I'm the owner over 10 Kaladesh Inventions including Sol Ring, Mox Opal, Mana Crypt, and Mana Vault as well as a Stronghold Mox Diamond that have all gone up in value over the past few years. I know they're nothing compared to beta cards and Power 9 but they're still the most valuable things I own and as much as I like playing with them I get more and more worried about using them in my decks because of their increasing value and the possibility of theft.
What advice or practices do you use to keep your most valuable cards safe while still enjoying playing with them?
There's not a single thing any of us can tell you that you don't already know yourself.
In layman's terms, just don't be the dumbass who makes it too easy not to steal. Don't leave your deck sitting out at your LGS. Keep it boxed up and with you at all times. Myabe the store owner will let you stash it behind the register or something..a safe spot. If you carry your stuff in a bookbag, don't leave your bookbag sitting around. if you live in an apartment complex or a sketchy residential neighborhood, don't leave it in your car overnight--take inside with you. If you DO leave it in your car, be sure to LOCK IT, turn on the alarm, don't just throw it on the front seat where anyone can look in and see it.
Now, I don't know you at all, so please don't take this the wrong way, but here's the most important one. (It's still 100% common sense though.) Don't be the guy who can't stop talking about his awesome super-valuable masterpiece cards. The type who enjoys having a crowd of younger players standing around, gobsmacked, looking at your amazing cards. Thieves are thieves because, among other things, they covet nice things that you have. If you are the type of person who shows up and just tries to endlessly impress everyone with your latest super-pimp cards, guess what, IF there is a thief in your midst, you just got his attention. You just became his mission. They are patiently waiting for the first opportunity to steal them. Frankly, you did it to yourself in that case.
Another one, also obvious, don't associate (or form a playgroup) with dirtbags. Seriously...find a playgroup (and/or an LGS) that isn't the most sketchy one in town. Seems like every city has at least one. Avoid it.
Honestly, if it were ME, I'd sell them and just replace them with regular versions. You still get to play the cards you love, you can now afford to acquire MANY MORE cards to play with, they're (far, far) less of a liabiilty, and honestly, Masterpieces are just kinda ugly to me. (It's like FTV foils. Eww?) To each his own..
If you "know" all or the majority of people around you, chances that they steal from you is at least minimal (not zero sadly).
If a store has cameras, you have a pretty good protection.
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And still then, put cards back in your bag after playing with them, do not let them open on the table, even just for going to the toilet and such things, as a very big part of thieves will not "plan" to steal, but see the chance to snatch a card they "always wanted" and go for it (and quickly sell it afterwards).
----
At bigger events you have to keep your stuff at your body at all times.
GP events and the like.
Even then a bag that can actually be closed is preferable.
If someone wants to steal cards with a plan and do so "professional" theres literally no way to protect yourself against them, as they will search out the easiest pray and steal just like any thieves in crowds of people.
----
In folders i like to put a slice of tape on the openings of each slot so cards dont fall out and people cant just pick them up easily, its "effort" to get the cards out.
And make sure people have to ASK you to pick up cards from a folder and only when you are watching them, otherwise you totally lose the ability to identify what they are doing with all the cards.
----
Id never leave cards in a car. The irony is that a lot of magic decks can easily become more expensive than the car itself and its just incredible foolish to leave that kind of value in a car that just asks to be broken into (and even if they fail, your car is trash afterwards).
If you own particular expensive cards its also fairly important to take pictures of them.
Like 1 picture of a lot all of them or a small video while you go through a folder.
That helps your memory to see if a card is missing and it also helps for any form of insurance to proof you actually owned the card you claim is stolen (as for very valuable cards, insurance often covers the lose if they are stolen from your house if someone actually breaks in).
If you dont have any proof of the cards, insurance will not accept your claims, so thats a quick and very worthy action.
I'd probably get a wall safe if I ever delved into anything like the Reserved List cards or the inventions. I know a few people have pretty decently sized display safe in their basement where they store collectibles of high value.
Unfortunately that doesn't really help with keeping them secure when playing with them. Your only option for security if you carry cards is to keep them on your person and don't let them leave your sight.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Is it really that important to have the bling of the Invention cards? For some, switch to the cheaper printing. Picking a random card like Force of Will, the Alliances printing is approximately $78 while the Judge Promo is $350-ish. Invocations is $250-ish. Unless you're going to games where everyone is carting around Power Nine, leave the pricier printing locked away at home.
I second savannahlion. If you want to be a collector, keep them at home. If you want to be a collector-player, pick up cheaper copies to play with. If you don't care for collecting, downgrade and take your winnings off the table.
Pretty much most have been said already. Personally, when I go to large events.. the only mtg thing I have with me is a deck box with the deck that I will play on that day. I don't bring extra baggage like other decks to show off and binders as those can divide my attention, with possibly something getting misplaced or stolen.
