Just curious about thoughts on this.

Have a judge at a store who plays in the events. Not a problem with him playing, but he'll give other people byes so that he can play. He'll also play for first place.

Also for the Thanos prize he has been talking about having whoever wins first place pay him cost on the Thanos figure and then him giving it to first after he is payed. So he won't be out of pocket.

Just wondering what other judges have done with situations like these.

I wouldn't actively compete for a prize were I a judge, but some judges do, and their players don't seem to mind.

But the bold? Yeah, that's utterly selfish and lame if true.

I'd find out if he actually fronted the money for them first. Ask the store owner.

I used to be a Judge under the original system. I stopped after Armor Wars because I didn't like Wizkids' business practices. I jumped back in the game at Arkham but I enjoy playing more than judging now.

I would only ever play so the person with the Bye had something to do.

To the best of my knowledge, no judge at any of the dozens of venues that I've played has done what you're describing.

I would not be playing at the venue anymore if I were in your shoes.

He pays for the prize support.

Dudn't matter.

If he paid for the kit and he wanted his money's worth, he should have kept the stuff.

He could charge ALL the players for the final event if he wants his money.

BUT he is getting something out of it. He's getting the figure(s) he wants. Maybe he should just include that in the cost of the figure(s) that he's getting.

Again, I wouldn't be playing there. It all stinks to high heaven to me.

My point is that it is a question I'd be curious to hear an answer to.

As it stands? Dude's a bit shady (IMO).

Were he to be gouging money out of his players under the pretense of recouping costs he never actually paid? Dude's MORE than a bit shady.

Who's "he"?

The store owner or the "judge"?

Did people get charged for other prizes that they won?

Obviously the judge is "he". The judge paid for the prize kit so the store owner would be willing to get it for the players, now he wants his money back but still wants prizes available.

Have you talked to the store owner? Maybe if all the players unanimously confront the store owner and say you need to switch judges, someone else in your group can organize/run the events, and of need be have the newly-ousted judge just make the rules calls I he knows the rules better than anyone else in your group.

Agree. I judge at a venue - I play the bye round if there's an odd number of teams, otherwise I wander around and read comics while waiting for a question. I share this with another person - we're lucky enough to have two IG prize kits. I play the week I don't judge, but I buy in just like everyone else then. When I win, I usually just give the figure away to one of our regulars or the person who came in third. I already get a figure when I judge. I am playing in the tournament I'm not judging for Thanos but have already told everyone that if I happen to win - 2nd place gets him and he most definitely doesn't have to pay me.

The judge is the he. And no, to my knowledge he hasn't charged anyone for any other prizes. He just pays the store owner whatever they cost and gets the prize kit.

Alrighty, I gotta step in here, because some of this is false and needs to be clarified. I am the judge in question, so that you know.
True. Sometimes.
Never in events where the prizes matter, like the IG events or sealed events or when people really care about the prize like LE Black Bolt, and even in non-IG events, not always. So maybe like once a month.

True also. On occasion, in irrelevant tournaments I play like any other competitor. this is the way it was at both venues I judge at before I ever judged at any of them. So while it may seem inappropriate, to other people, at our places this has been the norm for ages. and no one has ever expressed disliked for it except for the OP. I'm sure if anyone but him actually cared it would be re-evaluated. Fact is for most ppl it's not that big a deal.

True also. Sort of. There have been occasions, where I have played(like any other player). This is not the norm, and the prize is always irrelevant. But I should note I mean for first place. not first place prize. The once or twice where I've won first place in this situation, first place prize went to second place instead. I would never, double-up on prizes.

And again we are talking about irrelevant fun tournaments, when there are no prizes to be given at all, and everyone's just trying to have fun. And the only time the OP was at one of these I believe there were no prizes left to be handed out. But I brought some extra from home, to add flavor.

True. Sort of again.
It's 50$ for the prize support, and I've had to purchase all of the prize support up until this point. Literately hundreds of dollars over the past year. Which I'm fine with, but with all the new stuff coming out and other RL issues, 50$ is a bit of a hit to the wallet. So we were trying to think of ways to help supplement the cost of the prize kit. The original idea was that the winner of the event would be able to buy him for 20$ or something. Not bad for a 100-150$ figure by everyone's standards I've talked to except the OP.
But after talking to others I think what the event will be is a 5$ entry fee to go towards the prize kit. And if we magically have more than 10 ppl, then the remainder will go in as a prize for 2nd place or something.

The point is, I try to be as open and honest with my players as possible, and get their opinions and feedback on what to do and what's best. And use that information to try to make everyone as happy as possible over all. Not saying I'm perfect, but I try my best.


There, now I think you've at least heard both sides and you can now judge as you see fit. I'm not too worried about it. With the exception of the OP, ALL of my players seem to be happy and satisfied, and their opinions are all I'm particularly worried about.

Don't worry about a player I have only been playing about 6 months, and am lucky enough to live in a town where 4 venues are within 15 minutes. At each venue a player or two whine about the judge and prizes. It is unavoidable now that heroclix players feel entitled to free figures every tournament.

EDIT: Saw MegaLotus's post. Gotta read that before I can properly reply...
EDIT 2: I see nothing wrong with what you do, Lotus. But I would charge an entry fee to everybody instead of having first place have to pay for the prize.

as a judge you shouldnt be playing for any place or prizes. I think you should only play those odd people when you have to and they should automatically get buys against you. If you want to play in the tournaments, relevant or not, you should get a secondary judge. maybe even the op to show him how it works. as for the cost perhaps you and the store owner need to be more aggressive in your recruitment of new players. as your signature says... heroclix is a business.

I'm going to step in here and provide more back ground on the situation.

JP88 has recently burned a lot of bridges. Instead of talking to those of us in the community he has taken it to the interwebs to duke it out. So yeah this whole thing is about running someones name through the mud and not about what really goes on.

Megalotusman pretty much heads up most of the K.C judging/Organized Play stuff. He judges 2 of 4 venues in the area on a consistent basis. He then plays at one venue which if at times runs games if I, nor the main judge, can't judge or are not present. He pays for prize support of 1 of the venues he judges at. This is the one that is in question.

I have an ethical question for JP. If prize support at a store goes missing where you work at and you say you know where it is at but won't go and find it then doesn't that look bad on you? Doesn't that make you look like a thief? It would have been easy for you to show where the prize support is since you have gone back to that same place to play. But you won't "find" the prize support because the persons who would have gotten the prizes would have been Megalotusman and Proxy. Note this is the venue they don't judge at. So for those who are reading there is more going on.

You come to tournies and complain when people bring serious teams. You complain when people retreat and talk carp. But when you do the same thing you try to pacify the situation and say "What do you expect me to do?" and "Well I didn't think it was that strong." You even complain even when you win. You just piss and moan all the time. It is getting old.

In the end this is fight that has been going on that has spilled onto the internet. I had respect for JP up until now. But this is a just a power play to get Megalotusman judge spot so he can get prizes.

Mods if possible just lock this thread.