The Soldiery Games & Cards — Attraction in Columbus

The staff here are more than just knowledgeable, they're overwhelmingly passionate about their work. I know that's cliche for a nerd shop, but they trade the entitled know-it-all holier-than-thou attitude for a more welcoming excited-that-you're-playing mentality with an eagerness to introduce you to your next night of fun. These are people who haven't become jaded by working in a hobby shop, but rather, are empowered by it and by you visiting. After a few minutes in the shop - and doubly so if you take a chance and speak to someone working there - you'll feel as comfortable spending a couple minutes to a few hours here as you would at your favorite restaurant.

They carry all sorts of geekery, but to give a quick rundown, they have a mezzanine of alphabetically sorted minis for games from D&D to 40K, including paints and scenery. On the lower level they have numerous tables available to play with large groups on (call ahead for seating, this place is pretty popular). They have a Pokemon adoption center featuring the 8" Pokemon plush toys from all generations, as well as other Pokecollectibles. In the back, there's a vast library of alternative board games, including every obscure game that Amazon advertises to you but you'd rather see in person before buying, as well as a smaller shelf of games hand selected for younger players, ages 5 to 10/12ish.

They carry a lot of trading card games, including MTG in box and singles, as well as buckets and buckets of dice. They have an enclosed glass case that contains more rare finds for nerds looking to show off collectible pieces, and depending on what's been brought in, they often have painted minis on display and available for purchase. With the recent resurgence of D&D, they have added an entire wall of D&D paper based items, where I found the Tarokka Deck amidst a slew of other mini-games and full campaign books.

Whenever you visit, make a point to ask about what you're going to purchase. There is a very good chance that they'll not only have variations available, but that they'll have a way to add some flourish to it, as well as keep you in the loop on new products coming that will likely seamlessly float into your campaign.

To be blunt, the owners have done an incredible amount of work to make this the best alt hobby shop in Columbus, and if you spend a little time here, I think you'll agree. Despite the store's smaller size, they've crammed a ton into it without making the shop feel cramped. Every time I go I find something new to spend 30 minutes mulling over spending my paycheck on, and I think that's half the fun of having a nerd hobby personality. These guys are...

I gotta say the Soldiery is better than Packrat Comics, which is closer to me and been going to since I was but a wee lad of ten. I always go to the Soldiery now because (well for starters I started being able to drive five years ago) their stock is much better and I enjoy the fact that I can buy MTG booster boxes, Yu-Gi-Oh products, card protectors/storage (especially Japanese size), and everything DnD related that I could hope for, all without worrying about when their next shipment is coming in for MOST things.

If I had any suggestions, it would be on Yu-Gi-Oh stocking. I know that the game itself has fallen a bit since its height, with MTG and Pokémon commanding a lot of ex-Yu-Gi-Oh players now (some friends included). However, I still know that there are consumers out there who desperately want a place to get YGO products that isn’t general stock from Walmart, Target, and Meijer.

Unfortunately I have found chain stores to have generally better new-release YGO stock than one of the actual OTS stores in the area, the Soldiery. If I want new structure decks, Legendary Duelist boxes (seasons 1&2), or any YGO booster box valued at above $65 I have to go to a superstore or an online vendor, regardless of release timing. If there even is a set of value in stock, for example Toon Chaos booster boxes (Unlimited or 1st Edition), the sales to the public are limited. I asked if any booster boxes were in stock for that set at the time and was told no. At checkout I asked for a few loose packs, and the same employee busted out a fresh sealed booster box, which I immediately asked about purchasing. I was told no, understandably, because what they had meant was there are no sealed boxes for sale because the remainder are being used for loose pack sales. I have no issue with that, everyone deserves a chance to open that set, but it just shows the true problem. Ikoria, Ravnica, and Kaldhiem MTG booster boxes are in stock and for sale to the public every time I go in, along with others, and yet Yu-Gi-Oh stock is never there.

I want to support this store for all of my nerd purchases, but it’s been rather apparent that Yu-Gi-Oh isn’t their priority or supported on the same level as MTG, Pokémon, and RPG games when it comes to stocking. That may just be because the demand for YGO is dropping, but I guarantee if established Yu-Gi-Oh OTS stores don’t support the game itself, players and old fans and potential new players are doomed to a...

This was my first time at this establishment, initially I was excited to find a small shop where I could purchase new dice and cards for magic the gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. When we first stepped in we were hit with the worst imaginable stench. We both originally shrugged it off, thinking it was the building containing mold or water damage, but the further we stepped into the store the worse it got until we finally walked passed the big guy with the beard who was the source of the scent. Body Oder. This guy smelt like he had never worn deodorant in his entire life, it was so bad you could smell him from the front door while he was working near the back where the dice were. It was the worst body Oder I had ever smelt in my entire lifetime, worse than that of a freshman locker room. While we were in the back of the store looking for a new set of dice that I could use for D&D some guy was standing in the middle of the isle staring at us like he had never seen a woman before. I tried stepping out of the way multiple times and he wouldn’t move, not to mention the employees were trapping us in and watching us shop. On top of that, the guy with the long hair was extremely condescending and rude when we asked if they carried any pre built starter decks for wilds of eldraine (a magic the gathering deck.) The entire time he was directing all of his answers to questions towards me, who had not asked the question and was simply trying to help my friend obtain her first Magic the Gathering deck. This was the least helpful and rudest anyone has ever been towards me when asking questions in a magic store and I am shocked and extremely disappointed that all of this happened. We will not be shopping from this small business again as the smell in itself was enough to deter us without even experiencing the mansplaining and weird looks from the male employees. I am extremely disappointed. The poor women there were shoved in the corner and stepped on whenever someone asked a question, the men not allowing them to answer, other than that the ladies were really...