Based on my Standard build:
Dega ControlMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | |
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It's interesting, but you generally do not see many of the unclean clueless gamers in Portland. I have never in reality encountered many of the stereotypes you judge. The last two FNM that I went to the players were made up of mostly your average jeans and t-shirt guys (fairly fit and well groomed), the occasional awkward skinny nerd type, a couple of beardy hipster types (well groomed), and two trans players. There was also a smattering of women, but they were playing draft so I did not really pay attention to their appearance. From what I hear from Galspanic and others that is pretty typical around here, though some shops are a bit more cave-like in ambiance. The shop I go to is huge, open, clean, and attracts all kinds of gamers- there is even a room where they have craft beers on tap.
The majority of the regulars are average t-shirt and jeans person- both fit and not so fit (this would be me, gained a lot of weight drinking and never got it off). This is most certainly me, and this group really makes me proud to be a gamer. They are still usually guys, but there are women too, and the guys are usually well rounded enough to not treat women as if there are a new species. They generally just want to blow off some steam and have a fun game, and are not too judgmental about who they play with. I find them open, friendly, and really easy to get a game going with even if you have never met. I am quite comfortable socially, so I have no problem approaching anyone really, but these folks are the kind that will come up and say hi next time they see you in a shop. They generally don't trade a ton, and are don't spend a lot of time online researching decks (obviously I am an anomaly here). Needless to say grooming and cleanliness are at or above social norms here.
I think the premise that the only reason a person says it doesn't stink in their shop is because they stink is lazy stereotyping. My training is as a registered nurse- in which cleanliness is one of the most important habits, and my wife (also a nurse) would not let me near her if I smelled, and I shower at least once a day, but I must be the stink-master general because I don't think the people at my FNM smell? That is absurd.
I want to be clear- I am not defending smelly anything, I am stating that the stereotype that MTG players are less clean and well groomed than average people of the same age has not been substantiated in my experience.
For reference, here is the shop I generally go to. As you can see it is large, airy, bright, and clean. The other shop I sometimes go to is about half the size, but still clean and well maintained (as you can see from these photos). I know for a fact that you can find shops like these in Seattle and Northern California, and I am sure they are getting more common across the country.
I think threads like this always stem from a some self-loathing of some players who still hold a bit of shame about playing the game, and if comes out as wanting to make sure that other people don't think they are a freak. As such they point out others as detrimental because they fear others thinking they are part of this population.
Fever DreamMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 24 3 Flamekin Harbinger 4 Grim Lavamancer 4 Goblin Guide 4 Bloodghast 3 Dark Confidant 4 Vengevine 2 Viscera Seer Non-Creature Spells 14 3 Grisly Salvage 4 Lightning Bolt 2 Darkblast 1 Abrupt Decay 4 Faithless Looting | Land 22 4 Arid Mesa 4 Verdant Catacombs 4 Blackcleave Cliffs 4 Blood Crypt 2 Overgrown Tomb 1 Stomping Ground 2 Mountain 1 Swamp | Sideboard 3 Dismember 3 Extirpate 2 Ground Seal 4 Thoughtseize 3 Relic of Progenitus |
Glittering Fever DreamMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 24 3 Flamekin Harbinger 4 Glitterfang 4 Goblin Guide 4 Bloodghast 3 Dark Confidant 4 Vengevine 2 Mindlash Sliver Non-Creature Spells 14 3 Grisly Salvage 4 Lightning Bolt 2 Darkblast 1 Abrupt Decay 4 Faithless Looting | Land 22 4 Arid Mesa 4 Verdant Catacombs 4 Blackcleave Cliffs 4 Blood Crypt 2 Overgrown Tomb 1 Stomping Ground 2 Mountain 1 Swamp | Sideboard 3 Dismember 3 Extirpate 2 Ground Seal 4 Thoughtseize 3 Relic of Progenitus |
