new Releases

Looks like three new releases arriving this Friday from WOTC and Paizo. It would appear WOTC does not expect much from the new Unsanctioned set as there was almost no promotion for it and the release on Friday hit us by surprise but the lands look pretty cool. Then there is the new Dungeon Mayhem game, Monster Madness, which can either play with the original Dungeon Mayhem decks or play by itself. Finally, Paizo releases the Game Mastery Guide for 2nd Edition Pathfinder.  all of these are available, while quantities last, on Friday.

Defective Starfinder Books

About 2% of the Starfinder books that shipped last summer had a defective binding. We haven't had any complaints from customers but if you did happen to get a defective copy from any store in Southern Illinois, bring it here and we will swap it out for one of the new copies we just got in. Note that we will only exchange books with this specific defect as that is the only problem Paizo has authorized us to exchange. Any other problems, you will need to contact Paizo directly

Pathfinder Program

This week's ICV2 column expands on last week's blog post about the new Pathfinder Society retail initiative and why it might not turn around PF sales decline.

Too Little, Too Late?

Paizo announced this week, to their venture captains first and then through a press release (it appears emailing retailers was an afterthought as we still have not received anything official from them, although some other stores have), that players in PFS games at stores would receive an in-game benefit for the table for making purchases at the store on the date of the game.

Paizo first discussed this last spring with some retailers but apparently it took half a year to implement and may be too late as many stores have reported clearancing out their Pathfinder stock. I know we don't bring in anything new except for hardback books as Paizo's 20% subscription offer has proved too enticing to most local players. Either that or no local players have any interest in Pathfinder print materials as we have sold less than 100 Pathfinder items since the beginning of the year, with the top 3 items the Bigger Flipmat, the GM Screen and the Player Folio. Everything else is 1's and 2's with almost all of the modules only selling 1, not making them worth restocking as they don't sell if we do.

Greg Leeds Inteview

ICV2 has an interesting interview with Greg, Leeds, CEO of WOTC. One point  I found striking was the planned emphasis n digital products for Dungeons & Dragons, as opposed to more print products. Given that Paizo puts out more products for Pathfinder in a month than WOTC has since the release of 5th edition.

Pathfinder MMO in Danger

Goblinworks, the company formed to launch the Pathfinder MMO laid off all but 3 employees yesterday and CEO Ryan Dancy has resigned. The company raised $1.3 million through Kickstarter to fund the MMO and said the company was on track to launch the MMO. However, Paizo now says the company needs just over an additional $5 million to bring the game to open enrollment.

It's Nice When Manufacturers Listen to Stores

It’s rather nice when a manufacturer asks a question of retailers, then actually listens  to what stores say and acts upon it. It seems to most retailers that manufacturers generally ask what stores want, listen and then go ahead and do whatever they planned to do in the first place. The recent releases of Batman Fluxx, and  Adventure Time Fluxx and the upcoming release of Fluxx Dice by Looney Labs are one of those great examples of a publisher reaching out to retailers, asking said retailers what should happen in a given situation and then acting on what said retailers  recommended Looney Labs do in order to make it easier on stores and maximize sales.

The original publishing schedule for the three releases was to release Adventure Time Fluxx in late July, Batman Fluxx in early August and Fluxx Dice in late August.  Due to a flux in the space time continuum, or more likely a shipping and delivery problem, the release date for Adventure Time Fluxx had to get pushed back to early August, releasing at the same time as Batman Fluxx. So Looney Labs did what any publisher ought to do and so few do, reach out to the people who will be selling most of their products to the end consumer, the retailers. 

