The Magic Scent of Yesterday

I recently made a decision to cry, "To hell with it" and pursue a dream of collecting the sets of Magic The Gathering from back when I first discovered the game. Magic was my gateway into tabletop gaming, even though I had been enticed by amazing ads for Dungeons & Dragons in comic books for years. I wasn't able to go beyond that, though, as my family had concerns about D&D, a game which was rumored to be evil (this based on residual, "Satanic Panic" crap and ignorance). It was Magic that got past my restrictive parents and drove me to the local game store near my school, and it was there that I became lost in the hobby that I would go on to love, through the help of a great game store owner who was incredibly supportive. 

In recent years, Wizards of the Coast has engaged in some political messiness and poor brand management, and this drove me away from their games. I sold off my Magic The Gathering collection, and I was certain that I wouldn't ever return to the game. I successfully avoided it for many years, but in the last few months I've been wallowing in a longing for the way things were for me when I was a kid. I started seeking out sets I had from the late 90's and a new collection started to grow. 

Today I had the pleasure of opening a starter set for Fifth Edition, and inside that set was a Fifth Edition booster pack. The feel, look, and most importantly the scent of these cards mentally sent me shooting backwards in time. Once again, I was an awkward twelve-year old standing in White Cap Comics, carrying the deck of cards my Vice Principal gave me out of pity (he saw me watching some peers play at lunch time and understood that I wanted to play, too), which he found in the school's lost and found. Priscilla, the store owner stood behind her counter and explained what I would need to play. The waking dream trip turned into a flashing series of moments from those days and the ones which followed, and a warm feeling of comforting joy flooded my brain.

Then suddenly I was back in my office. The cards were on my desk. The connection to the past was made, and my heart felt happier than it had in a long time. 

Folks, never underestimate the moments that shape and define you. You unfortunately won't be aware of them when they come, so you must cherish all of your time and be sure to appreciate all of the moments in which you live. I wish I had known and understood this when I was a kid, but I'm glad that finding the odd collectible from my youth was able to do something to diminish the feelings of loss and regret which constantly haunt me.

It's great to be able to play Magic The Gathering, as I first knew it, once again.

An Explanation for the Dry Spell and Possible Hope

It has been difficult to blog, even though I set out to do this across a few different blogs as regularly as I could. Depression, distraction, and a general lack of activity have led to this blog, and my others, being neglected.

It also doesn't help that I haven't been able to find a group of people who are actually willing to sit down and play games. Everyone either wants to do something online so they can, "Create content" to stream, in the most mediocre, wannabe-pseudo-tv-personality manner possible, or they want to stick to their cliques. The culture which spun out of the pandemic has made in-person gaming with actual hobbyists more difficult than it has ever been.

As you can see from my previous post, though, things are changing. I'm taking action and finally making an event happening, thanks to a local business who is willing to host us nerds. Also, I'm blogging again! 

Things just might be looking up!

At Long Last...Stuff Is Happening!

Later this month, on July 22, I will be running my first open-to-the-public event at an Atlanta institution called Red Light Cafe.

This will be an event for people new to the tabletop role playing game hobby, and all attendees will leave with gaming materials and a fun new experience. Everyone who shows up will have the chance to either watch the game being played or join in. No pressure. Just fun. 

My hope is for this to be the beginning of an ongoing series of gatherings where people can try out new games and experience the variety of options this hobby provides.

Here's hoping that everything works out!

A Beloved Game and a Chronicle of High Adventure

I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons, and various other tabletop role playing games, since 1997. I started playing with D&D 2nd Edition after the owner of White Cap Comics, then a comic and game shop in Comstock Park, MI, noticed that I was obsessing over the covers and artwork associated with the game. She introduced me to a regular who was looking to start a beginner-friendly series of adventures, and together they helped me pick out my first dice and character miniature. After that I was off.

Since that first experience I have been investigating new games and game systems which have intrigued me, and I've run a fair number of games of my own. It has been a fun ride, and I hope it never ends.

I love tabletop role playing games. I created this blog because I want people to know that. I also created this blog so that I could record the adventures of groups I have or will run, and it's a place where I can set down my thoughts on this incredible hobby.

Stay tuned for updates and stories from the gaming table. Also, on this blog you will soon be able to see a Discord widget. My Discord server is where I manage my gaming groups, so if you're up for some gaming you might want to look into it.

Thank you for reading!