Local gaming stores are notorious havens of retards of many varieties. I find it impressive the number of gamers I know who have at least some story of some guy saying something retarded in one. So this thread is your chance to share: what's the dumbest thing you ever heard someone say at a gaming store? Bonus points if its some lawncrapper pontificating on a subject they're completely and objectively wrong about.
RPGPundit
I can no longer think of specifics, but just the generalities.
1) Some D&D Player telling an obviously uncaring store owner about his awesome character.
2) Random fat beard customer A's authoritative and unsolicited opinion to a 'normal' random customer B to not buy random some game because it's gay. As if that is a qualifying enough factor.
You don't need any D20 experiance or extra rulebooks to run Macho Women With Guns D20.
My mate said it back in the early days of MtG
'I only collect White cards'
He instantly regretted it any we have mocked him for the last 15 years.
Nothing comes to mind for things said...most of the customers were actually fairly well educated or experienced enough, and most of them avoided talking about politics or whatever if at all possible (aside from the few greybeard ex-military guys, but most of them were moderates anyway so the debates didn't go full-retard extreme).
However, the game store owner did some of the most retarded things I've ever seen a human being do, but since we're talking about things said, I may have to hold out for another discussion.
Quote from: kryyst;434117I can no longer think of specifics, but just the generalities.
1) Some D&D Player telling an obviously uncaring store owner about his awesome character.
Oy I find those vguys massively annoying. In my head I'm praying for a browser/new customer to walk in so I have an excuse to greet the new person. We got a rule that we're supposed to greet every walk-in browser or customer as they walk in. Sometimes thats a real life-saver with character-story nerds.
Quote2) Random fat beard customer A's authoritative and unsolicited opinion to a 'normal' random customer B to not buy random some game because it's gay. As if that is a qualifying enough factor.
That word used that way isn't really tolerated at our place. Considering the number of both Bi and gay regular customers who stop by our store in the past four years - that kind of casual use of ' gay ' as a perjoratrive just isn't acceptable.
- Ed C.
Actually it was a lack of talking.
In the early 00s, I encountered a game store owner who did not turn to face customers (he was always playing Evercrack), acted like he didn't hear your questions and only got up - begrudgingly - when you were buying something. And yes, he was definitely the owner.
He made me a big fan of Amazon.
Quote from: Koltar;434171That word used that way isn't really tolerated at our place. Considering the number of both Bi and gay regular customers who stop by our store in the past four years - that kind of casual use of ' gay ' as a perjoratrive just isn't acceptable.
Hey, I give you crap sometimes, but sincerely: thank you for this.
Quote from: Thanlis;434178Hey, I give you crap sometimes, but sincerely: thank you for this.
Perhaps we can one day become enlightened enough not to use "retards" either.
Because, seriously, the mentally challenged don't want to be lumped in with RPG lawncrappers either. They have their standards*. ;)
* Funny story - my ex-wife worked as a counselor at Goodwill. She said the clients always complained about riding the bus because of the losers who went to the plasma donation place across the street. Apparently they were too disgusting for the mentally challenged to want to be around; keep in mind these are the same people who have a lot of hygeine issues themselves. That really says something about the quality of the plasma folks...
Years ago, some guy in a game store (that also sold software) was haranguing the shit out of the clerk about a subject the clerk could not have given less of a shit about.
"So, do you guys carry Master of Orion 3?"
"Yes."
"WELL, DOES YOUR PRECIOUS MASTER OF ORION 3 HAVE OVER A HUNDRED SPECIES AND ADVANCED RESOURCE GATHERING?! HAS MASTER OF ORION 3 BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES OF ALL TIME BY GAMESPOT! I DIDN'T THINK SO! SO MUCH FOR YOUR FAVORITE LITTLE GAME, MASTER OF ORION 3!"
The clerk never once said he actually played MoO3 or expressed any interest in either of the games. But the guy kept it up until we left. I don't know how or why the clerk put up with it.
