Magic: the Gathering in the UK
I just sent this email to Wizards- What does everyone else think?
I had to email wizards about Uni magic stuff anyway, but then thought I'd give them some feedback for the last two months. Whenever I've asked people who are linked to wizards, they seem to appreciate the idea of getting feedback. Here's the bit of my email that applies to other people here. What do you think? Hopefully this encourages you to send similar emails, so that maybe we're more likely to get the kind of events that we want more often!
1) Nationals + GP: Was a fun weekend, particularly improved by being in a town, rather than in the middle of nowhere. Please can this be repeated, whether Brighton or elsewhere. Being stuck at the NEC in Birmingham with a very poor selection of non magic things to do for an entire weekend is frustrating.
BUT- side events during nationals were not nearly as good as they were in the last two years. It felt like there wasn't a lot for anyone not playing in nats to do aside from the GP. This was particularly bad for people trying to grind in through the LCQs who had to be there on Wednesday, and take 3 days off work for not that much of an event.
The bar at the venue being closed seemed a strange decision. Having a pint or two while drafting is something that I'd consider perfectly normal in this country and I don't understand why that wasn't allowed this year.
Combining the two events- I realise that this was cheaper than having two separate weekends, but it did make GB nats feel much less important, it was a side event to the GP. Not having prize money for nationals also contributed to this feeling. Top 8ers receiving only a couple of booster boxes and some European flights doesn't seem quite in keeping with "Great British Nationals".
I should say that if offered a choice between having a separate GP and nats both at the NEC, OR a joint longer weekend in a typical holiday destination town, I would choose the joint weekend as it allows us players to treat it more like a holiday, and not just be about magic.
2) PTQs.
All of the PTQs that I went to over the Summer (Gravesend, Reading, London, Coventry, Southampton and Leicester) were well run in good venues which have sufficient space for the numbers they attract.
I'm grateful that the San Diego qualifiers have already been determined and that we have this information in good time. This makes a player's life a lot easier.
I'm disappointed that there's going to be a PTQ in Birmingham at the "Quality Hotel". PTQs at this venue are always cramped and often poorly run with long delays. The venue has multiple rooms connected by a corridor which makes announcements almost impossible to hear, and movement a lengthy chore. Birmingham is not a small town. Surely it is possible to find a venue with a single, large room. It doesn't seem a lot to ask, and all the other TOs manage it.
1) Nationals + GP: Was a fun weekend, particularly improved by being in a town, rather than in the middle of nowhere. Please can this be repeated, whether Brighton or elsewhere. Being stuck at the NEC in Birmingham with a very poor selection of non magic things to do for an entire weekend is frustrating.
BUT- side events during nationals were not nearly as good as they were in the last two years. It felt like there wasn't a lot for anyone not playing in nats to do aside from the GP. This was particularly bad for people trying to grind in through the LCQs who had to be there on Wednesday, and take 3 days off work for not that much of an event.
The bar at the venue being closed seemed a strange decision. Having a pint or two while drafting is something that I'd consider perfectly normal in this country and I don't understand why that wasn't allowed this year.
Combining the two events- I realise that this was cheaper than having two separate weekends, but it did make GB nats feel much less important, it was a side event to the GP. Not having prize money for nationals also contributed to this feeling. Top 8ers receiving only a couple of booster boxes and some European flights doesn't seem quite in keeping with "Great British Nationals".
I should say that if offered a choice between having a separate GP and nats both at the NEC, OR a joint longer weekend in a typical holiday destination town, I would choose the joint weekend as it allows us players to treat it more like a holiday, and not just be about magic.
2) PTQs.
All of the PTQs that I went to over the Summer (Gravesend, Reading, London, Coventry, Southampton and Leicester) were well run in good venues which have sufficient space for the numbers they attract.
I'm grateful that the San Diego qualifiers have already been determined and that we have this information in good time. This makes a player's life a lot easier.
I'm disappointed that there's going to be a PTQ in Birmingham at the "Quality Hotel". PTQs at this venue are always cramped and often poorly run with long delays. The venue has multiple rooms connected by a corridor which makes announcements almost impossible to hear, and movement a lengthy chore. Birmingham is not a small town. Surely it is possible to find a venue with a single, large room. It doesn't seem a lot to ask, and all the other TOs manage it.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dan Barrett on
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Who did you send it to?
Ideally you want to reach Tom/Colin/Dieter (i think, Jason will confirm and give email addresses)
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Royde on
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Sent to Tom and Colin. I don't know Dieter....?
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European events guy, you'll see him at all the GPs etc running the show.
Daniel Royde said:Sent to Tom and Colin. I don't know Dieter....?
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