These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

It's a magical time of year (pun intended).

Presents are being wrapped.  The tree is going to be up soon - I PROMISE!  And I'm left thinking about what makes Magic the Gathering special to me.  I know that this time of year brings out the 'Top 10' lists in droves.  This isn't one of those articles.

Instead, I want to really highlight the parts of the community I enjoy the most.
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I used to drive to work listening to a particular shock jock on Sirius.  Now I load up my smartphone with a few choice podcasts and listen to them during my drive to work.  Magic has obviously improved me for the better.  In no particular order, here are my favorite podcasts:

• The Deck Tease - Erin Campbell is a little edgy, and seems to land just about every personality in Magic.  She makes me smile every time an episode comes out.  There is no better way to start a Monday.
• Limited Resources - Marshall and current assorted company break down Limited play in a very accessible manner.  I truly miss Brian Wong, but I know that Marshall will find a new co-host soon.  If you like limited half as much as I do, this has to be on your rotation.
• JudgeCast - There is only one bad thing about JudgeCast.  It's not the references to Bitty Kitty.  It's not the number of movie references they throw into every episode.  And it's never their special guests.  It's that there is only one episode every two weeks.  If Santa would leave one thing under my tree this year, I'd ask him for weekly episodes in 2015.

I don't think players fully realize how important Judges are to Magic the Gathering.  Next time you interact with one - even if you hate the outcome - say this: thank you.  It can be, "Thank you, but I'd like to appeal your ruling," or "Thank you for your explanation, even though I don't agree."  But it should always start with a thank you.  Judges are compensated for most events they are involved in, but the compensation isn't why they do it (if it was, most would either stay home or play themselves).  Judges are a breed apart who are on their feet all day - often on cement poured floors - simply because they want to help you have a better game.  They deserve your respect, if not your admiration.

I wouldn't play this game if it was 100% digital.  At least, I wouldn't still be playing it 3 years later.  I've made many friends through playing at LGSs and going to events.  The game is incredible, but the social part of it is what keeps me coming back.

Twitter.  Facebook.  Twitch.  Pinterest (or so I've heard).  Tumblr.  If you're reading this, you are already a part of the extended online community who take part in razzing Mark Rosewater about bananas or congratulating the most recent GP winner via Twitter.  And let's not forget the websites offering non-stop updates to their coverage.  I don't have one favorite here, other than to say that lately Matt Tabak's Tumblr feed has been particularly sardonic lately.  If you don't follow him, give it a try.

This past year I made it to several large events.  I love the feel of anticipation, the increased level of competition and the camaraderie.  I have hopes of getting to at least 3 next year.  I'd like to make it to Las Vegas, but I don't see me attending without Jacob.  I priced out flights and when I add in other expenses, I just don't see it happening.  I will be at GP Atlantic City and likely the Eternal Weekend in Philadelphia though, so that's two big events.

I'm a big supporter of local game stores.  I also buy from a few online stores, everything from singles to box product.  But I also started to get more into EDH this year.  Elder Dragon Highlander (or Commander for those so inclined) is not a format that rewards someone like me that has been collecting for 3 years. Let's face it, LGSs and sometimes online stores don't stock that $1 rare or penny common from Futuresight that you need.  I've found that PucaTrade is great for filling that gap.  If you're an EDH player and you're not on PucaTrade, you're doing it wrong.  That, or you have a way more impressive collection than I do.

If you didn't see it before, people in my area lost our local game store last month.  The only thing I have to say here is - support your LGS.  Go there, play, interact, and for the love of all things that is holy, buy some product.  Your LGS is the first stop in the greater, larger world community of Magic.  If you stop at that level, then fine.  But when you step up to play in larger tournaments, you'll be thankful for everything your LGS provided you.

Finding time to watch coverage on weekends can be difficult.  But when I do, I'm always thankful for the knowledge demonstrated by coverage team members.  They all make the game a little more accessible and for that they should be thanked (and this includes all the people who support the actual broadcasters).

Lastly, I have to thank my son, Jacob, for continuing to play and inspire me to do the same.  If he wasn't interested in the game, I'm sure I wouldn't play either.  It's his love for it that drives me to learn more, play better, and find a way to express myself creatively.

Thank you, son.  And thanks to all of you for reading.  See you in 2015!


-Please feel free to add what you enjoy the most about our community in the comments section.

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Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.

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Game Stores Aren't Forever

Today is a tough day for gamers in south eastern New Jersey.  The court clown will frolic no more.