Blind gamer comes into the store with a friend. Asks to check out the D&D miniatures. So the store employee goes with them to the miniatures, then picks them up, one by one, and then says:
"This one has long hair, floating robes, and a large staff. Must be some type of magician. See?"
I had a hard time not laughing out loud. The guy was cool though, with the blind guy touching the miniatures, feeling them and all. It was great. It's just the expression, it cracked me up.
Memphis, Tennessee, circa 1994:
Guy in late 20s walks in with his kid, probably three at most.
The boy looks at the miniatures display: "Daddy, look at that dragon."
Dad: "Well, you would certainly fail your saving throw vs. dragon breath against that one. He would do precisely 180 points of damage and roast your tiny body to cinders."
Kid: [blinks]
Lord Hobie
"I got laid last night by a real hot chick"
Yeah, right, Pizza Face.
Quote from: Koltar;434171That word used that way isn't really tolerated at our place. Considering the number of both Bi and gay regular customers who stop by our store in the past four years - that kind of casual use of ' gay ' as a perjoratrive just isn't acceptable.
- Ed C.
LOL.
I thought you were gonna say something about "fatbeard".
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;434246The clerk never once said he actually played MoO3 or expressed any interest in either of the games. But the guy kept it up until we left. I don't know how or why the clerk put up with it.
Because working in retail is a soul-crushing nightmare.
Quote from: Shazbot79;434276Because working in retail is a soul-crushing nightmare.
Well, besides the obvious, of course... :)
Nothing specific leaps to mind but I'm pretty sure most of the lamest stuff I've heard has been from the owners and employees of the shops... political diatribes, pushy sales attempts, raunchy/racist jokes, long bloviations about Star Drek/Star Wars/LotR/Superheroes.
Late in the 3.5 era, father and 10-ish son walk into hobby shop in Tampa, and talk to the owner:
Father: "Hi. Do you have the D&D introductory game?"
Owner: "Nah, it sucks. You can only play it for 8 hours and there's really nothing else in it." Father and son left.
As near as I can tell, he was asking about the box set that comes with miniatures and stuff...it's not awesome, but it's pretty cool, and I had some fun playing with it when I was a Demo-guy (danged if I can recall the actual name of the Demo-guys, but that's what we were...Delegate?).
I browsed the store, it was a decent enough place, but not the most inviting. A sign out front said "Nobody under 18 allowed without an adult." No, there was nothing pornographic in the store, the owner, a 25-35ish male, just didn't want kids around.
He had some individual figures for sale, including a Drizz't for like $150. Just for fun, I told him that it went on E-bay for around $85.
"Yeah, I know," he said, "but the figure's worth alot more than that."
I saw no reason to argue. Store stayed in business at least 2 years, maybe 3 or 4.
Quote from: Simlasa;434287Nothing specific leaps to mind but I'm pretty sure most of the lamest stuff I've heard has been from the owners and employees of the shops... political diatribes, pushy sales attempts, raunchy/racist jokes, long bloviations about Star Drek/Star Wars/LotR/Superheroes.
You're trying to piss people off - aren't you?
- Ed C.
Quote from: Doom;434323Late in the 3.5 era, father and 10-ish son walk into hobby shop in Tampa, and talk to the owner:
Father: "Hi. Do you have the D&D introductory game?"
Owner: "Nah, it sucks. You can only play it for 8 hours and there's really nothing else in it." Father and son left.
I swear to God a 7-11 employee has more business sense than some of the loons running game-stores.
I mean, it's not even
real salesmanship. You're not selling hardware or landscaping vehicles that are big investments. You're not cold-calling. People walk into your store with disposable income already wanting to buy what you have (or at least having a general idea), and you (essentially) turn them away and tell them what they want sucks?
Shit, some of the employees who work under me at our ticket brokerage are socially awkward as hell, and yet they can finalize an 800 dollar deal in five minutes. It's not that fucking hard if you have any ounce of sense and a willingness to be friendly and helpful towards your clients.
