“We all thrive to win – even though winning as such is utterly unimportant. It is the objective, the aspiration that counts.” – Reiner Knizia1
Apologies for this article being late, friends. I came back from MagicCon: Las Vegas to some very real busy-ness and then, because the universe loves a follow-up encounter, a pretty bad cold. Still, I’m excited, because summer is almost here, and the day this article goes live is actually my birthday, 5/21! We’ve also got the unofficial start of summer this weekend, and of course PaizoCon Online is back, hosted with Know Direction on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. So ahead of the Pathfinder and Starfinder goodness, and a busy birthday weekend, let’s talk about my first Magic Con and all that gathered (har har). I’m not a dad but the jokes be dadding.
Escaping to the Desert
I didn’t know anything about MagicCon but when I got a notification about it via some marketing email I figured why not. Last autumn I bought a ticket and planned myself a little escape. I got back into Magic: The Gathering last summer so I knew I’d enjoy it and I wanted to see what one of these big Magic-focused weekends actually felt like while getting some sunshine too. The spring was wet and cold and this Memorial Day weekend isn’t looking much better… Anyway, MagicCon is hyped as a weekend-long celebration of Magic with play events and panels. There’s some exclusive product to purchase, special guests I was thrilled to see, and a lot of ways for fans to connect. Heck, I met many just in line and it was very social/friendly. There was lots of space in the convention center there in Vegas.
As I said I also wanted to enjoy Las Vegas itself. I know, I know, not everyone hears “Vegas” and thinks “relaxing,” but the weather was honestly beautiful. Warm, bright, and somehow not oppressive so I got in some good pool time. It was perfect for walking, getting some sun, and pretending for a moment that I wasn’t going to come home to emails and deadlines, let alone that cold. The convention center is just off the Strip, with plenty of hotels nearby. I stayed at the Marriott practically across the street, which made the whole weekend feel easy in the best way. You weren’t overwhelmed with numbers besides the actual attendees and even that was really just the lines to get in.
The hotel scene was interesting and not just because the Sphere was watching my hotel room. Plenty of MagicCon folks were there, and plenty were at the other nearby hotels. I saw people sorting cards ahead of the con and playing games, especially in the evening, but it wasn’t quite the same hotel-lobby gaming sprawl I’ve seen at something like PAX Unplugged. It certainly wasn’t Gen Con-sized. I’ll admit I was a little sad there wasn’t more spontaneous social activity everywhere I looked, but I also loved seeing how many people clearly came as groups and made a full weekend out of it. A lot of folks seemed to be staying at the Marriott Residence Inn next door, which is directly across from the part of the Convention Center where the con was held. You could absolutely see the appeal of grabbing friends, a suite, and then treating yourself to some drafting and a mini-vacation. Of note Marriott was also updating their Courtyard by Marriott right there, and I basically got them to admit they’re turning that block into their own resort area. Here’s hoping for a bigger pool!
Long Lines and Good Vibes
The morning lines to get into the building were long. Very long. The MagicCon “campus” opened daily at 8:30 a.m. for badge pickup so it became a huge line to get inside. Here were the crowds, which was exciting too. Was cool to see all the cosplay! Then once inside you could also do your merch pickup that you got with your badge like a bag, lanyard, some packs. However, then there was the morning queue separated by badge type in order to get into the show proper, which opened at 10:00 a.m. This is me in that line, yay! So young, so innocent of the patience required…
I learned very quickly that there was a Black Lotus VIP badge too because basically everyone around me was talking about it. Those folks received perks like priority show-floor entry at 9:45 a.m., a VIP lounge, some other merch, and a Thursday First Look access which explained to me why I saw people coming out with product that day before. That Black Lotus VIP pricing was listed at $1,000 though so y’know, you really gotta be sure you are willing to pay that price for the related perks.
Like I said, even with the lines, people were friendly. Excited. Chatty even! There’s a particular con mood where everyone is a little tired, a little anxious to get inside, and still delighted to be surrounded by people who care about the same thing. That was there. That first day in line for hours I met probably an equal number of first timers like myself but also diehard veterans who’d come many times before, or to other Magic conventions.
Gathering Grounds
One of my favorite things to see was how prominently the Diversity and Equity booths were featured. They were not hidden away in some back corner or placed somewhere you had to go looking for them. They had visibility. They had space. They felt like part of the convention. They had a dedicated space open to all attendees, designed with a particular mission: to celebrate what makes the Magic community unique while uplifting historically marginalized and underrepresented groups. It included organizations such as Trans Lifeline, Wizards Pride, Women of Wizards, Birds of Paradise, Pendragon, Veterans the Gathering, and more.
