Can you believe it?  Tomorrow marks the beginning of US Nationals – with a few other nations, in their respective places, joining in the Magic fun as well –and I’ll be on-site doing my thing: slinging some cards, trading and searching, and helping out with some of the official event coverage for DailyMTG.com.

Yup, I'm as surprised as you – but probably a little more excited about the whole deal.

More importantly, I’ve been getting ready to head out to Minneapolis, MN and working hard to ensure I can really make the most out of my trip.  Unlike the competitors who have qualified, or are looking to slug it out in Last Chance Qualifiers on Thursday, this trip is more strictly pleasure than any sort of serious business.

The Midwest is a pretty nice place to play Magic: Ohio is a hotbed of locations, players, and history.  The Midwest Masters is a great series carrying things around the entire belt of the region.  All said, the game is very much healthy and alive in the area.  When I found out that US Nationals would be out there I was hoping I could find a way to head out there.

Good things do come along, I guess.

Knowing that the turnout, and local Magic culture, would be solid I took some time to break down exactly what I should be packing to a big event like this (other than basics like soap – something we gamers sometimes take for granted).  Going to big events to dig into thing not consisting of the main event is an excellent choice – one I wholeheartedly advocate – and based on what I’m preparing for I’m sure you’ll find some great fun lurking around too.

The Simultaneous Four-Day Time Cube

Last week I spoke to the lessons and values working with my cube has instilled in me – lessons and values that can be applied to more than just singleton sets of 360 or more cards.  The one weakness I’m trying to understand more about is how a full draft of players looking for archetypes plays out.  I regularly six-man draft, and get in just as many four-man sealed set-ups, but the full eight-man shebang takes just about every card in the cube.  And it certainly takes more than a swipe or two to feel everything out.

Going to big events gives you a lot of the follow types of players:

• Busy competitors calling in favors for friends to get food for between round meals
• Main event drops looking to capitalize in public events since, in theory, many of the more capable players are tied up in the main show
• Friends and buddies of the previous two groups who arrive late/play type “fun” and are looking for hang out around Magic for a few hours/days
• Crazies who annoy the bejesus out of me (hey – we all have people we don’t like)

If you’re a crazy, well, sorry (please don’t stab me).  You’ll probably annoy me the same way I’ll probably annoy you.  Otherwise, the vast majority of players fall into the second and third categories.

In other words: there are always players free for some cubing (or drafting, or Elder Dragon Highlander, or [insert way to play here]).

This isn’t to say that you should hang out with just anybody, but after a few hours of talking, meeting with internetacquiantances, and feeling out the groups of players who are milling about, finding a few reasonably non-shady players for one of the greatest ways to play Magic is a straightforward exercise.

That, or you’re a crazy and no one wants to be around you.  Just saying.

A Den of Thieves

Speaking of non-shady players, keep your eyes open, your bag secured properly, and maintain some self-awareness in the throngs of card slinging bodies.  Grand Prix DC was one of the latest events to feature somewhat intelligent thieves preying upon players getting too caught up in their craft.

One of the biggest things you can do for yourself is, once you’ve found honest players, is to band together.  Protect each other.  Make a mental note of idle bodies who never seem to be engaged in actual gameplay.  Unless they’re dressed all in black and wearing a DCI nametag, hawking art at a line of people in front of them, or selling you stuff, be aware that they may not be a fellow player after all.

That said, there is a very different type of thief: the honest one.  They come with a smile, a solid binder of great cards, and penchant for catching you when you’re trading with someone else.

I’m not suggesting that people who comes to trade a lot (which is something I’m going to take my hand to more aggressively than I did at GPDC) are stealing from you directly, but if you aren’t comfortable with prices, don’t have the time for some basic research, and want to avoid wasting away minutes waiting on the inevitably slow wireless data service – don’t engage in heavy trading.

All good trading involves two parties feeling like they got a good deal.  Converting Standard staples in Legacy needs is often a mutual meeting of the minds: I get great value which is hard to trade for, and you get pricey mythics at a sometimes-not-so-modest discount.  Generally trading is a win-win and is an awesome part of the game.