Quote from: Doom;434323I browsed the store, it was a decent enough place, but not the most inviting. A sign out front said "Nobody under 18 allowed without an adult." No, there was nothing pornographic in the store, the owner, a 25-35ish male, just didn't want kids around.
My old favorite LGS had a sign up saying there couldn't be more than 2 'students' in the store at any one time. He said it was because they'd had lots of issues with shoplifting.
Quote from: Koltar;434324You're trying to piss people off - aren't you?
Why? Did that piss you off? It's just my experience... generally the nonsense I overhear is coming from the guys who run the place.
Quote from: Koltar;434171That word used that way isn't really tolerated at our place. Considering the number of both Bi and gay regular customers who stop by our store in the past four years - that kind of casual use of ' gay ' as a perjoratrive just isn't acceptable.
- Ed C.
Well done, Ed.
Quote from: Peregrin;434328I swear to God a 7-11 employee has more business sense than some of the loons running game-stores.
A game store has the potential por being extremely profitable. Sadly, most times the owners are not very good businessmen, so I end making my shopping online.
Quote from: shalvayez;434270"I got laid last night by a real hot chick"
Yeah, right, Pizza Face.
Should have asked how much she charged.
Random memories:
"I'm not into RPGs - I like D&D"
"I heard about role-playing games and I want to try one. I like Star Wars... Is there something similar?"
(clerk): "Sure: we have the official Star Wars RPG".
"Ah... Hmmm... No thanks" (exits)
"I'm a teacher... Do you carry games by C.G. Jung?" (in all fairness, this one made me interested in Jung)
"Our gaming association plays in spaces offered by the Italian Socialist Party... Of course playing doesn't make you politically involved" (official invitation to join an association)
"I was talking about when we put firecrackers in dogshit, and the clerk threw me out..." (heard outside a gaming store)
"Do you sell Magic cards?"
"Yes"
"Fill this" (produces a 3'x2' wooden box)
Heard from some dudes playing MERP in my local store:
"We must find this Aragorn guy, because if you get his sword you become King of Gondor".
(I then discovered that they had killed the Balrog and put his sword and flaming whip among the "carried magic items" on their characters' sheets. Which, in a way, made more sense).
As for as dumb things heard in a game store -over the past three years or so I've already posted at least 8 or 9 examples in various threads of that sort of thing.
Here is an ongoing classic:
Browser /first time visitor walks in, looks around after getting two thirds the way into the store:
"So what computer system do these games work with?"
Love it when that when is said while the person is standing next to RISHK or 'AXIS & ALLIES'.
-OR THIS ONE-
Usually a browser under 24 years old:
"Do you sell games?"
ME: "yes, we do ...These are all games...board games, card games, miniatures games, Role playing games, family games..."
Them with a deer in the headlights/elevator not reaching the top look:
BROWSER: "Uh...these are games?"
What they really meant to ask about was video games for their home system are silly handheld device.
- Ed C.
"We should only play the games that WOTC puts out because they have the official game, all others are rip offs" some smart mouth 12 year old was spouting this last month. My reply " Look kid I have been gaming longer than your PARENTS have been alive, so don't try to tell me what is and isn't a rip off."
Quote from: Peregrin;434328Shit, some of the employees who work under me at our ticket brokerage are socially awkward as hell, and yet they can finalize an 800 dollar deal in five minutes. It's not that fucking hard if you have any ounce of sense and a willingness to be friendly and helpful towards your clients.
It also helps when the client walks up to you, money in hand, and tells you specifically what he wants. :)
Quote from: Reckall;434362Random memories:
"I'm not into RPGs - I like D&D"
Was that before or after 4e?
RPGPundit
"Vampire: Requiem sucks. Who wants to play after Gehenna?"
"I don't want to think when I play an RPG. I think all day at work."
Quote from: oldgamergeek;434385"We should only play the games that WOTC puts out because they have the official game, all others are rip offs" some smart mouth 12 year old was spouting this last month. My reply " Look kid I have been gaming longer than your PARENTS have been alive, so don't try to tell me what is and isn't a rip off."