Looney Labs wanted to know, should the company release both Fluxx titles on the same  day, potentially creating a greater impact  and grabbing more mindshare from the consumer or stagger the releases a few weeks apart, allowing each release to generate buzz on its own. Most of the retailers who responded chose spreading out the two releases over the month for two main reasons:  1) As noted above, spacing out the two allowed Looney Labs and stores to spread out the impact of each release, allowing stores to focus on and promote each separately, rather than  putting together a larger promotion that would increase attention on the Fluxx brand but could dilute the impact of either release on its own and 2) from a financial standpoint it is much easier for retailers to absorb the impact of stocking both games  if they can spread the “hit” to the budget over a month rather than stocking both at the same time and having the bill for both coming in at the same time as well.

Looney Labs did listen to the stores and pushed the release of Adventure Time Fluxx to later in August, releasing Batman Fluxx on August 7^th, Adventure Time Fluxx two weeks later and, so as to smooth out the release schedule even more, bumping Fluxx Dice back into early September. 

It would really help stores, and overall sales, if more companies would do both of these things:  talk to us and spread out their release schedules more for new products. Paizo’s release schedule for Pathfinder generally calls for new products to release the last Wednesday of each month, meaning that a Pathfinder player who wants to pick up everything for the game has to plan on dropping an average of $100-$200 that week on Pathfinder products. Spreading out new releases on a weekly  schedule, ala Games Workshop, would mean:  1) new products every week for the Pathfinder player and 2) lest of a hit at the end of the month on said Pathfinder player’s wallet, and the store’s budget too, for that matter.  Think about it, would you Paizo?

Upcoming Pathfinder Releases

Coming in September for Pathfinder:

Coming in September!

PZO9098 Pathfinder Adventure Path: Turn of the Torrent (Hell’s Rebels 2 of 6) $24.99 SRP SDI The rebel group known as the Silver Ravens once fought for independence in the city of Kintargo, but after the nation’s civil war came to an end, they disbanded until today! Now, new heroes have re-established the rebel group to stand against the inquisitor Barzillai Thrune and his oppressive diabolic regime. But before the Silver Ravens can rise up, they’ll need allies -friends among powerful groups like the Hellknights of the Torrent, Kintargo’s established rebel cults, and disenfranchised agents of the government itself. But until the heroes find the perfect hideout for their rebellion - a place secret enough and strong enough to withstand the battles to come - they’ll be forced to stay in the shadows. When a perfect site for their headquarters comes along, will the heroes survive long enough to claim it as their own? “Turn of the Torrent” is a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for 4th-level characters. The adventure continues the Hell’s Rebels Adventure Path, an urban- and political-themed campaign that focuses on a rebellion against one of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting’s most infamous nations - devil-haunted Cheliax. Several new monsters, an exploration of the fishlike humanoids known as skum, and a brand new Pathfinder Journal round out this volume of the Pathfinder Adventure Path! 96 pages, Soft cover, Full color	PZO9461 Pathfinder Player Companion: Occult Origins $12.99 SRP SDI Unlock your inner potential with Pathfinder Player Companion: Occult Origins! Featuring brand new rules and options for the 6 new occult character classes from the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Occult Adventures hardcover, this volume outlines ways to fit psychic characters into the Pathfinder campaign setting. Discover secrets of the mind from across the Pathfinder world, including archetypes tied to secret traditions, new occult rituals, psychic spells, magic items, and much more! 32 pages, Soft cover, Full color
