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Hi all, I pose a question to you.

Is it appropriate to offer (to the GW local store) to host a campaign on the behalf of the staff?

Background info:
At my local GW, staff have said that all the store events are run and thought up by staff. This bit of info is important because, unless they are lying (why would they?) it means that the events aren't regulated by GW HQ or anything, and thus there shouldn't be any issue doing an event (40k/fantasy related). The problem is -- and where my question arises -- is that the staff doesn't host any (big) events. There's 40k night, and small stuff like that, but tournaments are few and far between, and campaigns are nonexistent. I, believing myself to be somewhat creative, and knowing myself to be bored to tears with the lack of consistency at the typical 40k night, I want to play in a campaign. I also happen to know that a lot of the "regulars" at the GW store would be interested in a campaign.

So we come full circle. The staff doesn't host the campaigns. The people want it. Would it be out of line if I asked if I could host a campaign utilizing the store's assets?

It's likely that outside of major marketing campaign events the local GW staff to set the activity of their local store. If you know that many of the locals want a tournament I'd say the best thing is get together one gaming evening and corner the GW staffer/manager and ask for one.

Failing that you could just do one - a campaign is just a series of matches with the winners and losers linked together into further matches so if the staff don't want to run it you can just do it yourself.

No harm in volunteering. They may need to vet the content first though

Shouldn't the OP be asking them rather than us?

I'm pretty sure they will clear up what you can and can't do pretty quickly.

notprops right, ask them.

Stores make their own decisions, it's at the discretion of the manager (and staff in certain stores) how they go about running the store

If the manager wants events they can do them

A campaign is a great idea or even just a league table. I should certainly suggest it to the manager.

Make sure you have a worked out plan that is fairly simple to operate, as he will be put off if your ideas are too wooly or difficult to follow through.

Be prepared to think about incorporating the manager's ideas if he wants to suggest changes, but don't commit yourself to doing something you cannot pull off.

It is better to do something simple very well for the first go, and get everyone used to the idea.

Best thing is to find a near by place you can hire (everyone pitches a bit in) or use for free, where you can play games. Community or church halls and things are ideal. In shops you'll always have to jump through GW hoops, have limited space, have them wanting to use the single table for demo games, and all their 'no non-GW' models or discussion in store.

These are the rules we used for a league for another game system. It was simple enough for the bloke who wanted to run it to keep track of the scores week to week. We ran it for about 7 weeks, and it reignited the scene at the store. We had been getting maybe 6-8 or so down on gaming nights, instead we were getting 12-14. It was brilliant. And led to a really tense last week, particularly between a mate and I. I edged him out by 2 points at the end (so less than a win), very fun. The Lucky Door Prizes were store credit, organised with the owner of the joint, and it all just ran really smoothly. Not too complicated, but with enough to it to keep it interesting.

Points:
Win = 5 points
Loss = 1 point
*Each player can only enter 3 results per week
Bonus Points:
+ 1 per game when challenging the top ranked player.
+ 1 per game when sitting on the bottom of the ladder.
+ 2 per game when opponent is higher ranked than yourself.
Results will be submitted to [controller], who will tally them and adjust the table at the end of every week.
Prizes:
Top Hordes Player
Top Warmachine Player
Player who lost the most games
Random Draws/Lucky Door

Obviously top Hordes etc could change to maybe top player of each faction if you don't have too many individual factions or, if not that, Top 3? I'm not certain what would work best with you guys, but that's obviously up to you Anyway, if it helps it helps, if not it didn't hurt.

There's one rule that I'm aware of in regards to GW store hosted/linked events.

They need to make money, somehow, for the store.

Well, with my example, the prizes are store credit, so the store makes money that way. But good point Kan.

In my example, you need to legitimately find some way for a GW store to make money.

In regards to campaigns, something like the Planetary Empire hexes($10 per person) for a 40k campaign or bits to make "player counters" for WHFB/40k are the best way to go.

 motyak wrote:
Well, with my example, the prizes are store credit, so the store makes money that way. But good point Kan.

Do you mean the campaign has an entry fee (like $10), which you use to buy store gift vouchers? Or are you hoping the store will give you the vouchers in support?

With the former, that might satisfy GW but the latter won't as it won't make them money directly. So you may need to find some system that involves buying something from the store as part of the game, like including a unit of newly bought allies to factor in somehow.

The former. Pay $10 each to the manager, that goes towards lucky door prizes etc. They themselves are a trap, being $20 they are worth either bit less than $20 really, so you pocket the difference, or they use it to make a bigger buy, giving you a bigger sale.

If it's a GW store, they cannot do that.

Seriously.
They cannot take money for anything that isn't a product.

Ah. I'd say that seems shortsighted, but...yeah. Ah well. Herz's idea was good, buy a unit worth X to get into the league.

 Kanluwen wrote:
If it's a GW store, they cannot do that.

Seriously.
They cannot take money for anything that isn't a product.

This is true. In the GW store I used to live by, at weekly events he would ask that everyone playing would have made at least one purchase of $10 in the store that week. It's beyond his ability/authority to be able to charge directly for events on behalf of GW.

@OP, I would ask casually before investing too much time in planning the thing out. It sounds like maybe your store management isn't open to the idea. If that's the case, just wait a year for them to be replaced, or go find a FLGS to start playing at instead. It sounds like your player base is getting close to that point anyways.

 Kanluwen wrote:
If it's a GW store, they cannot do that.

Seriously.
They cannot take money for anything that isn't a product.

How are they about money being paid to a non-staff organiser/kitty which is then used to buy GW products/vouchers for the prize pool?

Herzlos wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:
If it's a GW store, they cannot do that.

Seriously.
They cannot take money for anything that isn't a product.

How are they about money being paid to a non-staff organiser/kitty which is then used to buy GW products for the price pool?

That would probably be a good way to work it. In my experience, anything that helps their numbers they'll find a way to like.

Herzlos wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:
If it's a GW store, they cannot do that.

Seriously.
They cannot take money for anything that isn't a product.

How are they about money being paid to a non-staff organiser/kitty which is then used to buy GW products/vouchers for the prize pool?

That sounds like a recipe for disaster. If anything went wrong with the non-staff member and the cash they would be responsible by association. So basically no way.

The closest GW would ever ghetto that is an associated GCN club and that requires a committee which would include a treasurer etc and almost certainly wouldn't be in-store.

Do you need their permission?

Can't you organize and do all the legwork anyone but just have the people interested play their games for the campaign on 40k night, and direct the action through a Facebook page/website.

Of course, their support is nice but not required. All you need to play a campaign is the will to play one and opponents willing to play.

I can tell you that every GW manager I have known would be glad to have you run an event at their store. Their will be some small rules he/she will give you so that you keep with company policy at the store but if you are running an event then it helps them out because it brings people in without them having to have to do all the work to set it up and do the book keeping for it. They have no reason to not let you do something like that.