New to tournaments?

How a night works, in any game

1. 1Turn up, tell the counter you are playing, and pay the entry if there is one. That is the whole sign-up.
2. 2Everyone plays every round - it is not a knockout. You get paired against someone new each round.
3. 3A round has a clock, and the big screen counts it down. When it hits zero you finish the turn you are in; the screen shows exactly what happens next.
4. 4Between rounds you are free: trade, buy singles, post a card you are looking for to the room board.
5. 5Nobody expects you to know everything. Tell your opponent it is your first event - it goes well.

One Piece Card Game

• Bring a 50-card deck plus your Leader and 10 DON!! cards. Sleeves are worth it.
• Matches are usually one game, about 35 minutes on the clock.
• When time is called you finish the current turn plus three more. The screen walks everyone through it.
• Casual store events expect nothing from you except your deck. Judges and opponents help new players constantly.

Pokémon TCG

• Bring a 60-card deck. Write a deck list if the event asks; staff will help you with it.
• Most locals are best-of-one, around 30 minutes, or best-of-three at 50.
• When time is called you play a set number of extra turns, then the game state decides.
• League nights are built for beginners. Losing rounds is normal and nobody tracks it.

Disney Lorcana TCG

• Bring a 60-card deck of up to two ink colours.
• Matches are usually best-of-one at 30 minutes, or best-of-three at 50. First to 20 lore wins.
• When time is called you finish the turn plus extra turns, and lore decides if nobody got to 20.
• Lorcana locals skew friendly and new-player heavy. Ask your opponent anything mid-game.

Riftbound

• Bring your main deck, your Legend, and your battlefield cards. The shop can check it's legal.
• Matches at locals are typically best-of-one, about 40 minutes.
• When time is called you finish the current turn plus extra turns; the procedure on the screen decides from there.
• The game is new for everyone, so tables explain rules to each other all night.

Flesh and Blood

• Bring a 60-card deck plus your hero, weapons and equipment - 80 cards total in Classic Constructed.
• Matches are usually one game at 50 minutes. Life totals decide a lot, so track them carefully.
• When time is called you finish the current turn plus extra turns, and remaining life decides a draw.
• Armory nights exist specifically for learning. Say you are new and the whole table adjusts.

Magic: The Gathering

• Bring a 60-card deck for Constructed, or nothing at all for a draft: you build from packs at the table.
• Matches are best-of-three at 50 minutes. Sideboarding between games is normal and nobody minds if you skip it.
• When time is called you finish the current turn plus five more, and an unfinished game is a draw.
• Friday Night Magic is the beginner event. Say it is your first one and your opponent will walk you through it.