I know that it has been mentioned in a couple of other threads, but I didn't see it as the main topic anywhere and I thought that it might help to assuage some of the panic for players (Thanks to Gorodish and Panther Cult):
From WK rep:
So it appears that WK will continue to offer "WizKids Supported" events every month (probably 4, similar to the M&M model).

It also appears that the support will be in the form of current LE's, not recycled.

So, for a typical month:

Week 1: Sealed
Venue has 10 players show up. Judge required. Event classified as "Competitive" when results are entered. LE's rewarded. Rankings resulting from pairings bear a little extra weight than Casual events.

Week 2: Floor:50%
Venue has 6 players show. No judge required. Event classified as "Casual" when results are entered. LE's REWARDED. Rankings are still affected, though not as much as at a Competitive event.

Week2: Mid-week game night at venue.
5 players show. No judge required. Event Organizer can take results and retroactively create a "Casual" event and enter the results. No LE's. Rankings affected.

Week 3: Floor:50% II
9 PLayers. Judge required. "Competitive." LE's. Rankings more weighted.

Week 3: "Casual HeroClix Event"
Since there was success the previous week, the E.O. created another Casual event for this week.
13 players show. Judge required. No LE's. Upgraded to "Competitive" when results are entered. Rankings weighted.

etc...

Nice post triple-z. Rep to you.

Because that's just now how they work. They don't put themselves in our shoes and see things from our perspective, proactively pre-answering our questions by clarifying the document.

Since I still see some confusion regarding prize support, I though I'd bump this thread.

So let me get this straight...... Wizkids won't send prize support for the tourney's until after the results are in.... so the winners.... or fellowship people will be a week late then? Sounds like getting your pay check every other week to me. Just do it the old way but I forgot..... EXPECT ANYTHING !

Nope, not quite. WK supported events will be handled exactly (with regard to players) the same way as they were in the past. The venue will receive the prize support for all events that they registered for at the beginning of the month. Players should have any fairly won prizes in their hands before they leave the event.

Ok.... well that makes sense then.... I mean to do it like they have been doing it. I just misread what was going on. I thought it was another tatic to try and stop untrust worthy venues or judges that sell prize support on evil bay. Thanks for the clear up.

I'll play devil's advocate.

An event has over 8 players and a judge is required. Another event has only two players and no judge is required.

So how is the judge to know when to be at an event or not? If you say the judge should be there all the time then tell WK that.

What happens if I can't be there and sudenly 10 players show up? My venue knows very little about the game. It could be left to the players but then how will the event get properly reported if no judge is in attendance?

The TO can do only so much. In my case he would host the event and report the event hopefully in a timely manner. Questions regarding rules will go to the majority or the loudest player. I've seen an almost fight over dice rolling on the fold of the maps and a player trying to use nova blast with protected to avoid the damage.

On another matter, if prizes are to be better for a 8 player or more event, some speculation on this on the judges' forums, how will prizes given out. Will Wk send the better prize and expect the store to be honest and send back the better prize because it was not neccessary?

I am visiting the in-laws out of state and play in an event and win. Will I be sent the better prize if the store only has the lesser prize?

Are Judges getting LEs any more? We only got two of each of the new stuff and we used to get three (one for the Judge).

That is apparently still up in the air. Nobody is giving any definite answers. Which is not a good sign.

I think you are misunderstanding the process slightly. Venues get to sign up ahead of time for WizKids supported events each month (usually 4 each month). Judges should be required to run those and prize support should be handed out as normal.

The issue is now that an Event Organizer can set up other events. If it has over 8 players a judge would also be required, if there are going to be less than 8 it will be considered a casual game and no judge is necessary. The attendance of the events will dictate how the results affect rankings.

The system was changed to this to try to legitamize venue supported events and casual play (organized through a venue) by having it impact rankings.

If it's a WizKids supported event you should be there anyway. If it's a "casual game" that garners big attendance - then I'm not sure how OP deals with that. I suppose we'll have to wait until they publish the actual Organized Play documents to know for certain (right now we only have the FAQ).

Again, as the quotes in the initial post indicate - prizes are going to be given out at WK supported events as they are now. The only difference is how the Judge support is provided. The OP FAQ does hint that there may be "enhanced" prize support for larger events. But, that may be alluding to Regional Events or Convention Events or something else... we simply don't have all the information yet.

Again, I believe this is a non-issue. You'll be given the prize support attached to the event. I would expect any "enhanced" prize support would be provided prior to the qualifying event to be given out accordingly.

I think so far we're reading too much into the release. Of course, I may be miscontruing as well. We really can't know the answers until the actual Organized Play documents are published.

Well, currently the word is that it is still getting worked on. However, the envoy rewards will be apparently based on entry timeliness and accuracy. Not exactly sure how they measure the latter, but it isn't going to be automatic (the 2006 way) or attendance based.

I am glad that they have responded.

My problem is that they have never specifically stated that Casual Play Events will have prize support.

Venue-supported events are simply that. No support from Wizkids.

If a casual play can happen anytime without a judge, how does Wizkids predict that? Do they just send extra prizes and when two people meet and play on a Wednesday at 5:36 pm after picking up some comics, they just get a prize?

It doesn't make sense to me.

I hope you scenario is correct. With little to go on, we all are speculating.

You are confusing casual events with non-WK supported events...they are not mutually exclusive. Venues sign up for the alotted WK-supported events. WK sends support for those events. Attendance is what classifies the WK-supported event as competitive or casual (8 or more=competitive, 7 or less=casual). The prize support is still there, with a difference (presumably) being the weight of the rankings.

Venue supported can be competitive or casual as well, depending on attendance. The only difference, then, is who provides the prizes.

Also, a group of casual gamers could get together and play a game at the venue for fun (no prizes). Either before or after the fact, the Event Organizer can register this as an event.

etc...