[fatmantis]

so i want to implement a ranking system at my store..im trying to find more ways to keep people motivated to play..and its getting harder and harder..my biggest issue is with the WAAC players..although i only have a few they really destroy the morale of the club..i try to keep on top of it and tell them but they dont want to listen.

So the reason i want to do a ranking system is so people can play people their own ability..i know this may be hard to do..but im looking for suggestions on how i can do this..

maybe somthing like
level of player...vetran..w/l/d
or points based

really could use some help
thanks guys

 

[Mossy Toes]

I feel like the best way to implement this is to get the buy-in of people in the store. If you can get them to buy into the idea and want to get their names up on a board, if you can get them to want to buy into a sort of "store league" idea--cool, good. If it feels like an imposition, with you hovering over peoples' shoulders so that you can add their score--win or lose--to the Wall of Death, then you won't exactly be cultivating a good atmosphere in the shop. Perhaps let people have "ranked" matches and "unranked" matches, with only the former being added to the board--so if you are competitive enough to care about your score and are, say, trying out a new army, it wont reflect poorly on your stats.

The easiest way I could see this happening is some sort of competition or something. Nothing major, necessarily, but I dunno, some gubbins, a few $ store credit, some sort of gaming bragging rights, or something in that vein for the most wins marked on the board per month... obviously the little prize-thing might most often go to those selfsame WAAC players, but it'd be it'd be a way to "gamify" the scoreboard and give the WAAC players a reason to buy into the system. It might even promote more games played over the month, or something--or friendly rivalries between people high on the leaderboard.

This is just spitballing and brainstorming, of course. I do think "leaderboards as something to take pride in" is important, though, rather than "a big warning board I put up to warn people which players not to play with." It can serve that purpose, obviously, but... don't make that the explicit purpose of it.

 

[Reaper45]

The only way I see something like this having a positive benefit is if you can ensure the waac people are constantly at the bottom of the score board. Otherwise it's just going to make it worse.

 

[fatmantis]

The only way I see something like this having a positive benefit is if you can ensure the waac people are constantly at the bottom of the score board. Otherwise it's just going to make it worse.

well yes this is my main fear as well..the WAAC players would just get a hard on for this and it would ruin it for other players.
i like the i dea of ranked or unranked games...but i just come back to the WAAC's and how to get them to chill...
they are my biggest complaint from customers..i try to tell people well just dont play them..but sometimes if the store is quiet they dont have a choice...

 

[scscofield]

Ask all the players what they want and tell them your concerns. They are the ones that will have to want to do this.

 

[neferhet]

Just make 2 types of games scheduled.
A WAAC games board, where you do sign only if you are willng to sheel out a cheesy list and a top competitive gaming, and a Casual game board, where do you sign if you just want to roll some dice and have a laugh. You can have a ranking system for both, separated. You could add that the Casual game board requires a list approval from the opponent. No cheesefest there. You might want to make tourneys for both, with WAAC game board using a $ prize and $ to sign in and the Casual for free with a symbolic prize
Just some random stuff. I feel for your problem. I know howw bad it can be.

 

[Nordicus]

Running a gaming group myself, I know your troubles man - It can be a pain to manage, as all you want is to inspire people to play and have a good time.

In my experience, it goes downhill a bit at the start and then people start playing around the WAAC players. Currently the 2 players who plays the least are the WAAC players, as people simply don't challenge them - In other words, they exclude themselves as they cannot play at multiple levels and thus, people just start avoiding them. One of the 3 started making fluff lists and had fun, as he understood that in order to play regularly, you have to be able to have fun on both sides.

Maybe it sorts itself out - Otherwise I would recommend Neferhets approach.

 

[scscofield]

That is how my group ended up. The over the top douchebags just didn't get a chance to play.


Edit: The more I read this the more it looks like you just have a couple of bad eggs. If they are refusing to play nice your best route is most likely to tell them to not come. making a ranking system us going to make the problem worse not help it.

 

[fatmantis]

That is how my group ended up. The over the top douchebags just didn't get a chance to play.


Edit: The more I read this the more it looks like you just have a couple of bad eggs. If they are refusing to play nice your best route is most likely to tell them to not come. making a ranking system us going to make the problem worse not help it.

yes its is only a couple of guys..but they are so argumentative that it does ruin it for other people..and when i try to talk to them the just ignore me..and i think oh well people just wont play you..i was hoping that would be the case..but it turned out that people just prefer not to come at all..

i like the idea of 2 boards..but the problem im having is i have to run the shop...promote etc..run my painting studio(which takes alot of my time) and then babysit these guys which is extremely frustrating..

i tried to not organise anything to see what would happen.. i even gave them membership point leading to store credit..if they organised games/tournament they could score large points..but that fell through..

so i comes down to me having to ring around/qq/wechat and other social media to get games organized..
its absolutely frustrating.

and when i ask well what to you guys want..nobody replies..or theyll say tournaments. great..organise a tournament hardly enough people come..ive cancelled lots of tourneys due to that

 

[scscofield]

Not shocking that no one listens to you or cares, if you spend your time focused on your painting studio. Main reason the store here went belly up. The owner didn't spend enough time with his customers.