But the few snakes who will push and prod, seeking the weakest and most out-of-tune players and actively capitalize on ignorance is stepping into the boundaries of asking “What is ethical?”  I’m not going to weigh in here because I have complete appreciation for the fact that good business involves making a profit, and some players take Magic to be serious business, but if you’re not into it that much keep your wits about you – and your cards between trustworthy friends.

Real Ultimate Tech

If you’re into Elder Dragon Highlander, like I most definitely am, then you’ve seen some crazy things.  If I  started to break down the slew of insane plays and situations we would be here all day.  Instead I’m going to suggest something much more mundane: steal.

Steal is not the right word but it has the right type of meaning.  Taking a page from the competitive types, I’ve started to scratch down awesome cards that I think would work great in one (or more) of my decks.  Some work out nicely (like Aura Shards providing much needed lock-breaking in my Rhys, the Redeemed deck) and others not as well as intended (like Hall of Gemstone for my Khamal, Fist of Krosa deck) but, without a reminder, I would forget about trying anything new at all.

It didn’t parse properly for my first big show, but after a game was done and I had a few  minutes free I could go over to deals and see if something I thought was great was available to buy.  Hall of Gemstone was a buck – it did what I wanted it to do (punish multicolor decks and help give my monogreen deck traction against them) but so severely the game became a complete subgame quest of “kill the Hall” until it was achieved.

I do, however, keep Hall of Gemstone nearby just in case I need the tilting power of the soft-locking enchantment.

Taking advantage of the rare opportunity for those selling cards to have actual competition, shop around and keep tabs on who’s buying or trading things in at what rate.  Ask if you can get bonus if you take store credit instead of cash.  Ask if you can get better than bonus on a straight trade in.  While the dealer will still need to identify a clear profit, trading in desirable staples for older, odder, esoteric cards is likely good for the dealer straight up.  You’ll find some are accommodating of requests like this.

Of course, paying cash always works too.  Just remember that’s for dealers and not the trade table.

Chow Time

While other writers have touched on food – and how to get it – it strands to be pointed out that it can be a very tricky thing.  I ate terrible at GPDC and paid dearly for it.  While I am rather fond of friendly fried food, taking things more towards fresh fruit and vegetables, lighter meats, and smaller portions with some snacks throughout the day would have helped stave off burnout.

Indulging at big events, especially when away from the watchful eyes of those who often chime in on our eating habits, is a real temptation.  I know I won’t be able to resist trying to seek out sinking my teeth into a Jucy Lucy in Minneapolis (and if you’re game for the same, find me and join forces!) but doing the equivalent of that three times (or more!) a day is obviously foolish.  Not snacking, or at least missing out on something modestly not-deep-fried to munch on, only adds to the trouble.

If you’re not into pure “rabbit food” – which I can actually enjoy for short bursts – try just keeping things smaller, lighter, and generally “less thereof” is a solid plan.  And planning to how, exactly, to get food is something any traveller worth their salt will invest time into beforehand.  Take a look at a map on the internet.  There are a ton of services that will find nearby food (and catch-all grocery and drugstores, and transportation services, and far more!) and making a brief note of which way gets you what will go a long way in eating what you probably should.

I’m not here to harp on gamers being big eaters (because I’m a gamer who’s a big eater) but just as you know sleep helps the brain do its thing, making an attempt to service your body similarly only stands to make the long days feel right – especially if you did come to drop the hammer and compete.

At the very least you’ll find something nearby you didn’t think would be there.  Comfort food can make things feel alright too.

Autobots, Roll Out!

And that is all I have to share!  If you’re able to make it out to one of the big shows happening this week and weekend I sincerely hope you can show and enjoy everything these places have to share.  While these are the main things I’ve been focusing on getting geared up, I know you too have your requirements for consideration.  Let me know what you do before heading out.

I’m sure there’s a lot to think about.