What's the crown jewel of your collection?
I’m going to take a different path on this question than most. I have been married for 12 years to my amazing wife, and we have three boys that I couldn’t be prouder of. During a major tournament around the release of Dynasty, James White brought a portion of his family to the event with him, including his daughter. The MinMaxGames booth was stationed next to an insanely long line of players waiting to get James’ autograph. Not far off, I saw his daughter with a family member or two, and I can still remember the look on her face as she saw so many people wanting to spend time with her dad. I can only describe it as a sense of pride.
I took an Ira Welcome Deck over and asked her to sign it for me, just like her dad was doing a few feet away. It’s my favorite FAB possession because it reminds me that, although this is just a game and the cards may just be made out of cardboard, the relationships and experiences we forge can transcend any specific moment or event. These are real people with real lives coming together to play great games in the Flesh and Blood.
Is there a particular Flesh and Blood card you don't have that you hope to own someday?
My Flesh and Blood Holy Grail is probably the Beat Up Car prototype deck. I know very little about its existence, but I imagine James still throws down with it during testing every now and then.
How did you first get into collecting Flesh and Blood?
Our store manager initially mentioned the game and asked us to bring in a few boxes for him to open and try out. We played a few games and instantly knew the gameplay was solid, the mechanics made sense, and the art was awesome. As a long-time TCG player, I grew accustomed to seeing some amazing artists pour their craft onto cardboard, and you could tell that was an intentional part of the Flesh and Blood game. Personally, I have always enjoyed inventory maximization and weapon/armor options in games. Seeing Cold Foil treatments of equipment and swords was an easy entry point for me to start a collection.
Why do you collect TCGs?
My journey started with other TCGs. As a little kid, getting the opportunity to open a booster pack was always a thrilling experience. I can distinctly remember the excitement of pulling foils. I continued into various TCGs over the years, and my collection and interest grew during different seasons of my life. To jumpstart MinMaxGames, my brother and I took our entire collection and integrated it into the store.
I think I still collect cards for two main reasons: The first being nostalgia, and the constant chase of that feeling of excitement as a kid, and the second being the complexity of a TCG. There is something truly unique about sitting across a table from your opponent that virtual gaming fails to capture.
Why should people collect Flesh and Blood?
I think the two best-selling points for Flesh and Blood's collectability are the gameplay and the art. Since your equipment and heroes do not get shuffled into your deck, it really allows players to go all out and express themselves specifically in those cards. Introducing micro-text cards, full art heroes, and Cold Foil tokens allows you to collect what you like, without having to banish them to a binder or a storage box.
Tell us about your experience collecting High Seas.
High Seas has been an awesome set to collect. Pirates, Necromancers, and a bird; what more could you ask for? Every Marvel ally opened was a treat, especially Scooba. I was initially hesitant about the Treasure Pack concept, but I think it ultimately proved to be a very flavorful addition to the set.
Being handed the test print Great Library of Solana will go down as one of the greatest TCG memories of my life. James's choice to integrate his personal collection into High Seas will truly make this set a one-of-a-kind experience. I just wish there were more boxes.
What was your first Cold Foil?
My first Cold Foil was Helm of Isen's Peak. I’m more of a Warrior player, but the full suit of heavy armor is something that really pops in Cold Foil.
Helm of Isen's Peak
What is your favourite Flesh and Blood booster set?
I think my opinion on this topic is fairly controversial. My favorite Flesh and Blood set has always been History Pack 1.
I absolutely love white border cards. I love them so much that I even had my Gold Foil Dawnblade "white border-ed". I also think that the white border makes certain cards like Storm Striders really shine in comparison to a black border.
I also loved that this set was completely packed with needed reprints, and you almost always felt rewarded for opening up a box with the number of Majestic and Legendary hits. I even had an HP1 box cosplay in the works, but vending at the major tournaments unfortunately took precedence.
What is your favourite Flesh and Blood artwork?
I think I’m required to say Duskblade. I enjoy very clean, modern, sleek elements, and the simplicity of the art, matched with the play on Dawnblade, makes it a winner for me. The card in Cold Foil is magnificent, and owning the playmat allows you to see the art with even more detail (if you have a Duskblade playmat, I need it).
