English teacher Nathaniel Brayton and math teacher Joseph Johnson’s new gaming club for Magic: The Gathering will meet every Thursday after school until 5:30 p.m. in Brayton’s room. Sept. 11 will be the first official meeting.
“Magic: The Gathering Club actually used to exist in my earlier years as a teacher,” Brayton said. “It actually had a large number of consistent members at its height and eventually evolved into Game Club. We are trying to bring back a club for those people who love card games and Magic in particular.”
Instead of one club for gaming, the club has broken down into multiple clubs for specific games such as Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon Club and D&D Club.
“Mr. Brayton and I started the club together this year because we are besties, and we actually play Magic: The Gathering together in our free time with [math teacher] Ms. [Patricia] Bird and other friends,” Johnson said. “Me and Mr. Brayton wanted to give those that liked to play Magic: The Gathering a place to gather.”
Magic: The Gathering is a competitive strategy card game with collectable cards. Through the game, students can interact with other people who share the same interest .
“People should join because Mr. Johnson [and I] are hoping to build a community that students are excited to be part of,” Brayton said. “We also want this to be a club where we don’t just play but learn lessons about the game.“
Some themes found within the game include topics related to Marvel, Lord of the Rings and Final Fantasy. There are new cards all the time to collect and players can build their own card decks.
“You can learn strategy and how to interact with other people,” Johnson said. “We will teach you the rules of the game, so even those that have never played before are welcome to join. We will help with building your own decks.”
Brayton and Johnson are ready to teach students joining from the ground up.
“Our goal is to have a lesson every week ranging from the history of Magic, to the lore, to strategy,” Brayton said. “Everyone is welcome, most of all beginners. People should not be deterred if they don’t know how to play. That’s what the club is for!”
