Keeping your cards safe in a hotel.

[Star|Scream]

With the Mega GP Vegas being announced I'm sure there will be tons of people going out at night and on off days. It brings up the question, "Do you feel your cards are safe alone in the hotel room?"

I've heard/seen videos of hotel safes that can be opened with a master code. They even sell manual locks to fit over the safe.

Another idea is to lock your valuables inside your suitcase. It doesn't stop a complete theft or someone cutting the fabric open, but it is a deterrent.

What are your feelings?

[square_two]

Hm. Really reminds me of something @Barook said a while back.


http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120434-Florida-Man-Killed-for-His-Magic-Cards

That already happened a while ago and Wizards gave zero fucks.

What we need is basically an organzied heist with heavy weapons and all that jazz.

What better scene for a mtg heist than basically the largest gathering of eternal cards ever? At least, I would assume the largest, it being both a Legacy + Modern GP at the same scene.

[MaximumC]

With the Mega GP Vegas being announced I'm sure there will be tons of people going out at night and on off days. It brings up the question, "Do you feel your cards are safe alone in the hotel room?"

I've heard/seen videos of hotel safes that can be opened with a master code. They even sell manual locks to fit over the safe.

Another idea is to lock your valuables inside your suitcase. It doesn't stop a complete theft or someone cutting the fabric open, but it is a deterrent.

What are your feelings?

There are a lot of ways.

Method Number 1:

1. Only bring the deck you plan to play with.
2. Don't use sleeves; they make the deck harder to fit in a small box.
3. Put your deck in an old Starter Deck box.
4. Put the box in your back pocket.
5. Sit for awhile so that the pressure, heat, and sweat from your body coaxes the box and cards to match the countur of your rear end.

This will result in a good, form-fitting, smelly deck that no one will be able to steal. Or want to.

Method Number 2:

1. Bring whatever cards you want.
2. Take out a sharpie and write: "I Stole This Card" or "This Card Is A Counterfeit" on all your cards.
3. Play with confidence.

This will ensure that no one can profit from stealing your cards.

Method Number 3:

1. Hire a beefy Russian named Ivan to be your personal bodyguard.
2. Give him your deck and have him play in the tournament in your stead.
3. Stay in your hotel room ordering room service and watching pay-per-view movies.

This is the best of both worlds - low risk of theft, and you don't have to go into the smelly convention hall.

Method Number 4:

1. Put your entire deck into top loaders.
2. Using a hole puncher, make a hole in the cards and loaders.
3. Run a chain through the hole and loop it around your belt buckle.

Low risk of theft AND you look like a cool kid from 1994.

[thecrav]

With the Mega GP Vegas being announced I'm sure there will be tons of people going out at night and on off days. It brings up the question, "Do you feel your cards are safe alone in the hotel room?"

I've heard/seen videos of hotel safes that can be opened with a master code. They even sell manual locks to fit over the safe.

Another idea is to lock your valuables inside your suitcase. It doesn't stop a complete theft or someone cutting the fabric open, but it is a deterrent.

What are your feelings?

In a situation where the security of the safe is in question, the attacker has already gained access to your [locked] hotel room. The security of your suitcase or safe means nothing when they could either take the entire thing or employ Rubber-hose cryptanalysis.

Security is always a balance between risk and convenience. Insure your stuff, don't take unnecessary risks, and don't bring anything that you absolutely cannot lose.

[Star|Scream]

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/617/851/56d.gif

[cdr]

Never heard of cards being stolen from a hotel room. Your cards are way more at risk on the tournament floor or in your car.

[Julian23]

I think sdematt had something stolen from his hotel room in L.A.?

[PirateKing]

Just keep your cards on you at all times.

But I don't have any pockets
https://morbotron.com/gif/S02E16/543411/546748.gif?b64lines=IFdFTEwsIFRIRU4sIEdPT0QgTkVXUyEKIElUJ1MgQSBTVVBQT1NJVE9SWS4=

[MaximumC]

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SERIOUS TIME ANSWER
-------------------------------

Your cards are small and easily stolen and nothing you can do will stop a determined thief. If you are carrying $10,000.00 in a matchbox to a tournament, you should ask your insurance company or a collectible insurer about covering the deck for the trip. That's really going to be your only real safety net.


