That is terrible. The only things I can suggest kind of go together:
1) Don't bring your cards to places you aren't familiar with or where there are a lot of people you don't trust.
2) Make sure you have several people you do trust near you, so you can "keep an eye on each other's stuff".
3) Get something you can keep securely closed if not locked: I found what amounts to a small tool/tackle box that a friend found at Wal-Mart. It was only about $15, has a simple lock, came with two keys (so I have a spare at home), and can hold 3 800 card boxes. As an added bonus, the dividers, which were foam-lined card board, are adjustable, to the point they are completely removable. As such, I can also put them back in and carry things miniatures for certain games, or make a small area set aside for pencils, a calculator, and a note book while the main section has my Role-Playing books. Quite nice really.
4) Focus on the task at hand: if you are trading, finish each trade before beginning the next one, and put up the cards between times. Binders or "trade boxes" are a good way to do this. Just don't let them get spreda out. Also, don't interrupt someones game (including your own) just for a trade. If you
have to catch that person, ask them to speak with them after they (or you) finish playing. Lists are also useful for people completing collections.
5)
Don't spread out! Be neat and organized. When youa re playing, have the deck, dice, and counters you need out. When trading, only take out the cards you are trading away-the instant someone finishes with the box, binder, etc. put it up. Better to lose
time than
cards.
The first option isn't always feasible in the sense that if you
want to compete in a large scale tournament, you will almost certainly have to go someplace you are unfamiliar with and/or where there are many people you don't know: that is when the other options become very important.
White Gryphon said:
The leagues I went to stopped allowing backpacks because of people who steal stuff and cart it off inside their packs, so see if you can get that same backpack ban enacted at your local league. You can still take your stuff in a large purse/haversack or totebag.
I must confess to wondering how good an idea that is: not all back packs are "complicated", nor are all purses simple and small. As such, while you will deter a few "casual" thiefs, chances are most honest players who bring backpacks will be the ones really affected: I doubt all thieves used backpacks, particularly if you were able to get them banned. That means that they were a known "tool" of theft, and as such, a smart thief would have a adapted. Cards are pretty small, afterall. In some areas, leagues are after school, and people
have to either bring their backpack or else lose time stopping home first (maybe not even being able to attend). Also, many honest people bring their own cards in their back packs, myself included-I play multiple games and we have a "hybrid" league that has more than one game that night. So while I can fit all of my cards for one game or the other in my case, if I decide to play both I need to bring my school bag. Bags are nice becuase they usually have one or two "large" sections then a few small ones. This is quite nice for putting your main box, binder of cards in one area, then putting extra rres or decks in the small areas. Having your
own back pack can be a good theft detterent, if you are "tidy" and make sure you pick everything up and pack it right when you move from area to area.
League Leader Terry: What is with that card? I just finished my non-1st ed. Jungle set a month ago, trying to get that Holo-Flareon!