We walked up to the counter as the airline attendant greeted us in English. This was it. This was going to be the defining moment.

Flash back to three months previous—the middle of May.

I was busy looking over the ticket details after receiving the voucher. This was it. We had the tickets and the visa. We were moving to Australia!

Then, a little voice in the back of my head threw up a small, red flag. What does that say about baggage?

Hidden within the tiny subtext of the ticket voucher was a line that said there was a limit of 20 kilograms per passenger. That seemed a bit strange. The only international limit I was familiar with was between America and Japan, and that was always restricted to a number of bags, which were in turn restricted to roughly 23 kg.

Was this the same? I had to find out. I sent a quick inquiry to the travel agent.

“Baggage for check-in is 20 kilograms total.” Crap.

After another quick inquiry, I found out that each additional kg would be charged somewhere between $8 and $20. While steep, that wasn’t too bad considering our ticket was $200 cheaper than the next option, and I wasn’t planning on bringing much more than 30 kg anyway. But there was an addendum: “You should check with the airline just to be sure.”

Forward, back to the present.

“It looks like your luggage is overweight, sir. Do you want to pay for the extra baggage?”

“How much is it?”

A pause.

“It will be $60 per kilogram.”

I was floored. That was three times the worst-case scenario the travel agent had given us. There was no way I was going to pay.

I quickly recovered, took my fiancée over to an empty counter, and we began tearing apart our suitcases as family and loved ones, having come to see us off, looked on. My mind went into emergency mode. What could I survive without over the next six to twelve months in Australia?

Playstation 3? Cut. Japanese study books? Cut. Books for entertainment and/or personal growth? Cut.

Then came the big question: Magic cards?

In terms of weight and practicality, they were at the very bottom of the list, only beaten by the PS3 and maybe the books. Despite having sent home or sold all but the rares from the past three years (including binders, sleeves, and various other Magic paraphernalia), the boxes still weighed 5 kg. But it was Magic! It was my hobby, my way of making friends, spending time, and I hoped, finding a career.

In the end, they were cut.

A year ago, former Gathering Magic writer Russell Tassicker wrote a piece entitled Magic for the Time-Poor. It was a great article about how Magic players could stay involved when they found themselves overwhelmed with work, responsibility, and life in general. I enjoyed reading it back then, and I was politely reminded of it by Russell himself when I was doing a bit of tweeting about the skeleton of this article. I highly recommend you check it out.

This isn’t going to be a rehash of what Russell talked about. (Though you will notice we both used the story-as-an-intro gimmick.) While some of the activities I’m going to talk about can be done when time-poor, this article is going to concentrate on being poor in a monetary card sense. I’m going to spice things up by also talking about what to do when you have no cards at your disposal. I’ve moved between three separate continents multiple times over the past few years, leaving my Magic collection(s) behind each time, and I have a bunch of experiences to share.

Reading

Probably the easiest and most obvious option available to people who can’t afford to play Magic is to read Magic content. This does a number of things for you as a Magic player. It keeps you up to date on current strategies, cards, ideas, and—even better—when you do have a chance to play, you’re no less knowledgeable than your friends/opponents (to an extent). It also allows you to have a conversation with fellow Magic players without actually having played. It gives you a stable foundation on which to build relationships with a minimum of time invested.

If you’re reading this article, chances are you already know which Magic websites are popular. Chose the ones you enjoy or find worthy of your time, and read them when you can—whether it’s on the bus, on a lunch break, or while relaxing at home. If you aren’t well-versed in Internet Magic fan sites, here are a few beyond Gathering Magic.

Unfortunately, this is a non-interactive pursuit on its own. It is fairly useless unless used for some purpose of playing or discussion. However, like any research you do before writing a paper, this will act as a great beginning for a number of the following suggestions.

Twitter (and Other Social Media)

I’m a huge fan of building relationships with the people around you physically, but that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to digital relationships. Creating a connection with fellow Magic players online is incredibly easy in this day and age. Create a Twitter account, and then follow the people who interest you, friend players you’ve met at large events on Facebook, or just post in a few of the major forums. When you do this, you’re not only creating friends and relationships, but you’re opening up a space that will allow you to talk about Magic.

When I first moved to Australia, the only thing that kept me connected to the Magic world beyond web surfing was Twitter. Instead of going to my local shop and talking to other players about the state of Standard, new Draft strategies, or tournament news, I did those things online. While I eventually got to know my local shop(s) and fellow Aussie players, it was Twitter that kept me connected and up to date through the transition so I could slip into my local shop effortlessly.

