Toqtamish, I wasn't calling you out, I was calling out your local store. I myself am a game store owner. In a small town, with a small customer base. And we struggle to stay open. When my customers come up to me and ask me to support game X, when game X is not one of the few strong sellers I have, I work with them to try and promote the game.

The only "resources" that I can accept a store lacking is a space to hold organized events. Otherwise a customer can be the one willing to take on the role of advocate for the game. I'm barely familar with the World of Warcraft tcg. I don't play it. I have a customer who loves it, and is willing to do the work promoting the game, and in return I give them gaming space, sanction their events and stock the cards.

I had some other customers who wanted me to start running Pokemon tournaments. I hadn't sold a pack of Pokemon to any of them in months (my Pokemon sales are generally random guy off the street). When I told them I needed someone to become a Pokemon judge before Nintendo would sanction me for events (because Nintendo would not allow me to be their "Professor") , none of them were willing to do it. So Pokemon events never materialized.

I hope I did not offend you with my comments. Although I sometimes take issue with having to pay for FFG's prize kits (most companies provide stores with free OP kits), they are affordable and my players are always willing to pay to play, so in the end I always make my money back. And when it comes to keeping your store open, it always comes down to whether or not the product or event will make money. That is why I have a hard time understanding why any game store would turn their back on the opportunity to make money. And OP events for games that people are interested in tend to increase sales of that game.

And when I said resources I was not necessarily referring to money. there are other resources involved in running tournaments etc.

I don't care what you accept. I stand by my statement. You can think whatever you want as can I.

Toqtamish, I don't accept that stores "don't have the resources." I own a store. If my players are willing to pay for the event, I'll get the kit(s). Work on your local store to advance your games agenda. Most game stores are not going to support games that don't make them money, but they likely will support games that will make them money.

That being said, I do agree with Kennon that there should be more ways for players to get these kits and play them. I do support the idea of working with stores to advance the game, but when players are denied the opportunity to attend special events because a store doesn't run it (and I am very surprised how few stores took this up) it doesn't really help the game.

It would be nice to have a way for players to run this and not just rely on stores. some stores just don't have the resources.

 FRAKKING A!!

I emailed our local store multiple times to ask them to order this. 

Can we please have a return to the Night's Watch system so that volunteer tournament organizers could order the frakking things themselves and not have to go through the store?

Wow, I would have expected a few more stores to hold this event. This just seemed right for non-competitive play, and a fun diversion. Anyway, anyone in MN is welcome to come to our store to get their feet wet before playing at the Event Center the next day.