You sure showed that little kid!
Quote from: Peregrin;434328I swear to God a 7-11 employee has more business sense than some of the loons running game-stores.
I mean, it's not even real salesmanship. You're not selling hardware or landscaping vehicles that are big investments. You're not cold-calling. People walk into your store with disposable income already wanting to buy what you have (or at least having a general idea), and you (essentially) turn them away and tell them what they want sucks?
Shit, some of the employees who work under me at our ticket brokerage are socially awkward as hell, and yet they can finalize an 800 dollar deal in five minutes. It's not that fucking hard if you have any ounce of sense and a willingness to be friendly and helpful towards your clients.
LGS was having a buy 1 get 1 half off sale on 3.5 items. I had about $150 of adventures and books that I brought up to the counter. The sales clerk looks at them and asks if I had tried 4E - I responded by politely saying "Yes, but it just didn't work for me". The cleark then went on a rant about how 4E is so much better than anything else d20 and that 3.5 is now "teh suxx0rs". I left everything on the counter and walked out.
When a customer is about to make a purchase, you don't tell him that his purchase choice sucks if you want to make any money.
Quote from: jeff37923;434457When a customer is about to make a purchase, you don't tell him that his purchase choice sucks if you want to make any money.
Common sense for most of us. We're selling a ton of New Kids on the Block here at work. Why the hell would I tell a client they're wasting their money on a washed up pop group? The money is pouring in.
I guess some people really can't separate their stupid geek prejudices from their work. You're either running a business, or you're running a "hangout." One can potentially survive the really horrible odds for small businesses if you're smart, the other is bound to fail.
That Savage Worlds was apparently a storygame .
TrekkieKT
Peace, Love and Wombats.
Quote from: Reckall;434362"Our gaming association plays in spaces offered by the Italian Socialist Party... Of course playing doesn't make you politically involved" (official invitation to join an association)
What a wasted opportunity!
Quote from: jeff37923;434457LGS was having a buy 1 get 1 half off sale on 3.5 items. I had about $150 of adventures and books that I brought up to the counter. The sales clerk looks at them and asks if I had tried 4E - I responded by politely saying "Yes, but it just didn't work for me".
The better response to Jeff's situation:
"Yes sir, many of our regular customers have said something similiar about 4th edition. A lot of people seem to share your opiniopn I can understand your frustratiuon with the changes in the game"
...and while finish the ring up and putting the 3.5 items in bags....
"There is a 3.5 group that meets here twice a month, and also a PATHFINDER group as well. PATHFINDER is mostly compatible with 3,5 D&D. Would you like contact info for them?"
Thats one way it could have gone better for Jeff.
- Ed C.
Quote from: Koltar;434551The better response to Jeff's situation:
"Yes sir, many of our regular customers have said something similiar about 4th edition. A lot of people seem to share your opiniopn I can understand your frustratiuon with the changes in the game"
...and while finish the ring up and putting the 3.5 items in bags....
"There is a 3.5 group that meets here twice a month, and also a PATHFINDER group as well. PATHFINDER is mostly compatible with 3,5 D&D. Would you like contact info for them?"
Thats one way it could have gone better for Jeff.
- Ed C.
Better tell your boss then. It happened in one of your stores.
Quote from: Koltar;434551The better response to Jeff's situation:
"Yes sir, many of our regular customers have said something similiar about 4th edition. A lot of people seem to share your opiniopn I can understand your frustratiuon with the changes in the game"
...and while finish the ring up and putting the 3.5 items in bags....
"There is a 3.5 group that meets here twice a month, and also a PATHFINDER group as well. PATHFINDER is mostly compatible with 3,5 D&D. Would you like contact info for them?"
Thats one way it could have gone better for Jeff.
- Ed C.
And I wouldn't come back. What a bunch of nonsensical hogwash. I don't need, or want, proselytizing, even if it's for a game I already like. Maybe after I've gotten to know the shop staff, but not before then. People pushing agendas like that grate on my nerves. If anything, I want staff at a shop to have something positive to say about any given game, because if they can't, I'm gonna wonder why they're trying to sell me shit - if you think it's that bad that you're willing to dog on it at the counter, get it off your fucking shelves.
