Magic: The Gathering takes gamers by storm

Andrea Rendall

Magic is in the air Friday nights at All A-Board Games, located at 334 Seymour St, but you won’t find any magicians in the shop.

A friendly chatter buzzes as upwards of 20 people sit around tables playing cards. Magic: The Gathering has quickly become the world’s premier trading card game.

Store owner Derek Johnson has been hosting Friday Night magic in his shop for over three years and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

Since it was created in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has attracted more than 12 million fans in more than 70 different countries. The age range of the players in Johnson’s shop ranges from eight to 60.

“It’s one of the biggest games in the world," says Johnson. "Chess is played in more countries, Mahjong is played by more people, but that’s about it."

Players battle each other as Planeswalkers using spells, artifacts and creatures in their power to challenge and destroy opponents during the never-ending quest for knowledge, power and conquest across a multiverse of worlds.

With new expansion card decks released throughout the year, the possibilities of different attacks during the game are endless, and no game is ever played the same way twice.

The ever-changing challenge of Magic gives its players a feeling of liberation when compared to any other game.

“In most games you’re given a set of rules and a set of claims and that’s all you get to work with. With Magic you have almost unlimited availability to expand,” says Johnson. “It gives you a sense of freedom, which means you don’t get bored.”

The staff and players in the shop are always welcoming beginners and newcomers.

“We go out of our way to make sure it’s a friendly, welcoming environment here. Because we want people to want to be here, whether they’re really competitive or not, we want everyone to want to be here and we strive to reach that goal,” says Johnson.

Tyler Abar has been playing Magic for 12 years, after some friends from school introduced him to the game.

“I’ve made an amazing amount of friends,” says Abar. “[The game] is fun, it’s skill-intensive - the cheap man’s poker.”

Abar is one of All A-Board’s best players and has even participated in a Pro-Tour tournament hosted in Austin, Tx.

“I played in a 400-person tournament in Seattle and I won that – it was really, really fun, and that won me the trip to Austin,” he says.

The atmosphere of a tournament can be relaxed or competitive, all with the opportunity to hone skills and develop new friendships.

“I compare [Magic] to poker,” says Abar. “You can play poker around just a group of friends for a couple of bucks and it’s fun, or you can play for a couple of thousand dollars and it’s super intense.”

But in the end it all boils down to comradeship.

“The easiest way to make friends is to have a deck of Magic cards," says Johnson. "Just sit down at a table or bench by yourself and someone will come along and say, ‘Hey, do you have another deck? Wanna play?”

That's pretty much what happend to Meegan Clemis.

Clemis came to All A-Board Games with her grandson about two years ago to check out the board games. When she saw all the people gathered around tables she wanted to know what was happening. She asked the store owner what was going on and Johnson offered to teach her for the price of a deck. She’s been playing ever since.

“I never looked back. I really enjoy it! My [favourite part] is the social aspect of beating these young guys – well, I never do, but I keep hoping!”

“If you look at the age and the gender, I’m out of place,” she says. “But I really enjoy it! They’re very friendly here and they really do make you feel welcome, and that’s a big part of it.”

“It’s a well thought out, interesting game,” she says. “I’ve played Bridge for a long time with my own age group, and this is just so much more fun.”

Interested parties and all levels of players are encouraged and welcome to come out to any Friday Night Magic session to learn about the rules, develop new strategies, and to have a good time.

For more information please contact All A-Board Games at 250-377-0745.