Re: FT losing market share?

I concur!
The only real problem that I (and our local gaming group) seem to have
in
getting more folks hooked on FT is not so much the lack of rulesets
(I've
got three myself). It's the perceived lack of available ships in stores.
Yes, before the winds of derision hit me, I'd like to comment that there
are
lot's of great sites online to purchase ships but it's a little tough
trying
to hook someone on my and others, favorite space combat game when if
they
ask you where you got those great [brigade,GZG, etc] ships and you tell
them
that they can get them online. Not in insurmountable response but one
that
cannot be ignored. Also, in this day and age, if store owners can't at
least
sell them with some small markup then their less likely to encourage
folk to
use up table space during game days/times as opposed to a game that they
can
sell.

One personal solution, that I've followed is to build a couple of "throw
away" task forces of ships that don't fit my collection, are excess or
just
stuff that I've picked up and then offer them at cost to new players
just to
encourage them to play. Nothing spurs on a new FT'er like having his own
ships

Please comment as needed (God help me!)

Pat Connaughton
St. Louis, MO

PS - I'm a big fan of both Brigade and GZG ships myself

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "B Lin" <lin@rxkinetix.com>
To: <gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 3:31 PM
Subject: RE: FT losing market share?

> Or everyone on the list should just be a FT "crack" dealer and order
an
extra set of rulebooks.  If you are at a con and someone wants to buy a
set - you have one set ready for their instant gratification.  You then
take
that money and order another set (or two if the demand is high).
>
> Considering the amount of unpainted lead that most people have,
purchasing
an extra set of rulebooks to sit around is probably not a huge temporary
investment for an increased return in getting more people to play. For
example if you put down about $75 for two sets of rulebooks (approximate
price for 2, 20 pound FT 3 Book deals) before putting on a demo or
convention game, chances are you will sell one or both sets to a new
player.
People then have the ability to see the rulebooks, the miniatures, and
you
gain the benefit of the immediate gaming enthusiasm to make a convert to
FT.
>
> If you sell both sets of rules, you end up even money-wise and you
might
have two new players to the game who have already invested in the rules.
>
> Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary (just kidding)
>
> --Binhan
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 11, 2004 at 07:30:56AM -0800, Bruce Gelinas wrote:
> > >I think lack of a US distributor is hurting. It is hard to
> > get new players when the rule books are not easy to obtain. I
> > have run a couple of FT demos at my local hobby store and had
> > great fun and a great turnout. But when I told the intrested
> > players the only way they could get the rulebooks was to
> > order them from England the next question was could I make a
> > copy of my rules. Yes ordering from England is fairly quick
> > and not that expensive but the "Me" and "Now" generation do
> > not want to wait so they will go on to other games where the
> > rule can be picked up at a local store.
> >
> >
> >
>