Friday Night Magic
Event Details
Event: Friday Night Magic
Primary Format: Commander
Other Formats: Standard and other Magic formats by player arrangement
Atmosphere: Casual, friendly, relaxed
Location: The Ork Forge Unit A12 Stafford Park 15 TF3 3BB
Day: Every Friday
Start Time: 18:00
Entry Fee: FREE TO PLAY
Players are welcome to organise games before arriving, arrange pods on the night, or use the Discord to find opponents for specific formats.
How the Night Works
Friday Night Magic will mainly run as casual Commander pods (default pod size of 4 unless agreed by players).
When players arrive, we will help organise tables and pods based on:
player numbers;
deck power level;
experience level;
preferred game style;
whether players want casual, upgraded, or more competitive games.
Standard and other formats can also be played on the night, provided players arrange games with each other. This can be done in person or through the store Discord.
As the community grows, we may introduce more structured format nights, leagues, tournaments, draft nights, and prize-supported events.
Official Magic Rules
Magic’s standard rules apply during Friday Night Magic.
Players are expected to follow the normal rules of Magic: The Gathering, including card rules, turn structure, legal plays, triggered abilities, and format-specific deck construction rules.
For Commander, players should use the official Commander rules unless the pod agrees otherwise before the game starts.
For Standard or any other format, decks should follow that format’s current legal card pool and deck-building rules.
If there is a rules disagreement, pause the game and ask a member of staff or the event organiser. We will do our best to resolve it fairly and keep the game moving.
The Ork Forge FNM Ethos
Friday Night Magic at The Ork Forge is built around casual, relaxed, and chilled play.
We want the store to feel welcoming to:
new players;
returning players;
casual Commander players;
collectors;
experienced players;
people who just want a fun Friday night game.
The aim is not to pub-stomp, rules-lawyer newer players, or create a hostile competitive atmosphere.
The aim is to build a community where people can enjoy Magic without feeling judged, rushed, or pushed out.
Commander Rule 0
Before each Commander game, players should have a quick Rule 0 chat.
This should cover things like:
deck power level;
fast mana;
infinite combos;
tutors;
proxy use, if relevant;
whether the game is casual, upgraded, or competitive;
any unusual cards, commanders, or strategies the pod should know about.
Players should be honest about their deck.
A casual pod should feel casual. A stronger pod should be agreed by everyone at the table before the game begins.
Power Level Guidance
To help make games fair and enjoyable, players should try to match deck strength where possible.
As a rough guide:
Casual / Precon Level
Preconstructed decks, lightly upgraded decks, slower decks, theme decks, or decks designed more for fun than efficiency.
Upgraded Casual
Stronger decks with better mana, more interaction, clearer win conditions, and more consistent play.
High Power
Fast, efficient decks with strong tutors, combos, and powerful staples.
Competitive / cEDH
Very high-powered decks built to win quickly and efficiently. These games should only happen when all players knowingly agree to that style of play.
The store’s default FNM environment is casual to upgraded casual, unless players specifically arrange something stronger.
Tournaments and Prize Events
For now, Friday Night Magic will focus on casual play and community building.
As the MTG community at The Ork Forge grows, we may occasionally run:
Commander tournaments;
Standard tournaments;
Draft events;
Sealed events;
leagues;
prize-supported casual events;
special promo nights.
Any tournament or prize pot event will be announced in advance with clear details, including:
format;
entry fee;
prize structure;
round structure;
deck requirements;
proxy policy;
start time;
any additional rules.
Tournament events will be run more formally than casual FNM nights.
Player Conduct
All players are expected to behave respectfully.
Players must:
be welcoming to new players;
play fairly and honestly;
respect other people’s cards, decks, mats, dice, and belongings;
avoid aggressive behaviour;
avoid bullying, harassment, or gatekeeping;
avoid deliberately misleading newer players;
accept staff rulings where needed;
keep the play space tidy.
The Ork Forge is a casual hobby space. Good sportsmanship matters more than winning.
Trading and Sales
Trading between players is allowed, provided it is fair and respectful.
Players should check card values themselves before agreeing to a trade.
Pressure trading, misleading newer players, or taking advantage of someone’s lack of card knowledge will not be tolerated.
Private selling inside the store is not allowed unless agreed by staff.
Food, Drink, and Store Care
Please help us keep the store clean and usable.
Players should:
use bins for rubbish;
keep drinks away from cards where possible;
respect tables, chairs, terrain, stock, and store property;
clean up their play area before leaving;
avoid damaging other players’ belongings.
New Players Welcome
New players are very welcome at The Ork Forge FNM.
If you are new to Magic or returning after a long break, let us know. We will do our best to help you find a suitable pod, explain the format, and match you with patient players.
Experienced players are expected to help create a welcoming environment.
Store Rulings
For casual games, most issues should be resolved politely between players.
If players cannot agree, staff or the event organiser may make a ruling to keep the game moving.
For casual play, the ruling is mainly there to preserve fairness and enjoyment. For future tournaments, rulings will follow the event rules announced for that specific event.