Jester's Playhouse, a home away from home for many, shut the doors and turned out the lights for the final time today.  Jester's as it's more commonly known (or even the 'store' to many) was a survivor.  It had beat the long odds several times over its long history.

It started 18 years ago in Cape May County.  Rich Gain, and his then wife Joanna started the store with the idea that would offer comics, games, and a place to meet.  I didn't step foot in the store until it moved to its second home in Northfield.  At that time, I was at a point in my life where I couldn't well afford to support my WH40K habit and I was still years away from finding nirvana in the form of MtG.  I stopped in that space no more than a few times, but I could tell that the community established by the store was vibrant.

Some years ago, they moved to their third location, easily doubling their space and dedicating over half of it to play.  It's there that I eventually found my own place in a community of like minded individuals.  I had been introduced to Magic formally some time before, after having picked up the game for my younger son's benefit.  If I had known what I was missing, I would have been there long before.

Friends like Larry and Sarah.  Austin, Mario, and Ryan.  Preston, Toby, Robbie, Brigette, and Ryan.  Josh and Steve and John.  Rich, Rich, and Zack. Wayne, Garret, Tyler, Tricky, Christian, and Mike.  John Paul.  A hundred more names and a few hundred faces.  Jim - probably one of the people I most closely bonded with over the simple act of playing Magic.  Jim was the one guy who figured out I was writing online under the guise of Magic Dad (only a couple of people at Jester's ever knew until now - as they are reading this article).  He talked to me about my blog, offering encouragement when I needed it and served as a sounding board for a few of my more 'out there' ideas.  I think I'll miss our occasional head to head games of Magic the most.

I'm an adult.  I know that I will see many of the people I met through Jester's at other events.  But life takes weird turns, and I know there are others I may not see again.  That thought leaves me with a profound sense of loss.  It's amazing how much you can fall into a world created by a game when played on plastic tables while seated in plastic chairs.  And how much you can miss it when it is gone.

A very rare breed...

The primary owner of Jester's, Rich Gain, through all of its successes and difficulties, loved his store.  He is a gamer at heart who enjoyed introducing people to new games.  People will argue for years to come as to what led Jester's to finally close.  That argument is now academic.  The bottom line is, no matter how much you love something, life takes its toll.  Unable to remain profitable and in order to pay bills owed, Rich made the painful decision to close the doors to Jester's.  Saturday and Sunday, gamers came to pay respects.  Some bought items on sale at ridiculous prices.  One came with Scotch older than the store.  Many more came with their eyes a little red and a boardgame in hand - hoping to roll the dice one more time.  Me?  I had an unopened box of Conspiracy that I was dying to try for the first time.  So Jacob and I made our final trek to Jester's yesterday for one last draft.

I did what I always did while there.  I spent some money.  I talked to some friends.  At one point I left, taking a friend of mine from another store out to lunch.  When we returned, Jacob and I found enough friends to draft Conspiracy twice (six man pods) and it was wonderful.

Jacob and I left the store that night after one more round of goodbyes.  We drove home, mostly in silence, thinking about what was and what could have been.

The greatest sadness for us about Jester's closing is the loss of meeting up with some friends and drafting Magic until we have to peel ourselves out of our seats and stumble homeward.  The nearest store to us that supports gamers is almost an hour away.  If we're willing to drive, we are practically spoiled for choice, with great stores to the south, west and north of us.  But I know that many of our friends will be in the same boat we are.  After working a hard day, many of us will elect to stay home more often than not.

Everyone displaced by the loss of Jester's will try different stores to see if one 'fits'.  We'll all try to find new stores that feel right, that have the best make-up of friends, product and support.

If there is one thing about this experience I can count upon, it's this final thought.

Nature abhors a vacuum.  This area can and will support a game store.  Maybe it won't carry the Jester's brand.  Hopefully, when it does come it will find success.  With a local state college and a devoted base of gamers, an LGS with a smart plan and strong execution can not only succeed, but flourish.  It's a matter of establishing brand and serving to the old clientele while developing new interests.  How long will it take?  We'll see.  Our particular area is one of the few that seems to be mired in an economy that won't fully bounce back.  We're fifteen minutes from Atlantic City - and the loss of jobs here as casinos continue to close has some people scared to try something as risky as starting a small business.

But it will happen.  It has to happen.  And when it does, we'll all be there to welcome the new store.  Jacob, me and a few hundred of the faithful.

Support your community.  Support your hobby.  Support your LGS.

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Reblogs, Retweets, & Mentions of all kinds are appreciated - as an independent writer I'm only read when others like what they see and share with their friends.

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