The Benefits of Banding: Overcoming Barriers to Community Participation Among Magic: The Gathering Players

Abstract

Many game communities, including those who primarily play Magic: The Gathering (MTG), struggle with different kinds of toxicity, often directed towards players of minority gender identities. To help understand how these players deal with the barriers they face, we conducted a two-phase mixed-methods study. After surveying 324 MTG players and interviewing 14 of them, we found such players encountered barriers such as male-dominated environments, stereotyping and underestimation and developed strategies of community support, including personal adaptation based on previous systemic familiarity and alternate formats to persist and succeed. The research highlights economic barriers, cultural and social barriers, along with knowledge and experience gaps. Important themes include recognizing cultural norms, overcoming stereotyping, engaging selectively, and building inclusive playgroups, resilience and adaptability. We believe these strategies imply a broader need for intentional inclusivity practices and support mechanisms within gaming communities to foster a more equitable and representative gaming public.