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I do not think this has been brought up yet here, but GW has been having several charity auctions. They have ranged from signed rulebooks to original art.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?community=true&catId=&categoryId=2100003&pIndex=6&aId=8700005&start=7

I bring this up because of this week’s auction. It is nothing less than a 1500 point game of 40k with Jervis Johnson.

So if you had the chance to play him what would you do?

I think I would pass on playing Jervis.

I would be tempted, as long as I don't have to use an army he made the rules for... And also just so he could cry about loosing in Standard bearer to a teenager

I would bring the most absolute nastiest Ork army I could and play like a complete gentleman. It'd have to be an Ork army since it would be "fluffy" having a ton of troop choices in large mobs.

Then afterwards, we could talk about game balance.

Great idea Voodoo, then we could all blame you when he puts the nerf-bat to the Orks. Thanks.

I think it's a cool auction idea. I would actually bring something fluffy, to prolongue the game and attempt to pick his brain as much as I could and engage in friendly conversation. I mean, while we all know how popular he is currently, it is Jervis Johnson, and all of us wouldn't be here without his contribution to Games Workshop.

Although I think I'd actually rather play him in Blood Bowl.

I wouldve bid on the marine helmet

Hrm. Seriously tempted to bid on the game. I mean I'll probably be there on friday ANYWAYS...

Hey! Maybe I'll just show up to watch. Leeeech!

Not to sound too much like an a**, but I REALLY hate Corporate "Charity Auctions".

Essentially, the company gets to make twice the amount of money for goods if they just sold them retail. They get to take your cash and donate it in their name AND get a tax writeoff for the goods auctioned.

I'm not saying people shouldn't bid or that what GW is doing is wrong, just saying I think it would be less skeevy if companies just donated out of their own profit or at least have a matching contribution.

What would be absolutely hilarious is if someone won it, then stood him up.

Eric

I hadn't seen that LE Sicarius before, though...was that a direct order initially?

I wonder if he'll use his poorly painted grey marine army that's been used to test most of the SM codexes but the army its self was hardly changed.

If only one could take delivery at the LA Games Day . . .

ancientsociety wrote:Not to sound too much like an a**, but I REALLY hate Corporate "Charity Auctions".

Essentially, the company gets to make twice the amount of money for goods if they just sold them retail. They get to take your cash and donate it in their name AND get a tax writeoff for the goods auctioned.

I'm not saying people shouldn't bid or that what GW is doing is wrong, just saying I think it would be less skeevy if companies just donated out of their own profit or at least have a matching contribution.

Hrm. Well the total for the auctions so far has been close to $2000. If GW had just donated this from a portion of their 'profit' they'd immediately go into the red, given the current trend of their finances...

A chance to kick Jervis Johnson's ass for $125? If I lived in Chicago I'd almost have a moral obligation to bid on that.

And the GW swag is just gravy.

Blackmoor wrote:So if you had the chance to play him what would you do?

I'd send Andy Chambers as my proxy and watch the big man cry.

Seriously, Jervis is alright, chatted at the second ever UK 40k GT and enjoyed the experience. He opens himself up to abuse by being honest and because no matter what you do/say, someone's going to be disagreeing with you on a forum somewhere

I'm two hours away and it's the weekend of our regions biggest "all game" convention, www.flatcon.com.

I think I'll stay local and beat around on other people for free. Besides, we do charity for breast cancer at our event so there will be no "not doing charity" guilt for me.

He was cool at Adepticon though, so playing him wouldn't be the worst thing.

I would have him sign my 1987 edition of Rogue Trader however.

dude, you get the counter set too.

I've met J.J., always cool.

Edit: DAMN. I would have loved to win that Auction #5. Although $200 is getting a bit high ....

Whoever wins this should ask if JJ's getting a 360 for his son to play bloodbowl in. Also what his gamertag is.

AlexCage wrote:

ancientsociety wrote:Not to sound too much like an a**, but I REALLY hate Corporate "Charity Auctions".

Essentially, the company gets to make twice the amount of money for goods if they just sold them retail. They get to take your cash and donate it in their name AND get a tax writeoff for the goods auctioned.

I'm not saying people shouldn't bid or that what GW is doing is wrong, just saying I think it would be less skeevy if companies just donated out of their own profit or at least have a matching contribution.

Hrm. Well the total for the auctions so far has been close to $2000. If GW had just donated this from a portion of their 'profit' they'd immediately go into the red, given the current trend of their finances...

