So there have been a lot of questions about how this transition is going to work and what the future for current Columbia Free Magic holds. Let me do my best to answer them and if there is anything anyone is still wondering please post your question and I will do my best to answer that also.
1) What exactly did "disbanding" mean?
This was not the best term to use and I apologize. As a tournament organizer I often think in terms of our relationship with Wizards of the Coast and sanctioning and running tournaments through the Wizards Play Network. When Columbia Free Magic was formed, Wizards of the Coast was actively encouraging individuals to form groups separate from brick and mortar stores if one did not exist and/or did not meet their needs. Since then, their policy has changed and all rated events must now be linked to a brick and mortar store. This is why we tried to partner with various organizations so we could continue to have events like pre releases and receive fun promos. So when I said disband I was referring to an end to my role as the tournament director of record with Wizards of the Coast. There are no future events scheduled with my name on them and so my leadership role with Columbia Free Magic is over. A little baby Inman will be here very soon and the majority of my time and energy will need to go towards raising a family.
2) What is the exact relationship between Columbia Free Magic and Firefly Toys and Games?
Fortunately, the future looks bright for magic players in Columbia and Lexington. A new store recently opened at 5060 Sunset Boulevard in Lexington 29072. It is owned by Jasper Humbert who is a good friend of mine and Robin Dial. Though a novice at magic, he is a fellow gamer and shares the Columbia Free Magic vision of magic in a friendly social environment where the emphasis is on having a fun time and making new friends. Many of us have already been there for at least one event and have enjoyed the big play space, friendly customer service, air conditioning and working bathrooms. This combination is not something that any of our previous locations could claim and it feels great to not have to worry about basics. Most of the Columbia Free Magic scheduled staples are porting directly over to the new location. There will still be Legacy on Sundays. There will be Standard every Friday. There will now be drafts and/or sealed every Saturday instead of every now and then. Jasper has also directly asked several of us with leadership experience like myself, Dominic Casali, Joe Gelli and Sean Miller to help with the running of tournaments and for feedback on what players are looking for in terms of formats and products. At this time, none of us are employees (paid or otherwise) of the store, we just are players who have finally found a home where we can relax and be comfortable surrounded by others who care about gaming and being sociable.
3) So what exactly IS changing?
Well, aside from me being around less and having a nicer place to play the changes are as follows:
1)Three tournaments consistently a week (and the potential for more if players support them).
2)A place to meet any day of the week to casually game and/or playtest. The store opens at 10AM and closes at 10PM (later if an event is going on. No more rushing to finish before we get kicked out by a grumpy employee.)
3)More Promos from Wizards of the Coast. Having a consistent home with a stable tournament schedule means more prize support cards. Enjoy!
4)Easier access to supplies and singles. Jasper already is well stocked with packs and duel decks and is currently building up a big singles collection at very good prices.
5)A way to find new gaming friends outside of magic. Jasper's store is home to gaming of all kinds and is a great centralized meeting place for finding other tabletop gamers, minitures, D and D and more.
4) What are the downsides to this transition?
Obviously the location is an issue for some of our members who live in the opposite direction and we understand that not everyone will be able to consistently make the drive. The EDH Commander crowd seems particularly hard hit. We will be keeping the home site and facebook pages up so that people can coordinate their own get togethers. With any transition there are sure to be growing pains and we may lose a couple faces due to this move. However, we are already seeing faces that have been missing for a while and new players are turning up at every event. Also, we are technically starting from scratch in terms of Wizards Play Network level. There will be a couple weeks until the Friday Night Magic events reach the level where the triple planeswalker points multiplier is activated. However, with the rate events are going now, this should not take long at all.
5) What can I do to help?
So glad you asked! There are two main things you can do to make sure the spirit of Columbia Free Magic remains strong and that we can continue to enjoy this wonderful new home. Spread the word about this new location to your friends (especially casual players looking for a fun stress-free environment). The other main thing is to give us (tournament directors and Jasper) feedback on how the store and the tournaments in particular can be even better. A friendly owner with a big playspace and long hours is a tremendous opportunity. Looking for regular multiplayer games, all-common tournaments, two headed giant extended matches? Tell someone and once we get 8 people who want to do it, it can happen!
So to sum up, this is not an end so much as a great beginning. Different people may be announcing pairings or handing you boosters at the next pre release, but rest assured they want the same things you do. Magic is stronger than ever in Columbia and the world and while there is a big change taking place for Columbia Free Magic, it is definitely a change for the better.
