When it comes to your free time, there are plenty of ways to waste it. Maybe you play video games, or watch movies; but many students, including sophomore student Richard Koepp, enjoy spending his free time (and lunch) playing a trading card game called Magic: The Gathering.
Magic is a trading card game, like pokemon. But unlike pokemon, there are many different ways to play. The version Koepp plays is called “Commander.” The premise of the version is that everyone has a “commander” they can summon in on their turn. Koepp goes on to tell me that the best part of the game is the uniqueness of every deck. While he owns many, Koepp continues to tell about his favorite deck.
“It’s called a burn deck. My commander, ‘Ghyrson Starn’ will make anything that deals one damage deal three damage instead.” Koepp said. “I love the strategy it involves, I have to think a few turns ahead of time.”
Another student who plays Magic at lunch, senior student Dante Bradshaw, explains what his commander does. “The Centerpiece of my deck is Chishiro, the Shattered Blade is all about equipment. I can put my equipment onto my creatures, then my commander makes them stronger.” Bradshaw continues his testimony. “My mom originally got me into the game, now I play it to connect to my friends.” Every commander is unique and it changes the way you play the game as a whole.
Junior student, and resident of the Magic playing table at lunch, Orin Bargowski tells me about his commander. “My favorite commander has to be Cavileño, First of the blessed. He belongs to my vampire deck, vampires let me sacrifice my creatures for benefits, but Cavileño lets me sacrifice them twice.”
Bargowski loves creating his own strategies, but he loves his friends more. “It’s all about my friends. When we get together to play Magic, we get together for more than just Magic,” Bargowski claims. “The people are why I play, the game is just the cherry on top.”
A few months ago she was watching her friends play Magic at lunch. She thought it would be fun, so on her birthday, sophomore student Ava Stang bought a deck. Her Commander, Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser, can suspect a creature, then he forces the creature to attack. This is a unique deck, as when you “Suspect” a creature, that creature cannot block incoming attacks, leaving her opponents wide open.
While all of these decks are unique and bring different gimmicky things to the table, it’s when you throw all of them together in a battle that the sparks begin to fly. Alongside their commander, many decks feature cards that break games or even prevent other cards from being played. So, while it is expensive to get into, playing magic is a sure way to make friends and discover your new favorite past-time.