Butt humor


You know, I was going to make a joke about storing the cards in the folds of one's exposed butt-crack. Topical humor about Magic: The Gathering players, you know. Still, I turned the other cheek -- I'm glad you did not.

[Star|Scream]

-------------------------------
SERIOUS TIME ANSWER
-------------------------------

Your cards are small and easily stolen and nothing you can do will stop a determined thief. If you are carrying $10,000.00 in a matchbox to a tournament, you should ask your insurance company or a collectible insurer about covering the deck for the trip. That's really going to be your only real safety net.



You know, I was going to make a joke about storing the cards in the folds of one's exposed butt-crack. Topical humor about Magic: The Gathering players, you know. Still, I turned the other cheek -- I'm glad you did not.

Which insurer do you use?

[Sidneyious]

Always keep your cards on you.

Or go buy some hqf and play with confidence and hope no one questions the validity of your cards.

[Megadeus]

Yeah I agree with the just keep your cards on you at all times. I mean barring you going clubbing to pick up women (on a magic trip is probably uncommon), there's very few places that wouldn't let you bring your bag around with you. Not the most convenient way to do things, but it's probably the safest.

[barcode]

Don't let randos into your hotel room.

[MaximumC]

Which insurer do you use?

I can't vouch for anyone in particular, but these fellows cover cards specifically:
https://collectinsure.com

Also, just about any insurance company can insure anything if you ask them. The issue is that unique situations require more underwriting and are typically more expensive than things they've done a million times before.




Or go buy some hqf

Correction: Do not do this.

[thecrav]

I can't vouch for anyone in particular, but these fellows cover cards specifically:
https://collectinsure.com

Several users on TMD have used them, including at least one filing a claim, IIRC.

[Fox]

It is also Vegas, there is much bigger game there for thieves. It is my guess that if you paid extra and booked a room in a casino's hotel [on the strip] that they have better safes in rooms, more cameras, and probably also safety deposit boxes behind the front desk.

[Barook]

Hm. Really reminds me of something @Barook said a while back.



What better scene for a mtg heist than basically the largest gathering of eternal cards ever? At least, I would assume the largest, it being both a Legacy + Modern GP at the same scene.
Since it's in Vegas, it reminds me of this:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cn_wC-OXYAAaHir.png:large

[jrsthethird]

Know and trust the people you're rooming with, first and foremost.

[Stan]

I bought a portable strongbox last year, and I always store my deck in it when i go to a tournament. Inbetween rounds and after the tournament, the box is locked with the deck in it. During rounds, I'm that paranoid guy with a portable safe. Nobody has ever stolen a card of mine though.

[Star|Scream]

Yeah I agree with the just keep your cards on you at all times. I mean barring you going clubbing to pick up women (on a magic trip is probably uncommon), there's very few places that wouldn't let you bring your bag around with you. Not the most convenient way to do things, but it's probably the safest.

Yeah I'm not lugging my backpack around vegas in 100' heat while I'm gambling, eating, etc. I will look into insurance and take my chances with the hotel safe.

Thanks for all your replies (except the trolls)

[nedleeds]

Stay in the Venetian with another wealthy roommate or by yourself. Use the big in room wall safe. Go out and eat steak. Drink.

[MGB]

How about, you know, just BRINGING the deck you plan to play?

Why do all of you people insist on bringing entire collections to tournaments?

[CutthroatCasual]

Why do all of you people insist on bringing entire collections to tournaments?

1. People don't want to just play Legacy. They want to play Vintage or Cube or 93/94 if they get bored of Legacy/scrub out.
2. Some people want to make trades and deals.

I don't think many Eternal players bring their entire collections just to show off; that's the Modern playerbase.


Don't let randos into your hotel room.

This. Room with someone you know and trust (try to make it someone with whom you need to share a ride with).

[MaximumC]

How about, you know, just BRINGING the deck you plan to play?

Why do all of you people insist on bringing entire collections to tournaments?

It's unwise to bring extra cards, sure. Floor trading is dead and gone and you've been out of the loop since the 1990s if you think otherwise.

However!