ColumbiaFreeMagic
Looking for casual, stress-free cheap magic with a friendly crowd? Try us out for Free 1 PM Sunday Legacy events at Heroes and Dragons at 510 Bush River Rd. We also have free E.D.H. Mondays at 6 PM at Books a Million at Trenholm Plaza off Forest Drive. See you soon!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
An End and a New Beginning
Good News Everyone! Two years ago Columbia Free Magic was formed to give casual players a place to play tournaments in a friendly environment. Firefly Toys and Games at 5060 Sunset Boulevard in Lexington is that place! We are disbanding but please, please come try Firefly. It is by far the best store we have ever seen. Our waiting and wandering is over!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Summer League Winners
Congratulations to our Summer League Invitational Winners! We gave away hundreds of dollars worth of cards from Planeswalkers to Titans to Stoneforge Mystics and three different Swords! Our top 8 was:
1)Joe Gelli
2)Jeremy Veater
3)Dominic Casali
4)Thomas Nuzum
5)Michael Mayo
6)Todd Brooks
7)Tim Mullinix
8)Allen Greer
1)Joe Gelli
2)Jeremy Veater
3)Dominic Casali
4)Thomas Nuzum
5)Michael Mayo
6)Todd Brooks
7)Tim Mullinix
8)Allen Greer
Sunday, August 21, 2011
SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to popular demand, we will have EDH at Books a Million this Monday and for the foreseeable future. In an effort to find new players and make new friends we will also have a free standard tournament this Thursday at the Russel House 2nd Floor Food Court at USC. Come on out to both events. They are free!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Special Event at University of South Carolina
Columbia Free Magic will be having a $8 draft at the Russell House 2nd Floor Dining Area on the USC Campus at 6:30 this Thursday the 18th. This location should help us meet some new players and make some new friends. Come on out and enjoy this special event!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Summer Invitational Info: ITS CUBE TIME
The Summer Invitational is a special event to thank the players and especially those who have come to many events. This time the format will be CUBE DRAFT.Entry fee is free to the top 4 players in attendance and to those who made top 4 in qualifier tournaments. Anyone else who would like to play can do so for $10. The prize pool for the invitational is crazy. There will be hundreds of rares, difficult to find older cards and promos. Everyone who plays gets to keep their cards no matter how they do and is eligible for an additional prize afterwards. Make sure you are there. It is not to be missed. Below is a list of those currently qualified:
Invitational Qualifier Winners:
Joe Gelli
Lee Woods
Green Lantern
Paul Ryan
Greg Barr
Garrett Anderson
Josh Cheatham
Stephen Collins
Top 4 Attendance:
Joe Gelli
Rick Nuzum
Allen Greer
Teddy Carfolite
Here is some more info on Cube Drafting: http://www.tomlapille.com/cube/cube.html
Invitational Qualifier Winners:
Joe Gelli
Lee Woods
Green Lantern
Paul Ryan
Greg Barr
Garrett Anderson
Josh Cheatham
Stephen Collins
Top 4 Attendance:
Joe Gelli
Rick Nuzum
Allen Greer
Teddy Carfolite
Here is some more info on Cube Drafting: http://www.tomlapille.com/cube/cube.html
Last Chance Qualifier/ M2012 Gameday
Sunday August 7th is a special event. Players can qualify for the huge Summer Invitational with a top 4 finish in either the Legacy Tournament or the special standard tournament we will be offering. Both events have a $5 entry fee and come with free Stormblood Berserker Promos plus additional promos and prizes for top 4. Come on out and have some fun!
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Top Decks Feature (Legacy)
Legacy is a really fun format that lets you play cards from any set in magic except for the silver bordered Unglued and Unhinged. This can be a little intimidating if you are a new player. Here are some of the decks that have been doing well lately at Columbia Free Magic. Feel free to copy them or make your own monster that will crush them. Happy building!
1)G/W/B Rock or "Junk". This deck uses efficient creatures like tarmogoyf and Knight of the Reliquary along with card advantage spells like Hymn to Tourach to grind out advantageous board states where they have at least one morethreat than their opponents has answers. Here is a decklist http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=37047 Potential Weaknesses: Hyper aggressive decks like Mono Red Burn or glacially slow decks like Landstill
2)Dredge. This deck abuses it's graveyard by using a card called Bridge from Below that makes zombie tokens even when it is in the graveyard and several "dredgers" like Golgari Grave Troll that repeatedly put useful cards into the graveyard. Decklist: http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=37034 Potential Weaknesses: Anything that can repeatedly remove graveyards. Once is not enough.
3)Affinity. This deck makes lots of artifacts very quickly and boosts their power using an equipment called Cranial Plating or sacrifices some to make one huge creature using an artifact creature called Arcbound Ravager. They also play a card called disciple of the vault that hurts their opponent whenever an artifact dies. Decklist: http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=37037 Potential Weaknesses: Decks with both pinpoint removal like Swords to Plowshares to deal with Disciple and mass removal to destroy lots of artifacts at once.
4)Landstill. This control deck plays lots of counters and an enchantment called Standstill that lets a player draw three cards if their opponent plays a spell. By playing lots of lands that can turn into creatures like Mishra's Factory, Landstill can win if neither person plays spells. Decklist:
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=36639 Potential Weaknesses: Decks that win quickly without relying on one key spell to resolve and/or decks that feature creatures with island walk that its lands can't block.
There are lots more decks, but these are a good starting point to consider. Have fun!
Winter Invitational Winners
Summer League Winners
One of the Summer League Prizes
And Another...
Yeah he's back too
Top Trios Teams
Spring League Top 8
Happy Baneslayer Invitational Players
Crazy Top Seven from another Big Turnout
Zen Block Multiplayer=Massive Fun
Top 5 Standard Finishers
Worldwake Gameday Fearless Five Finishers
Top 4 Zen Block Multiplayer Finishers
First FNM Top Four
Worldwake Box Tournament Top 8
Top 4 Two Headed Giant Teams and Updated League Standings
Congratulations League Winners
Winter League Prize Buffet
Christmas is ... Draft Time!
Two Headed Giant Winners
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