Pre-release events are the perfect reminder that you’re really missing out if you aren’t attending events at your local game store for Magic: The Gathering. We recently attended the pre-release session for Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit set hosted by Quantum Nexus here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Cloaks, Rings, and Hobbit-size Miniatures
Before even starting the session the pre-release venue was littered with items and memorabilia from J.R.R. Tolkein’s world of Middle Earth featuring both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Some of the key pieces featured in the main display included a miniature diorama of the Fellowship of the Ring, the One Ring, a map of Middle-Earth, the key to the side door, and The Tower of Sauron; while some of the pieces outside the main display included Aragorn’s cloth cloak, Gandalf’s staff, and the flag of the Tree and the Stars.
As a person who frequently attends pre-release sessions, what was appreciated (although a further temptation to break out my wallet) was a near full display of all the products that comes with the set. In part, it’s things like this that celebrates the work that the Wizards of the Coast team puts into new sets.
Plus, here’s a special callout to my favorite part of the display: well-used and loved J.R.R Tolkein novels. This served as a microcosm for The Hobbit set, given that some of the most sought-after cards in the set are the borderless book cover cards, as well as the notion that Tolkein’s fantastical tales have been celebrated for decades.
Pre-Pre-release Shenanigans
Prior to the pre-release session starting, Quantum Nexus ran a quiz session featuring riddles from the tales of Middle-Earth. Other than competing in a mini-tournament and familiarizing yourself with cards from the new set, part of the allure of a pre-release session is about meeting other Magic players. The addition of this activity helped warm the room, with many folks debating and exchanging answers throughout.
Players who got all the answers correct even walked away with some official Magic merch. (My prize included a tote bag & pin from the 2023 Magic: The Gathering | Lord of the Rings set).
Booster Fun
Common for almost every pre-release event at a game shop, playing Pre-Release sessions will net every player some additional booster packs. Typically you’d be awarded with 1 – 3 additional booster packs depending on where your standing landed at the end of the session.
Lucky Draw
One additional thing that Quantum Nexus ran at the end of the pre-release session was a lucky draw giveaway, with the grand prize winner getting to take home a replica of Orcrist.
Emphasis on the Gathering
At the end of the day all these initiatives are in celebration of Magic: The Gathering and the new sets that are released. However, it’s always important to note that the reason why the hobby is alive and well due to its community. Local game shops are the facilitators of a hobby that is hinged on the people that play it and the energy they bring with it.
It’s refreshing to see the care and lengths Quantum Nexus went to in order to curate this type of environment, but the key takeaway here is to remember that Magic: The Gathering is will always be about about the gathering. So the next time a new set comes around, give some extra consideration to joining a pre-release session at your local game store.
Arief Johan is an advocate for independent game development from Southeast Asia & the Co-founder of the Southeast Asian Games Showcase & 20m Podcast. He also detests mono-blue players with all his heart.
