Do you remember how BAD Arabian Nights printing problems were? G'lord. There's an entire AN A and B because of printing issues. You'd be better off going from other indicators like the bend test, light test, etc. and not small visual/printing discrepancies (small. not glaring)
I'm going to be brutally honest with you. First, you are expecting too much of people. Second, you are being too sensitive. And finally, I think this is a self-esteem issue (which IS normal for Magic players from my experience).
Rather than turn tail and run off to a different store, keep going to this one and make friends. Don't expect people to be immediately inviting and give you a warm reception. Don't forget that people are complex animals and expecting them to behave one way or the other is setting yourself up for disappointment. Maybe the workers don't know much about Magic? Maybe they had a bad day? Maybe they had a lot of work to do? Whatever the case, don't you think that if they knew you, they would have been more welcoming? It isn't about being a "newbie" to Magic so much as being a stranger.
No one store is going to be less inviting than another because people are the same everywhere. I will put my entire Magic collection on the line and bet you that if you stick it out and keep coming back to this same "unwelcoming" store and you get to know the people that work and play there, you'll dispel all of these silly ideas of it being the LGS or player base's fault.
To be less advicey and just answer your questions:
Is it normal for someone inexperienced with the game to run into resistance while asking a lot of questions?
Not unless you're being obnoxious about it or not listening. Most people are understanding, but can be aloof if they don't consider you a threat in the game. That's normal.
Did I do something wrong or inappropriate by asking the staff those questions before other players showed up?
No. Again, unless you were being obnoxious or asking at inopportune times (e.g. when they have a customer)
What should I expect if I do decide to go to the FNM?
People to act like people. And not just that, but people with cruddy social skills. It IS a bunch of Magic players after all--some of them are simply basement-dwellers with no people skills. It happens.
Whatever you do, don't let things affect you so much. You have to learn to relax and focus on things besides yourself or you're doomed to needlessly worry and be self-conscious. Just laugh everything off. A friend once told me this anecdote/hypothetical in response to a social gaffe I made and advised me how to react:
You're at a bar and you bump into a guy, spilling his beer and he looks pissed. You have two options: 1) awkwardly apologize to him and hope he doesn't kick your ass or call you out or 2) laugh it off, tell the guy "hey sorry buddy, let me buy you a beer".
Guess which one of those is the correct option? If you take it everything so seriously, you're going to be worse off than if you just say **** it and laugh it off like it doesn't affect you (even if it does). So next time you go to this store and people are ignoring you? **** em. You had fun with the people around you last time, so just ignore the people you think are being rude or cold to you and find someone to have fun with.
lol...can confirm. I've sold off my "collection" twice in my time playing since '94. First time was after Visions/Mirage came out because I "didn't like that they added different abilities". This mistake cost me all of my alpha, beta, and other early sets...probably around 1-2k cards. I picked up again somewhere in the late 90's and sold off before I finished HS I think around Onslaught block.
Honestly, you can never escape Magic once you start. I learned that the hard way!
I didn't consider it much different than Arbor Elf except when you had the ability to untap a creature or land--though I didn't really think about Arbor Elf being able to untap duals for color fixing (despite having literally done that this morning playing against my wife at breakfast). The only cards that make this better than Llanowar Elves would be Garruk Wildspeaker and Arbor Elf. I mean, I'd play this over one of the two of Llanowar Elves or Fyndhorn Elves in a cube already playing Llanowar Elves, Fyndhorn Elves, Arbor Elf, Noble Hierarch, Elvish Mystic, and Birds of Paradise for that off chance you can make use of untapping the land you bestowed with the ability. I don't think the restriction on the ability of only affecting a Forest is substantial. I consider the card overall to be a small upgrade to a straightforward 1CMC mana dork
I am speaking for myself only, not the Magic community.
My issues, as a player since 1994, can be summed up as "WotC and Hasbro has pushed Magic so hard for profits that they've squeezed the uniqueness out of it."
Foil Future Sight Tarmogoyf $900
{All the CE P9} -- Black Lotus (CE) $475
Moat (English) $640
Foil Grim Monolith Only have MP on TCGplayer for $500...graded 9.5 on eBay $1000, so I'm going with $750 for my NM/not graded
Library of Alexandria $700
Totals to around $3500 (only counting Black Lotus from the P9)
Yep. People seem to also have some money around that time since they aren't spending on everyone else for Christmas as well. I for one am excited to be a Summer Santa.
