Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Right, this might sound like a whine, but I'd like people's opinion on the matter.

My nearest FLGS is usually busy every day. Now, this in itself isn't the problem, the problem being that (IMHO) some of the people using the tables are being a little inconsiderate to other people.

How? Because the store only has 3 6x4 tables (the rest being 3x3 or 6x2) you will usually find people will use the 6x4 tables for things like x-wing, board games and card games. Games that can easily be played on the other size tables.
Every night there is a theme night and Thursday is the Wargames night. The last 3 times I've gone to play a 2000pts game all of the tables have been used, either from other Wargames (don't mind that) or people using it for card games and x-wing.

Now, in x-wings case, it is acceptable for them to use it as it is a warfare after all. But it just seems that they use the big tables to just have extra space than actually requiring it. Now, the store does say that anyone there for theme nights gets table priority, but would it be OK to ask them to move? I don't want to be an arse about it but moving tables and chairs to create a 6x4 board is hassle and uses up two tables instead of one, but and since you aren't allowed to pre book, it's getting a bit annoying to faff for 10 minutes to move them too.

Am I being salty, or should I ask people to move (using the store staff if they are being stubborn) or just let it go?

Try asking nicely. "Hi guys. Next week we want to try A vs B and really need some space for it. Any chance that your game would fit on that table next week?"

No, I wouldn't ask them directly.

The route here is to discuss it with the staff at a point in time when it's not relevant so there's time to be full in your discussion without the potential for making an atmosphere should you be overheard by someone who's using a table they perhaps shouldn't.

Although, I can kind of understand the situation from other players' perspective. 6x2 is useless for basically anything but Magic, and 3x3 is precisely what you need for the X Wing play area, so it means that they can't use the 6x2 and if they're using 3x3 then there's no room for accessories, meaning the play area is going to get very cluttered.

Perhaps the answer is to get some of the 6x2s put together to make 6x4s? The join can easily be covered with a mat, and it seldom causes an issue.

I'd agree you want to resolve this without creating drama as that only sets the seeds for discontent and, like it or not, you WILL lose the popularity war with MTG (its the lifeblood of many stores now).

So instead of making it a warzone talk to the staff about the issues, esp on Warhammer nights, and see if you can't get them to simple establish a policy that on theme night the big tables are for the theme game. You might also discuss ideas on how to make the smaller tables more attractive to the other games - this could be something as simple as having terrain or such pre-set on the big table or the terrain box being on them; whilst having items suitable for aiding card or board games on the other tables. Ergo instead of pushing people off or denying them make one more attractive than the other from the outset so that they migrate over.


I'd agree once people have games started you don't really want to be pushing them off and moving in; its fine once or twice done in a polite tone to people you know; but you don't want to end up in a situation where its a battle ground between the 40K and MTG players.


If the store already runs warhammer night then it should be easier to get them to agree to a policy of supporting the wargamers on that night at least.

Ask staff for signs that requests larger tables to be reserved for wargamers. Simple. Direct. In fact, go ahead and print some up. Bring them to the FLGS along with tape. Ask if it's ok to post them. Simpler. Direct(er). Hahaha.

Please reserve this table for war games that require large tables. Thanks, Management.

 Azreal13 wrote:
No, I wouldn't ask them directly.

The route here is to discuss it with the staff at a point in time when it's not relevant so there's time to be full in your discussion without the potential for making an atmosphere should you be overheard by someone who's using a table they perhaps shouldn't.

Although, I can kind of understand the situation from other players' perspective. 6x2 is useless for basically anything but Magic, and 3x3 is precisely what you need for the X Wing play area, so it means that they can't use the 6x2 and if they're using 3x3 then there's no room for accessories, meaning the play area is going to get very cluttered.

Perhaps the answer is to get some of the 6x2s put together to make 6x4s? The join can easily be covered with a mat, and it seldom causes an issue.

A correction, the tables are actually 6x3 and 4x4, direct from the shop itself so the x-wingers can use them, especially the 6x3 tables for all their gear etc.

So from your info, there's nothing really stopping them from using the 6x3 tables for both card and x-wing, correct? If so I'll talk to the staff next time I'm down to see what they could do. I mean, I'm fair to everyone but when I see two people playing cards on a 6x4 table with bags, coats etc on there it feels like they are taking the piss.

In which case then I'd absolutely approach the staff about trying to ensure people use the smallest appropriate table available for their game.

IME all of the staff won't be intimately acquainted with the minutiae of each game, and may simply not realise/notice the issue. It obviously makes no sense to have two sets of people looking to play, but only have one able to because they've chosen the bigger table which is surplus for them but necessary for the other, so bringing it to their attention might be all that's needed.

As a reverse on the situation, have you considered any games which require less space? I appreciate the instant reaction to that might be "I shouldn't have to" but taking a lemons/lemonade view of the situation, there's an awful lot of very good games out there that need smaller tables, and being proactive about it rather than relying on other people to act differently, either the staff or other patrons, is much more likely to work. Even Kill Team would allow the use of smaller tables if you'd didn't want to move away from the GW/40K ecosystem.

That is entirely upon the staff.

Maybe they’re just flat out incompetent, or have a rage boner for other games.

But if they’re booking out tables for skirmish games that are designed for larger scale games? That’s on them, and nobody else.