In short, while it’s not a replacement for connecting with local Magic players, don’t underestimate the power of staying involved with the online Magic community. It also has the added benefit of being quick, easy, and doable in tiny chunks—unlike reading certain articles.

Writing

The obvious transition from social media would be to actual writing. Whether it’s a weekly series on one of Magic’s larger fan sites or a personal blog read by five good friends doesn’t matter. The fact that you are writing means that you are putting thought into the game, and that keeps you actively invested in it.

There’s nothing wrong with writing a blog to get your thoughts out, but if you want to write for a Magic website, it’s not as hard as it seems. Most of the larger sites often have a page or post when they are actively in need of a writer for a specific topic/series. (This is how I got started writing for GM back when it was Mana Nation.) Others will hold a contest or send out a call through word of mouth, Twitter, or Facebook.

On the flip side, I’ve met a number of writers who have sent in articles they wrote on a topic close to their Magic hearts, and it eventually led to a permanent position. It doesn’t hurt to send in an article you’ve written. It will be posted if it’s good enough, and if not, no one knows. Revise it or try again with a new topic. Writing your own blog can also lead to a writing position on Magic websites as it has for many Magic players in the past, or, at the very least, it will allow you to practice and improve.

The great thing about writing is that you are proactively building your Magic knowledge, no matter who it is for. Building decks, reading articles, and talking in short bursts can only get you so far. Writing a full article about a topic will make you go deeper and progress your Magic knowledge in some form. It is also another way to find people to talk to on the Internet and at your local shop. On the down side, this is probably the most time-intensive suggestion in this article—especially if you are starting without prior experience.

Judging

We’ve finally come to my favorite choice for my time in Australia. I’d already done—or was already doing—my previous suggestions, and I specifically wanted a method that would get me directly involved in the local community. I saw it as a much better option than hanging out at the shop or playing Draft once a month.

This is another activity that will take up a fair bit of your time, but no more than if you were playing in weekly events. The biggest difficulty comes in finding a judge to take you under his or her wing. Ideas for solving such a problem include: talking to the judges who run bigger events at your local game store(s), going to a larger, regional event to meet judges, or just volunteering to help out at a local PTQ or GPT. Once you’ve started down this course, you can regulate it however your schedule allows.

The great thing about being a judge is that it gives you an excuse to be at the events you would have gone to as a player. You will be able to meet local players, make friends, and talk about Magic all without having to pay those pesky entry fees. You even get paid in cards if you help out at larger events! I found it incredibly rewarding, and I am extremely glad I put in the effort to become a judge. I would not have been as involved in the Melbourne community as I was if I had not.

Hanging Out

Sometimes, just hanging out at your local game shop and talking with players is the way to go. When all else fails, you can still spend time there without paying. It’s a lot easier to make friends if you are participating in an event, but once you have one or two friends, it shouldn’t be too hard to borrow a deck and play for fun with them while they wait for their event to start. A lot of the game stores I’ve spent time in will have players just hanging out on holidays or weekends hoping a pick-up Draft will start. There’s nothing wrong with doing the same.

In the end, the most important thing you can do when you find yourself in a new place without much money is to make friends. Not only can friends lend you decks and cards, but they will provide motivation for hanging out at the local game shop and events. Once there, you’ve already won.

A Quick Guide to Becoming a Level 1 Judge

Become a Rules Advisor – While it doesn’t have to be the first thing you do, I highly recommend starting to work on it as soon as you decide you want to be a judge. Being one will show those who can help you that you are serious, and it will make helping out at a PTQ or GPT much easier.

Help Out at Events – This can be as simple as asking your local game store owner to register you as the judge for an 8-man Draft on Monday night. It could also be as time-consuming as working under a certified judge for a PTQ. You’ll gain the experience of running an event from the first, but you’ll learn a lot more detail in actual game rules and penalties in the latter. A mix would be ideal, but do what you can.

Find a Mentor – This is pretty simple if you live in a highly populated area. There are bound to be at least a few judges who frequent local shops and events. If you’re in a smaller area, you might have to work to meet up with the one or two judges who oversee your town, city, or region. Once you have a certified judge to talk to, you will have an indispensable resource for rules and event questions and support.

Take the Test – Once you’ve done all of the above, you’re ready to take your test. Prepare at your own pace. Then, take the test when you feel confident. I’ve seen a number of potential judges jump at the chance to take the test solely because they’ve helped with some events, and then they fail because they weren’t ready. The online practice tests are invaluable for helping meter your progress.