Before I even start I should say a couple of things.

1.) I've never lived by a 'support your FLGS' motto. I buy discounted books online pretty much exclusively. I save 30% on average, which translates into either more books or more ability to have books while supporting my household.

2.) I'm fully aware that online petitions, for good or worse, rarely have any affect. This isn't really a petition so much as an idea I plan to do myself and invite others to do.

The plan? I simply itend to buy the core book, and possibly the following products, for 4th edition at a game store that either does not cary Shadowrun or caries very little on an out-of-the-way shelf in the corner.

Why? I'd like to think if we targeted these stores, some of which are still wrongly under the impression that Shadowrun isn't even being published anymore, that we might provide some incentive to these stores to stock the product and in turn to expose potential new players into buying the game.

I've actually had some luck with this in the past. I special ordered 5 copies (one for me and one for each of my players) of the 3rd Edition book at such a store. Soon after they had Shadowrun on a shelf. When 4th Edition goes gold, I'll likely want 5 copies of that too (my players pretty much always get the core book to whatever game I happen to be running for christmas). Hopefully I can entice another store to more prominently feature the game for others to see and buy.

Care to join me?

For those that might not know.
FLGS = Friendly Local Game Store.

Meh, I haven't been to a gaming store in quite a while, and most the people I know are online only kinda folk. The only gaming store I know of that was worth spending time in was WotC, and they closed their doors. I'd prefer to go to Amazon.com and buy it there, to send the message that there's a market for this stuff then try to do that at a gaming store I'll never return to.

As for a local book store (like barnes and noble), that's a different matter. I DO shop at those places.

The closest thing to a Friendly Local Game Store in my 'hood, actually, is populated and staffed entirely by assholes, so I probably will be Stiggybaby'ing it up. As usual.

I guess I'll give it a shot. I always buy from a FLGS but last summer I changed shops because the one I usually go to was closed for a few months during a change of ownership. The new owner has been very slow to get any significant amount of new stock in and the one time a friend of mine tried to order something from him (a SR book, coincidentally) the shop never called to let him know that it had come in. So I have been very hesitant to switch back.

But I'll take your advice and see what happens...

Since I always attend the major conventions anyways, I've bought every single gaming book I've owned over 20 years directly from the producers booth.

Screw the FLGS, I'd rather keep FanPro in business as a preferance.

There's only one FLGS store in town, and they have a huge Shadowrun display. Every time I pick up a book one of the staff members will chat and swap stories about our current campaigns.

I may pay a little more than I would online, a little more that I can't really afford, but the fact is that I'm very bad with money and the store is awesome.

If they do some sort of limited edition, I will be doing my best to purchase said limited edition. If there are limited editions available at my FLGS, then cool, I'll get it there. (It's been a while, but when SR3 came out, wasn't there a deal where if a store ordered a case of 24 regular books, they were sent one of the BABYs?)

I hate it when cool stuff happens and I have no money and no prospect of money to get ahold of it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you considered selling your body? You should be able to make at least $40 in six months...

"Even fat chicks need lovin, but they gotta pay. Oh yeah, gigidy, gigidy, gigidy."

An LE in the works? Damn, I need to work more hours

Adam: What about all us international folks who just can't get to GenCon? Is there going to be a way for some of us to possibly acquire a BABY of our own?

Stores are able to get the limited edition if they order a sufficient quantity of the core book. Direct-to-consumer sales for the limited edition have yet to be determined.

And I don't know anything about the print run size, the special features, or if a lock of Sprite's hair is included with the limited editions -- all I know is it's happening.

Ok, thanks. Since you're in an answering mood, what about pdf availability for SR4?

It will be. Timeline undetermined. Pricing undetermined.

One out of 3 ain't bad, thanks for the information Adam.

If there's a brick and mortar store anywhere near you, go there.

Do not go to book barn megachains. They do not care about you.

Whether you personally like them or not, your FLGS owners are dedicated fans who are keeping the community alive by supplying the gear and a place to congregate, play, and recruit. And damn few of them are getting rich at it.

Spend your money where you spend your karma.

@runner paul: if you're willing to pay 70-100USD for a LE-sr4, it's possible that you may be able to entice your brick and mortar store to increase their shipment size to accomdate you if you committed to buy the LE from them for that price.

I got the impression from what I've been able to gather about the previous promotional that the BABY's were sent gratuit over the 24 regular books. if you can convince them they'll move 24 books in reasonable time ~and~ you'll buy the 'free extra' for doublish the normal price, they might go for it.

I'll be keeping track, since I can't get to gencon- direct sale is my best bet too, but I imagine it'll go fast unless the direct sale is decently stocked (~100+ at the minimum), so If I can't get it that way, I'll be 'enticing' my local store with a full playset sale too (my players will get new editions since the upcoming fall term is the last I'll be able to GM for them) and my own purchase of the LE.