Matter of fact, this reminds me of one of the most annoying things I ever heard at a game shop. This was in the early days of 3e. The guy at the counter during most days of the week would not shut up about how 3e was broken. He gleefully recounted example after example about how this or that element of the game could be exploited. Compared it negatively to older editions while I was actually buying the books. Turns out, this dipshit was an avid player of 3e (he actually played in a game at the shop), munchkining his character to cause as much damage as possible in combat,
but complaining about it the whole time. Even after I got to know the guy a little better, his continual chatter and sermonizing got me to the point of avoiding the place. If you're staff at a shop, wait until I ask for info or opinions before giving them unsolicited.
Quote from: RPGPundit;434422Was that before or after 4e?
RPGPundit
Mid '90s
Quote from: Peregrin;434462Common sense for most of us. We're selling a ton of New Kids on the Block here at work. Why the hell would I tell a client they're wasting their money on a washed up pop group? The money is pouring in.
BTW, I feel that a guy should be allowed to spend his money on what he wants. Just my 2 cents.
Should someone "explain" to me that 4E is better while I'm buying 3.5E I'll probably anwser "This is what the other shop's clerk told me when I asked for an opinion, so I listened to him and tried 4E. It is the very reason why I now shop here and buy 3.5E"
Stupid thing I heard in a game-store:
Customer, to shopkeep: "Can I borrow a sheet of paper and a pen?"
Shopkeep: "Sure...what do you need them for?"
Customer: "I want to jot down some stats in Sword & Fist so I don't have to buy it."
What.
The fuck.
(This was back when that book was brand new.)
Quote from: thedungeondelver;434651Stupid thing I heard in a game-store:
Customer, to shopkeep: "Can I borrow a sheet of paper and a pen?"
Shopkeep: "Sure...what do you need them for?"
Customer: "I want to jot down some stats in Sword & Fist so I don't have to buy it."
What.
The fuck.
(This was back when that book was brand new.)
LOL What the fuck indeed. :D
Quote from: thedungeondelver;434651Stupid thing I heard in a game-store:
Customer, to shopkeep: "Can I borrow a sheet of paper and a pen?"
Shopkeep: "Sure...what do you need them for?"
Customer: "I want to jot down some stats in Sword & Fist so I don't have to buy it."
What.
The fuck.
(This was back when that book was brand new.)
The first and only time I was ever called a fascist was when I worked in a game store and refused to let a customer copy down in a notebook a section of rules from a
Vampire splatbook.
Quote from: ColonelHardisson;434602And I wouldn't come back. What a bunch of nonsensical hogwash. I don't need, or want, proselytizing, even if it's for a game I already like. Maybe after I've gotten to know the shop staff, but not before then. People pushing agendas like that grate on my nerves. If anything, I want staff at a shop to have something positive to say about any given game, because if they can't, I'm gonna wonder why they're trying to sell me shit - if you think it's that bad that you're willing to dog on it at the counter, get it off your fucking shelves.
What the hell are you talking about?
There was no "proselytizing" in anything I wrote in my hypothetical version of Jeff's situation.
No agenda was 'pushed' - just an offer of contact info -
IF the customer was interested.
I think you are bringing your own baggage to the situation of the hypothetical situation here.
- Ed C.
Quote from: ColonelHardisson;434602And I wouldn't come back. What a bunch of nonsensical hogwash.
Yeah, God forbid someone at a retail counter should...
1.)Empathize with the customer.
2.)Positively reinforce the customer's product choice.
3.)Provide additional information to help the customer enjoy the product better.
Why would they, I mean it's only
salesperson fucking 101.
Is this an example of you not throwing out any hyperbole to prove your point? :rolleyes:
Jeebus... I've been shopping in gaming stores for twenty-plus years and I've never had to deal with someone pulling the shit that appears to happen regularly according to these threads...
