Gear Up: The Academic - 6 months later

I received The Academic deck box six months ago from the kickstarter, and as a devoted follower of The Professor's TCG accessories reviews, my expectations for this product were quite high. After using it consistently for half a year, I can confidently affirm that The Academic is the most functional premium deck box available in the market.

Gamegenic, known for its quality products, has continued to make a significant impact in the accessories market, and The Academic is no exception.

The packaging is ingeniously designed. It features a printed "seal of approval" pattern that indicates the color of the box, adding to the premium feel of the product. Additionally, the outer packaging boasts a fantasy world map pattern that extends into the flaps inside, further enhancing its premium appeal. Notably, there is an opening in the flaps that displays the Tolarian Community College's logo.

What I found particularly clever is that despite the premium appearance, upon closer inspection, the box is constructed from standard recyclable cardboard, consistent with Gamegenic's other products.

This design makes the unboxing experience enjoyable, and I'm tempted to keep the box for its aesthetics.

Now, for the product itself, does it live up to the hype?

Feel

In line with Gamegenic's reputation, The Academic exudes a premium feel among deck boxes. Gamegenic deck boxes are known for their quality materials, thoughtful design, and durability. While they may be higher priced, they are not overpriced given the value they offer.

Function

Functionality was a crucial factor for me. I used to carry my Boulder Deck box, playmat, and dice bag when switching seats at game events, which was somewhat cumbersome to set up and clean up. Moreover, accessing my dice and tokens during gameplay was a hassle as they were stored in an opaque bag. I hoped The Academic would address these issues, and it did!

Initially, I didn't quite configure it properly, but after some adjustments, I found the perfect arrangement.

Tokens and dice fit comfortably in the top compartment for easy access, while my CC deck and blitz deck are neatly stored in the long compartment, seperated by the genius sizemorph divider. The sideboard for each deck goes into the slide compartment, as they are accessed less frequently. The slot next to the long compartment can serve multiple functions, I use it hold sideboard notes and folded decklists during events.

These additional organizational features resolved all the issues with my previous setup. Pre-game preparation was quick as the sideboard is separated from the main deck, yet remained in the same container. I didn't have to carry main and side deck separately, or have some sort cut-off if carrying them in the same deck box.

In-game access to tokens was easy, I can see where my tokens are and grab the one I need. No longer having to riffle around a bag blindly.

When changing seats, I simply place everything in its designated spot, close the box, and hold it in one hand, while I roll up the playmat to hold in the other. Granted, this is only one less item to hold from before, but having two instead of three items just feels nicer.

Gear Up?

While there are competitors like the Ultra Pro Satin Tower and Gamegenic's own Stronghold, which used to be my favorite premium deck box, The Academic stands out due to its superior organizational capabilities, all while maintaining a similar footprint. Most other deck boxes are designed for 100-card Commander decks, whereas The Academic's flexibility extends to other games, such as Flesh and Blood.

I must point out that one potential drawback for some Magic players (rather than Flesh and Blood players) is that none of the compartments can accommodate a large spindown die. This may limit its ability to hold slightly taller tokens. However, aside from this minor issue, The Academic truly represents excellence and is an iconic product. I plan to continue using it on a daily basis.

Gear Up achieved!

How do I get myself one?

The Academic was originally a Kickstarter project. However, it will be coming to retailers soon! So keep an eye out for your local LGS and ask if they will be stocking this amazing deck box.