Thank you so much to everyone that stopped by our booth and participated in the events we hosted throughout the weekend at MC Vegas. It was an incredible weekend and we made so many lovely memories and we couldn’t have done it without your support so thank you! Looking forward to the next one
— Birds of Paradise
(@birdsofmtg.bsky.social)
May 6, 2026
I talked to a lot of folks over the weekend, and what I kept hearing was that people noticed the presence with great positivity. Even some of the straight “dude bro” types I met were saying things like, “It feels more diverse,” “It feels like everyone is welcome,” and “People seem generally happier and more comfortable.” That matters. The booth folks I met, including people around Birds of Paradise, seemed to feel better supported too. Birds of Paradise is a creator group focused on uplifting marginalized members of the Magic community and providing safe, welcoming spaces for gaming. Check them out if you’re interested in inclusive Magic community spaces!
The Future Hype
Of course they had to hype forthcoming releases but I like how they did! There was the adorable Cat Lair. You could play with cats or just watch them through a separation of glass, which is honestly one of the best possible safety valves for con overstimulation for the kitties. Some were napping, some were playing. All seemed thrilled for some personal interaction. The Cat Lair ties into the Cats are the Best Secret Lair cards coming next month. I certainly didn’t expect to see it; I don’t think anyone did. But it was a clear favorite, gathering lots of attention and just people quietly watching the cats play. Having a cat room is exactly the kind of silliness I need more of in my life.
Far more product placement was the Marvel Heroes display. Granted I loved seeing it, especially the new Mind Stone. Paul Bettany even appeared during the preview panel as part of the Marvel Super Heroes reveal. He placed a physical Mind Stone into an Infinity Gauntlet in the most goofy yet dramatic corporate crossover spectacle you could hope for. I’m apparently still vulnerable to see as I did get excited, maybe just the idea of seeing more celebrities and the like orbiting this game. I was rather excited to see Dropout folks after all.
Shopping and Dealing
There is so much for sale at MagicCon. So much. I did the long line wait first thing on the first day so I could pick up a couple of shirts and some Magic cards, including the Las Vegas MagicCon Festival in a Box at MSRP. So yes, that was basically 2 hours of line waiting to get in and then 2 hours of line waiting to buy, but I got what I wanted. It was interesting to hear of changes after lack of purchase limits in the past that meant people often lost out to those Black Lotus badge owners who got in early or people who were first buying up everything. Seemed fair and the daily limits meant you could always get more the next day. I know that isn’t the most glamorous part of a con recap, but let’s be honest: sometimes the dream is simply buying the thing you want at the price it is supposed to cost right?
The real joy was shopping with visiting vendors and artists. I took a gander through the artists area, but I tried not to get in the way. There were many folks present to meet with, get signed cards by the artists and I wasn’t informed enough to make educated greetings. Thus I gave them space but enjoyed the walk through! The vendors usually suffered a bit more on the market price of things, but they have to make their profits too especially against demand and the cost of shipping alone. Most didn’t that many crazy deals unless you were paying cash, where at least you could usually avoid paying tax. What I saw a lot of were people selling their cards. Many people waiting in line as hundreds of singles would get sold. Made me wonder if they were really getting better pricing than selling to a Local Game Store (LGS). I did see quite a few vendors had “wanted” signs of cards they were really after. I didn’t plan any selling, but it was interesting to see. I did buy a not-so-cheap storage card case that had a chance for some good product inside. Mine wasn’t one of the epic lottery-style wins, but it still had valuable stuff in it and ended up being worth more than the box cost, so I’m calling that a win! I mean it is Vegas right? A little gambling…
The real deals seemed to happen at the end of the con. I expected such if Gen Con has taught me anything. In the last couple of hours, flash sales started popping up, and I managed to pick up a half-off box of School of Mages Set packs for only $100. That kind of end-of-con bargain hunting can be dangerous, but sometimes the cardboard gods smile on you. Usually vendors don’t want to ship / cart product home so find those vendors traveling farthest afield and roll a diplomacy check!
