Pook's Place

Sets and the City

By Pook

            6.29.04   So I’ve been in Los Angeles for a week now, mainly doing things that I need to get done, i.e. find a job, an apartment, etc. so I haven’t had any time for dueling.  I know what you are all saying – “Pook, there is always time for dueling!”  Believe me, I wish I could.  But I still have yet to open up my deck box and lay down my cards (only exception is playing the GBA game to hold me over).  But my efforts are not completely halted.  Like any good duelist in a new location, I have to do some investigating. 

            First things first, I had to go out and find comic and card shops.  Over the past week, I stopped by one shop I used to frequent when I was here a year ago.  I guess the owner missed me, because this once proud card shop is reduced to selling Pharaoh’s Servant and Magic Rulers common singles – that’s it!  Needless to say, I was not happy.  I did drive past the place that used to hold the official tournaments in the area, but alas, the tournament season is essentially over.  I did, however, stop into a few new shops, but neither of which carried singles or rares or anything. 

I’m starting to worry about this city.  In just over one month, LA is playing host to the World Championships, and I’m starting to wonder if they will be able to host it successfully.  Last year’s championships in New York were buzzing with eager duelists and collectors, each bringing something new to the table.  But I’m starting to feel like I’m in the Duel-Free Zone! 

However, yesterday may have saved my Duelist’s Soul, if you will.  I stopped by a new video game store (which looks like if Abercrombie and Fitch opened up a game shop) and I started to talk to the owners about hosting Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments.  They were pretty keen on the idea, but I still have some work ahead of me.  So, I guess I’ve decided that I am now going to pretty much have to be the Donald Trump of Dueling, in that I have to develop the idea to people and have them do all of the dirty work.  Maybe, if I’m lucky, I can cut some deals and get some free cards or something, hehe.  Ah, perks, amazing.  But if not, at least I’ll have places to play.  In a city of a few million people, you’d think that at least a handful of people here play (and I’m sure they do, they’re just very good at hiding).  Now I have to decide to really put my nose to the grindstone and find a good place to play, or if I should hold off, and make my first Los Angeles duel in over a year be memorable at the World Championships.  Ah…who am I kidding?  I can’t wait a month to duel!  I’ll go mad!  And I’m talking Marik mad here, people. 

So what is the moral of this little tale?  No matter where you are, no matter how hard you try, if you are a true duelist, you will find a way to play, no matter what.  With that being said, if you are in the Los Angeles area and want to give me an idea of some places to play, drop me an email.  And who knows, maybe I still will be able to be come a Dueling Developer, and make my mark on the West coast once and for all!  Happy dueling!