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r/starwarstrader•
tinyasterisms

[OFF TOPIC] Physical Card Collecting, any advice?

Off-Topic

I'm sure there's some physical card collectors out there, and I was looking at picking up some physical card sets on eBay as a starting point, as opposed to buying boxes and cracking packs, and I was hoping to pick your brains a little bit!

I am looking at the Galactic Files Series 1 and 2 Base Sets (350 cards each) on eBay, and I was wondering if you all had any thoughts on the quality of the set? Or any thoughts about buying a complete base set vs. buying a box or two?

I would say the only special (insert, sketch, auto, etc.) cards I have any interest in are the signature cards for Ahsoka Tano and Aayla Secura, so I'm not sure it's worth going the box route, for this set anyways. The Ahsoka card is like $70-80 on eBay - is that a good price? Bad price? It seems high, but she's a popular character - and I'm unsure of the card count of signature cards?

http://www.cardboardconnection.com/2012-topps-star-wars-galactic-files

http://www.cardboardconnection.com/2013-topps-star-wars-galactic-files-2-trading-cards

CaptJagged recommended Jedi/Sith Chrome Perspectives as a good first set to buy a box of when it comes out, though I'd be interested in other thoughts and discussion, too! I just kind of want to organize a bunch of cards in a binder. :D

EDIT: Wanted to add that I'm sure there's probably a sub-reddit out there for physical cards, but I'm only really active on this sub-reddit, and nowhere else on reddit, and I kind of wanted perspectives of people who collect both physical and digital cards (or are interested in starting!).

Posted Jul 26, 2015, 4:37 PM UTC · edited

525
Djsalvaggio•

I've collected physical sets on and off my whole life. Here's my personal favs: -- 77 Blues, just because they are the first and they are AWESOME!! -- Galaxy Series 1, the return to greatness -- Illustrated sets specifically ESB, buy the box...it's a little more $$$ but the box has 2 limited inserts plus all the other parallels and inserts. (For $75 this is a great place to start) -- Propaganda cards------WOW! The Rebel 10 are less $$$, the Empire are more $$$, and they are all AWESOME!!! Love these... -- Rebel cards! Such high quality. You've seen the digi versions but those don't begin to scratch the surface of how amazing they really are in person. Plus stickers & foils & tattoos....GREAT stuff.

Just some thoughts and personal preferences.

Side Note - once you get and have and hold and see and feel and smell the real deal, you'll quickly discover how uninspired and lazy the digi cards appear to be.

Just my opinion.

don't forget a binder & card sleeves & decorate that shit with all the SW scraps you can get your hands on

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tinyasterismsOPESMARIE•

Thanks so much!

I'm definitely planning on picking up the '77 blues if I really get into it. What attracted me to the Galactic Files set is that I kind of like the "Elite Soldiers-esque" frames, but also because I like character 'profile' cards/sets/books. The idea of a each character having a card is perfect to me.

Rebels are definitely on my list, I've seen the sticker cards and they look fantastic!! I am really sad that only TC Sabine has used the Sticker Art, that entire set of inserts deserves a full-frame digital treatment.

I have more than enough SW scraps. I'm planning on making a little Ahsoka shrine. XD It's gonna have her Galactic Files auto card, her Lego figure, Disney Infinity figure, maybe Koto statue, any new merch/statues from Rebels, and if I can get it for not like $700.00, the eFX Ahsoka Lightsaber.

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leftythehuttleftythehutt•

I made my first ever physical trading card purchase a few weeks ago after having played SWCT for a couple of months. Everybody loves those classic art cards in the app, and when I found they came from Series 3 of Empire Strikes Back, I decided to check eBay prices. I got an entire set of ESB Series 1, 2, 3, shipped in binder sleeves. $50 shipped for 392 cards. I bet the Classic Art set alone will be going for that much on eBay as its wrapping up, if it's not already! Very pleased with the purchase. I like seeing the stuff they put on the backs of the cards. No puzzles on any of them like the original 77 series.

