Comfy Competitive: How to Build your Scene

Fostering a local scene that is attractive to both a competitive and a casual audience is no easy task. We’ve heard stories where a local TCG scene dies because players were getting too competitive and casuals stop showing up. This makes events harder to fire because of a lack of players. Some people prefer a competitive local metagame. But stores and events need casual players too for revenue and longevity of the meta.

In this article I will try to give you some insight on how to foster a scene where both competitive players and casual players can get their fill.

This article will be mostly based on FAB, since that’s the TCG I’m most familiar with, but these can be applied to any other TCG.

Promoting fair play

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s an important step that most people seem to forget. An event like a FNM or FAB Armory at their core are meant as casual events. At a casual event rules and penalties aren’t as strict as during pro-level events. Rules aren’t typically enforced on the same level. To not shun away new and/or casual players, you should first work on promoting fair play during these events. Try to keep rules lawyering out of the equation. Instead, explain why a certain interaction is the way it is without overwhelming the other player. Allow players to take back certain plays/mistakes and don’t be as strict on timings.

Sharing = Caring

One of the big reasons why TCG’s aren’t as popular is because they cost a lot of money. Competitive decks can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Even cheaper decks would require players to either acquire cards online or open them in booster packs. This is where a player base can help newer players. By either donating or lending unused cards from their collection to get those players started. If those players then play the game more they will probably stay and buy their own product over time. Which is only beneficial for both the LGS and local meta over time.

Prize support

Recently, we did a poll in our local FAB meta. We asked how we could improve armories for both competitive and casual players. One of the biggest gripes of casual players was that only the top 8 will receive a promo card. And only the winner receiving a cold foil promo. This upset casual players since they know they can never win any promo’s since it’s always the same people winning.

Outside of the standard prize support offered, stores are free to throw in extra prize support as well. Some ideas for variation can be to raffle off extra booster packs or leftover promos. This ensures everyone has a chance to get their hands on them. In FAB there is always 2 playmats included in the prize support package as well. You could raffle those off as well, vote for “most creative deck”, vote for “most impactful community member” etc. There are a million ways to motivate people via prizes to come to weekly events outside of standings prizing. Take some time to talk with your meta to see what they feel could work for them.

Feedback is key

That brings us to our next point: Feedback. In talking with the players, both the competitive and the casuals. You can compare their needs and wants for the local scene. Working from that is massively important when trying to achieve the Comfy Competitive meta. It’s impossible to adjust to everyone’s wants and needs. Finding a solid middle ground and trying to get people to adjust is always a good starting point.

Format rotation

Most TCG’s have multiple formats to play the game in. Usually, one format stands out as the premiere competitive format. More competitive metas will default to only playing that competitive format exclusively. This can alienate casual players, since it’s often the more expensive format to play as well. If you want to grow a community, you’ll have to introduce more casual elements. Introducing a format rotation on which you’ll alternate between competitive and casual formats is one way to go about it.

Games like MTG and FAB have Pauper and Commoner respectively, where only common cards can be played. It’s a super cheap format and often easy to get into for new players. Especially, if other community members can provide the cards or even entire decks. If you have community bulk like what I talked about earlier, this is also a good use for it. Introducing casual elements like this signals not only to new or potential players, but also to the established community that weekly play events shouldn’t always be competitive tournament training.

Store owner involvement

A store owner has a big influence on how the player base in their store evolves. There are multiple ways they can go about it. All these ways can be for better or for worse:

1. They’re very much involved with the players and the events. They have control over when events are organized, prizing and community management. This is a very time-consuming thing. If not handled properly can lead to a decline or even utter destruction of the player base. If you’re a store owner and want to help grow your local meta. I would only recommend this if you’re willing and able to spend the time and resources on it. Often this will work out best for smaller stores who don’t have a lot of employees.
2. Everything is handled through a community manager. This hands-off approach allows for greater freedom to a community. One person, who is preferably someone who is not a store employee. They will take care of events and such, while also being directly involved in the game. This works best if your store has multiple TCG’s running. This is also helps if you have a bigger customer base for other stuff at the same time. As a store owner you can’t do everything by yourself. Sometimes letting go of control can be the healthiest both for yourself and your player base.
3. Mixed involvement where players give direct input on what to change and how. This is the more democratic approach out these three. You as the store owner are the one controlling events, prizing, etc. You take direct input from your community on what to change. This is a mix between the first two modes, with the absence of a community manager who takes care of everything.

The best way for a store owner to proceed is often an in-between or mix of these modes. You need to search for the one that suits your situation best.

Entry payment

One thing I want to touch on briefly is entry payment. Often a store will ask players to buy a booster as entry for weekly events. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It may deter players who are more strapped for cash from coming over often. The best way to decide on this would be to poll the players and discuss with the store owner on what the best way is to proceed. From personal experience, most players don’t mind buying a booster as entry. As they still get some value for their money. But asking an entry fee and not getting something in return unless you top eight the armory will turn a lot of people away. If you’re a store and you’re adamant on keeping an entry payment, please at least give something in return.

Conclusion

Fostering a meta that is both competitive and casual at the same time is no easy task. It can be tedious and time-consuming. Ultimately, it’s the best way to foster an ever-growing community of players. This ensures they can both enjoy the game, while satisfying their competitive desires. I sincerely hope that you can take away at least one tip from this so your own meta can flourish like mine does.