I started playing Magic in 1999 when I was twelve. I was at a friend’s house, and in his box of MAD Magazines and X-Men comics was something I’d never seen before. "What are these?" "Magic cards. Wanna learn?"
Fast forward to Origins Game Fair, I think it was 2004. The format was full of Tooth and Nail searching for Mephidross Vampire and Triskelion and Isamaru, Hound of Konda carrying an Umezawa’s Jitte (presumably in its teeth). I, the budding brewer I was, devised an Enduring Ideal plan that took me all the way to the Top 8 of both events I played in that weekend. Go go gadget Reverence and Ivory Mask! I traded in my old U/R Urza’s Legacy artifacts deck with four foil Tinkers (at the time I think I got $5 apiece for them) for the deck, including my first four Birds of Paradise. Happily, Mark Poole, the artist of the original Birds of Paradise, was in attendance, so I got them signed almost immediately after I traded for them.
They weren’t the greatest Birds ever, mind you. They were slightly played, they were from different sets, and they were four different languages. But they were mine. And they were very special to me.
They still are. I still have them, and I play them as often as possible.
Origins holds a special place in my gamer heart (very similar to my normal heart, but it takes damage when someone hits me with a weapon or Deku Seed). As a Columbus native, I went every single year until I moved to Roanoke last summer. I volunteered in 2007 and 2008 as part of the staff, not just to get the free entry but also because "working" in the Kids Room is a ton of fun. I mean, c’mon—I got to play Ticket to Ride and Mancala with little kids all day!
It’s also where Magic was first unleashed on the public in the early 90s, beginning this wonderful game we all know and love. Their tagline is "Where Gaming Begins." And for me personally, it’s even more true. I am very pleased that this weekend I will be returning to not only the birthplace of Magic in the public eye but also what I look at as the birthplace of my Magic career, the Greater Columbus Convention Center:
In case you were wondering, Columbus is a great location for food as well. The world famous North Market is a block away and is the go-to for lunch and afternoon snacks. Jeni’s Ice Cream, Firdous’ Indian, Best of the Wurst brats and dogs, and something like twenty more locally owned businesses are inside waiting for you to try their delicious items.
And for dinner parties, you can do much worse than Barley’s Brewhouse. Barley’s is right across the street, where Lenny is one of the owners—and his son Alex is the kid who asked me if I "wanna learn" Magic at his house! He doesn’t play anymore and I haven’t seen him in years, but it’s still a fun story. They usually have an Origins-themed brew on tap, so I’d try that one for sure. I also highly recommend the pierogi platter.
The Origins Game Fair is not just one of the oldest gaming conventions in the United States; it’s still one of the biggest! Gamers of all types come from far and wide to descend on "C-Bus" for Settlers of Catan and Munchkin Championships, to demo new games, and so much more. And with your Open Series entry, so can you! That’s right—an entry into an Open Series event gives you a one-day pass for all of Origins! How cool is that?
And what would a convention be without the fantasy art? Incomplete, that’s what. Thankfully, we have three gifted alterists joining us in our hall.
Amber Musick will be at this event offering her custom full art playmats and tokens as well as creating new works of art and customizing your playmat with original art. Pricing and her current offering of playmats can be found on her deviantART page.
Ron Faris will be painting custom card alterations at the event! Check out his unique alters by following him on Facebook or checking out his blog.
Blake Meade will be selling and taking orders for altered cards and custom playmats at this event as well! Check out some of his work here, and be sure to like him on Facebook!
Fresh off his first trip to SCG HQ, Seattleite Cedric Phillips will be on commentary duty alongside fellow Pacific Northwesterner Riki Hayashi for #SCGCOL! And who has the Buckeyes to supplement this West Coast duo in the Sideboard? Why that’d be me, jack! Yes, the prodigal son is returning for the StarCityGames.com Open Series in Columbus, Ohio, and you can be part of the action by showing up to battle or by tuning in all weekend long to @SCGLive coverage! Keep up to date on pairings and standings by following @SCGOpenPairings, and of course follow @StarCityGames for all things SCG.
Good luck, have fun, and begin gaming!
Video and Coverage Content Associate and Social Media Madman for StarCityGames.com
Listen to the @InContention podcast! It’s the official podcast of the StarCityGames.com Open Series with @kstube, @affinityforblue, and myself. Our most recent episode, Scars & Stripes Forever, can be found here.