Trading in large events? If I meet a nice person and he / she wants to get a look at my cards, and they have a card that I'm also interested in.. I give them my cp number or facebook, so we can have a more relaxed talk after the event. Will show them clear pictures of all Modern cards that I'm willing to trade / sell, then if we agree on a trade.. we can meet later again at a secure location like a mall.
Here's a fun tip that's tangentially related to the topic. Foils bend because the cardboard absorbs moisture in the air, and the foily part (whatever it's made of) is inflexible, and bends as the cardboard expands. For this reason, I keep a few desiccants and silica packs in my collection to absorb the moisture in the air and keep my foils nice and straight.
For those of you who may not know what I'm talking about, these are the things you'll often find in medication bottles.
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Can you name all of the creature types with at least 20 cards? Try my Sporcle Quiz! Last Updated: 6/29/20 (Core Set 2021).
What advice or practices do you use to keep your most valuable cards safe while still enjoying playing with them?
In layman's terms, just don't be the dumbass who makes it too easy not to steal. Don't leave your deck sitting out at your LGS. Keep it boxed up and with you at all times. Myabe the store owner will let you stash it behind the register or something..a safe spot. If you carry your stuff in a bookbag, don't leave your bookbag sitting around. if you live in an apartment complex or a sketchy residential neighborhood, don't leave it in your car overnight--take inside with you. If you DO leave it in your car, be sure to LOCK IT, turn on the alarm, don't just throw it on the front seat where anyone can look in and see it.
Now, I don't know you at all, so please don't take this the wrong way, but here's the most important one. (It's still 100% common sense though.) Don't be the guy who can't stop talking about his awesome super-valuable masterpiece cards. The type who enjoys having a crowd of younger players standing around, gobsmacked, looking at your amazing cards. Thieves are thieves because, among other things, they covet nice things that you have. If you are the type of person who shows up and just tries to endlessly impress everyone with your latest super-pimp cards, guess what, IF there is a thief in your midst, you just got his attention. You just became his mission. They are patiently waiting for the first opportunity to steal them. Frankly, you did it to yourself in that case.
Another one, also obvious, don't associate (or form a playgroup) with dirtbags. Seriously...find a playgroup (and/or an LGS) that isn't the most sketchy one in town. Seems like every city has at least one. Avoid it.
Good luck with it!
If you "know" all or the majority of people around you, chances that they steal from you is at least minimal (not zero sadly).
If a store has cameras, you have a pretty good protection.
----
And still then, put cards back in your bag after playing with them, do not let them open on the table, even just for going to the toilet and such things, as a very big part of thieves will not "plan" to steal, but see the chance to snatch a card they "always wanted" and go for it (and quickly sell it afterwards).
----
At bigger events you have to keep your stuff at your body at all times.
GP events and the like.
Even then a bag that can actually be closed is preferable.
If someone wants to steal cards with a plan and do so "professional" theres literally no way to protect yourself against them, as they will search out the easiest pray and steal just like any thieves in crowds of people.
----
In folders i like to put a slice of tape on the openings of each slot so cards dont fall out and people cant just pick them up easily, its "effort" to get the cards out.
And make sure people have to ASK you to pick up cards from a folder and only when you are watching them, otherwise you totally lose the ability to identify what they are doing with all the cards.
----
Id never leave cards in a car. The irony is that a lot of magic decks can easily become more expensive than the car itself and its just incredible foolish to leave that kind of value in a car that just asks to be broken into (and even if they fail, your car is trash afterwards).
If you own particular expensive cards its also fairly important to take pictures of them.
Like 1 picture of a lot all of them or a small video while you go through a folder.
That helps your memory to see if a card is missing and it also helps for any form of insurance to proof you actually owned the card you claim is stolen (as for very valuable cards, insurance often covers the lose if they are stolen from your house if someone actually breaks in).
If you dont have any proof of the cards, insurance will not accept your claims, so thats a quick and very worthy action.
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
Unfortunately that doesn't really help with keeping them secure when playing with them. Your only option for security if you carry cards is to keep them on your person and don't let them leave your sight.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Is it really that important to have the bling of the Invention cards? For some, switch to the cheaper printing. Picking a random card like Force of Will, the Alliances printing is approximately $78 while the Judge Promo is $350-ish. Invocations is $250-ish. Unless you're going to games where everyone is carting around Power Nine, leave the pricier printing locked away at home.
Trading in large events? If I meet a nice person and he / she wants to get a look at my cards, and they have a card that I'm also interested in.. I give them my cp number or facebook, so we can have a more relaxed talk after the event. Will show them clear pictures of all Modern cards that I'm willing to trade / sell, then if we agree on a trade.. we can meet later again at a secure location like a mall.
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For those of you who may not know what I'm talking about, these are the things you'll often find in medication bottles.
My 720 Peasant Cube