Drifting away from Magic
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Posted on Sept. 19, 2014, 7:05 p.m. by Epochalyptik
I've mentioned this a few times, and the people who post on Dominus - Dreamcrusher Edition probably know this well, but I haven't really played Magic over the past two years. I've played maybe 20 games in that time, with most of those games occurring over a year ago. I've been very busy, and I don't have immediate access to a suitable playgroup. I'd need to drive over a half hour north or south of me to even find a store, and nobody in my town really plays.
At this point, I don't know if I'd fall back in love with the game if I did have a playgroup. I'll occasionally do to the deckbuilder and start brewing a new casual or EDH deck, but I'll lose interest pretty quickly. The game no longer seems to hold the same level of intrigue, and I think I've been drifting from it partly because of necessity (lack of time) and partly because of choice (lack of interest).
Almost the entirety of my Magic-related encounters happen on or through this site, and most of my time here is spent moderating in some way or another. I'm still tied to the site, in no small part because we don't really have a team that takes over if I leave, and I do enjoy my time and work here, but I'm not invested in the game like many of you are. It feels strange, to say the least.
Speaking of investments, I have a ton of money tied up in cards and product. Even though I've been selling much of my stock, I still have around $10k in assets. Cards and sealed product collecting dust. I think I've only invested about $3k or so in this game over the entire course of my career, though, so it's not like I'm in the hole financially. I'm slowly selling my stuff off (contact me if you want anything), but I still have much of it.
So, folks, what do I do? I suspect I'll be in grad school for one doctorate or another within about a year, and I'd rather not lug all this stuff with me. The game has given me plenty of memories and experience, and I wouldn't be sad to see it go because it's been fulfilling. But I'm not sure what to do. I feel as though I'll at least be active in this community (if in no others) for a while to come, so it's not like I'm up and leaving the game, but I'm not exactly tied to it any longer.
nighthawk101 says... #3
I feel myself drifting away from physical Magic a bit, because I can satisfy my deck building urges with Tappedout :)
Buy I can definently see myself playing magic 2, 5, 10, maybe 20 years from now.
September 19, 2014 7:31 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #4
I say take at least the dreamcrusher with you and see if there's a group at the school. If not, then perhaps it's time to seek out new hobbies. I actually have found myself in the same situation and i know that longing feeling to be excited to play but it's just not the same. My hypothesis is there needs to be a play group for this game to be worth playing. Even the most spikey players need a group of people to pay against.
September 19, 2014 7:34 p.m.
are edh and casual the only types of games you have enjoyed? is MTGO a format that could possibly interest you? i don't play it, and i'm not sure what kinds of formats are available online.
i definitely get not really wanting to play or brew without having friends that want to do the same. if you have friends that like board games and other nerdy hobbies you could always try teaching them via simpler decks, or build a cube for friends to draft with out of your existing inventory.
otherwise if you don't have the interest in the game completely, that's always a possibility, too. people grow and interests change. i'd recommend you at least keep a few cards, and of course your prized commander deck, just in case you end up moving or meeting people and rekindle your interest in 1,2,5,10 years.
either way, best of luck. we all appreciate your help with making this site a great place to sling magic related ideas.
September 19, 2014 7:35 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #6
I may actually be selling my BUG deck. A player on MTGS expressed interest in it, and, if he can afford it, I think it's probably worth the $3-4k cash. Don't get me wrong, I love the deck. It's the thing most closely associated with my identity as a player (both publicly and in my own opinion), but I don't know that it does me much good to hold onto it.
September 19, 2014 7:40 p.m.
EndStepTop says... #7
I was in a similar situation, while I've only played for 2 years, about 2 months ago I wasn't enjoying the game the way I had. I play bass and know these ruts happen, but it always sucks. I realized I needed more competition, at the time all I played was Edh and the "battlecruiser magic" that gets promoted with the "spirit of edh" bored me. Games weren't fun, I was preferring to just sit games out and talk to players and be social as opposed to playing the game. Eventually I found a few people who played stupid competitively, and my friends suggested legacy. And I found what I enjoyed in the game again, the mental stress on each decision and over all competitive vibe. I wasn't playing down to the level other people did, I could play at a level I wanted. I don't know what might work for you, but all I can suggest would be if you really enjoy playing still:
A) you'll find a way out of the mental rut and find time/mental energy to play.
B) A break indefinite or otherwise, maybe hust the duration you get the doctorate you mentioned is what you need.
Regardless your Damia deck was a huge player in shaping my first EDH deck and I'd hate to hear it's creator doesn't play.
September 19, 2014 7:42 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #8
Well you never know. If there's players at the school you may find yourself wanting to play your signature deck.
September 19, 2014 7:43 p.m.
Hallowed_Titan says... #9
It'll be a sad day when you leave this place(T/O) Epoch ; ) you've given us so much. Maybe one day in the future you'll be pulled back in. Happened to me, quit when Apocalypse ended-I was attached to that whole epic storyline, plus all of my friends moved on to Warhammer 40K. Came back at around the Besieged-New Phyrexia time and poured back over everything I missed. I love it all over again.