It is fairly reasonable to want to bring a smallish box of cards containing a variety of decks to play with. If you have a box with a Legacy deck, Vintage deck, Modern deck, two EDHs decks, and a few casual 60 decks, you could easily be carrying around $10,000.00. Hell, a good vintage deck alone might be twice that.

You don't have to bring the whole collection to have something worth stealing.

[thecrav]

I bought a portable strongbox last year, and I always store my deck in it when i go to a tournament. Inbetween rounds and after the tournament, the box is locked with the deck in it. During rounds, I'm that paranoid guy with a portable safe. Nobody has ever stolen a card of mine though.

While this is a great way to protect individual cards, it definitely paints a big target on your head for any rando wondering who would be a good person to mug.

[Stan]

While this is a great way to protect individual cards, it definitely paints a big target on your head for any rando wondering who would be a good person to mug.

True enough. I can't think of a single Magic-related mugging ever in this country (belgium) though, but I suppose chances of that would increase during a GP. I put the strongbox in my backpack before leaving the venue, a random person with criminal intentions wouldn't know I have one on me when I'm on the street. Not that backpack-theft is unheard of.

[bluemaroon]

If you had a deck that you honestly were never going to sell or change a lot of cards out of, I don't see why you wouldn't just write "If this card is in your possession, please call XXX-XXX-XXX and return to XXXX XXX" on each card. It lowers the value on all the cards, but guarantees that the person stealing it cannot sell it, play it at any tournament, or even trade it away?

That is of course, only if you have omitted to a deck and will only ever swap in and out of cards in that deck to play with.

[Ace/Homebrew]

If you had a deck that you honestly were never going to sell or change a lot of cards out of, I don't see why you wouldn't just write "If this card is in your possession, please call XXX-XXX-XXX and return to XXXX XXX" on each card. It lowers the value on all the cards, but guarantees that the person stealing it cannot sell it, play it at any tournament, or even trade it away?
Does it? :eyebrow:

Why couldn't the thief just black bar over whatever you wrote on the back?

Wouldn't devalue the cards they stole more than they already were...

[cdr]

True enough. I can't think of a single Magic-related mugging ever in this country (belgium) though, but I suppose chances of that would increase during a GP. I put the strongbox in my backpack before leaving the venue, a random person with criminal intentions wouldn't know I have one on me when I'm on the street. Not that backpack-theft is unheard of.

When people have been mugged at Magic events, it's generally right outside of the venue by people knowing what they're looking for. They know exactly what is on you.

[thecrav]

True enough. I can't think of a single Magic-related mugging ever in this country (belgium) though, but I suppose chances of that would increase during a GP. I put the strongbox in my backpack before leaving the venue, a random person with criminal intentions wouldn't know I have one on me when I'm on the street. Not that backpack-theft is unheard of.

The problem isn't the Magic-related bit, it's the walking around with a strongbox bit. Putting it in your backpack resolves that part of the issue.

This was a huge problem in the tabletop community around here a while back. Lots of people would put their armies in gun cases because they're cheap and come with pluck or egg-crate foam. Thieves saw what they assumed was an excellent theft target, a gun, broke into cars.

[Chatto]

Does it? :eyebrow:

Why couldn't the thief just black bar over whatever you wrote on the back?

Wouldn't devalue the cards they stole more than they already were...

Well, write it on the front then :laugh:

Seriously though, maybe the time has come to just bring one deck to a tournament, and keep it with you at all time. I understand people want to have a good time, but perhaps it's not worth being ripped from all your cards.

[bluemaroon]

Does it? :eyebrow:

Why couldn't the thief just black bar over whatever you wrote on the back?

Wouldn't devalue the cards they stole more than they already were...

Well if you had that writing on both the front and back of the card from top to bottom, I guess there would be some value left on the card if someone were to take a sharpie to black it all out. That being said, you could easily have people be on the lookout for a card that's been sharpie'd in key areas across the card.

If you were a prominent player though, others would be sure to recognize that one of your cards had been stolen and someone tried to write over your "patented-signature" cards.

[Meekrab]

Know and trust the people you're rooming with, first and foremost.
How about just like, don't room with anybody and don't tell anybody your room #? You're flying across the globe on a lark, you can afford to room solo.