As we come to the end of what has (I think we can all agree) been a very difficult year, we here at Master of Magics are getting ready to wind down and take some time off for the festive season. While we can’t get together like we would have done in years past, its important to spend what time we can with our loved ones and enjoy some good cheer. After all, if any year has needed a bit of cheer it been this one.
So today I thought I would share some ways you can enjoy your favourite hobbies while we get ready for a less crowded festive few weeks. After all, even if we can be in the same room as each other, that doesn’t mean we can share the holiday season with our nearest and dearests. Today we are going to look at some ways to enjoy Magic the Gathering, with both new and entrenched players alike. So poor yourself a mug of hot coco (or something stronger if you will) and look at some ways you can make the season feel a little bit more magical.
Teach someone new Magic.
One thing that most Magic players have in common is that in most cases, we will have the odd booster pack hanging around. Whether it be a random pack of Kaladesh or a box of Core Set 2020 you have laying around, the chancers are you have some unopened boosters you are yet to crack. It is also quite likely that you have someone in your house that doesn’t play, or is only passingly familiar with the great game that is Magic the Gathering. Maybe you haven’t been able to find time to teach them, or they haven’t had the funds to start it themselves. Maybe they don’t get what the game is all about.
Well, why not take this time to show them what they are missing. Grab a Sealed Pool (or draft set if you have enough people) worth of cards, wrap them up and gift them to someone you want to share the hobby with. If you don’t have a lot of the same set then don’t fear, just make a Chaos pool and give them a taste of all the variety that Magic can offer. If Limited is not your jam, why not put together a new deck from your binder and teach someone how to play Constructed. Or heck, just set them up with an Arena or MTGO account and play some local games. After all, if they can get some enjoyment out of the game you love that would be a pretty swell present.
Brew some White Elephant Festive Commander Decks.
Whether it be on MTGO or via webcams, playing Commander is a great way to stay connected when we are all having to stay in our homes. Many of you may already have a play group that you have been running throughout 2020, or perhaps maybe even before. Well, why not get them into the festive mood with some White Elephant Festive Commander games.
The idea is simple. Build a deck on MTGO for around 1 tix, theming it around the festive season. Then gift it to someone else in your playgroup and play some games together. Maybe you could build a deck around jolly old Saint Nick and the “Elks” that pull his sleigh. Or perhaps a brew based around the idea of giving (bad) presents to your opponents. If you play webcam Commander then you can still take part, just make sure the person you are “gifting” the deck to has the cards they need in their collection. The idea is to have fun with it and get creative. Just remember that your opponent will be gifting you a deck too, so don’t be too mean.
Reach out to those that need it.
It is also important to remember that despite the jolly nature of this time of year, it can also be a difficult time for some. Some people will be lonely, or even struggling to get by. Throw on top of all this the current pandemic, and it not hard to see why what should be a time for good cheer and merriment can also be one of the hardest to get through. So even if you take nothing else from this article. Heck, nothing else for this site, please do one thing for me. Look after each other.
Take the time to reach out to your friends and gaming groups and check in on how each other is doing. Offer what support you can to those that might not have much to look forward to as this year comes to a close. Because despite what some twitter trolls and naysayers would have you believe, the Magic the Gathering community is full of caring people that lookout for one another.
One of the difficult things about this year for me is that I have been unable to get to any events. I miss them not because I like competing, nor because it gives me more excuses to spend more money of this game (much to the eternal frustration of my wife). It’s because I get to meet great and wonderful people, many of whom I regard as friends. You see, we can get all excited about the Magic part of the hobby as we build and play decks against one another. But it’s the Gathering part that truly bring me and so many others so much joy.
Hopefully 2021 will be a better year, and we can get back to some level of normality. But until then let’s make sure we look out for each other. Whether it be via discord, a group chat, email, text or even a good to honest phone call, reach out and let those we care about in this great community that we care.
I’ll be back tomorrow with some ideas for you Warhammer players out there on how to get the most out of this festive season, but as for Magic the Gathering content this will be the last article of the year. We will be back in the new year with a load of new decks and articles for you all to enjoy. In the meantime, you can keep in touch with us down below in the comments, or with me directly @TenguPlaysGames over on Twitter.
Look after each other, and we will see you in the New Year.