...Which is exactly his point. Instead of actually donating, GW gets a free tax deduction (the total materials cost is what, $5?) and their name can be added to the roster of donators.

I would think a game with Jervis would be awesome.

I really do.

Bloody Australia......

So far away from all the good stuff!

stonefox wrote:

...Which is exactly his point. Instead of actually donating, GW gets a free tax deduction (the total materials cost is what, $5?) and their name can be added to the roster of donators.

So... donating, and thus going into the red, quietly and without the 'auction' publicity, is preferable to their current course of action, is what you're saying?

Isn't there a saying about the poor giving unto the poor?

Personally I've never understood the notion that companies have a 'moral obligation' to donate to certain charities, especially companies that aren't exactly raking in the profits, but I digress.

I'm seriously considering making a bid. How much is playing a game w/ Jervis worth though? Or perhaps, how much is the 2-3 hours to pick his brain mostly alone worth?

Public donations from companies as a PR stunt isn't well-liked by some people. Microsoft and GW included.

AlexCage wrote:
Personally I've never understood the notion that companies have a 'moral obligation' to donate to certain charities, especially companies that aren't exactly raking in the profits, but I digress.

I certainly don't believe that companies have any obligation towards charity or philanthropy. My problem (as stonefox pointed out) is when companies essentially sell a product @ or above retail and then give that money to charity in their own name (i.e. publicity) and then take a tax writeoff on the "donation", essentially making double what they would have made just selling it or donating from their own profits (which, BTW, is a tax writeoff so, even if the company wasn't making much profit, they would still recoup that loss at tax time).

Personally, I don't care WHO gets the credit.
They're making doration the the Make A Wish Foudation.
It's a charitable organization that makes the wish of dying kids come true.

Come one, people... Keep youe eyes on the prize here. You're whining about GW getting credit for a donation. In the mean time, they are helping a dying kid get to Disney World, or to buy a computer, or a stay on a Dude Ranch... These are kids who are dying and GW is helping make them happy.
Why don't you follow suit, instead, and use your energy more constructively?

...and, keep in mind, none of these items IS available commercially. I've never been able to buy an autographed rulebook, Space Marine helmet or game with Jervis at MY local GW store or FLGS. How about you?

Eric

I don't want to go too much off on a tangent but my problem with this type of thing, Magickal, has nothing to do with who gets "credit" for it.

My problem is the profiteering off charitable tax credits by corporations by channeling their customers' money and the marketing spin of "charitable giving" by corporations.

It's awesome that GW's customers are donating to Make-A-Wish. They're a great charity.

BTW, I DO take my "energy" and make sizeable donations at least once a year. In the past, it's been CARE, Greenpeace, and Oxfam. This year it'll be RAM (Remote Area Medical - which is REALLY an excellent charity, just on 60 Minutes last week). But, I don't take other people's money, donate it in my own name, and then claim a tax credit for it.

anyway, end rant

PS: You can see the video on RAM below:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/28/60minutes/main3889496.shtml

I would bid if I haven't spent all my money on GW miniatures.

ancientsociety wrote:I don't want to go too much off on a tangent but my problem with this type of thing, Magickal, has nothing to do with who gets "credit" for it.

My problem is the profiteering off charitable tax credits by corporations by channeling their customers' money and the marketing spin of "charitable giving" by corporations.

It's awesome that GW's customers are donating to Make-A-Wish. They're a great charity.

BTW, I DO take my "energy" and make sizeable donations at least once a year. In the past, it's been CARE, Greenpeace, and Oxfam. This year it'll be RAM (Remote Area Medical - which is REALLY an excellent charity, just on 60 Minutes last week). But, I don't take other people's money, donate it in my own name, and then claim a tax credit for it.

anyway, end rant

PS: You can see the video on RAM below:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/28/60minutes/main3889496.shtml

Make a Wish gets money to help out kids....

the customer gets product he could not get elsewhere....

GW gets a small tax write off ( I do believe they are matching the funds).

I fail to see why this is bad. Oh yeah, its GW and they can never do anything good.

How cynical we are.

Wow, the only time ever I'll agree with Heneral Gobbs. In the end, the charity wins. And I bid!

Somehow, I doubt the $200 write-off was the motivation for this auction and any claim it was is absurd. If you do not claim it was the motivation, then you are simply stating GW is using corporation tax-code to their benefit. Water is wet, the sky is blue, corporations like accountants.