PZO6025 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Deck 5: Herald of the Ivory Labyrinth $19.99 SRP SDI Lost in the Labyrinth! Your victories over the Cult of Baphomet have earned you an audience with the goddess Iomedae. She’s asked you to travel to Baphomet’s Abyssal realm, navigate its trackless mazes, and rescue the Herald of Iomedae from an ancient prison. The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Herald of the Ivory Labyrinth Adventure Deck is a 110-card expansion that adds new locations, monsters, villains, and more to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game. This deck also includes new loot cards and 5 new scenarios that make up the complete Herald of the Ivory Labyrinth adventure. Continue your character’s mythic ascension with the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Herald of the Ivory Labyrinth Adventure Deck.	PZO6809 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Class Deck: Monk $19.99 SRP SDI Mind and Body! Monks make weapons of themselves just as capable of crippling or killing as any blade. The Monk Class Deck accessory for the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game allows players to bring these inspired warriors to any Base Set including the demon-filled Wrath of the Righteous campaign. The 109-card Monk Class Deck contains 3 new characters including a new version of the iconic monk Sajan and enough new and familiar weapons, spells, items, and other boons to advance your monk through an entire Adventure Path. This deck can also be used in the exciting Pathfinder Society Adventure Card Guild organized play campaign.
PZO9280 Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Races $44.99 SRP SDI Learn all there is to know about the peoples of the Pathfinder campaign setting, from elves and dwarves to goblins and strix, in this massive 256-page hardcover companion to the Inner Sea World Guide! Along with expansive details on Golarion’s most prominent races you’ll find whole chapters of exciting new character options, allowing you to make your favorite hero’s culture more vital and valuable than ever before! Dozens of racial details and heritages also make choosing the perfect race easier than ever, whether you want to be a Varisian human or an archon-blooded aasimar. Whether you need realistic cultural details for your game or want to make your character feel like a true native, Inner Sea Races brings the peoples of the Pathfinder world to life like never before!	PZO30067 Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Slum Quarter $14.99 SRP SDI Navigate the twisted alleys and crammed quarters of the bad side of town in Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Slum Quarter. The grimy streets on either side of this durable accessory provide a warren of blind corners, dangerous courtyards, and dilapidated shanties more dangerous than any dungeon. Don’t waste your time sketching when you could be playing. With Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Slum Quarter, you’ll be ready next time your players slum it amid the city’s most dangerous district! This portable, affordable map measures 24” x 30” unfolded, and 8” x 10” folded. Its coated surface can handle any dry erase, wet erase, or even permanent marker. Usable by experienced GMs and novices alike, Pathfinder Flip-Mats fit perfectly into any Game Master’s arsenal!

