On the corner of East 11th Avenue and Willamette Street lives an unassuming trading card and game store, Addictive Behaviors. Every Tuesday night the store lights up with passionate players and community members for Magic: The Gathering tournaments.
Released in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is a multiplayer card game where players use combinations of spells and creatures to defeat their opponents. The cards are collectible, and players build their decks over time, card by card. Some cards are less than 50 cents apiece, others cost thousands of dollars. Addictive Behaviors buys and sells these cards, almost like a used clothing store but for card games.
The MTG community in Eugene is thriving. Addictive Behaviors is filled with people of all ages and backgrounds competing in tournaments, playing Commander style, which is a style of play where four people around a table take turns. The style is considered to be more casual, allowing novice players to play in tournaments without having to spend too much money on niche cards. It also keeps the game social and low-stakes, so people can make deals with other players and joke around during the game.
These factors contribute to the inclusive and kind environment that the Eugene MTG community harbors. Many people at the tournaments have known each other for years, getting together weekly to play. While they take turns, they often chat about new cards they’ve acquired or trade items. Anyone is welcome to sign up for tournaments and to make new friends in the community.
“This guy right here, I met three years ago at one of these tournaments. Now, we hangout all the time,” Nick Bernier, a former UO student and current community member, said about his friend across the table, Justin Krier.
Bernier started playing Magic: The Gathering four years ago and enjoys the social aspects of the game. When he arrived in Eugene, he wanted to make a new group of friends. The MTG community was very welcoming, and Bernier quickly settled in.
When asked how he contributes to the inclusivity of the community, he said, “I try my best to match the skill level of all the other decks at the table. I do that so everyone’s having fun. If one person is coming in with a really competitive deck, and all the other people are coming in with non-expensive, low-powered decks, that’s not fun for everyone.”
Everyone did seem to enjoy last Tuesday’s tournament. The room was filled with excited chatter and nervous energy as people laid down cards, collected mana and left everything on the table.
Bernier’s friend, Justin Krier, has been playing MTG since 2004 when he was in middle school. Krier is currently a graduate student at the University of Oregon, studying the science behind earthquakes. When he moved to Eugene he quickly discovered the vivacious MTG community here and found his people.
“I like the individuality and creativity people can have with the game. Everyone can build their own deck in their own way. It’s a great way to express yourself,” Krier said. “I also like how the game is never the same. You have to think on your toes and improvise a lot.”
Strategic moves and politics between players is a major aspect of MTG, especially in a casual setting. These parameters help to build community bonds and encourage people to get to know each other throughout the gameplay.
Considering that Eugene is known for its out-of-the-box, welcoming mini-communities, it’s no surprise that the city is considered a major Magic: The Gathering hub. People looking to get involved in a little competitiveness, collecting and community fulfillment need look no further than Addictive Behaviors’ Tuesday tournaments.
