Contributors

This page collects every column by the two HowTo Gaming contributors, Ian and Poppy. They cover collecting from different angles. Ian, the section's archivist, writes about grading, storage and the honest math of collecting. Poppy, the curator, writes about grails, figures, display and game nights.

Ian's columns are methodical and numbers-first. They include how to budget a grading submission, how to know when to slab a card, and how to read a population report without assuming that low population means rare. On pricing, he explains the two prices of every card (what owners hope for and what buyers actually paid) and how to appraise a whole binder. On care, he covers building a storage system that scales, storing cards so they outlive you, shipping a card so it arrives in the condition it left, and spotting a fake holo with a tilt test. He also covers trading up fairly with friends, plus one detour into fixing game lag before buying a new PC.

Poppy's pieces are about enjoying the hobby. She covers building a grail shelf, displaying a collection and figures, painting a figure you are scared to ruin, and the odds behind blind boxes. Other columns cover pulling a grail on a budget, selling part of a collection without regret, setting up a cozy gaming corner and hosting a game night. She also writes about GTA 6 and games to play while you wait for it.