Starting a New Hobby

Everyone needs a hobby. Doesn’t really matter what it is, hobbies help people relax and deal with the stresses that everyday life brings. Personally, I have several, and they have changed over the years as my interests have changed. Most recently I have started playing Magic: The Gathering. While this isn’t exactly a new hobby for me (I dabbled in college) I have recently taken a renewed interest in it and am really enjoying myself. While I do have a busy life, and I don’t get to play as often as I’d like, I still find that when I have the chance to get out and play a few games, I am in a much better mindset after.

So how does one go about getting into a new hobby? Personally I have never had a shortage of things I’m interested in doing. The process of starting a new hobby is easy. First, of course, I have to find out about the pastime. Sometimes I discover a new interest because my friends are into it. Other times I might stumble across it accidentally on the internet, radio, or TV. Regardless of where I found it, it now has my attention. From there I have to figure out a few things before I can proceed. First and foremost, can I do this on my own or do I need a friend, or group of friends? As an example, in addition to Magic, I’m also working on putting together a role-playing group. Obviously, this is not something I can do alone and so before I could actually start playing, I had to figure out if I had the people to support my desire to enter this hobby. Other hobbies, like Magic, don’t necessarily require a participant to find their own group, but rather a venue, like a comic or game store where people go to play. Another important deciding factor is how much money said hobby will cost and do I have the funds available to support it? Magic, as it turns out, can be a pretty expensive hobby, especially if you decide to play Standard format. Since the list of legal cards changes at regular intervals, one has to buy new cards in order to keep playing the game, and the cost can add up pretty quickly. Thankfully, there are other formats which allow players to use all their cards, no matter how old they are. Other hobbies might require people to buy tools or equipment which can be expensive but are also reusable. It really all depends. Once I’ve determined what who needs to be involved and if I’ve cash available, it’s time for some research. In all likelihood I’ve already been doing some to answer the first two questions, but it probably hasn’t been in the depth I need to actually engage. This is the point at which I start getting into the weeds. Google and I will be very close friends for the next few hours to (sometimes) weeks, as I pursue knowledge. I figure out how to get started by surfing through fan sites, forums, and manufacturer’s websites. I will scan iTunes and Stitcher for highly reviewed podcasts which focus on my new hobby. Of course, I’m always on the lookout for overlapping advice. Find multiple sources that agree on a particular path or tidbit of information is always a good sign.

Google isn’t the only source of information available, either, despite what Google wants you to believe. When it came to Magic, I talked to the owner of my local comic book store. He had been trying to get me involved for a while and eventually I decided to give it a whirl. Although I had said yes, I had no idea what I was doing and therefore I was constantly asking him for advice and helpful hints. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better—though my win/lose record might indicate otherwise. I did something similar with the roleplaying game, and Mikey Mason provided me with some great advice that I’m planning to use in my game, once it actually gets rolling.

Finally, after the research is complete it’s time to start trading money for goods. I tend to be one of those people who doesn’t start something half way. I might have issues sticking with it once I get rolling, but at least at first, I’m all in. Usually this means spending a good chunk of money. This is not at all necessary, and in fact I’d be hesitant to recommend this to most people only because it is certainly financially irresponsible. That being said, there is something fun about totally surrounding myself with shiny new stuff and diving into the deep end first. The most important thing to keep in mind when getting the required materials is to prioritize. For my role playing game, I chose the Wizards of the Coast Star Wars game, Saga Edition. Setting aside for a moment the fact that the books are out of print, there are some really cool books available that I could pick up, but that don’t really help me get started. More than anything I needed the core rule book and some dice. All the other books, though awesome and game enhancing, are unnecessary. Sure I picked up a few of them, but only after I ensured that I had everything I actually needed to make the game work. Magic was a much less controlled experience—I just bought a few boxes of cards over the course of a few months. (Let’s just say I spent way too much money and move on.)

The last, and absolutely most important thing involving a new hobby is to enjoy it! Once I’d gotten my stuff I was ready to go and I’m loving it. I mean really, what is the point of doing these things and spending the money if I’m not having fun or at least getting something positive out of it. Of course there are some setback along the way. I’ve encountered delays in getting my Star Wars game off the ground, but with a little luck that will change very soon. In Magic, I’ve encountered players I don’t like dealing with, so I just avoid them. I’ve had to cut back on my spending lately, so I’m not buy as many new cards; instead I’m only going after those I really want and need for a deck. This doesn’t mean that I’m having any less fun, I’m just being more responsible. And as long as I am having fun, I’m doing what I set out to in the first place.