I'm gonna guess its a crazy Enchantment that has multiple effects that stack. Looking at Throne of the God-Pharaoh, the flavor text mentions the hours of Revelation, Glory, Promise, and Eternity, so I'm putting stock in the idea that the enchantment has multiple effects similar to Demonic Pact. Maybe:
Revelation - Draw/reveal cards
Promise - Creature(s)/permanent(s) into play
Glory - Mass Buff
Eternity - Exile all permanents
I ran the Christmas in July back in 2014 and I'd be willing to do it again for sure, but its too early to start enrolling people. Judging by the number of people already posting about it, it looks like there's plenty of interest to make it happen. So, if the organizer of the regular SS doesn't want to run it, I'll volunteer.
Oddly enough, IIRC I think Christmas in July was a little more successful than the regular Secret Santa that year haha
Honestly, I think you'd be better off building an "Un-" cube with conspiracy cards included and anything printed in regular sets that feel like they belonged in the Un- world (example: Falling Star, Raging River, Booby Trap). I think there's a few lists out there of just goofy and fun cards that aren't utterly uninteresting/unplayable. Good luck!
Rather than turn tail and run off to a different store, keep going to this one and make friends. Don't expect people to be immediately inviting and give you a warm reception. Don't forget that people are complex animals and expecting them to behave one way or the other is setting yourself up for disappointment. Maybe the workers don't know much about Magic? Maybe they had a bad day? Maybe they had a lot of work to do? Whatever the case, don't you think that if they knew you, they would have been more welcoming? It isn't about being a "newbie" to Magic so much as being a stranger.
No one store is going to be less inviting than another because people are the same everywhere. I will put my entire Magic collection on the line and bet you that if you stick it out and keep coming back to this same "unwelcoming" store and you get to know the people that work and play there, you'll dispel all of these silly ideas of it being the LGS or player base's fault.
To be less advicey and just answer your questions:
Is it normal for someone inexperienced with the game to run into resistance while asking a lot of questions?
Not unless you're being obnoxious about it or not listening. Most people are understanding, but can be aloof if they don't consider you a threat in the game. That's normal.
Did I do something wrong or inappropriate by asking the staff those questions before other players showed up?
No. Again, unless you were being obnoxious or asking at inopportune times (e.g. when they have a customer)
What should I expect if I do decide to go to the FNM?
People to act like people. And not just that, but people with cruddy social skills. It IS a bunch of Magic players after all--some of them are simply basement-dwellers with no people skills. It happens.
Whatever you do, don't let things affect you so much. You have to learn to relax and focus on things besides yourself or you're doomed to needlessly worry and be self-conscious. Just laugh everything off. A friend once told me this anecdote/hypothetical in response to a social gaffe I made and advised me how to react:
You're at a bar and you bump into a guy, spilling his beer and he looks pissed. You have two options: 1) awkwardly apologize to him and hope he doesn't kick your ass or call you out or 2) laugh it off, tell the guy "hey sorry buddy, let me buy you a beer".
Guess which one of those is the correct option? If you take it everything so seriously, you're going to be worse off than if you just say **** it and laugh it off like it doesn't affect you (even if it does). So next time you go to this store and people are ignoring you? **** em. You had fun with the people around you last time, so just ignore the people you think are being rude or cold to you and find someone to have fun with.
Honestly, you can never escape Magic once you start. I learned that the hard way!
Cube type: Powered 360
W
Ajani Goldmane > Gideon of the Trials
Soltari Trooper > Glory-Bound Initiate
U
None
B
Gnarled Scarhide > Dread Wanderer (Pushing zombie count / never saw GS bestowed in its entire time in the cube)
Heir of Falkenrath > Never//Return
Mardu Strike Leader > Plague Belcher
R
Fire Imp > Combat Celebrant
Goblin Glory Chaser > Soul Scar Mage
Lightning Mauler > Harsh Mentor
G
Noose Constrictor > Manglehorn
WUBRG
Trygon Predator > Nissa, Steward of Elements
Artifact
None
Land
None
{Elf} G
Creature - Elf Druid
T: Target Forest gains "T: Add GG to your mana pool" until end of turn.
My issues, as a player since 1994, can be summed up as "WotC and Hasbro has pushed Magic so hard for profits that they've squeezed the uniqueness out of it."
Foil Future Sight Tarmogoyf $900
{All the CE P9} -- Black Lotus (CE) $475
Moat (English) $640
Foil Grim Monolith Only have MP on TCGplayer for $500...graded 9.5 on eBay $1000, so I'm going with $750 for my NM/not graded
Library of Alexandria $700
Totals to around $3500 (only counting Black Lotus from the P9)
Revelation - Draw/reveal cards
Promise - Creature(s)/permanent(s) into play
Glory - Mass Buff
Eternity - Exile all permanents
Oddly enough, IIRC I think Christmas in July was a little more successful than the regular Secret Santa that year haha