Draft and prerelease

These events are sanctioned by Bonner Comicladen and are therefore "real" tournaments. The word "tournament" is by no means intended to be a deterrent: Even absolute beginners can take part. The local organizer is currently Markus; the group was set up by Oli. 

We play Magic once a week in the form of a draft. Three rounds of 50 minutes each are played against opponents of similar strength (Swiss system) so that a winner (and the order of the other players) is determined. 

There are also prereleases every three months or so when new sets are released.

We draft every Thursday at 19:00. The venue is the John BarleycornHeerstraße 52, 53111 Bonn.

It would be good if you are there shortly before, so that a start at 19:00 is possible. If you arrive later, please let me know - then we'll wait (maybe a few minutes), otherwise we'll start around 19:05. We typically finish around 22:30/23:00. However, the dates may vary, e.g. due to public holidays or special events. 

You can also find the current list of registered events in the Wizards locator. They will also be posted in the WhatsApp group, the Mastodon feed, in the news and in the calendar. This is also the way to get the dates of prereleases.

Short version for newcomers:

• Join the WhatsApp group and say hello to the admin (0170 9059127).
• Download the app, log in with your Wizards account and enter the code.
• If you can't, write a direct message.

Long version with more text:

In principle, it is also possible to just drop by spontaneously, but it is better and safer if you register in advance. This has to do with the space situation in particular, as I would like to reserve enough space in advance, but not too much. Ideally, I should therefore know a few days in advance if you would like to take part. If you want to be there spontaneously, that's usually fine too, but it's conceivable that I'll have to send you away again if there's not enough space.  

If you would like to join us for the first time, please contact us directly via WhatsApp (or if not possible by email) in advance to say hello. Use a text like 

"Hi, I'm $first name $last name, would like to take part in X.X. and have the following questions:..."

Simply registering via the app without me knowing who you are is not sufficient for a binding registration.

From then on, you can register directly in the Wizards companion app. You already have the account you need for this if you have ever played Arena. Otherwise, you can create it via the app or on the web. You can find the necessary codes in the WhatsApp group or in the calendar. Some digital goodies (previously e.g. arena codes in the pack) are now also credited directly to this account.

If possible, please register by 17:00 the day before so that places can be reserved. If 10 people decide shortly beforehand, it is usually not possible to register individual people later.

If you have registered via the app but cannot come spontaneously, please contact us in person; you cannot cancel via the app.

Participation in the draft for normal sets currently costs EUR 15 for the boosters provided there. Prereleases currently cost 35 EUR. Special sets may have different prices. However, due to Wizards' policy, prices may fluctuate and change from time to time.

Please bring counted money!

The following applies to our venue: it is a gastronomic establishment that lives from the fact that people buy food and drinks there. Nobody is forced to consume a certain amount, but we as a group can only be there permanently if it is desirable for the store to have us there. So consume plenty:) 

Player experience varies greatly, there are always long-time players as well as new players. However, the format itself is very beginner-friendly, so everyone is welcome. The group has been around for many years. The weekly tournament typically has between 12 and 20 participants. There were often more than 40 players at the prereleases (sometimes 70 on both dates).

Our players are usually between 17 and 50 years old. Younger players are welcome, but please note that due to the time of the event, youth protection regulations - depending on age - may be an obstacle. The prerelease is therefore usually in the afternoon and open to everyone.

We are also a very diverse group. If you don't speak german, english usually works as well :) 

Yes and no. After the draft we make a rare picki.e. all rares and mythic rares drawn from the boosters (i.e. non-foil, foil, alternate art) are placed in the middle and then the cards are distributed so that the other players choose cards in turn according to their placement. So the first player gets the first pick, the second the next and so on until all the cards have been dealt. This means that you "get something" from winning, but there is no additional prize payout. Occasionally, however, there are promos that are distributed when available. All other cards are automatically yours.

At prereleases and other events that explicitly state this, you automatically keep the cards from the sealed pool or that you pick (keeper draft).

In principle, you don't "have" to bring anything with you; people who don't have anything with them are also catered for. However, the use of sleeves is highly recommended, especially as the cards (at the draft) do not yet belong to you and the future owner will be happy if the cards are not yet damaged. However, lands and sleeves can be borrowed and surplus basics can be donated to the land box :-)

If you want to be well prepared, it is a good idea to have the following things with you:

• Deck box with space for 140 cards with sleeves
• 120 sleeves
• 85 basic countries (17 per type) packed in these sleeves (so you don't have to borrow countries and pack and unpack them)
• Some dice (e.g. 2xd20 and 2xd6) and tokens

In contrast to the weekly drafts, prereleases take place less frequently, namely when a new set is released. These events are the most beginner-friendly event, as you don't have to own any cards and don't have to make decisions about which cards to pick for your deck like you do in the draft.

The format is "sealed", so you get a prerelease pack with boosters from the new set at the beginning and build a deck from it in 40-60 minutes.

 Then, depending on the date, you play 3-5 rounds of Magic (each round lasts about 50 minutes) against the best possible opponents ("Swiss system") and have a few hours of fun. 

You then receive between 1 and 4 prize boosters (depending on the number of games you have won) and also keep all the other cards you have opened in the pack.

The tickets are in German (prerelease only), the cost is 35 EUR (plus the cost of food and drinks at the venue).

The maps are, as far as possible, in English.

A prominent exception here is the prerelease, where the maps are in German. 

You can contact us and receive information in various ways:

• For beginners: The WhatsApp group: In the group, its admins always send the latest news, dates and the registration codes for the events, about once or twice a week. However, not everyone can write in the group to keep the spam rate low. If you want something, just openthe group info andwrite to one of the admins. If you are interested, you can easily and conveniently add yourself: WhatsApp group invitation. Please contact me (Markus) so that I know who you are. If you don't, I will ask :-) If you don't answer me, I will kick you out again :->
• by e-mail: to draft@magic-bonn.de. This is particularly useful for initial contact. Please note, however, that I cannot distribute all general information (new dates, changes, cancellations) by e-mail. You should therefore follow one of the first methods - at least from the moment there is regular interest.

Why is this necessary? Example: Someone registers for an event, but it is full or has to be canceled. I then need a way to let everyone know.

Occasionally, usually at the end of a set and before the prerelease, a chaos draft is offered. In terms of procedure, everything is actually the same as in normal drafts, with one exception: you receive random boosters from the last few years for drafting. This makes the decks less synergistic and the format is more about having fun than finding the best deck.

• Do you know in advance which boosters are available? - No, but in terms of the idea, sets from recent years. However, there may also be older ones.
• Does everyone get the same boosters? - No, this is random and it can be different for everyone.
• Do all boosters have the same number of cards? - No, if only because the number of cards has recently changed.
•  Isn't it unfair if someone gets a booster of a "better" set than me or more cards because the boosters are different sizes? - Yes, it certainly is.
• Are unboosters included? - Possibly, but I try to ask beforehand. That way, nobody has to play unsets if they don't want to.
• Do I need to know the mechanics and synergies of all the sets? - No. "Reading the card explains the card", otherwise just ask the nice organizer if something is unclear. :-)