So here's a question that I have been pondering.....
I love the game of magic and just got back into it, but having a hard time finding people to play with. So I am considering just collecting the cards as they come out in each block. Does anyone else collect blocks? Is this a waste of money? Opinions welcome!!!
So here's a question that I have been pondering.....
I love the game of magic and just got back into it, but having a hard time finding people to play with. So I am considering just collecting the cards as they come out in each block. Does anyone else collect blocks? Is this a waste of money? Opinions welcome!!!
Are you local to Southern California? Because if you are, I can recommend some places.
Regarding the question, I mostly play. But I collect some cards that I love too, mostly for resale value or to cherish.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Oh geez... sorry. I have a house above Donner. Finding players wasn't easy when I was up there.
Have you hit up Craigslist or visited the LGSes up there? If you're like me, the biggest difficulty is getting away from the kids long enough to develop a repertoire with other players. Unless it's at a trusted LGS, I generally don't like to take my kids to a new LGS unless I can get a feel for how the people are.
Plus my kids have the attention span of a potato so 6 hour game sessions aren't possible.
To answer your question...
Yes, I collect. Yes, it's a waste of money. No, don't tell your spouse.
I collect first and play second. I like to collect complete sets. Sometimes I get months of break from playing and I live in an area where I can find plenty of places to play. It's hard to get time to play as you get older and involved in other aspects of life. As collecting, it doesn't take that much time and it's basically collecting stamps, figures, games, or whatever. It's a different pleasure, but I'm content enough for that.
Yeah, it is a big money sinker. You may justify it as an investment (with dubious returns and liquidity) or something that you may leave at any time. I don't think it's a (total) waste of money per se thou, well at least compared to other hobbies where I will never get any return back ever. At very least, my cards have some value. Well at least that's how I rationalize it.
I'll always be a player at heart, as I started playing at the game's inception. However, the older I get, the less time I have to play, so I'd say my role has definitely shifted more to that of a collector.
I only own one Commander deck. I don't collect in the slightest. When I tire of a deck, I trade it in and build a new one. What I enjoy most is pouring all of my attention into a single deck (a single anything - I do the same in fighting games and the like). I don't like distractions.
Player at heart, but I end up collecting a lot more than playing the game these days. Mostly it's time constraints and the only time I've been able to go out to play has been sundays. That and with family gatherings going the last two to three weeks I've been swamped.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Try to indoctrinate some family and friends to play with you. MTG really has a wide audience and is very interesting to a lot of people who have never gotten into trading cards or strtegic games in general. I hosted regular EDH evenings at my place and got more and more people asking to try it out.
My priority is always playing the game.. casually or semi competitive if there is an event in our area.. also currently teaching a cosplayer friend the basics of the game using simple 7th edition cards, she likes to use the color white. About collecting, I have the tendency to collect all sorts of tokens... saprolings, eldrazi, birds, angels, soldiers, etc.
Try to indoctrinate some family and friends to play with you. MTG really has a wide audience and is very interesting to a lot of people who have never gotten into trading cards or strtegic games in general. I hosted regular EDH evenings at my place and got more and more people asking to try it out.
Schnerbst- Right now I play with my oldest daughter, but next year she'll be going off to college so I will be losing my magic partner. :-(
That's why I am asking about playing vs. collecting. I don't want to give this up. I love this game and the cards (artwork).
Yes, I collect. Yes, it's a waste of money. No, don't tell your spouse.
Thank you for having the guts to say it. Someone outside of the game is not going to understand paying $5 for a card, much less $500 for a card. There are some things that you just need to keep to yourself for the most part and I think this is one of them. Obviously you have to manage your money correctly, but you should do what you love and what makes you happy. There are worse alternatives, lol.
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
There's a difference between collecting the cards and picking up cards to play with, though. I find I pick up cards to play with more than to collect, in large part because MtG cards aren't really worth collecting. The closest thing to being collector worthy I've seen have been full art cards, especially in foil, and the oddball legacy card like the Einstein one or preacher. There are so many other TCGs that do a better job with art, card layout, foiling, etc, that make both Pokemon and mtg just laughable. Force of will blows me away with their promo full art cards and even set full art cards. Final Fantasy TCG I've not been happy with.
Also, holy crap if someone collects cards for artwork and other coolness, Dragoborne. I bought a box of it as a trial run and love it, though I got to seriously pick up starters to learn how to play it.
Case in point, with collecting I tend to follow artists more than card games. For playing, I obviously buy the cards.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Oh, and in the collecting aspect of the game. I also used to collect Kavu, Wurms, and Dragons. Unfortunately, those cards.. along with a significant part of my collection were accidentally thrown away during a house cleaning. So these days, I only collect tokens. Regular tokens from sets and also the SCG tokens drawn by Liz Nugent. A friend once asked if the 3/3 panda tokens could actually do damage, because they're too cute. ^___^
I have 30+ Commander decks, and I play at least two or three times a week.
