End of an Era: Wizards is Nixing Planeswalker Points and DCI Numbers

Intrepid_Tautog April 28, 2020 2 min

My first Magic event seems like an eon ago. Way back in the days of Invasion block, my buddies and I trekked out one rainy weekend for the Apocalypse Prerelease. Were were young and green. Not new to the game, but new to the idea of competitve play, despite prereleases being more about fun than winning. 

As we signed up, a surly, bearded gentleman asked for my DCI#. Puzzeled, I looked over at my friends. They shook their heads in confusion. We had no idea. Like a grumpy Santa Claus, the tournament organizer placed a DCI registration card on the front desk and instructed "Memorize it, kid". 

To this day, I've never forgotten.  

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On April 27th, 2020, the Wizard's Mothership released the following announcement: Starting May 27th, 2020, Planeswalker Points will no longer be earned and the use of the DCI #'s for event registration will begin to phase out. Future events will require players to use their Wizards Account. Players will have until May 27th to log into their old accounts and view personal records, but after that, well...

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To a Magic oldtimer like myself, this is a true bummer. I still have my DCI card tucked away in my desk. Despite memorizing the number, I've held onto the faded slip of cardboard like a relic. And I imagine I'm not alone. 

I suppose none of us should be surprised, as Magic the Gathering is getting progressively more digital. I do wish, however, that Wizards of the Coast would've at least provided some access or ability to download one's personal record prior to shuttering the site. "Sunsetting Planeswalker Points" makes it sound like our old accounts are riding off into the horizon like "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". The reality is that, come May 27th, they'll simply be gone, existing only as ancedotes hence forth. 

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I'm about as small-fish-in-big-pond as it gets when it comes to Magic content, so my voice doesn't carry much sway, but would it really have been such a stretch for Wizards to create some kind of archive for these records? Perhaps some form of Magic History Museum where players could view their matches, learn about old meta's, and, what the hell, even check out Bob, from Accounting? Magic's old commercials are truly something special.

If you've stories or recollections on when you first got your DCI Card, share them below!

If stories are the only way to keep the memory of Planeswalker points alive, then storytellers we shall be. 

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Thanks for reading!

-Tautog-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4 comments

Intrepid_Tautog
Yea, I totally agree as well. Not sure if it's because grinding on Arena is just less personal than playing in person. I suppose what this event really shines a light on is how important the community is. In a way, the DCI#'s and Planeswalker Points felt like experience directly tied to playing at LGS's and whatnot.
The_Magician
@GoblinNax,
i have to agree to that 100%. Grinding the ladder can be super frustrating and take of the fun of the game completley... It just gets a pure winning competition. It´s very important that you don´t take it to serious. Luck Comes and goes in all games with high amounts of luck involved...
GoblinNax
It's a sad news .. I had my first DCI in 2003 but activated by LGS.. when I play more competitively in 2013, had to create a new one and its stick until now.. Being listed in top 100 (annual basis) on country-level is already a big proud..
I want to believe that WotC had a clear plan on this, otherwise most of my fellow grinders will lost their spark. Grinding the MTGA ladder, its very easy to hate the game when constantly get bad draws/flood.. It feels different with bad luck in paper game
The_Magician
Great writing man. I feel with you been a Magic player since 1995 myself...
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