 

[fatmantis]

Not shocking that no one listens to you or cares, if you spend your time focused on your painting studio. Main reason the store here went belly up. The owner didn't spend enough time with his customers.

that is far far from the truth...my customers always come first..i bend over backwards for them..thats why im so frustrated..i try to give my guys the best service price and gaming experience my budget will allow..the painting studio is always a side line to the club.

 

[mayegelt]

Trouble is as you said is alienating people by telling them that they are poor players who aren't good enough or some people are to good for the rest of the group.
Having a mix of Vets nights and Casual only can help. But you can end up dividing your customers or accidently telling people that they are rubbish if you say not to come to the vets night.
In general people will learn to avoid Timmy Power-Gamer because they are douches who will twist rules and work out power armies that become almost unbeatable. OR they just have the money to buy everything they could ever need and tailor their army to each opponent. They will also get the reputation as a WAAC player and wont get many games apart from against other WAAC players, or those who want to knock them off their high horses.

Having nights that you have low limit games can help as well. I know some people will still massively min-max for even a 500-750pts game, but in most cases people will get the idea.
Having Kill Team nights as well proved popular because even with the min-max players vs the casual ones you can have big upsets in the 200pts game.

You could if your boards allow it, modify the terrain to include more or less scenery. Knowing the players of the WAAC armies are all Tau for instance then throw up a load of high walls with siding doors for those nice melee armies to hide behind with no LOS from the enemy. Of course being able to open these doors to go through.
Or if they use a load of bikers start making tarpits or something to make them have to drive the long way around.

Some of the best ways to make the WAAC players get knocked down a peg or 2 is make up special missions of your own. Create stories and scenarios that have weird objectives that the min-maxers might not be suited towards, but your average army will be.

 

[Nordicus]

Some of the best ways to make the WAAC players get knocked down a peg or 2 is make up special missions of your own. Create stories and scenarios that have weird objectives that the min-maxers might not be suited towards, but your average army will be.

Or, in my experience, force them to play the new Maelstrom of War missions. WAAC players hate those missions with a passion, as the games are much more random - And random is fun... Unless you are powerplaying.

 

[Jonny B]

May I ask 2 questions that you may think are irrelevant but to a newish player with business experience, I've wondered for a while:
Do you allow gamers to sit down to play?
Do you allow proxy models?

 

[fatmantis]

Having nights that you have low limit games can help as well. I know some people will still massively min-max for even a 500-750pts game, but in most cases people will get the idea.
Having Kill Team nights as well proved popular because even with the min-max players vs the casual ones you can have big upsets in the 200pts game

this is true..what i do currently is hold a sunday morning class and vets are not allowed..and what i do is basically teach people how to beat a WAAC..also to help the beginners speed up their learning..so we talk tactic lists unit load out etc

 

[fatmantis]

Or, in my experience, force them to play the new Maelstrom of War missions. WAAC players hate those missions with a passion, as the games are much more random - And random is fun... Unless you are powerplaying.

this also annoys the mat hammer twits aswell...

 

[fatmantis]

May I ask 2 questions that you may think are irrelevant but to a newish player with business experience, I've wondered for a while:
Do you allow gamers to sit down to play?
we Have 4 tables one for the taller lads 2 for the shorter lad and one for card games...the big tables are not really able to sit and play..but we have stools available.
Do you allow proxy models?
We are such a laid back club..or i try to makeit that way,,we allow almost anything..i try to emphasis fun and camaraderie..not WAAC [/QUOT

 

[Jonny B]

Cheers Fatmantis. This is a GW store I talk about and those 2 points I raised they do not allow. Basically, stops me from playing. I could learn a whole lot more and spend a whole lot more if they did. Not sure if that's GW rules or house rules but it must affect others. Good job my local clubs allows them.

 

[fatmantis]

Cheers Fatmantis. This is a GW store I talk about and those 2 points I raised they do not allow. Basically, stops me from playing. I could learn a whole lot more and spend a whole lot more if they did. Not sure if that's GW rules or house rules but it must affect others. Good job my local clubs allows them.

im pretty sure its a GW thing to force sales..

 

[Jonny B]

Can't work amongst those with 2 or less years experience. Just my educated guess.