So, I've heard of people frequently cubing at their LGS or at a GP with people they meet. What's the best way to make sure your cards are safe when you don't necessarily know the people you're cubing with? I get that a lot of people are just not comfortable with the idea, period. But for those who are, what do you do to avoid worrying about people stealing or damaging your cards?
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I don't cube with strangers anymore unless they're newcomers to my usual playgroup. The last time I cubed at a store, someone walked off with three duals.
That said, if you're going to do it, make sure to take the followings steps:
1) Everyone should use playmats
2) Make sure nobody is like, jackhammer riffle-shuffling
3) Make sure people hold on to all the cards they drafted throughout the duration of building and play
4) Make everyone count out to you, face up, the same number of non-basic cards that they drafted at the end of the draft. If someone's pile is short, hold them personally responsible for the missing card(s)
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It's weird... I know I'm not a scumbag, so I will draft strangers' cubes if invited. However, I'm leery of having strangers draft mine, basically because I don't know if they're scumbags or not. I would probably chase someone down for three duals. The couple times people I didn't know drafted my cube at a LGS, everything was fine. However, other people I knew happened to know those folks, so there was some level of vouching going on. So if you can, try to make sure the strangers aren't strangers to everyone.
Wildfire's advice is good, especially the counting out at the end. Short of using decklists and checking everything upon return, that's probably the best way to go.
Thank y'all for the responses. I'm also really sorry to hear that someone would just up and leave with 3 duals. That takes a certain brand of asshattery. All of the stories I've heard like that just make me want to avoid even trying it altogether.
One way I'd probably try to prevent stealing is have everyone count their pool after drafting and then have them text me a picture of their pool so that we can clear it up later if there are any issues. What I wouldn't tell them is that texting me means that I have their phone number in case I need to track anyone down or report them. Does that sound crazy and/or flawed?
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Nope. It's your cube and your investment. I would be clear about those requirements *before* the draft, however. Anyone who didn't want to meet them would be invited to draft something else.
I don't cube with strangers, period. If someone wants to play my cube and I don't know them, they need to have someone that is already a member of my playgroup vouch for them. Otherwise, I tell them I need to get to know them first since it is a huge risk for myself, they usually understand.
I think it also depends what kind of strangers you are talking about here. Are they friends of friends (who can vouch for their thrustworhtiness), have they been regs in the LGS? I would also be more carefull with teenagers and young students then with older (30+) players. Not because younger people are inherently more criminal, but 100 euro cards are a bigger deal for a 17 year old then for someone who has a regular income. Why steal two duals when you can just buy them without all the risk?
So it all depends, what kind of strangers and how many strangers are playing. Anyway proxying all your really expensive cards is always a good option. Even with people you know, playing in a public venue can be scary if you have power 9 and dual lands in your cube. You might trust the players, but what about those guys behind them ogling all those nice cards?
Another thing to keep in mind is that your cube is there to be played. If you never play it out of fear of it being stolen, then it becomes just a theoretical tinkering hobby. Sometimes risks have to be taken or you will never enjoy certain things in life.
Yeah, I think the best way is to make it very clear to people that you're going to be counting pools and inspecting cards at the end of the draft. It's a big deterrent. It eliminates the idea from their mind that you're not paying attention, and no one will notice if they pocket a couple cards. It doesn't stop a malicious rando from just walking out between games with their deck in their pocket, but deterring an opportunistic theft is probably the majority of the real threat.
But even then, it's a risk you take, and you have to accept the possibility. If you're not willing to take the risk, then go pauper or proxy. Also, you can get your cube insured on homeowner's or renter's insurance, with a speciifc rider that covers the value you have in your cards. Losing one or two cards probably won't be worth the hassle and deductible, but a whole deck would be. And of course, insuring against someone mugging you for your whole cube or losing it in a fire is worth a few bucks a month.
I would probably chase someone down for three duals.
I would have chased him down too given the opportunity. He never showed up to the store again, nobody who I knew who knew him knew where he lived, and I'm told he moved to another state shortly afterwards.
It was a major feelbad.
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Standard: Mono Red #GetSwol
Elsewhere: Random Brews All Day, Erreday
~
That said, if you're going to do it, make sure to take the followings steps:
1) Everyone should use playmats
2) Make sure nobody is like, jackhammer riffle-shuffling
3) Make sure people hold on to all the cards they drafted throughout the duration of building and play
4) Make everyone count out to you, face up, the same number of non-basic cards that they drafted at the end of the draft. If someone's pile is short, hold them personally responsible for the missing card(s)
Currently Playing:
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Wildfire's advice is good, especially the counting out at the end. Short of using decklists and checking everything upon return, that's probably the best way to go.
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One way I'd probably try to prevent stealing is have everyone count their pool after drafting and then have them text me a picture of their pool so that we can clear it up later if there are any issues. What I wouldn't tell them is that texting me means that I have their phone number in case I need to track anyone down or report them. Does that sound crazy and/or flawed?
Standard: Mono Red #GetSwol
Elsewhere: Random Brews All Day, Erreday
~
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I used to write for MTGS, including Cranial Insertion and cube articles. Good on you if you can find those after the upgrade.
So it all depends, what kind of strangers and how many strangers are playing. Anyway proxying all your really expensive cards is always a good option. Even with people you know, playing in a public venue can be scary if you have power 9 and dual lands in your cube. You might trust the players, but what about those guys behind them ogling all those nice cards?
Another thing to keep in mind is that your cube is there to be played. If you never play it out of fear of it being stolen, then it becomes just a theoretical tinkering hobby. Sometimes risks have to be taken or you will never enjoy certain things in life.
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But even then, it's a risk you take, and you have to accept the possibility. If you're not willing to take the risk, then go pauper or proxy. Also, you can get your cube insured on homeowner's or renter's insurance, with a speciifc rider that covers the value you have in your cards. Losing one or two cards probably won't be worth the hassle and deductible, but a whole deck would be. And of course, insuring against someone mugging you for your whole cube or losing it in a fire is worth a few bucks a month.
I would have chased him down too given the opportunity. He never showed up to the store again, nobody who I knew who knew him knew where he lived, and I'm told he moved to another state shortly afterwards.
It was a major feelbad.
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