Last weekend, I attend the Regional Championship in Cincinnati. It had been a while since I attended any event larger than a Pre-Release at my LGS, so I approached this event as if I'd never attended a Magic convention before. And, in a way, I hadn't.

The current Magic Convention system is so different from the Grand Prix system that I used to attend. So, I decided to write down some of my thoughts, as a survival guide for any other old school Magic players interested in returning to the events, or any new players ready to see what the event is like.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go

Before you sign up for any events at a Magic Convention (Con) you want to ask yourself a few questions.

First of all, are you planning to play in the main event? If you are, this will dictate everything about your trip, because it will have prescribed requirements for you to show up and play at specific times and within a rigid structure.

If you're not playing in the main event (and there is sooooo much going on at a Con that you absolutely should attend one of these, even if you aren't in the main event), you need to ask yourself how many days you plan to attend. Yes, I recommend multiple days.

There is much to do, much to see, games to play, and, unlike the spirits in a Christmas Carol, I don't think you can do it all in one day/night. This doesn't mean you can't have fun attending a single day, but if you want to maximize the experience, plan on attending multiple days.

Logistics Planning Before the Event

Okay, now that you have what you want to do thought out, what preparations do you need to make? My first suggestion is to study the event page for all relevant information. Where is the event being held? What time do the convention hall doors open? What events are being run on what days? Is there an event package being sold? The Event Page is a great starting point.

Next up, the logistics of travel itself. Are you going to need a hotel? You'll want to book it early. Just go ahead and get that out of the way so you can focus on the fun stuff. Is the Con close enough to drive? Look up parking. Many garages will let you pre-purchase your daily parking passes.

Are there special events? Do you want to take part in the Cosplay Contest? Is there an artist that you've always wanted to meet, and you need to get them to sign fifteen copies of your favorite token? You'll want to make sure you look for start times and availability times for people/events before you attend.

Are you going with friends? Arrange a meeting place and time before hand. Sure, everyone has phones, but it's a lot easier to know that you're meeting your buds at 9:00am by the Entrance than trying to scream into a phone while 100 people are laughing and chatting around you in a crowded hall.

Most events run through MTGMelee or the Companion app. While this is a massive improvement from the days of two sheets of printer paper taped to a board with three hundred Magic players huddled around them squinting, trying to read their table location, it means you'll be looking at your phone quite a bit. Do you also use your phone to track life totals? Consider bringing a back-up battery or quick charger.

General Suggestions

Take a minute to think about food. Convention halls are notorious for offering over-priced, under-flavored food options. Take the time to find some snacks that you can stuff in a pocket or a bag so you can munch when needed (I took beef jerky and peanuts in a side pocket of my backpack).

Hydration is also important. A water bottle is great, but if nothing else, make sure you note the location of water fountains. Maybe even look at a map of the area surrounding the Con for a place to pop out for a quick lunch, or even dinner once the day is over.

Leave yourself time! Events will run long. That Mystery Booster 2 Draft you've been dying to try might take an hour to fire. There may be a line for the artist you're determined to see. Things happen. Don't budget your time so strictly that you don't have time to explore the convention area. You'll want some extra time to wander around, to see if there's anything going on that you missed on the Event page.

Think about what you want to purchase before you go. If there are multiple cards, make a list. It's a lot easier to hand a short list to a shop and ask, "Do you have these?" than to stand there and name card after card while they try to help.

Cons are a great place to find items you won't see in your LGS, so dream big. Always wanted to bust a pack of Tempest? Have you been trying to find a Raised Foil copy of Camellia, the Seedmiser to complete your squirrel deck? This is your chance! You might even find items you never knew you'd need.

And, a tip: if you're looking for a certain card, especially a version that's unique, check back with the sellers multiple times. Cards are being traded-in all weekend long, and something that wasn't in stock on Friday, might be sitting in the case come Sunday morning.

Pay attention to what you pack. If you're hauling around a backpack stuffed with a dozen Commander decks, binders, a box of cards to trade-in, snacks, dice, and your tactical Loot plushie, it's going to feel like it weighs a hundred pounds by the end of the day.

You'll also want to make sure that you leave room in your bag for new cards and items that you acquire. Sure, who doesn't want to buy five new playmats, until you have to find a way to haul them back to your hotel room or squeeze them in your bag before a flight.

Watch your things. It is an unfortunate truth that Conventions can attract people who would be more than willing to casually pocket your favorite Commander deck when you're looking the other direction. I absolutely hate having to say this, but yes, thieves are a thing.

Make sure you can secure your belongings. When you sit, keep your bag close (I tend to loop the strap around one of my legs while playing). Do a quick check every time you open your bag to make sure you returned everything you took out. Thieves suck, but you shouldn't let them keep you from attending a Con. Just, make sure you protect yourself and your things.

Wrapping Up

Magic Conventions are an amazing experience. They are a fantastic way to celebrate all of the weird and wonderful things we love about this game, and a way to experience the community you don't normally get from your LGS or through online play.

If you get the chance to attend a Con, I can't recommend it highly enough. Once you attend, you'll be looking at the schedules and counting down the days until you get the chance to go again.

You can find more of my Magic decks and musings on twitch and on Bluesky.