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This question relates to shops that have gaming space for certain games at certain hours.

Let's say there is open gaming at your local game shop. They mainly do Card Games, so wargaming only really exists on the weekends, or a certain night of the week for League events.

Space is extremely limited to about two tables. And this weekend it's going to be limited to one, so they had people sign up ahead of time.
Your time starts at 2pm.

So it's a Saturday, and you are at the shop waiting for a Age of Sigmar game to end and you are supposed to have the table in a few minutes for your allloted game time.

Open gaming is 9am - 2pm and you have 2pm - 5pm for your games (let's use Warcry as an example, not as popular as Age of Sigmar, but still fun.)

The problem is that it has just turned 2:30 and the Age of Sigmar players are no where close to finishing their game. You get the feeling that they won't finish for a while.

My would-be opponent approached and kindly asked when they'd be done and they replied curtly: "We're starting on turn 3, it'll be a minute."

How would you respond to that reply, and what is the proper way of handling this situation?

Shop’s problem. Entirely.

If they operate a booking system, they need to stick by their booking system.

If someone has the table 11am - 2pm? Then they need to be packed, or at least nearly done packing, away at 2pm.

If someone rocks up late? That comes out of their time. They didn’t book it for three hours in general, they booked it for three very specific hours.

If they can’t complete their chosen points size in their literally allotted time? That’s a Them Problem, not an anyone else problem.

I'd take the issue to the stores management.

Seems like an easy response. You simply smash the table hogs miniatures until

Go talk to a store employee, if there is a set schedule in place, the employees should enforce it, not the customers.

Exactly. If the store is going to reserve tables, they need to enforce the reservations.

And if they won't, you know to not bother going there to play anymore.

Talk to the shop’s people.
They handle (or at least, SHOULD handle) the reservations.

You should trip and knock the table in such a way that all the models comically fly into the air and across the room while everyone screams NOOOOOOO in slow-motion.





/S

One word: Dreadsock.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
One word: Dreadsock.

Kids these days with their fancy “plastic” and “resin” models wouldn’t know a good dreadsock if it hit them upside the head.

Oh wait, yes they would. Because when you get hit with a dreadsock enforcing table-side justice, you know

If the store has reserved times, they should be enforcing it. And if you are playing in a place that does, you should be considerate of others and keep an eye on the clock so you don’t go outside your allotted time. Sometimes games run long, it happens. But you should be apologizing to the next folks in line for the delay, not antagonizing them.

Totally agree this is on the store.

The only thing I would add is the folks there for open gaming do need to be told in person or by a sign that open gaming ends at 2pm (or whatever). It is possible they just didn't know and wondered why someone is trying to end their game early.

But clear communication and posted times are gain on the store.

I'd ideally respond "I've got that table booked from 2, when open gaming ends. So hurry up."

I might, if they don't show signs of taking that on board, talk to the management.

But more likely I'd just think "Bleh, not going back there again, time to put some more work into my home set up."

 Da Boss wrote:
I'd ideally respond "I've got that table booked from 2, when open gaming ends. So hurry up."

I might, if they don't show signs of taking that on board, talk to the management.

But more likely I'd just think "Bleh, not going back there again, time to put some more work into my home set up."

Depending on your area, quitting a store like that may not be feasible - perhaps there aren't any other stores nearby.

But if a store is going to reserve table time, it's on them to enforce it. Take it up with staff.

Also, if you've got the table reserved at 2, I wouldn't wait until 2 to make yourself known to the hogs. I'd politely alert them by 1:45 so they can plan.

I dunno I grew up playing Warhammer in a small village with no shops nearby at all, and as an adult I've almost always played at home or in a neutral third space like a local hall. Things are probably different in the US.

 Da Boss wrote:
I dunno I grew up playing Warhammer in a small village with no shops nearby at all, and as an adult I've almost always played at home or in a neutral third space like a local hall. Things are probably different in the US.

Stateside, I don't have the space. I joke about Fort Progresso, my floor with soup cans and a mat so we can play small games.

I only visit the stores to play terrain heavy or large games which are a no-go on the home front.

 Da Boss wrote:
I dunno I grew up playing Warhammer in a small village with no shops nearby at all, and as an adult I've almost always played at home or in a neutral third space like a local hall. Things are probably different in the US.

Might depend upon where exactly you are here.
But in general I've always found there's options if you put in the effort to look.