Not sure if this is the correct place to post this question, but I found no better forum.
I'm moving to Pittsburgh in 2 months, from a completely different city (alas, country - Portugal). What are the best stores to play magic? What kind of tournaments do they have, how popular they are, etc?
Thanks in advance.
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Trophyless guy.
Thought of the Month: I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
The owner is great, people there are friendly, very little bad losers/winners. They have a draft FNM one night each week, and a constructed another night.
It's a premiere store, so it does qualifiers, and gets ample product, he sells at fair prices. Pre-releases and other tournies can get a bit crowded, I've been there for 40-50 people playing in a pre-release (He does two tourneys on pre-release weekends). Get there a bit early on pre-release days.
On the occasional slow night (Like right before a pre-release), if not enough people show for an FNM, he'll get people together to do team games if there's enough interest, or unusual drafts.
Prize support is great too. (He prides himself on having the highest payout in Pittsburgh, or at least he did the last time I was there)
I'd also say that Mr. Nice Guys is a good place to go, but the key to Magic in Pittsburgh will be where you are located and what kind of transportation is available to you.
If you are in the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and University of Pittsburgh area, then Phantom of the Attic will be closest. It's pretty much right in between the two colleges and is an easy walk from either. The owner isn't a huge fan of Magic, so he usually only runs Standard and Draft FNM's and the usual other Wizard sponsored tournies. Also, they do drafts at CMU at least one night a week if not more (I have some friends who play there, I can confirm which day it is if need be). There is also a smaller/casual scene close by in Squirrel Hill that meets on Thursdays for EDH and has a smaller FNM/tourney scene. They usually do Pre's and Gamedays on Sundays, opposite of the other stores, so lots of chances at those full frame cards and playmats out here.
Mr. Nice Guys is probably the best store to play at, but it is a bit outside of the city, so you are going to need a car or make friends with a playgroup that drives out to it to get there. The owner does give out great prize support. He sponsored the Modern PTQ this past spring and the payouts were a lot better than any of the others had ever been. I think first place received hundreds of dollars in store credit in addition to the plane ticket and 2-16 all received at least half a box and more. He also runs Legacy and Modern events as often as possible. It's probably the most "Magic" centered store.
There are a few other stores a little outside of the city as well; Legions, Geekadrome and New Dimensions to name a few, but again, you'll need a car to get to most of them.
If you have any other questions let me know. Each of the stores develops its own little scene and while I haven't played at some of them in a while, all of them were friendly enough when I did.
...and welcome to Pittsburgh (you know, when you actually relocate.)
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The Modern Perspective - an article series all about Modern brought to you by PureMTGO.com
If you are east of the city, The Vault in Greensburg is another option. It's a bit of a drive from Pittsburgh, but it's a great place, especially if you like to draft. On a normal Friday we do 6-10, and will fire one anytime we have 8 peeps who want to. Also Thursday night standard, and the normal weekend stuff too.
I'll add my recommendation of Mr. Nice Guy Games as well. Best prizes, best competition. They're also moving to a bigger store come August I believe. Ron runs a weekly Legacy tournament on Fridays in conjunction with Standard/Draft FNM, as well as a weekly win-a-box Wednesday Standard.
Also, the CMU drafts teh_gio mentioned are on Tuesday.
Hi guys! I am in Pittsburgh now, and I live nearby CMU. The closest store (among those you pointed) seems to be Phantom of the Attic, which is like 50+ minutes by bus. Is there anything closer?
Is there a Magic comunity/group/whatever at CMU? How do I contact them?
Thanks!
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Trophyless guy.
Thought of the Month: I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
There is an official school club that runs a fairly big draft (15-30 people) every Saturday evening during the school year at around 7 in the university center. $10, prize support is rare redrafting + free entry to another draft for the winner. I hear there are also a lot of people who gather regularly on Tuesdays at the same place to team draft.
Phantom of the Attic is convenient to CMU, but not the best (expensive entry, kind of crowded, no chairs or bathrooms) Mr. Nice Guy's is definitely a good option if you have a car.