X-Force (pre-theros)Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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X-Force 7 2 Chandra, Pyromaster 2 Ajani Vengeant 3 Koth of the Hammer Creatures 10 2 Spellskite 4 Stuffy Doll 4 Young Pyromancer Other Spells 20 2 Leyline of Sanctity 3 Electrolyze 4 Lightning Bolt 4 Magma Jet 3 Telling Time 4 Blasphemous Act | Land 23 4 Scalding Tarn 3 Steam Vents 3 Sacred Foundry 2 Tectonic Edge 1 Island 1 Plains 5 Mountain | Sideboard 15 2 Blood Moon 2 Leyline of Sanctity 1 Pithing Needle 3 Relic of Progenitus 2 Shadow of Doubt 3 Shattering Spree 2 Torpor Orb |
Red Snow Devotion (12/17/2013)Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 19 2 Aether Membrane 4 Ash Zealot 3 Blood Knight 4 Boggart Ram-Gang 4 Fanatic of Mogis 2 Grim Lavamancer Other Permanents 10 4 Aether Vial 2 Blood Moon 2 Legion's Initiative 2 Chandra, Pyromaster | Other Non-Permanent Spells 8 4 Magma Jet 4 Skred Land 23 4 Arid Mesa 2 Sacred Foundry 2 Tectonic Edge 2 Cavern of Souls 1 Snow-Covered Plains 12 Snow-Covered Mountain | Sideboard 15 2 Duergar Hedge-Mage 3 Pithing Needle 2 Purphoros, God of the Forge 3 Relic of Progenitus 2 Shattering Spree 3 Sowing Salt |
Black Devotion Control (12/17/2013)Magic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 13 2 Ashenmoor Gougers 2 Ashenmoor Liege 2 Erebos, God of the Dead 3 Gray Merchant of Asphodel 4 Phyrexian Obliterator Other Permanents 7 3 Phyrexian Arena 2 Whip of Erebos 3 Liliana of the Veil Other Non-Permanent Spells 16 2 Devour Flesh 2 Dismember 1 Extirpate 3 Terminate 1 Dreadbore 1 Infest 3 Inquisition of Kozilek 3 Thoughtseize | Land 23 4 Blackcleave Cliffs 4 Blood Crypt 4 Dragonskull Summit 11 Swamp | Sideboard 15 2 Doom Blade 3 Extirpate 2 Smother 2 Dreadbore 2 Infest 2 Rakdos Return |
The RodMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 8 4 Snapcaster 2 Geist of Saint Traft 2 Talrand, Sky Summoner The Rod 4 4 Isochron Scepter Other Spells 26 4 Apostle's Blessing 3 Peer Through Depths 3 Zealous Persecution 3 Serum Visions 2 Remove Soul 2 Magma Jet 2 Muddle the Mixture 2 Piracy Charm 2 Lightning Helix 1 Path to Exile 1 Remand 1 Dawn Charm 1 Vapor Snag 1 Telling Time | Land 23 3 Ghost Quarter 3 Marsh Flats 1 Godless Shrine 2 Halimar Depths 2 Hallowed Fountain 2 Arid Mesa 1 Sacred Forge 1 Steam Vents 1 Watery Grave 4 Island 2 Plains 1 Mountain | Sideboard 15 3 Pithing Needle 3 Relic of Progenitus 3 Ghostly Prison 2 Disenchant 2 Path to Exile 1 Magma Jet 1 Piracy Charm |
Patient VengeanceMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures 3 3 Magus of the Tabernacle Planeswalkers 6 4 Ajani Vengeant 2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant Other Spells 27 4 Faithless Looting 4 Ensnaring Bridge 4 Leyline of Sanctity 3 Mind Stone (or Signets) 2 Ghostly Prison 4 Lightning Helix 3 Day of Judgment 1 Wrath of God 2 Shining Shoal | Land 24 4 Arid Mesa 4 Ghost Quarter 4 Horizon Canopy 4 Sacred Foundry 3 Mountain 5 Plains | Sideboard 15 4 Grand Abolisher 3 Pithing Needle 2 Oblivion Ring 3 Relic of Progenitus 3 Rule of Law |
Heartless FecundityMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Land 23 4 Verdant Catacombs 1 Overgrown Tomb 2 Dragonskull Summit 1 Mountain 7 Forest 7 Swamp Creatures: 3 Perilous Myr 4 Myr Retriever 2 Sakura-Tribe Elder 3 Falkenrath Noble 2 Bloodgift Demon 4 Simian Spirit Guide 3 Golgari Thug | Other Spells: 4 Faithless Looting 4 Heartless Summoning 3 Fecundity 1 Bitter Ordeal 1 Grapeshot 3 Beseech the Queen | Sideboard: 4 Relic of Progenitus 4 Go for the Throat 4 Ghost Quarter 3 Shattering Spree |
Hunted OrbMagic OnlineOCTGN2ApprenticeBuy These Cards | ||
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Creatures: 4 Hunted Phantasm 4 Hunted Horror 2 Eater of Days 2 Avatar of Discord Enablers: 2 Sundial of the Infinite 3 Torpor Orb 4 Trickbind Other Spells: 4 Fabricate 4 Muddle the Mixture 4 Serum Visions 3 Spell Snare | Land: 3 Watery Grave 1 Academy Ruins 1 Buried Ruin 4 Drowned Catacomb 3 Marsh Flats 3 Misty Rainforest 5 Island 4 Swamp | Sideboard: 4 Echoing Truth 4 Leyline of the Void 3 Ratchet Bomb 4 Pithing Needle |