop roleplayers near me.
I by far prefer Tabletop Roleplaying.

It's true that there were a lot of games back then as well. Must be shopkeepers hurting from the internet sales then? And just stocking stuff that is gonna go fast?

I agree with this, I buy most of my RPGs online now.
And yeah I had a discussion with the guys who runs my FLGS and he only buys in stuff that'll sell well.

 

[DamonJynx]

Call me an old fart, but I prefer the face to face thing.

I'm with you old fart! :lol:

 

[PhilHibbs]

I dropped into my FLGS to take a look at Spellcom but they only had the D&D WR stuff, they didn't seem to know about the RQ edition (indeed the guy said "Oh, the Runegate stuff?")

 

[Loz]

indeed the guy said "Oh, the Runegate stuff?

I do hope you gave him a suitably withering glare...

 

[Nez]

indeed the guy said "Oh, the Runegate stuff?

I do hope you gave him a suitably withering glare...

...or hit him with Wrack :evil:

 

[sdavies2720]

sdavies: yes I agree running a game in store is a great way to advertise a game.
There used to be quite a few RPG stores in my area some years back, but now there's only one left and he's only interested in running MTG sessions in his shop, as he sells loads of MTG cards.

I hear you. We play on Fridays, and used to start reliably at 8pm. But now we start play, "when the magic folks are done."

As the store owner points out, the Magic players buy a lot more than we do.

What's interesting is I'm willing to spend more in his store, I just have trouble finding things that I want. Seriously, even including special orders. When games are slow I thumb through his distributor catalog, and there is precious little that I want.

The owner has also commented that every time he finds a reliable RPG money-maker (e.g. D&D Miniatures), it is discontinued. He's in the business, he's a roleplayer, so he's frustrated.

Steve

 

[danskmacabre]

[I hear you. We play on Fridays, and used to start reliably at 8pm. But now we start play, "when the magic folks are done."
As the store owner points out, the Magic players buy a lot more than we do.

I can understand that philosophy, I suppose you go where the money is.

What's interesting is I'm willing to spend more in his store, I just have trouble finding things that I want. Seriously, even including special orders. When games are slow I thumb through his distributor catalog, and there is precious little that I want.

The physical RPG books he has instore are mostly DnD and PF. DnD I don't want and PF I have all the rulesbooks, he has very few (if any) PF adventures, which I MIGHT buy. I suppose I could order them and then come back another day, or just order them online and get them delivered and is probably cheaper anyway.
The other RPG stuff he has is REALLY old stuff he has collected over the years (some dating back to the 80s) which are priced as "Collectors" items and expensive. I'm not an RPG "Collector" I just want something to use for my RPGs so don't want to pay "collector" prices and thus don't buy the old stuff, some of which looks really interesting.

The owner has also commented that every time he finds a reliable RPG money-maker (e.g. D&D Miniatures), it is discontinued. He's in the business, he's a roleplayer, so he's frustrated.

Funnily enough the guy at this store said the same thing...

 

[Pruneau]

Call me an old fart, but I prefer the face to face thing.

I'm with you old fart! :lol:

8)

 

[sdavies2720]

Funnily enough the guy at this store said the same thing...

Uncanny how similar our FLGS experiences are. With two data points, clearly we can extrapolate to the whole industry. :roll:

Only difference is my guy takes the old RPG titles and deeply discounts them for anyone who wants them -- anything that's really a collectors item he marks as such or unloads on ebay.

Steve

 

[danskmacabre]

Uncanny how similar our FLGS experiences are. With two data points, clearly we can extrapolate to the whole industry. :roll:

lol

Only difference is my guy takes the old RPG titles and deeply discounts them for anyone who wants them -- anything that's really a collectors item he marks as such or unloads on ebay.
Steve

That would make more sense.
Weirdly the guy at my shop doesn't have a website OR an ebay shop as he thinks it's not an effective sales outlet, he is quite old though I guess.

 

[Old timer]

I have an excellent FLGS near me (shameless plug, the GamesKeeper in Oxford) , the owners, who have run the shop for nearly 30 years always have a great stock of many titles, including nearly everything for MRQ2. If they don't have a title on the shelf i want, they will order it for me.
Their success is down to stocking other games besides RPGs, like MTG, and many board games and puzzles, and providing excellent customer service. I am surprised that other stores don't follow a similar business model, as it works.
They even have a web site, http://www.gameskeeper.co.uk/

 

[Ultor]

I have an excellent FLGS near me (shameless plug, the GamesKeeper in Oxford) , the owners, who have run the shop for nearly 30 years always have a great stock of many titles, including nearly everything for MRQ2. If they don't have a title on the shelf i want, they will order it for me.
Their success is down to stocking other games besides RPGs, like MTG, and many board games and puzzles, and providing excellent customer service. I am surprised that other stores don't follow a similar business model, as it works.
They even have a web site, http://www.gameskeeper.co.uk/

I loved the Gameskeeper - I visited it regularly when I lived in Oxford and almost always walked out with something. Fantastic shop with great service.

Since I moved to the States, I have been unable to find one like it. My local store recently moved to smaller premises, and I find the staff know nothing about the history of gaming beyond about 10 years ago. They did have a good stock on MRQ1 products, of which I bought quite a bit, but I find I can get MRQ2 stuff quicker and cheaper via the internet. Shame.

 

[soltakss]

My FLGS (Wayland's Forge in Birmingham) stocks a good amount of RuneQuest, BRP and HeroQuest products - at least one of everything new on shelf and he reserves some for regulars. He also knows about the ranges and what is coming out.

I just can't afford them.

In fact, I haven't bought a hardcopy RPG book for over a year. That#s amazing, considering the shelves of older stuff I have. The last things I bought were PDFs, but they are difficult to justify at the moment.

So, leather-covered expensive books don't really appeal to me. Cheap and cheerful ones do. Softback not hardback, black and white not colour, that's what I can afford, although not at the moment.

When a supplement costs nearly 30 pounds, it is very difficult to buy, even though I want it.

What's the solution? Get a better job or win the Lottery.