Not to say the clerks at various stores haven't been one shade of moron or other... but the basics of actually RINGING UP a customer without saying something so ignorant as to make them leave their shit on teh counter and shop elsewhere...
Now, I've heard plenty of stupid shit from the mouth breathers that seem to live in game stores, but I generally ignore it, so unfortunately I have very few examples.
Probably the dumbest thing I ever heard at a gaming store is the owner of Warp 1 Comics in Edmonton trying to explain that its really for the customers benefit that he charge $2-3 above cover price on every gaming book, and keep them shrink-wrapped so no one can browse.
RPGPundit
Actually that reminds me of a now defunct 'stupid action' by a LGS owner. All, and I do mean ALL the gaming products were locked away behind the counter. You actually 'shopped'... if that is the word for it... by looking at laminated printouts of the covers of the books in stock.
No browsing the books, obviously.
I can't speak to the impact that this had on the store, as it went out of business shortly after for reasons that apparently have nothing to do with the business model (the owner didn't want to give half of it to his soon to be ex wife... or so the story goes).
That store had an excuse for shitty clerks, since all the employees were, to my knowledge, paid under the table, far below market value for Geek Cred... but the owner was the one with bad interpersonal habits... sexual harassment of female customers stands out.
Which is odd, because aside from the 'antishoplifting measure' that started this post, he had otherwise very canny, if somewhat shady, business sense and was putting the hurt on the older, more established game store he set up to challenge for geek dominance.
That store, ironically, survives and has stolen at least one of his excellent decisions about 'play space'.
Quote from: RPGPundit;434850Probably the dumbest thing I ever heard at a gaming store is the owner of Warp 1 Comics in Edmonton trying to explain that its really for the customers benefit that he charge $2-3 above cover price on every gaming book, and keep them shrink-wrapped so no one can browse.
RPGPundit
Oh you can't do this to us; let's hear the full argument or whatever you remember of it. I've GOT to hear the moon logic behind this.
Quote from: RPGPundit;434850Probably the dumbest thing I ever heard at a gaming store is the owner of Warp 1 Comics in Edmonton trying to explain that its really for the customers benefit that he charge $2-3 above cover price on every gaming book, and keep them shrink-wrapped so no one can browse.
RPGPundit
It this store in Edmonton Mall? If so, I may have stumbled upon the dude last summer.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;434651Stupid thing I heard in a game-store:
Customer, to shopkeep: "Can I borrow a sheet of paper and a pen?"
Shopkeep: "Sure...what do you need them for?"
Customer: "I want to jot down some stats in Sword & Fist so I don't have to buy it."
I worked in a bookstore for several years and this was not an uncommon situation.
"Do you sell sand?" That's perhaps the stupidest thing I've allowed myself to remember.
Quote from: Xanador;434925"Do you sell sand?" That's perhaps the stupidest thing I've allowed myself to remember.
I have seen quite a lot of sand for sale in game stores, and less often in knick-knack shops... though more frequently if there is a beach nearby.
Methinks you have not pondered the actual value of sand.
Quote from: Reckall;434894It this store in Edmonton Mall? If so, I may have stumbled upon the dude last summer.
No, its always been in the Whyte Ave. area.
RPGPundit
Quote from: thedungeondelver;434861Oh you can't do this to us; let's hear the full argument or whatever you remember of it. I've GOT to hear the moon logic behind this.
Well, as best as I can recall the arguments amounted to "we have an excellent selection and so you won't have to order stuff in or wait for it to arrive, so you're paying extra for our selection" and "the shrinkwrapping prevents people from wrecking the books so that you don't have to buy a book that is already worn".
Some shit like that, anyways.
Oh yes, also, at one point it was "the canadian dollar is weaker than the US dollar, and even the books with canadian cover prices don't accurately reflect that, so we just have to raise the prices to compensate". I noticed on my last visit that despite the Canadian dollar basically being at parity with the US dollar, the books were all still at inflated prices, so I'd guess they're not using that particular argument anymore.