Are you going to be an undergrad or a grad student at CMU? Maybe I'll see you around in the fall
It's easy to get to and has ample parking. It has a bathroom! It's close to multiple places for food. There's lots of playspace as well.
Admittedly his website is terrible, but I've been playing there 16+ years and can tell you we've built a very nice environment for players. We're a friendly group but we have many competitive players.
Tuesday Booster Drafts for $13 - 1.5 packs per person into the prize pool. Generally get 16 - 24 people.
Friday Night Magic - $6 - 2 packs per person into the prize pool. We've had as many as 36 for FNM but generally get 16 - 24.
Pre-releases including midnight, main event Saturday and Sunday, and Two-Headed Giant
We've had as many as 56 and usually end up with 32 - 48 players per main event...and have been giving 4 packs per person into the prize pool.
Weekly Modern Events are being scheduled as well...looking like Wednesdays.
@Orange: I am a PhD student. Are they meeting already, or just when the classes begin? Btw, where in the UC? Do they have a site or mail?
@Moose: That one is as far as the other, but I have to switch bus.
People might be meeting up for casual team drafts, especially on Tuesdays, but the official Saturday ones don't start until classes start (and most of the people who would be there probably aren't back yet). It's in the room on the second floor that overlooks the pool. They have a facebook group where you can probably have a lot of your questions answered: https://www.facebook.com/groups/magicatcmu/
There are actually a bunch of places in Pittsburgh, but since you are only using public transit, I would stick to the two in Squirrel Hill and Phantom in Oakland.
I see nobody's posted in this thread in a while, but I just wanted to let everyone know, I'm starting a weekly draft as part of a game night I run at Voodoo Brewery in Homestead. It's 21+ only, as it is a bar, but it's going to be a great casual environment to draft and play magic (and board games as well). And there's lots of awesome beer.
If anyone's interested, feel free to follow Voodoo Homestead on fb (or private message me your email address) for weekly updates. Will be starting today, and assuming I get enough interest, will run on all subsequent Mondays (except next week, which will be on a Sunday).
I am looking to get back into Magic. I am looking to be a casual player only. I played in the 90s and don't really know what this community is all about. Where do casual nerds get their Cards on here in Pittsburgh?
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Not sure if this is the correct place to post this question, but I found no better forum.
I'm moving to Pittsburgh in 2 months, from a completely different city (alas, country - Portugal). What are the best stores to play magic? What kind of tournaments do they have, how popular they are, etc?
Thanks in advance.
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
Phantom of the Attic in Oakland, there was one at the Pittsburgh Mills.
I'd recommend Mr. Nice Guy Games...
http://www.mrniceguygames.com/
The owner is great, people there are friendly, very little bad losers/winners. They have a draft FNM one night each week, and a constructed another night.
It's a premiere store, so it does qualifiers, and gets ample product, he sells at fair prices. Pre-releases and other tournies can get a bit crowded, I've been there for 40-50 people playing in a pre-release (He does two tourneys on pre-release weekends). Get there a bit early on pre-release days.
On the occasional slow night (Like right before a pre-release), if not enough people show for an FNM, he'll get people together to do team games if there's enough interest, or unusual drafts.
Prize support is great too. (He prides himself on having the highest payout in Pittsburgh, or at least he did the last time I was there)
If you are in the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and University of Pittsburgh area, then Phantom of the Attic will be closest. It's pretty much right in between the two colleges and is an easy walk from either. The owner isn't a huge fan of Magic, so he usually only runs Standard and Draft FNM's and the usual other Wizard sponsored tournies. Also, they do drafts at CMU at least one night a week if not more (I have some friends who play there, I can confirm which day it is if need be). There is also a smaller/casual scene close by in Squirrel Hill that meets on Thursdays for EDH and has a smaller FNM/tourney scene. They usually do Pre's and Gamedays on Sundays, opposite of the other stores, so lots of chances at those full frame cards and playmats out here.
