My first organized play event: what to bring?

[djp952]

As many of you know, I've finally decided to push my old age aside and actually participate in organized play! Choosing a Shonen Jump Championship may not have been the best thing, but it's also hopefully a chance to meet many of you face-face for the first time.

As a first-timer, I'm a little unsure as to what to bring with me. I did witness a Sneak Preview event once, and it was an absolute mad house, which takes my uber-nerdy customized YGO spy case out of the picture (it started life as a digital camera attache).

Here's my current plan in order to travel light, not get anything stolen, and still have everything I need:

- Deck. Duh. Rook Capsule box.
- Deck list(s).
- Back pocket-sized spiral notebook
- 2 pens
- UDE membership card
- 4 Scapegoat tokens (just wooden discs about the size of a quarter)
- Extra pack of 60 sleeves (deck will be in new sleeves too)

I think I can fit all that on me mostly comfortably, and still keep my wallet in a front pocket

What else do you guys usually take along? Are you fanny-pack types (I'm not), or do you try to just have a minimum of junk you can keep on you?

In my spy case, I have a total setup of stuff, but I'm assuming that each duelist will bring the items necessary for their deck, right? If they need dice or spell counters or whatnot, they should have them? Would it be smart to just load up an Altoids tin full of dice, coins, tokens, counters, etc. just in case to help them out?

Calculator? (Not like this is high-level mathmatics or anything here)

I would appreciate any insight you folks can provide.

 

[Shai-Hulud]

Hmmm...looks like you got the essentials. At least you're more prepared and organized than the average player (or most players for that matter).

If you have a hand-held calculator, I would go ahead and bring it along...just in case you are being attacked by a Gyaku-Gire Panda and 3 Milus Radiants and you have 4 monsters in play.

(The above situation is highly unlikely...but you never know)

I think it's cool that you chose an Shonen Jump Championship for your very first organized play event. You will get to witness some very talented players...some very whiny players...and some judges who will probably be exhausted by the end of the day.

If you see me, please come up and say hi (I'll be the bald asian fellow wearing a shirt that says "Team NeXus"). One of the greatest pleasures of this game is getting to meet new and interesting people, so please don't be shy.

Have a good time at the event !!!

(And please watch your stuff...unfortunately there are usually thieves at events like this one)

 

[masterwoo0]

Finally coming down South huh? lol

Look forward to meeting you!! I'll be Judging Saturday's event and playing in the Regional on Sunday. Ian from UDE is supposed to be there as well from what I understand.

Anyway, I would recommend only bring your essentials, meaning, whatever you can keep securely on your person. Personally, I do not endorse trading at these type of events. It is a good opportunity to do so, but the environment just gets so crazy, it's not worth it. With that said, bring a trading binder at your own peril!!

 

[djp952]

If you see me, please come up and say hi (I'll be the bald asian fellow wearing a shirt that says "Team NeXus"). One of the greatest pleasures of this game is getting to meet new and interesting people, so please don't be shy.

Thank you, and I do hope I can spot you! And if you spot a 33 year old, mostly bald, very American-looking fella in a (likely some earth tone) button-down shirt stuffed with all those items you see listed above, that looks like he's feeling very out of place, come up and say hi

With luck I'll be hanging out with a larger fella and his daughter. She apparently has a killer beastdown deck, and she's only like 8 years old!

 

[djp952]

Finally coming down South huh? lol

Look forward to meeting you!! I'll be Judging Saturday's event and playing in the Regional on Sunday. Ian from UDE is supposed to be there as well from what I understand.

Anyway, I would recommend only bring your essentials, meaning, whatever you can keep securely on your person. Personally, I do not endorse trading at these type of events. It is a good opportunity to do so, but the environment just gets so crazy, it's not worth it. With that said, bring a trading binder at your own peril!!

We need a system here to spot each other.... perhaps a new thread about that <runs off to make thread>

 

[magnumcyclonex]

Here is what I took to my first SJC as a player:

Backpack:
Dragon/Zombie playmat
Jinzo Tin:
- Deck box 1: Main deck
- Deck box 2: Side deck, fusions
- Dice box: D6, D20, US Quarter
- Duelist calculator
- UDE pen (given out upon registration)
- Yu Gi Oh LP paper (given out upon registration)
Exarion Tin:
- Extra copies of cards to rebuild my deck and make completely new decks
Graphing calculator. This is more reliable.
Water bottle. Refill when necessary at the fountains (if there are any)
Food, such as bananas, or snacks should suffice
Trading binder. (Organize to make it look good)
Cash for food, drinks, traveling, cards, tournament fees (main and side events), emergency uses
Chewing gum. Good for breath, good for teeth.
Extra pens, notepad, and sleeves of the same color as your main deck
Decklist sheets. Provided by the TO, but it's good to have extras
Ipod/MP3 player/Gadget/Reading Material to keep you out of boredom between rounds.
Watch, to observe the time.
Friends. Go with a bunch of them so you can cheer each other on, sympathize when you lose and watch each others' belongings.
---------------------------------------------------------
Get plenty of rest before and after the event.

There will be a LOT of people. Consider yourself at the airport. What is the one announcement that is made so frequently at the airport? That's right. Watch your belongings and never leave them unattended, even for 1 second.

Use NEW sleeves of the same color for both your main and side deck. You can do the same for fusions, but to avoid the risk of forgetting to take them out of your deck after each game (and receiving a penalty), it is recommended that different colored sleeves be used for fusions.

When you play, do not trade, and vice versa. Make the other person wait for you.

When you are seated to play your matches, take out all the things you need, and only those. Leave the rest in your backpack, which should now be zipped up. Your backpack should be on your lap or on the floor next to your chair, preferably leaning against your leg and to your side, so you can see it and will know when its not there.

Shuffle your deck thoroughly to avoid certain cards from clumping together. (e.g. you don't want to draw 3 Nimble Momongas in your first hand)

Place your fusion deck in the proper place, and your side deck to the side of the duel field/mat. Indicate these two decks to your opponent.

Take the time to think out your moves and call a judge to verify things

ALWAYS write down the LP changes EVERY time it happens, and confirm with your opponent. Calulators can turn off, or run out of batteries, and players may sometimes forget about paying costs or taking battle damage.

Make sure you have new batteries for your calculators and make sure BOTH players track BOTH players' LPs

Be courteous to your opponents and annouce moves and phases in a clear manner.

After finishing a match, unside deck immediately to your original main deck. KNOW your main and side deck by heart. If it helps, fill an extra decklist copy to keep to yourself for the day.

Always take out the fusions from your graveyard/field/hand/deck after each game and put them back in the fusion deck before shuffling and side decking between/after games.

After unsiding, pack up your deck boxes etc. into your backpack, zip it up and then get up and check for any items you may have dropped. Make sure, then go to wherever you need/want to go afterwards.

Keep your phone on silent during rounds. It is disrespectful to your opponent and other players when you answer calls during the middle of a round.

Most importantly, have fun.