Thread: Austin Competitive 40K

A few observations I've made over the last few weeks have got me to thinking:

Austin is no longer the powerhouse of competitive 40K play.

That's not saying there isn't great 40K playing going on here -- there is.

But I'm pretty sure it's not the same anymore.

Part of it, I think, is due to there being no "clubhouse" anymore. Let's face it, BFG was the competitive play shrine and clubhouse. DL is great -- make no mistake -- but it REALLY cramps my style when I have to watch my language while I play. I cuss. I use profanity. I work in profanity like other men work in oils, acrylics, or stone. It's my true medium. Sometimes, you just need to yell, "**** YOU, ASSHAT!" and not have some twenty-something "remind" you to "watch your language". I recognize that DL is a family-friendly place (and let's face it, they're still in business after so many years, so they're doing something right) but that doesn't mean that the atmosphere there isn't different and that's brought about some changes.

Life, it seems, has taken it's toll, too.

Nick is on the road more than he's here.

Thomas barely plays anymore that I see.

Same thing goes for Jwolf.

There are certainly other good -- great -- players here, but these are the folks that helped put Austin on the map as "the" city for competitive 40K play.

I understand there was a meeting of the minds a while back and everyone decided to "scale it back".

This, I think, is bull****.

I don't mind losing. Hell's bells, I know I'm not that good right now, but I'm trying to get better -- I'd actually like to play at a national tournament and go in there knowing I've got a realistic shot at winning because I've been playing against the 40K elite.

I'm also willing to do whatever it takes to put Austin back on the map. If that means playing in someone's house on the weekends/evenings, so be it. I want to get better, and I'm pretty sure the only way to do that is to have my ass handed to me over and over by the best until I learn how to play at that level.

I'm pretty sure there are others here that feel the same way.

Who's with me, and how do we go about making this happen?

I open the floor for discussion.

Its rough with out true support for the community, which definitely does not come from DL. I'm certainly no fan of current competitive 40k, but I can certainly observe the changes.

Nick isn't really on the road, but I don't think he really has the interest in playing Thursdays like he did at BFG. Thomas works on Sundays for the time being and also has less interest in being packed like sardines into DL on Thursdays, right in front of the 100 degree windows. I still see wolf playing every Thursday and he's really the only one I disagree with you on. I still think Wolf is in it to win it.

Even my own 40k spirit has mostly been killed off by the loss of BFG, my own work schedule preventing me from being at DL early enough to actually get a table, combined with the current ****ty play environment. I wont deny feeling the itch to play some 40k again once in a while, but as soon as I see the BS grey knights, Dark Eldar, and Space Wolves everyone is playing, it goes out the window.

All that being said, I think the competitive nature of Austin is still around, just somewhat dormant. I don't know if playing at someone's house would really renew it without the support of the community. The only way I really see it coming back is to get another store that is really willing to support that side of things and has the chops to tell their landlord to ef themselves when they try to circumvent what is detailed in the lease simply because other tenants are bitching.

My own true 40k spirit may be gone for the time being, but there's always the future.

Originally Posted by Darkwynn

Your right Jay, I don't have the intrest in playing on Thursday like I used to. I get off work at 6pm Drive 45 minutes to the store only to do nothing and sit around because there are no tables open or no one really to play. If I do get there I get to play one game then I drive home. The current situation at Dragons Lair is horrible and its not ideal. The scene is slowly dieing from my view as people are going out to either play at their house or other locations because DL isn't able to support. The move to touranments has killed it for a lot of people and its ridiculious that a lease aggrement has any say on how you run marketing events or events at your store. The "legal" battle they are fighting has gone on to long and by now should be already dealt with and thrown out.

Also things wont change till someone else opens a store and you have options otherwise the options are either support DL and stick with it or move out from the area and play at houses which really doesn't help either on a competitive environment either.

So...what? We give up and let the scene die? Is that what you're saying?

If you're having issues finding a game on Thursday nights, I'll play you. Can't say I'll be a huge challenge at first but hey, like I said, I can only get better...

...and we can talk to DL about maybe moving the tables into the back, away from the evil sunlight. I swear I spend more time sweating in DL than I did when I was using (and that's saying something).

What, exactly, do you mean by, "DL isn't able to support"? What should they be doing that they aren't? What could they do differently?

I'm not hearing solutions here, only complaints -- I hope that's because we need to discover exactly what all the issues are before we discuss solutions...

Originally Posted by Darkwynn

I am not saying let it die but I am basically calling out our options

1. Someone else opens a store and supports the competitive group
- Problem with this though you have to find someone with enough capital to start a store. Then they will have to diversify and GW is only one part of the income. Competitive play also really doesn't make you money or there are too many cycles with the volume chain. You need hobbyist or people who are more into the fluff because they are the primary market and for one competitive player there is about 15 hobbyist.

This. A lot.

Also, I think DL(specifically Larry) is doing what he can with the resources given. Can't fault him for that.

And another thing. They moved the 40k to the front of the store because people didn't like playing in "the Dugeon" because everyone was all "Why we gotta play in the back? are we not people too!" No, Rosa -- it's cause we ain't got no room.

Another thing I've noticed... the "competitive 40k" environment seems to have changed in recent history. When I was really playing hard, it seems that even the "competitive" events (as opposed to hobby) were still at least somewhat about having fun actually playing the game. It seems especially on a national level, that the "competitive" events are now more about winning and not about having fun playing the game. I see some parallels to Magic around 10 years ago...

I am with bringing back competitive 40K play. I don't mind losing because I learn something ever time I play with y'all. This game is fun when I lose or win. What ever y'all choose to do I will join.

Yes, more Rape Golem action is needed!