by Allison Roberts
Staff writer
Magic: The Gathering is a popular card game regularly played by groups of people at Southeastern. On March 1, local players of the game participated in a tournament on campus.
Called Magic for short, the game combines card collecting with strategy gaming, as described on its website, www.Wizards.com/Magic/TCG.
The strategic aspect, as it turns out, is what one Southeastern student enjoys most about Magic. As explained by Ronald Fuquay, a senior graphic design major and member of Residence Life, “There are probably hundreds of thousands of cards, and you have to choose 60 to beat your opponent, so there’s a lot of strategy involved.”
The game also allows each player to build a completely unique deck of cards ideally based on the player’s battling strategy, according to Wizards.com.
Fuquay said that Magic could appeal to anyone interested in other card games, strategy board games or fantasy settings. Fans of poker, “Pokemon,” Risk, chess, “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings,” therefore, might also be interested in playing Magic.
On the evening of Thursday, March 1, Fuquay reserved the second floor loft of the Student Union to host a Magic: The Gathering tournament. He said that similar tournaments have been hosted by previous members of Residence Life before, but this was his first time being in charge.
Though not officially hosted by Residence Life, gatherings to play Magic are held in residence halls sometimes, said Fuquay. Thursday night’s tournament, however, had a larger turnout than the games normally do.
He said that 17 people signed the attendance sheet for the tournament, whereas up to six people show up for most casual games. Over the past couple of weeks, Fuquay said regular players of the game have encouraged him to organize the tournament.
Fuquay explained that a former member of Residence Life Aaron Skinner ran tournaments in the past. Fuquay also added that he plans on running at least one more tournament before the semester ends.
Flyers advertising Thursday night’s event were posted approximately two weeks in advance in the Student Union and throughout residence halls. Fuquay said that he plans to advertise the next tournament in the same manner.
Card shops are where most players attend tournaments of this kind, but Fuquay said he thought that holding one in the Union would make it more convenient for students to attend.
Fuquay said the final count of Thursday night’s individual games was 24. Packs of Magic: The Gathering cards were awarded to the winners of the tournament.
In first place was Micah Shultze; in second, Rocky Grant; and in third, Kayleb Koslowski.
Aside from prizes won in tournaments, community is a reason some people play Magic since it is interactive and encouraging of card trading. Fuquay said that it is a social game.
“Most of the people you play with on a regular occasion become good friends, and you always have conversation breakers for new people you meet that play Magic,” he explained.
The group focus of the Magic: The Gathering Tournament was shared by Fuquay: “It’s just run by a student for students.”