July Pathfinder Releases

Coming this July from Paizo for Pathfinder

PZO1132 Pathfinder Player Companion: Occult Adventures $44.99 SRP SDI Delve into the occult secrets of psychic magic, mystic rituals, and esoteric sciences with Occult Adventures, the latest hardcover rulebook for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game! Six new occult-themed character classes bring the vast treasures of occultism and mysticism to Pathfinder players like never before. Set out on new adventures as a kineticist, medium, mesmerist, psychic, occultist, or spiritualist, or choose from dozens of archetypes for these and most existing Pathfinder RPG classes. Explore forbidden secrets long kept from the world to discover magical forces that unlock vast powers of mind and body. Uncover lost relics and proscribed spells to give your hero new powers in the fight against evil, and pick up new psychic tricks with a library of new feats based on occult traditions. Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Occult Adventures includes: -Six new base classes - the reality-warping kineticist, the spirit-infused medium, the manipulative mesmerist, the relic-wielding occultist, the mind-master psychic, and the phantom-bonded spiritualist. -Thematic archetypes for appropriate Pathfinder RPG base classes, such as the haunted totem barbarian, the phrenologist bard, the ghost rider cavalier, the psychic detective inquisitor, and more! -Tons of new spells and magic items, including lots of options for existing classes as well as the perfect gear for the new classes and archetypes introduced in this book. -In-depth overviews of key occult topics such as auras, ki, chakras, psychic combat, possession, occult rituals, and the esoteric planes. 272 pages, Hardcover, Full color
PZO9548 Pathfinder Module: Feast of Dust $24.99 SRP SDI A deadly new curse known as the Carrion Call spreads rapidly through the Meraz Desert, driving its victims mad with hunger and a burning desire to flee into the sands. To find the source of this affliction, the heroes must challenge gnoll tribes, fiends, and the walking dead to discover the secret of a long-forgotten evil - the daemon lord known as The Vulture King. Once worshiped as a god, this vile creature threatens to spread his feast of dust to new lands unless someone can find the keys to stopping his unholy resurrection.	PZO6023 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Deck 3: Demon’s Heresy $19.99 SRP SDI The Wrath of the Righteous campaign continues with the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Demon’s Heresy Adventure Deck. With the demon armies still concentrating their attacks to the south, the heroes must venture into the heart of the Worldwound to seek out powerful new allies and strike a mortal blow against the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth - but in doing so, they discover a disturbing truth about the crystalline source of mythic power the demons have been using against the crusaders. This 110-card expansion adds new locations, monsters, villains, and more to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game; it also includes rare loot cards and 5 new scenarios that make up the complete “Demon’s Heresy” adventure.
PZO9096 Pathfinder Adventure Path:Shadow of the Storm Tyrant (Giantslayer 6 of 6) $22.99 SRP SDI The thrilling conclusion of the Giantslayer Adventure Path! The heroes emerge from a fire giant dungeon into a volcano’s caldera, where the Storm Tyrant’s stolen cloud castle floats high above. As the castle takes off into the sky, the heroes must storm the castle and defeat the Storm Tyrant’s guardians and elite giant allies. Finally, they must face the Storm Tyrant himself and his dominated red dragon to put an end to his megalomaniacal push for power. Will the heroes defeat Volstus the Storm Tyrant, or will all of Avistan bend its knee to the mighty warlord and his giant armies? “Shadow of the Storm Tyrant” is a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for 15th-level characters. The adventure continues the Giantslayer Adventure Path, a classic sword & sorcery campaign that pits the players against hordes of evil giants. Several new monsters, an article on the ecology of the planar giants called gigases, ideas for further adventures beyond the bounds of the Giantslayer campaign, and the final installment of the Pathfinder’s Journal, written by Patrick Renie, round out this volume of the Pathfinder Adventure Path!	PZO9459 Pathfinder Player Companion: Dirty Tactics Toolbox $12.99 SRP SDI Make sure you never get stuck in a fair fight again with Pathfinder Player Companion: Dirty Tactics Toolbox. Learn how to use poisons, dirty trick maneuvers, sneak attacks, ambushes, and hidden equipment to more than even the odds in any encounter. This player-focused volume contains dozens of new feats, magic items, spells, and other character options to let you have a nasty trick or two up your sleeve, or become the unquestioned master of fighting dirty. 32 pages, Softcover, Full color
PZO30066 Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Museum $14.99 SRP SDI Whether sarcophagi have been smashed, relics robbed, or skylights shattered, mysteries abound at the museum. This portable, affordable map measures 24” x 30” unfolded, and 8” x 10” folded. Its coated surface can handle any dry erase, wet erase, or even permanent marker. Usable by experienced GMs and novices alike, Pathfinder Flip-Mats fit perfectly into any Game Master’s arsenal! On tabletops across the world, the Flip-Mat Revolution is changing the way players run their fantasy roleplaying games! Why take the time to sketch out ugly scenery on a smudgy plastic mat when dynamic encounters and easy clean-up are just a Flip away?	PZO9282 Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Giantslayer Poster Map Folio $19.99 SRP SDI Evil giants plague the treacherous Mindspin Mountains, and only your player characters stand into the way of their conquest! Three massive, lavishly illustrated poster maps set the scene for the popular Giantslayer Adventure Path, creating a must-have collection for that or any mountainous campaign. Maps include the frontier town of Trunau, a vast overview of the Mindspin Mountain region, and a giant player-oriented map of a frost giant village, presented as an isometric drawing of the settlement’s defenses and layout. Whether you’re looking for a small, fortified town or a mysterious regional map to inspire adventure, these beautiful maps are the perfect resource to bring gigantic inspiration to your campaign.

FCBD vs. FRPGD

Free Comic Book Day and Free RPG Day. Both are among our best sales days of the year but each targets a different class of customers.  Free Comic Book Day always benefits from the release of a new comic themed movie at this time of year, typically from Marvel, which drives comics into top of mind awareness for most of the nation. They are not thinking about the comic books though, the movie captures their attention. Comics are just an afterthought. 

