Why Exclusives?

This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at the reasons for game exclusives and who benefits and who doesn't

Target Exclusives and Arcane Tinmen Stays Non-exclusive

This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at the implications of the announced exclusive games at Target as well as the announced non-exclusivity of Arcane Tinmen products.

Dragonshields Stay Widely Available

While not mattering much to the individual consumer, exclusivity is a concern for stores since it limits places from which we can order product. For example, one reason it is hard to find the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game is that only one distributor in the US has the right to carry it, so if a store, any store wants to stock it in, the store has to open an account with that distributor. While good for the distributor since it brings more stores in as customers, it is not so good for the store since stores have to split up their available dollars among yet one more source of supply.

There are 5 major gaming distributors in the US and another half dozen or so smaller ones and all of them have some benefit, whether is is an exclusive, or quick delivery or better instock, that causes stores to order from them. The more product lines available from a distributor, the easier it is for a store to put in an order. That's why the email from Arcane Tinman, the producer of the popular Dragonshields card sleeves, is good news. The company was going exclusive with Alliance Distribution, meaning stores would have to have an account with them to get the sleeves. Now, distributors that currently carry them will be able to continue to do so, without opening another account:

Arcane Tinmen has decided to discontinue their business cooperation with Asmodée North America (ANA) in order to maintain a broader distribution network of their products in the United States market. The change will go into effect on August 1st 2017.

Arcane Tinmen will continue to have its products distributed through many main distributors in the US, including Southern Hobby, ACD, GTS and PHD. Arcane Tinmen is thankful for many years of fruitful and prosperous relations with Asmodée NA, and Fantasy Flight Games before that.

Asmodée NA recently announced that they would be going from five distributors to an exclusive partnership with Alliance Game Distributors.

Michael Stehr Lilhav, CEO of Arcane Tinmen, states;

"I recognize that this is a solid move for Asmodée and their business, but the future for Dragon Shield and other Arcane Tinmen accessories lies within the wider distribution network."

Michael Stehr Lilhav adds that Arcane Tinmen is thankful for the many years of partnership the company has had with Asmodée, and that he wishes both companies plenty of good fortune on each of their separate future paths.

Arcane Tinmen is known for their wide range of gaming accessories and high quality trading card game protection products. With the world renowned quality-brand Dragon Shield, Arcane Tinmen has been an important player in the gaming industry for decades.

Gencon Close to Selling Out

According to the below email from GenCon, the convention will have no onsite sales of badges and is close to selling out for the time in its history:

Thursday badges have now sold out and only a limited amount of Friday badges remain for Gen Con 50. This is your last chance to get into the historic show! Gen Con is approaching its first full-sell out, and interested attendees will not want to wait to secure their Friday badge. There will be no onsite sales of badges, so don't delay; order your badge at gencon.com! 

Media Surprised by Boardgames

Every so often I see a news story about the resurgence of boardgames, as if they had gone away somewhere. This week's Rolling for Initiative column looks at reasons why people are still surprised boardgames get played.

Tomb of Annihilation Miniatures

the D&D Miniatures Tomb of Annihilation set arrived yesterday and we have plenty of boxes and single figures.

Bring the heroes, villains, and monsters from the jungle of Chult, as well as the Tomb of the Nine Gods to life in this latest series of fantasy miniatures!

Collect all 44 figures from Tomb of Annihilation, the newest set of randomly sorted monsters and heroes in our exciting line of D&D miniatures, Icons of the Realms.

Adventurers have been sent to the jungle peninsula of Chult, where they must face all manner of dangers in order to find the lost city. Adventurers will need all the help they can get to get through the Tomb and the Dungeon’s evil architect – The Lich Acererak.

WOTC Promo Change

WOTC just made a major change to their promotional program, rather the way in which we handle promotional items. Prior to this, certain promotional items such as the Buy a Box Card and Game Day playmats, had to be destroyed after a certain amount of time if they were not used for the promotion for which they were designed. Now, after the promotional period has ended, stores can use them to enhance play in whatever manner deemed suitable. Stores, of course, still cannot sell promo items, they must be given to players.