Transition Questions (and answers!)

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.

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!