Dear Wizards,

I am writing to ask you to retract the recent changes in the WPN, and allow independent TO's to hold their levels and the benefits that went along with those levels.

So far the only reasons that I have heard for making this change that can be considered plausible are:

1. Some independent TO's were found to be acting fraudulently to get the foil cards that come with FNM and the other premier events; and
2. You want to strengthen the connection between players and game stores that sell Magic cards.

Let's look at these two reasons in turn.

Fraud

There was fraud.  There probably is still fraud going on right now.  Does cutting off independent TO's from the foil cards reduce the chance of that fraud?  Of course it does.  Would cutting off store owners from the WPN levels reduce fraud?  Of course it would.

I understand that if only the stores are allowed to hold the premier tournaments that involve foil promos, then if they act fraudulently, you can cut off that store's supply of Magic cards entirely.  That level of repercussion is not available with independent TO's, since they are not selling anything.

However, since store owners have a built-in place to sell the fraudulently obtained goods, doesn't it make it more likely that they would steal it in the first place?  Also remember that many stores have an organizer handling all the FNM's and prereleases for them.  Many store owners don't even realize that the organizer is committing at act of fraud.

Connection with the local store

The only way cutting the independent TO is helping to create a connection with the store is if the players go to the store.  Some players, in locations where traveling to the nearest store holding an FNM is possible, may actually travel there.  The problem is that those players were likely already going to that store to buy singles and packs anyway.  They weren't buying them from the independent TO, unless you count the 6 or 7 packs the player received at the prerelease.  If a couple hundred dollars is the make or break point for the nearby store, then this move is not what will save the store.

The negatives of the recent change?

What are the downsides to the change?

1. No tournaments in many areas. Many of the less densely populated areas have no store that sells Magic nearby.  Those players relied completed on an independent TO to host FNM's and other premier events.  Those are gone, and many of those players will be gone too.

2. Disillusioned TO's. The independent TO's are disappointed and frustrated.  Most of them have worked hard to create the playgroups they have, and they are doing it for no pay.  These are people that love the game and want to see others enjoying it as well.  You gave them an opportunity to bring Magic to others and now you are taking it away.  Don't underestimate the negativity these TO's will likely spread about WPN and Wizards of the Coast.

3. Fewer players. While some stores will draw players from the lost independent TO's, not every player from those groups will end up at the store.  Many of those players will just be lost.   The group of players I organize are in this group.  The group of Magic players that I've adopted are a great bunch.  If you read an article I wrote a while back on Mananation, you'll know that my 12 year old son and his friends are part of a group that was playing Magic twice a week.  I offered to be their WPN Organizer so they could get some free foil cards to use as prizes in their small tournaments and to get them signed up for the Rewards Program.  Most of them did not have DCI cards, and their tournament was not rated, so they were missing out.

Since then, I was promoted to Core Level because the boys just kept coming.  I've organized Launch parties and a Scars of Mirrodin prerelease for these boys. Many of them are very young players (as young as 8 years old) and they would never have been allowed to go to a prerelease otherwise.  We play at a small, quiet library.  The parents all know me.  The neighborhood we play in is the neighborhood they live in. When they come to play, the parents know their child won't be cheated or bullied.  He'll be safe, and he actually has a chance of winning some packs.  I can usually manage to add in a bonus door prize (deck boxes or play mats) because I'm not looking to profit.  None of those things are available a random store's prerelease.  I can offer the personal touch that stores just can't offer.

Wizards has chosen to yank that away.  The special tournaments were something the boys looked forward to.  Their anticipation was big enough that their parents were paying me in advance to run these tournaments.  Anyone who has run a Magic tournament knows just how amazing that is.  Every three months I get to hand out packs and hear everyone shouting out what they got in their packs, like it was Christmas.  Wizards just took away Christmas from these young boys.

[Okay, maybe that was a little over the top, but I think you get my meaning.  Half of my group will be missing out on prereleases because I can't offer them, and they can't go elsewhere.]

Conclusion

Personally, I will continue to persevere.  I'll try to keep bring the new kids into the game and do my best to see that the older kids stay.  I encourage them to go to the local card shop to buy their cards instead of Target and the higher priced chain stores.  However, you've made it a lot harder to make it work.

I understand that there are concerns relating to fraud and a desire to make game stores more profitable since they need to be there if Magic cards are going to be sold.  But cutting independent TO's out will mean fewer players playing Magic, and that isn't a good thing for anyone.

Sincerely,

Bruce Richard