Mr. Nice Guys is probably the best store to play at, but it is a bit outside of the city, so you are going to need a car or make friends with a playgroup that drives out to it to get there. The owner does give out great prize support. He sponsored the Modern PTQ this past spring and the payouts were a lot better than any of the others had ever been. I think first place received hundreds of dollars in store credit in addition to the plane ticket and 2-16 all received at least half a box and more. He also runs Legacy and Modern events as often as possible. It's probably the most "Magic" centered store.
There are a few other stores a little outside of the city as well; Legions, Geekadrome and New Dimensions to name a few, but again, you'll need a car to get to most of them.
If you have any other questions let me know. Each of the stores develops its own little scene and while I haven't played at some of them in a while, all of them were friendly enough when I did.
...and welcome to Pittsburgh (you know, when you actually relocate.)
I must admit I still have no idea where I will stay and how are the transports there :x But yes, I'll study at CMU, so Phantom is interesting as well.
@teh_gio: I might be interested, but we can talk in the future about that
@hobomoe: what are bruins? Anything to do with Boston Bruins? (lol google help, no idea if I'm close)
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
Also, the CMU drafts teh_gio mentioned are on Tuesday.
Is there a Magic comunity/group/whatever at CMU? How do I contact them?
Thanks!
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
Phantom of the Attic is convenient to CMU, but not the best (expensive entry, kind of crowded, no chairs or bathrooms) Mr. Nice Guy's is definitely a good option if you have a car.
Are you going to be an undergrad or a grad student at CMU? Maybe I'll see you around in the fall
Legacy:
UR UR Delver
UBR Ad Nauseam Tendril
W Death & Tax
Modern deck:
UW UW control (with Spreading Seas and Wall of Omens)
BRG Vengevine!
http://www.phantomoftheattic.com/
It's easy to get to and has ample parking. It has a bathroom! It's close to multiple places for food. There's lots of playspace as well.
Admittedly his website is terrible, but I've been playing there 16+ years and can tell you we've built a very nice environment for players. We're a friendly group but we have many competitive players.
Tuesday Booster Drafts for $13 - 1.5 packs per person into the prize pool. Generally get 16 - 24 people.
Friday Night Magic - $6 - 2 packs per person into the prize pool. We've had as many as 36 for FNM but generally get 16 - 24.
Pre-releases including midnight, main event Saturday and Sunday, and Two-Headed Giant
We've had as many as 56 and usually end up with 32 - 48 players per main event...and have been giving 4 packs per person into the prize pool.
Weekly Modern Events are being scheduled as well...looking like Wednesdays.
Come check us out when you're in town!
@Moose: That one is as far as the other, but I have to switch bus.
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
People might be meeting up for casual team drafts, especially on Tuesdays, but the official Saturday ones don't start until classes start (and most of the people who would be there probably aren't back yet). It's in the room on the second floor that overlooks the pool. They have a facebook group where you can probably have a lot of your questions answered: https://www.facebook.com/groups/magicatcmu/
You should be able to walk to the one in Oakland from CMU. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phantom-of-the-Attic-Comics-Oakland/270567764926
411 S. Craig St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
New Dimensions is another store with multiple locations. http://www.ndcomics.com/
There is SW Randall on Forbes in Sq. Hill.
Games Unlimited on Murry Ave, also in SQ. Hill http://bgamers.com/
Mr Nice Guys like everyone has mentioned.
Legions Games http://www.legionsgames.com/ and Game Masters https://www.facebook.com/pages/Game-Masters/207317139336186 are within about 2 miles of each other. Both are in Ross Twp.
There are actually a bunch of places in Pittsburgh, but since you are only using public transit, I would stick to the two in Squirrel Hill and Phantom in Oakland.
BUWGRChilds PlayGRWUB
BUWGR Highlander GRWUB
UBSquee's Shapeshifting PetBU
BW Multiplayer Control WB
RG Changeling GR
UR Mana FlareRU
UMerfolkU
B MBMC B
Twitter: JustinmJohnston
Facebook.com/justin.johnston2
If anyone's interested, feel free to follow Voodoo Homestead on fb (or private message me your email address) for weekly updates. Will be starting today, and assuming I get enough interest, will run on all subsequent Mondays (except next week, which will be on a Sunday).