However, due to tapping into the zeitgeist at the right moment, the American public is primed to think about comics and the national media is primed to find things to talk about that relate to them and one of those things getting national attention is Free Comic Book Day. Hence, lots of people coming in who don’t think about comics much of the rest of the year. If we are lucky 20% (likely less) will pick up the comics habit.

Compare this to Free RPG Day, which doesn’t have a nationally released movie driving attention to it (No, the two D&D movies don’t count. Have you actually seen them?). Instead, Free RPG Day targets our existing RPG customers, the D&D, Pathfinder and, if a store has developed it, the smaller lines. Free RPG Day really targets those people. Am I going to get new customers because Paizo has released another We Be Goblins module? Nope, because 98% of the public has no idea what Pathfinder is. Free RPG Day is rather an annual gift from stores to our RPG customers with the hope that they will opt to pick up one of the other offerings along with their favorite, and give it a try. Not a bad marketing strategy but diametrically opposite of FCBD. Now, if we start seeing RPG based movies, then we can talk different strategies.

Too Much of A Good Thing?

Quite a hectic weekend so far with both Dragons of Tarkir and Star Wars Armada releasing on the same day and I have heard tales of stores blowing through their initial orders of each. Well done, WOTC and FFG, though we do need to discuss increasing MSRP on both products rather than making your Local Game Store absorb the extra reduction in margin. Work on that, would you? 

Meanwhile, last week I mentioned one trend I saw at the GAMA trade show that rather concerned me and that trend is the growth in the number of companies promoting events, typically some form of what the industry has come to call Organized Play. Although I agree that better events and Organized Play has had nothing but positive effects on the industry, the number of companies I saw at the GTS announcing they would launch an OP program or expand on an already existing one blew me away. Among the ones that I remember, Japaneme, Iello and Asmodee all discussed how they were expanding their OP programs, White Wizard Games promoted the tournament program for Star Realms, even Slugfist Games offered retailers the opportunity to purchase an event kit for Red Dragon Inn, while Catalyst promoted the OP program for their Shadowrun: Crossfire deckbuilding game. The most ambitious program I saw was from Upper Deck, which announced $10,000 championships for both their Legendary deckbuilding game as well as the relaunch of their Vs. card game. Couple this with already existing strong OP programs from WOTC, Konami, Bushiroad, Fantasy Flight, Pazio and AEG, plus probably 2 or 12 I have overlooked and what we have is an embarrassment of Organized Play riches, all focused on the Local Game Store (You will noticed I did not say Friendly. I take the Friendly in FLGS as a given. Very few game stores I have visited have proven unfriendly). This leads to a bit of a problem. Who will run all of these events?

Many game stores operate with a paper thin staff, often the owner and a few part time employees. Though nowise as bad as we used to see, most stores still see payroll as their second biggest expense, after rent and adding another employee seriously affects their bottom line. Most stores also run a full slate of OP events already (as I have mentioned before, most game stores have shifted to an OP driven model over the past decade), so the question becomes, where does the staff come from to run all of these new events and when does the LGS run them. Currently we have events already running every night of the week and multiple events on the weekend and we are not an atypical store. In economic terms, we have scarce resources and an allocation problem. 

When I tell companies about the staff shortage problem, quite often the tell me: “Find one of your customers who plays our game and we’ll make them a (whatever the name of the company’s demo team is).” That’s well and good, save for two things. 

#1 As a store recommended demo person, they quasi-represent the store, without any of the control the store could exercise over a staff member.

#2 The company eventually wants them to demo the game at other places, cutting into their ability to run events at my store.

That’s why the Envoy program announced at the GTS attracted my attention. If it works as described, it could help tremendously with the resource program and, provided the Heralds do get extensive training, assuage my concerns about problem number one as well.