Featuring Dropout Chaos
One of the best parts of the weekend was how many remarkable events tied into the con. I went to the Strixhaven D&D game titled Extra-Curricular Chaos primarily for the amazing Persephone Valentine and Carolyn Page, and they were joined by the incredible DM Kathleen Devere. I got to enjoy the clever playing of Seanan McGuire ( who wrote Omens of Chaos) and MoxReuby as well. It was everything you want from a slightly adult, Strixhaven-themed D&D game: inspired chaos, very funny people, and a table that immediately understood the assignment. Persephone had some very convincing swamp witch brews to drink, and the list she had ready was hilarious. We literally had MoxReuby briefly turning into a dragon right at the start, which is a strong opening move for any live play.
Carolyn Page also announced we’d get a second season of Bitcherton, which I wasn’t familiar with but I’m now thrilled to have discovered. Bitcherton is an improvised Regency comedy podcast about Lady Patience Bitcherton. You’ve got her unwed daughters, nosy neighbors, awful country cousins, and naturally a body to hide. The cast includes Brian Flaherty, Katie Marovitch, Ify Nwadiwe, Carolyn Page, Alex Song-Xia, and Cassie Willson. It is very much “What if Jane Austen, scandal, improv chaos, and the phrase ‘Oh bits!’ all got shoved into the same drawing room?” You can also find them on Bluesky as @bitcherton.bsky.social.
Did you miss us?? Production begins on Season 2 THIS MONTH! So you won’t have to wait long for new episodes of Bitcherton. Ft. @ifycomedy.com @jacuzzitubbs.bsky.social @katiemarovitch.bsky.social @brianflaherty.bsky.social Cassie Willson PLUS a whole bunch of new guests (and a few old favorites)
— Bitcherton
(@bitcherton.bsky.social)
May 11, 2026
Ify Nwadiwe and Brian David Gilbert hosted a live Um, Actually, which was a nice chance to sit for a spell, laugh, and test my own Magic knowledge without having to actually be the one on stage getting publicly humbled. Forgive my lack of Magic celebrity knowledge but the contestants were Katie Karlov, Zabracus, and TheAsianAvenger. I’m referencing actual event listing from the app but I’m learning more of these folks. Katie won, quite deservedly but all did quite well!
There was even more Dropout energy with Dropout Improv on Saturday night. It was a true Mana Stage (ha get it?) spectacle. We had Jacob Wysocki, Lou Wilson, Kurt Maloney, Kimia Behpoornia, Scott Passarella, and the one and only Ally Beardsley. What I can say other than that it itself was chaos and hilarity in exactly the way you’d expect from Dropout people being given a stage, an audience, and permission to be ridiculous! I seriously had had no idea I’d get the treat of so many Dropout folks by going to Magic Con Vegas. I had quickly learned Persephone and Ify were quite the aficionados last year, but having this whole crew visiting for the weekend was a real treat we see again!
Do I Start Titling the Conclusion?
I mean, do I? I’ve gotten a little feedback it’s not always clear when the conclusion is starting until you’ve read into it so maybe, yes. MagicCon is a fun con to invest in if you like Magic: The Gathering. I don’t think it replaces a PAX Unplugged or a Gen Con for me, because those conventions scratch different parts of the gaming brain. It can’t compare with PaizoCon because Pathfinder is love. Certainly MagicCon is more focused and because of that it can be easier to decide what kind of weekend you want. You can play and shop. You can meet creators and artists. Maybe like me you’ll want those live shows. In this case you can also sit near cats and recover your humanity. So Invest In a MagicCon if you want some of that magic, and Magic Con Vegas if you want some magic with some sunshine like me!
Now, this weekend, we shift from one kind of gathering to another with PaizoCon Online, back through Know Direction on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. I’m excited to hear more about what’s coming, and my next article will dig into details from PaizoCon, as well as the necromancer I’m currently playtesting as we hear more about Impossible Magic. I’ll be tracking my own play experience so I can discuss how the class feels at the table. Eventually I’ll compare that to the final version, which I’ll be previewing ahead of Gen Con! Have a great weekend and until next time, please remember to support one another and of course, much love to all!
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
Sources
Banner – Magic Con Las Vegas 2026 primary banner, Wizards of the Coast
- Translated from original german quote, Reiner Knizia
- Magic Con Las Vegas 2026 secondary banner, Wizards of the Coast
- The Sphere photo by Rob
- Rob in line selfie by Rob
- Cat Lair photo by Rob
- The Mind Stone photo by Rob
- Uhm, Actually at Magic Con photo by Rob