It's also possible that when the X-wing players arrived the smaller table was already in use for something else (especially as you say the store is always busy),

but that second group had finished and moved on by the time you showed up, and once a games in progress moving isn't a valid option (although the staff could ask them to after they've finished the current game if they're playing several in a row)

does your FLGS tend towards non-GW games? Most games like WM/H, Malifaux, Infinity etc use a 4x4 for play area. 6x4 lets player have their tablet/tokens/cards etc on the side in arms reach

The problem then becomes "appropriate", right?

I play X-Wing and while the play area is only 3x3, you need room for a sideboard for players. Ship + upgrade cards, maneuver templates, tokens, damage decks, etc.

Easily 5x3 either wide or long, which is getting dangerously close to a 6x4.

And the gameis such that cluttering the tabletop really isn't an option. You need room to easily maneuver your ships, and you don't want to be accidentally bumping and knocking your ships around as you constantly shuffle around stuff.

Similarly, games like Infinity, Malifaux, WM/H also have a play area of 4x4, but require sideboards for their own cards, tokens, books, etc.

I feel the same way about 40k and Age of Sigmar. 6x4 and the fact that games have a tendency to operate around the middle of the board anyways means you have SOME room in an unused corner to stack your books and dice (no templates anymore!), but I also feel that these games should be played on a 7x4 or 8x4 anyways (although I understand for logistical/space reasons in a store, this isn't always practical). That sideboard is very practical.

I also do want to say that some board games do use up a lot of space. Dead of Winter, Pandemic, Betrayal on the House on the Hill, Camelot, Puerto Rico, Vitticulture, Agricola, Power Grid, Gloomhaven.... I mean I could go on, but a lot of board games nowadays require space for the board, and side bars for each individual player. We play games on a 5 x 5 dining table and we find we are short on room sometimes (4 player games..heaven forbid 5 or 6+).

You have mentioned that the tables are first come first serve, except on theme nights.

So I have to ask again, what is "appropriate", and who sets the standard?

Speak with the Store Manager directly. Unless they are a complete goof I would expect an intelligent solution. You should also send an email to the shop as well at the same time.

Say something like this
"Hey man me and my buddies would like to come to your shop to play some Warhammer but all the large tables are occupied by the small card games. What can you do to accommodate my group of gamers that really need the large 4x6 tables?"

"I'd like to invite more of my gaming buddies to shop and play on a constant basis here but I'd be embarrassed if there wasn't any space to play Warhammer or paint."

and the last resort:
"Is there another game shop in this area I can bring my buddies (and our money) to?"

 womprat49 wrote:
Speak with the Store Manager directly. Unless they are a complete goof I would expect an intelligent solution. You should also send an email to the shop as well at the same time.

Say something like this
"Hey man me and my buddies would like to come to your shop to play some Warhammer but all the large tables are occupied by the small card games. What can you do to accommodate my group of gamers that really need the large 4x6 tables?"

"I'd like to invite more of my gaming buddies to shop and play on a constant basis here but I'd be embarrassed if there wasn't any space to play Warhammer or paint."

and the last resort:
"Is there another game shop in this area I can bring my buddies (and our money) to?"

“I hear Warhammer World has free tables with no reserve”

I’m sorry, but all the above sound rather pompous.

Normally in this type of situation, you talk to the staff, typically you'd want to talk to the owner or at the very least the manager of the store. If you have a group that meets every week, same time and specifically need those larger tables then see about having an officially scheduled event, in which the tables are reserved. I don't mean it needs to be a sanctioned event, but let them know your group meets at X time, every Y night and would like to continue coming to play but there haven't been tables. I get that usually tables are "first come, first serve" but stores that run events will reserve tables for those events. Particularly the store should be managing that.

When I ran various events these were always scheduled, they had a rough idea of how many people was coming so they knew how many seats I needed. They didn't put a "reserved" marker on the table, but the staff would then let people who were playing that at "X time" someone will be using the table, so their game has to be wrapped up or be able to be moved at then.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
That is entirely upon the staff.

Maybe they’re just flat out incompetent...

Yeah, it's probably that.

They're probably not paying attention to who is booking what, and what game requires what size space.

I know what I did. I got a table or two of appropriate size, and hosted games at my place with a closer, smaller group of opponents on a somewhat regular basis. Essentially,a small club.

Much prefer it over the store environment.

 Easy E wrote:
I know what I did. I got a table or two of appropriate size, and hosted games at my place with a closer, smaller group of opponents on a somewhat regular basis. Essentially,a small club.

Much prefer it over the store environment.

You have to understand that this simply an option for British people in many cases. Current guidelines allow developers to call a room a bedroom in a house when it's (if memory serves) 75 square feet, so a little over 8x8. We are a small island, our properties on average just don't have that space, and garages or basements are very uncommon.

Mmmm not insinuating anything but honest question how much do you do for the shop in the first place?

does the war gaming community even support the shop for them to care about making space for you guys.

does the card game people?

depending on the answer you can probably get them to swing the tables for you fairly easily

otherwise they probably wont do much for moochies.

unless this is some sort of club or paid membership thing then complain hard.

Sounds like no one is considering your needs at the game shop. If you don't tell them what you need you can't assume they are mind readers.

Speak up and be heard! For the emperor!