The Social Side of Tabletop Gaming That Brings Players Together. Try Friday Night Magic the Gathering Events!

The most meaningful friendships often form across a table rather than through a screen.

Magic: The Gathering players build connections that last far beyond the final turn of a game, creating communities that support each other through wins, losses, and everything in between.

At HobbyTown Santee, the weekly rhythm of Friday Night Magic and Commander events has created a social hub where players of all backgrounds come together to share their passion for the game. These gatherings serve as more than just competitive tournaments—they function as meeting grounds where lasting relationships develop.

The Commander Experience: Gaming as Social Glue

Friendly gameplay.

Commander stands out as Magic: The Gathering’s most socially oriented format, designed specifically to foster interaction among players. Unlike traditional one-on-one matchups, Commander brings four players together around a single table, creating a multiplayer dynamic that naturally encourages conversation and connection.

“Commander is very much more like a party bowl of pretzels in the middle of the table, casual format,” explains Nate, who organizes Magic events at HobbyTown Santee. This casual atmosphere makes the format particularly well-suited for building community.

The extended play time of Commander games—typically about an hour, though they can stretch much longer—provides ample opportunity for social interaction. As Nate points out, “It’s very similar to walking and talking, where conversation can sometimes be pretty convenient during a Magic game, especially Commander, where if it’s one person’s turn and the other three people are waiting for them to finish, you get plenty of opportunities to talk.”

This built-in downtime allows players to discuss strategy, share stories, or simply get to know each other better. The result? Friendships that extend beyond the game itself.

“I met a lot of the good friends I currently play with at Commander Nights specifically through our nightly Commander games,” Nate shares. “They were passingly familiar with the game when I first met them four or five years ago. And through the just kind of general scheduling of having Commander Nights over either weekly or every other week, it was a consistent opportunity to meet with them, to sit down, to do something that potentially attacks certain parts of our brain.”

These relationships develop organically through shared experiences, including memorable games that become part of group lore. Nate recounts one such marathon session: “The longest game ever played was at a friend’s house about a year and a half ago. We had actually ended up going to his house after a Magic Night hosted here. We all kind of coincidentally chose decks that wipe the board state of cards multiple times. Just the concentration of cards in our decks that did that was just coincidentally high, and we didn’t necessarily regulate ourselves in doing that very often.”

The result was a four-hour game where players repeatedly reset the board, creating a shared experience that, while thrilling, became a story the group still tells. These collective memories strengthen the bonds between players, turning gaming acquaintances into genuine friends.

From Strangers to Friends: Building Relationships Through Cards

HobbyTown Santee facilitates connections between players who might otherwise never meet. The store’s weekly events provide a consistent gathering place where the San Diego Magic community can grow and strengthen.

“I’ve never really felt like Magic and Warhammer truly being as much of a gate-kept hobby specifically,” Nate observes. “I’ve never really found a lot of that mood or perception to really last very far into the actual practical meaning of a playgroup like that. It’s usually very welcoming.”

This welcoming atmosphere stems partly from the community’s desire to grow. “There is every reason for a playgroup to want to get bigger and have more players,” Nate points out. “It’s just not a practical practice to want to turn away people wanting to get familiar with the rules.”

The store structures its events to accommodate players of varying experience levels, with Nate explaining, “I tend to keep one more high power level table where people can just go crazy, and a lower power level table. If anyone’s new to Commander Night, I tend to keep the power level relatively low to make more comfortable.”

This approach helps newcomers integrate into the community without feeling overwhelmed by complex strategies or expensive decks. The emphasis remains on enjoyment rather than competition, creating an environment where social connections can flourish.

The community extends beyond a single game system, with crossover between different hobby interests. Nate shares a surprising discovery: “I ended up joining the chat group for the people in terms of scheduling the Warhammer games. And someone who I played Magic with was already in the chat. Like completely unassociated.”

This interconnectedness creates a web of relationships throughout the San Diego gaming community, with HobbyTown Santee serving as one hub where these connections form and strengthen.

Creating Memorable Moments Together

Magic: The Gathering creates shared experiences that players remember long after the cards are put away. These moments—whether triumphant victories or spectacular defeats—bond players through their collective memory.

“Getting exactly the card you need for the exact situation you are in feels amazing,” one player explains. “Especially if you are playing Commander, where every card in your deck is different. It gets even crazier if you already had the card you wanted, and an opponent takes it and shuffles it into your deck to deny you it. They shuffle super well and thoroughly, then you draw your next card….and there it is right on top!”

These moments of serendipity create stories that players share and retell, strengthening their connections to both the game and each other. The March of the Machine pre-release event stands as another collective memory for the HobbyTown Santee community, described as “the most full of players the store had ever been.”

Such milestone events mark the passage of time for the community and provide shared reference points that reinforce group identity.

Breaking Down Social Barriers

Magic: The Gathering provides common ground for players from diverse backgrounds. While Nate notes that the demographic “is mostly men,” with “one in eight, maybe, as far as people who express interest” being women, the age range spans from young teens to adults.

We’ve got players that work in fast food, we’ve got players that work in offices. As far as occupation, there’s no bias.

This diversity creates opportunities for connections that might not form elsewhere, as the shared language and experience of the game transcend differences in background or profession.

The Role of Rule Zero: Prioritizing Fun Over Competition

Commander’s “Rule Zero” philosophy—the understanding that the primary goal is for everyone to have fun—creates a welcoming environment that prioritizes enjoyment over competition.

“Commander functioned a very, very long time off of an unofficial rule set and technically an unofficial ban list that wasn’t directly sanctioned by Wizards of the Coast,” Nate explains. “There was a third party rules committee that managed a bi-yearly updated ban list and a set of base rules. But most importantly, they had a basically a top line rule called rule zero, where it was up to the players at a table to essentially create a play environment that had a mutual understanding of priority one is for players to enjoy themselves and have fun.”

This philosophy contrasts with more competitive formats where winning takes precedence. As Nate puts it, “In any other format a lot of the times new players are kind of shut out given the fact that the basically the underlying understanding is two players sitting down across from each other the other goal is to beat the other player.”

The social contract of Commander creates space for players to enjoy the game regardless of their skill level or the power of their deck, making it an ideal format for building community.

Teaching and Mentorship

The Magic community thrives through knowledge sharing, with experienced players guiding newcomers through the complexities of the game.

“The best way to learn rules for Magic is to find a group that plays,” Nate advises. “The general assumption is that in a larger group there will always be a couple people that are willing to teach a new player how to learn.”

This teaching relationship develops naturally because of the game’s cooperative elements. “It’s the responsibility of both players mutually to make sure the game is followed properly and the rules are followed,” Nate explains.

At HobbyTown Santee, everyone’s welcome—whether you’re brand new or a seasoned player. It’s a place where questions are encouraged, and experienced players are always happy to share tips and stories with newcomers.

Magic the Gathering Card Games, MTG Events & Tournaments

Magic: The Gathering events at HobbyTown Santee create more than just opportunities to play cards—they build a community where meaningful connections form and flourish. Through shared experiences, mutual support, and a welcoming atmosphere, players develop friendships that extend beyond the game itself.

“Magic is very much a social contract game,” Nate emphasizes, and this philosophy permeates the store’s approach to events and community building.

Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, deepen existing relationships, or simply enjoy the social aspects of tabletop gaming, HobbyTown Santee’s Magic events at our local game store offer a place where you can connect with others who share your passion for the game.