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gellmanDigitalCardCentral•

Regular inserts arent as much of a big deal in physical card collecting. More about the rare box hit and case hit cards. In other news - they have sketch cards that are amazing, not sure why they arent in the game yet.

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Dex1138SWCT: Dex1138•

If all you're looking to do is get a complete base set, buy it on Ebay or wherever. You can usually get modern sets for under $20.

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emills01emills01•

This. I've been buying a lot of physical cards lately and there are a TON of complete sets that can be had for cheap.

1
LeviTriumphantLEVIFETT•

Don't have any advice, but I also want to get into physical card collecting. There are no comic shops near me, so it's either buying packs at Wal Mart or singles on eBay or boxes online.

I've been considering getting a Jedi/Sith box when they first come out and doing a youtube video.

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Darko_DOOM•

I played MTG at a high competive level, have collected Pokemon and played it but never tips cards.

Having said this buying singles is ALWAYS cheaper in the long run. Cracking boxes/packs should only ever be for enjoyment because in the long run you will spend more.

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hairupglassesoffBIRDBRAINS•

This is true for getting the last couple cards for your deck, or rounding out a play set you're going to need in the future. But, as a collector, there's really nothing like getting a box and chasing whatever cards you need to fill out your set or inserts. Collecting is all about the fun, and unless you're cracking Star Wars TCG packs, never about the game you might be playing.

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Darko_DOOM•

Not if you are playing standard and need to get the new chase rares/mythics that you need. Buying singles is cheaper, you get what you want and you don't need a few hundred packs and luck to pull it

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hairupglassesoffBIRDBRAINS•

Yeah but playing standard and collecting trading cards are two completely different end goals.

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Darko_DOOM•

Well collecting magic cards is the same concept, I am using standard as an example. I could spend upwards of a few thousand to get a case every 2-3 months when a new set comes out or buy one box and singles and I will have saved more money

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tinyasterismsOPESMARIE•

So there's the collation/checklist aspect of pulling cards out of packs, which is a huge plus for me, but the downside is that if I need specific cards, trading physical cards would seem to be much, much harder. Hard enough that I would almost certainly just eBay the singles. I just don't know enough (or any) people who collect physical cards in real life.

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hairupglassesoffBIRDBRAINS•

That's true, but I see it as the last resort for physical collecting. If I'm down to the last few cards of a set, sure it's ridiculous to crack a box, but opening packs is a ton of fun otherwise.

I wonder if there would be interest for a subreddit for trading physical cards. I know I have a ton of 90s sets that are either full + dupes or missing a few cards and I'd like to finish them.

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Darko_DOOM•

I'm saying buy a few boxes and enjoy opening packs, but if you want a copy of every card in a set buy singles. I guess you can sell singles online too and then buy the ones you need? Probably the closest thing to trading you will have. Just don't think "oh I need only 6 cards to complete the set" and go and buy a box to pull it

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Darko_DOOM•

Most serious CCG players buy sealed product to keep for future value. Look at Warcraft TCG boxes and singles (which has been dead for years) some people pull upwards of 5k from packs and some a few hundred dollars.

0
TedsallisUser ID-Tedsallis•

Buy Sets. You can pick up the original 1977 1st blue series cards complete with all 11 stickers in great condition for less than 100 bucks. That might sound like a lot but they are absolute classics and will always be worth having.

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Darko_DOOM•

I bet a sealed box would cost HUNDREDS and not even pull a whole set

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datixDatix•

If you want the base set, go eBay and buy it. Case breakers usually sell new/modern sets for pretty cheap. $70-80 seems high for Ashley's auto, but keep in mind some sets are "on card" while others are stickers signed by the actor then applied to the cards later. The former will always pull more value-wise. If the card you saw was from Masterwork, wait and keep an eye out for others.

I don't know how many sets Ashley has signed for, but you can probably find it cheaper if you wait and look around. I'm fairly certain she is signing for Chrome, so I would wait and see.

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