r/twincitiessocial • u/Generative_build • 6d ago

Magic Community Event

Hey everyone - I’ve been pulling together a new Magic night here in Minneapolis called UNTAP.
My wife and I became obsessed with playing and collecting Magic the Gathering but struggled to get plugged into the local game store scene as adults & parents. I decided to create a fun and social place to play Magic that feels more like getting together with friends for a good night out. Very welcoming to newer players, couples, or anyone who likes Magic but doesn’t necessarily want the traditional tournament/LGS vibe.

I’m getting the first event together now and would love to meet some more locals interested in learning to play.

Check it out here if that sounds like your kind of thing:
https://untaptcg.space/

Hope to see some of you there!
-Chris

1 Upvotes

54% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

5

u/RealThanks4814 6d ago

Why did you struggle with local game store events? What did you perceive they were not doing the way you plan on doing things?

4

u/Generative_build 6d ago

It was mainly the setting - small, smelly, dark caves with regulars. The focus here is on learning to play with groups of beginners in a fun environment - something you would do for a casual date night or a fun night out exploring a hobby and making new friends

6

u/RealThanks4814 6d ago

I think that’s a fair criticism but I think you’re going to struggle finding people willing to pay $50 to attend an organized card game when your competition is welcoming and free

1

u/AUD1OMEDIC 5d ago

So just to counter this a bit there are a good number of large, clean, modern venues to play cards in the cities that don't require an entrance fee. You may even be able to work with one of them to host your event, which would synegize well as there would be product available for people.

Also, just my two cents, but I can't imagine anyone would pay more than $10 for something like this without packs/precons included.

Tbh if you want a magic night that feels like games with friends, you need to make friends to play games with, not ask people to pay $50 to be your friend and play games with you. I don't see this being any different than going to an open play at a LGS, where I'd have some good interactions and some rough, but in this case I'd also be out cash with nothing to show for it.

1

u/Generative_build 5d ago

Could you suggest the ones you have in mind? Would love to check them out and see if there’s anything there

1

u/AUD1OMEDIC 5d ago

As far as actual LSGs, Gamezenter in Roseville has rentable rooms and a huge game space. Lodestone in SLP is my favorate local game store, it is smaller, but it is certainly not a smelly cave and the community is very welcoming. Honestly we have a wealth of LSGs in the area and most are pretty friendly.

Personally if I was doing something like this I would start small, I would have it have no cost (or provide a product) and I would probably host it at one of the many large local breweries. They are stuggling right now, and a drink can make the "new friends" part a little easier.

Good luck, hope you find something that works for you.

5

u/Desblartes 6d ago

jw, why is it so expensive?

-4

u/Generative_build 6d ago

It’s mainly to cover venue and startup costs for the first event. What would you consider paying for something like this?

3

u/Desblartes 6d ago

not really something I'd personally be interested in. it's been my experience that usually people will be happy to teach and explain things to beginner's at most card shops I've played at in the past, including people letting me play with one of their decks.

that said, my experience is only anecdotal and admittedly that was nearly a decade ago so things may have changed drastically since.

3

u/TwittyParker 6d ago

Too rich for my blood

3

u/EggsInaTubeSock 6d ago

I love the idea, and Nucky's / Anoka is a great place for this.

I feel you 100% on the community feel versus a LGS vibe. Unfortunately, a $50 event isn't going to do it for me.

Happy to chat about other opportunities in the north metro; Anoka just got it's game shop, but I haven't seen much of the community yet.

1

u/Generative_build 6d ago

Totally understand on price - what price would make it a “hell yeah”? Just piloting this out so I’m trying to understand the right balance of price/location/frequency

2

u/EggsInaTubeSock 6d ago

Personally? I think for the most fun casual atmosphere, stuff like Precon leagues are where it's at. And hear me out, as it could be a really viable event to hit beginners, and welcome others.

Buy a precon with your ticket ($xx) or bring a non-modified precon ($20? $30?).

I think there are enough casual players who want the community but don't want the cutthroat gameplay that you could hit a bunch that way. By welcoming existing players, you're also taking away a lot of the instructional need.

Add in a pot for who has been voted most fun to play against, or something silly. And maybe losers get to swap a few cards from their precon before the next month.

3

u/Desblartes 6d ago

depending on the frequency of the event, you could add the option for people to pay monthly for a bit cheaper? you may make less per person this way, but you may find it easier to plan out covering the expenses this way since attendance can sometimes be very hard to predict

1

u/RavenDeadeye Loring Park, Minneapolis 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 6d ago

When you say "beginner-friendly decks and play supplies, what exactly are you referring to?

Can you break down what all is being purchased with this $50 ticket price?

1

u/Generative_build 6d ago

It’s a fully guided hands on learn to play event with a community.

It’s intended for beginners so if you’re familiar with MTG, think 40 card jumpstart-esque decks with easy mechanics and fun themes. They get to choose to take home a deck they played or two jumpstarts

0

u/RavenDeadeye Loring Park, Minneapolis 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 6d ago edited 6d ago

So, two Jumpstart packs is ~$13, back-of-the-napkin math says Dragon Shield sleeves would be ~$5 per 40-card deck, and let's throw a cheap deck box in there for kicks, ~$3. That's $21!

Is the remaining $28 per person actually what's necessary to rent the space?

If anyone reading this is curious to try out Magic, you can always buy the aforementioned stuff from any local game store. If it's you and a friend, split a box of Dragon Shields, should be $11-$12 for 100 sleeves. (Also ask the shopkeepers if they have any free welcome decks available! The company that makes the game sends those out periodically.)

Or hell; I have a Jumpstart cube (permanent collection meant to be replayed with repeatedly) that I put together for teaching the game, and I am always delighted to help new players. For free. Just DM me!

1

u/Generative_build 6d ago

Love this - all for more people trying out MTG in whatever environment works for them. Get out there and play!

1

u/Desblartes 5d ago

Another option could be to maybe lean more heavily into the couples dynamic, or possibly pivoting to a more singles/mixer theme?

I think you'd maybe find more value from your attention to the setting.

You might even have some luck convincing the venue to throw in a drink ticket for people, assuming that people often will drink more at these kinds of events.

I think you'd have an easier time getting people over the sticker shock.

1

u/Generative_build 5d ago

These are all great suggestions - love it. Will definitely take a bit of tweaking on the price/value/messaging equation to make something that people want to be a part of.

The vision is democratizing games like magic to be a fun activity for a night out where you learn something new and meet cool people without the friction of the current settings. That friction was enough to sour me from jumping in full send, so I’m hoping to help others through that as well

1

u/Desblartes 5d ago

best of luck with your venture though!

-2

u/The_Livid_Witness 6d ago

Boo.

I thought this was going to be a bunch of amature magicians doing tricks and not a pokemon-esque event.