I also collect legends and planeswalkers, so I have one of every one of them. I collect Jace and Liliana, too, so I have all the cards that reference or depict them.
I play when I can. I don't see anything wrong with collecting, but I don't have the money or the focus to collect. I mostly get things for Commander if anything.
I haven't played in a while but I wouldn't consider what I do collecting. I build EDH decks, even if I don't get to play them. Currently have 23 and haven't gotten to play even once with the newest 5, working on constructing another 4 with Dominaria release. So...I wouldn't say I collect but I'm hard pressed to say what it is i do if it isn't collecting.
I think I do both. I like building decks but I also like collecting a complete block. It is just fun for me, and gives me conversation starters with my students.
Anyone else had issues with an LGS due to allergies and such? I know I've had to stop going to the closest LGS to me because of the air quality being bad. Every time I go there to pick up cards my throat basically goes raw, which usually isn't a good sign. It's kind of annoying because the owner of the LGS is actually great. I believe it's because some of the people who go there smoke, so it kind of reminds me of my old uncles house where I basically had to arm myself with throat lozenges and wash everything I wore after visiting.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Anyone else had issues with an LGS due to allergies and such? I know I've had to stop going to the closest LGS to me because of the air quality being bad. Every time I go there to pick up cards my throat basically goes raw, which usually isn't a good sign. It's kind of annoying because the owner of the LGS is actually great. I believe it's because some of the people who go there smoke, so it kind of reminds me of my old uncles house where I basically had to arm myself with throat lozenges and wash everything I wore after visiting.
Oh, definitely. I don't know what it is with shop-going MTG players and smoking, but it's always so common in every shop I've attended. At least the popularization of vaping helped with the smell.
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I love the game of magic and just got back into it, but having a hard time finding people to play with. So I am considering just collecting the cards as they come out in each block. Does anyone else collect blocks? Is this a waste of money? Opinions welcome!!!
Are you local to Southern California? Because if you are, I can recommend some places.
Regarding the question, I mostly play. But I collect some cards that I love too, mostly for resale value or to cherish.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Theorycrafting
Collecting
Historical Meta Analysis
Playing: Historical Standard > EDH > Legacy > Standard > Pauper > Modern
Following the Story
Oh geez... sorry. I have a house above Donner. Finding players wasn't easy when I was up there.
Have you hit up Craigslist or visited the LGSes up there? If you're like me, the biggest difficulty is getting away from the kids long enough to develop a repertoire with other players. Unless it's at a trusted LGS, I generally don't like to take my kids to a new LGS unless I can get a feel for how the people are.
Plus my kids have the attention span of a potato so 6 hour game sessions aren't possible.
To answer your question...
Yes, I collect. Yes, it's a waste of money. No, don't tell your spouse.
Yeah, it is a big money sinker. You may justify it as an investment (with dubious returns and liquidity) or something that you may leave at any time. I don't think it's a (total) waste of money per se thou, well at least compared to other hobbies where I will never get any return back ever. At very least, my cards have some value. Well at least that's how I rationalize it.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus ~~~ Build your own win-condition: Finite Spellslinging
UR Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer ~~~ We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic ~~~ A Guide to dying slowly
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose ~~~ Marchesa's undying Marionettes
RGW Mayael the Anima ~~~ All Hail the Big Chungus
GWU Chulane, Teller of Tales ~~~ Permanents Only ETB Shenanigans
BGU Sidisi, Brood Tyrant ~~~ Sidisi's Restless Servants
WUBRG The Ur-Dragon ~~~ Dragons eat your face
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
Schnerbst- Right now I play with my oldest daughter, but next year she'll be going off to college so I will be losing my magic partner. :-(
That's why I am asking about playing vs. collecting. I don't want to give this up. I love this game and the cards (artwork).
Thank you for having the guts to say it. Someone outside of the game is not going to understand paying $5 for a card, much less $500 for a card. There are some things that you just need to keep to yourself for the most part and I think this is one of them. Obviously you have to manage your money correctly, but you should do what you love and what makes you happy. There are worse alternatives, lol.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Also, holy crap if someone collects cards for artwork and other coolness, Dragoborne. I bought a box of it as a trial run and love it, though I got to seriously pick up starters to learn how to play it.
Case in point, with collecting I tend to follow artists more than card games. For playing, I obviously buy the cards.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Nexus MTG News // Nexus - Magic Art Gallery // MTG Dual Land Color Ratios Analyzer // MTG Card Drawing Odds Calculator
Want to play a UW control deck in modern, but don't have jace or snaps?
Please come visit us at the Emeria Titan control thread
I have 30+ Commander decks, and I play at least two or three times a week.
I also collect legends and planeswalkers, so I have one of every one of them. I collect Jace and Liliana, too, so I have all the cards that reference or depict them.
SG
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Oh, definitely. I don't know what it is with shop-going MTG players and smoking, but it's always so common in every shop I've attended. At least the popularization of vaping helped with the smell.