RPGPundit
I can remember a lot of dumb stuff said at game stores.
Most recently, a store-workers friend (the worker MAY have been the owner) who was standing behind the counter, hanging out. I am buying a copy of Nightspawn (the Original Nightbane game, with the original title...in MINT condition).
Dude: I Can't believe someones buying a Palladium book with them getting sued out of business.
Me: They haven't been sued out of business. I just ordered a Christmas surprise package as a gift over the weekend.
Dude: Wow, considering how awful their games are...I'm surprised to hear that. I had fun with Rifts and all, but I look at it now and I'm all like 'What is this shit?!' y'know?
Me:...
Dude: *continues to talk about shit he doesn't know about and insulting my purchases.*
That was a good one.
Also, Back when NWoD was announced, but not much had been revealed about it...I heard a lot of funny rumors about that game.
* It's going to be D20
* It's going to be Post-Apocalypse
* They fired everyone and got a lot of D&D designers to work on it
* It's going to be LARP only
Funny thing was, a lot of those rumors were accurate for McWoD when that came out. The rumors themselves aren't dumb, just that people would be spreading them.
Fun things said directly to me in a game store:
(incredibly greasy spaz): "HEYCANILOOKATTHIS?" (while picking up a large piece of Dwarven Forge)
(ibid): "When your campaign finishes I'll join your new game. I recommend Dragonlance for 3.5." (I'd never given this terrible person the least notion that I was going to let him join my (still ongoing since 2005) game, nor that I was switching rules, nor that the switch would be to 3.5, nor that my new game would be set in Dragonlance)
(Incredibly greasy spaz girl): "I'm going to get a job at the Circle-K up there and work for a couple of weeks so I can buy the Colossal Red Dragon!" (then quit, she announced)
(ibid): "Can I borrow this for just a second?" (while picking up one of my painted minis, on her way out of the game room into the store proper)
A few years back I went to an out of the way gamestore for a free convention. I showed up late and the store owner assigned me to a party of ten waiting for one more. They had already finished with their characters, so all eyes were on me.
One of the players noticed my signature written in my best penmanship on the inside cover of my PHB. "Thanks" I told him, but nooo! He hams it up like it's some sort of artistic masterpiece, so of course everyone else wants to see it too.
Then everyone else shows off their PHB signatures or lack there of. One guy, suddenly shouts "Oh my god I hate myself!" and shows us his signature in his PHB. It's honestly the dumbest looking signature I've ever seen. The scale of the letters shrink from left to right and the line of his signature curves up and inward on itself. His large childish signature was written in a fine tipped pen that recorded every shake of his maladroit hand. And to make matters worse, the end of the signature is crowded between the edge of the book and the scratched out signature above.
The wellwishers amongst the group fall silent as we struggle to think of something nice to say. A few recomend "This book belongs to" stickers to cover up the mess and give him a second chance. But he was undeterred. "No guys, look I bought this book used at GenCon. And I shoulda known better because I've ALWAYS played D&D. Look here!"
And then he pointed at the signature above his own. A bold signature obscured with ten thousand fine tipped pen scratches. A signature that read "Dave Arneson."
Quote from: thedungeondelver;434988(ibid): "Can I borrow this for just a second?" (while picking up one of my painted minis, on her way out of the game room into the store proper)
Did you get your mini back?
Quote from: Malleus Arianorum;435002And then he pointed at the signature above his own. A bold signature obscured with ten thousand fine tipped pen scratches. A signature that read "Dave Arneson."
:banghead:
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;435031Did you get your mini back?
I was between her and the door out of the game room, my response was "Absolutely not."
Seriously, the employees at the game store told me/us that the nights that my group (youngest person was in their late 20s) were the best nights because we "kept an eye" on the other, younger gamers and they "behaved" when we were back there (I cannot fathom how bad they must have been on the alternate weeks). One of the many reasons I quit gaming up there: if you're going to task me with babysitting, pay me. I have two (well, one at the time) children of my own to tend to.