Ambassador Report - October 2002
Region: Ronara - West Texas
Ambassador: Matt Clouser
1. THE STATE OF GAMING IN MY AREA:
Retailer Scene: Still a major problem - since the demise of Hard Drive Gaming Center (our local retailer) on 31 August, gaming city-wide has taken a major nose-dive. Several of my younger players have gravitated towards weekend AD&D sessions at their parent's houses.
There is some good news here - rumor has it that several of the former workers at Hard Drive are pooling their resources and may try to open another game store just outside of the local college campus. I'm currently trying to run that rumor down.
CCG Scene: Like last month, pretty much dead - I'm working to keep ST alive, and I've heard there is occasional Magic Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pokemon (???) pickup games at Specialties, a local toy store.
Texas STCCG Scene: With the unfortunate loss of Bart McLeroy as ambassador in Dallas this month, I'm the only ambassador left in Texas - so I'll rlelay what I know from my contacts in Texas. To my knowledge, there are five STCCG centers of activity in Texas - Dallas/Ft Worth, San Antonio, San Angelo, Austin and Abilene. The story remains the same state-wide - TD's are scrambling to keep interest alive in the game.
Dallas: I've lost contact with the player group in centered around North Dallas - at last report it had pretty much dried up.
San Antonio - Greg Claudy has moved out of the area, and another player (Jason ???) has moved up an is trying to keep things together there. Toutnament attendance is low.
Austin: Geoff Midler is trying to run regular tournaments, but attendance is spotty at best.
Abilene: No organized activity remaining since Dan Hurley graduated college there - two groups of occasional players - but haven't heard from them in several months.
2. WHAT I'VE DONE "FOR LOVE OF THE GAME" ....
Tournaments: No tournaments held this month.
Tournament Directors: Three santioned TD's - Jerry Jackson, Grant Woodring and myself.
Demos: Finally got approval from Hastings (local entertainment store) to run a demonstration / open play session on 19 October. I built about 20 common/uncommon Warp-Speed compatible decks to give away for the event in hope of giving them away to any new players. Unfortunately, attendance was moderate - only 5 total counting my son and I - and no new players. We played 3 Warp Speed Games and 2 Full-Rules games. Jerry Jackson and Geoff Midler did get some important deck-tuning games in preparation for STCCG Worlds.
3. PROMOTIONAL PLANS FOR NEXT MONTH.
I intend to follow-up my first demo session at Hastings with another this weekend, with a goal of holding a sessioin every other week. Hopefully I we can get enough interest going again so that I can restart tournments in town. Right now my biggest problems are player lethargy and trying to convince Hastings I've got a big enough following to allow us to continue playing at their location.
I remain concerned about my local player base - some have seen Hasting's closure as the death of CCG's here in town. Many have started selling their cards locally or on ebay. I've made it plain to them that at least STCCG and LOTR are still trying to land on their feet, and have been keeping up with them primarily through emails and phone calls.
4. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: Looking at running Warp Speed open play session at Hastings every other weekend with the goal of restarting tournaments.
5. LOCAL RETAILERS/VENUES:
1. Hastings
3552 Southwest Plaza, Sp 14
San Angelo, TX 76904
(915) 949-9401
Attn: Nate Duckett (Manager)
Until next month....
Matt Clouser
STCCG Ambassador, Ronara Region
San Angelo, Texas USA
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