September 19, 2014 7:52 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #10
Epoch can never leave the site- he's simply irreplaceable. I think there would be riots if he did retire from the site. :(
September 19, 2014 8:04 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #11
I feel you bro. I'm working a steady job, have a young son, and a pregnant wife due in 10 weeks. I've contemplated getting rid of much of my collection, save a few Legacy and Modern decks. I don't have the time or money to keep up with Standard any longer.
M:TG, as with anything, is an investment; you get out what you put in. There are so many hours in a day and so many breaths allotted in a lifetime. On that note, keep at least one deck and any of the Power Nine you may have...
September 19, 2014 8:05 p.m.
quesobueno123 says... #12
Take at least one deck so if you ever wanna play again you can. I took a break during born of the gods for like a month, and have gotten back into it recently.
September 19, 2014 8:39 p.m.
Wait. If you go to grad school you will be in a bigger area where there will be new opportunities to meet players and play again. I started in graduate school and played for several years, up until my buddies stopped playing and we all got busy in labs (and addicted to the original Starcraft -much cheaper then magic). Anyway, I kept my old collection and am glad that I did when I came out of retirement after 15 years away from the game.
Hope this helps.
September 19, 2014 9:08 p.m.
In my opinion, keep 1deck (or make and keep a new one), hold on to definite high long-term value stuff, and cash out. Maybe do occasional drafts and prereleases if nothing else catches your fancy, but really if it's not fun anymore why do it?
September 19, 2014 10:06 p.m.
Nigeltastic says... #16
I would advise against selling everything, because from what I've seen nearly everyone who is in Magic for a bit then falls out of it comes back. I don't know your situation, and maybe you're 1000% sure you're done and will never find it fun again, but you might also regret it years later when some sexy new card comes out and starts the spark back up again.
September 19, 2014 11:24 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #17
I can only realistically see myself getting busier from here on out. This is probably the closest I'll have to downtime in a while, and it's not really downtime so much as it is a period of more relaxed work. I hesitate to come to conclusions about whether or not I'll get back into the game at a later date, but it seems very unlikely.
I would agree with you all about keeping a deck, but the only deck I own and the only one I've enjoyed playing is my BUG deck, and that's a $3,000-4,000 investment. I don't know if I can justify keeping that value tied up in something sentimental just on the (currently) slim chance I get back into the game later.
September 19, 2014 11:57 p.m.
also, unless you'd really like the cash now, a lot of your edh deck is only going to increase in price. i'm not big into magic economics, but i can only imagine your revised list stuff going up in value. does that growth match what you could get cashing out and investing in a "real" commodity? i honestly have no idea. but unless you have plans for the money now you could tuck the deck away and keep it as a rainy day fund. a rainy day fund that you can take out and play with any old friends that you might run into with similar rainy day funds.
September 20, 2014 12:09 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #19
To be fair, I'm also worried about what reprinting might happen while I'm away from the game and how it might affect the value of what I own. I can justify losing a couple hundred in the long run by selling now and getting cash in hand. But you're right, a lot of what I own is poised to increase at least a small amount.
September 20, 2014 12:29 a.m.
if my lowly opinion is worth anything, I say hold on it it. Dreamcrusher will probably rise slightly over time so at least hold on to that. If you're serious about leaving, sell everything else. But who am I to say?
In any event, I wish you luck.
September 20, 2014 1:08 a.m.
Wow. I would really suggest you to hold on to ALL your cards. When you one day begins to get bored (this will happen one day), you might find interest in MTG. You would then really regret that you sold all your cards. If you even one day gets children (if you don't have them by now), they might even find the game interesting. A lot of players have regret that they sold their cards. And the price of cards will just slighty rise in time. So yea, don't sell your cards. Maybe your trade binder, but not your most important decks. :D
September 20, 2014 7:14 a.m.
TheAnnihilator says... #22
To be honest, I'm not sure what to say on the subject. I mean, priorities, ya'know?
If you really need the money, or simply can't justify keeping even a single card, then why not proxy your prized deck and cash out completely? Take the proxy'd deck, sleeve it up, and let it be for a while. Then, if you get back into M:tG, you can still at least use the deck. Sure, you may be upset that you don't have the actual cards, but you will have less debt (for now). Then you can slowly piece things back together (which still sucks, but what can you do?).
September 20, 2014 10:34 a.m.
sup3rskrull says... #23
I'd say, sell the stuff that you don't need even the cards that are worth a lot. Take with you 2 decks or 1 when you go to college and make sure they are competitive decks. I am pretty sure you will see students who play Magic. You'd see them in every university
MindAblaze says... #2
I know what you mean man.
Magic is something that's it hard to be half in on. Especially when you've found yourself going in deep, and life has pulled you back out.
For me, I've pulled away from the game because I need to focus on doing what I enjoy and what I need to do. Like you, my playgroup isn't really suiting my needs, and it's become tiresome to brew new decks and actually sleeve them up. My time is demanded by my family and my work, and while my responsibilities are different than yours, the demand is still there.
There will always be priorities. Only you can say where those lie, but no matter what, remember that at one time there was something you enjoyed here. Whatever you choose, do it with the knowledge that life is flexible, and you've learned stuff along the way.
September 19, 2014 7:16 p.m.