Grand Prix, What to bring???

General forum

Posted on Nov. 19, 2014, 8:12 p.m. by OP_Magikarp

Keeping on this theme of Grand Prix posts, I wanted to know more specifically what everyone brings to a Grand Prix.

I plan on going to my first Grand Prix next year so I have some time but I want to make sure I am prepared. Just wanted to know some of the things that you all bring, whether it be for the matches or just for yourself.

Like what type of dice? Yes or no to a playmat? Is it socially acceptable to bring my Snuggie?

TurboFagoot says... #2

I just bring my deck, my pen and my pad. My opponents generally have dice for me to bum.

Space can be tight, so packing too much can get annoying.

November 19, 2014 8:33 p.m.

xlaleclx says... #3

Don't bother with a playmat. I never bother using mine since theres not's much room. You'll also probably get a GP playmat anyways. Bring dice, bring a notepad if you want but they generally give them away by the dozens. Whenever I'm at a PTQ I grab as many free pens and notepads as I can :P all of the pens I own are from game shops in various cities.

November 19, 2014 8:37 p.m.

xlaleclx says... #4

Honestly though, it's not until next year so who cares? just bring your magic stuff in a backpack, no use worrying over what to bring at this point.

November 19, 2014 8:40 p.m.

GoofyFoot says... #5

I would advise against the snuggle. aside from the awkward looks, GPs are in large rooms with lots tables and usually awkward-to-navagate walkways. I would suggest packing a backpack lightly, carrying what you need for the day magic wise, along with maybe a lunch and other small things.

I went with a group of six people to gp portland last year (myself included in the six), and between us, I brought a backpack and carried our bulk, I.E. everyone's trade binders, commander decks, and other small things, and everyone else carried a small kit bag with their event decks they were going to use throughout the day, along with whatever they needed on them (snacks, dice, mats, etc.). If we traded, we traded as a group, both to keep an eye on people's cards, and to make sure trades were done fairly. We only played EDH at the event together

November 19, 2014 8:44 p.m.

vomdur says... #6

Less is better. I usually bring my elder dragon deck box in it I have deck, dice, and note pad. Investing in a good deck box is totally worth it. Also only have your deck and sideboard in your box. People will call judge on you for a deck check if you have other random cards in your deckbox. Play mat is usually useless I find. You are shoulder to shoulder at the tables most of the time and never have enough room to roll it out. I tend to play long grindy games so I never have time for trading thus don't need to bring my binder till the end.

You hear to many horror stories of backpacks getting stolen so don't bring anything in you can't afford to lose.

November 19, 2014 9:32 p.m.

xlaleclx says... #7

Theft is pretty bad at GPs. From what I've heard over $40,000 worth of cards were reported stolen at GP New Jersey.

November 19, 2014 9:38 p.m.

julianjmoss says... #8

Condoms

November 19, 2014 10:13 p.m.

Rodfjell says... #9

November 19, 2014 11:26 p.m.

Scytec says... #10

@slemulv - HyperMat Purples all the way. :p As a guy I pack my own tho. Double sleeving is a myth...it just rubs harder. Haha

November 19, 2014 11:36 p.m.

smash10101 says... #11

Bring your deck, your sideboard, some dice, a pad of paper, a pen or two, a playmat if you want to use one, and whatever else you need to play. Bring some snacks too. GPs are very long events. NJ had a player meeting at 10 and day one ended just before midnight. That means 14 from start to finish. Also, I keep a few extra sleeves in my deck box incase I break one, and I would get entirely new sleeves for day two if I made it. Your sleeves WILL be marked by the time you finish playing 9 rounds of swiss. Oh, and bring a water bottle to go with the snacks.

November 19, 2014 11:43 p.m.

Rodfjell says... #12

@ Scytec KMC has dat grip though; I'd go for some nice cheap Ultra Pros - very slippery. lol

November 20, 2014 12:08 a.m.

Scytec says... #13

Some things you should just spend the money on. Suits, time-pieces, condoms, and card sleeves are all investments...not purchases. You should indulge yourself occasionally.

November 20, 2014 12:41 a.m.

-Fulcrum says... #14

You absolutely have to bring snacks and water bottles. You're going to be there for I would guess around 12 hours a day. The concessions there make movie theaters look like Goodwill.

GP Nashville was Team Sealed, so I literally only brought some old sleeves to play with. But it's probably a good idea to bring at least your trade binder and maybe dice. People usually have dice you can borrow, but you might not want to rely on that.

Additionally, there are vendors that sell hard to find product and singles that you may or may not want to spend a metric fuckton of money on. And artists will be there doing signatures and alters, which is really cool. Signatures were free but they charge for the alters, which is reasonable. Cynthia Sheppard drew a dragon on my Treasure Cruise totally worth the $10.

I've only ever been to the one GP, so I don't know if it's like that every time, but that was my experience.

Parking's a bitch.

November 20, 2014 2:51 a.m.

gufymike says... #15

Besides the serious answers. Portable pcell phone charger. Not the wall plug, but a battery that can charge your phone while in your bag. This is the most important hidden gotcha there is. No need to fight for wall space or convention hall chargers. Plenty of snacks to last for 10 hours of gaming min. Convention hall food prices are absurd, walking to get food may not plausible till after the event.

November 20, 2014 2:55 a.m.

This discussion has been closed