Izzy-Wizzy-Let's-Get-Busy! M:TG

[Ryvita]

Bought some Core 8th edition starter decks and booster packs this afternoon. Will look at getting some theme decks (Heavy Hitters and Life Boost look good) to suppliment these. I know I can't really compare with the 'established' players with more cards than god, but it's a start. :)

http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic_expansion_8e_td2LargePic_en.jpg

Ryv

[Elye]

I have a Harry Potter deck to add, if you require more cards / fire starters ...

[Afty]

Ryv : the game has changed, almost completely, between what "we" have, and what is in the new 8th edition.

It's literally impossible to play them against each other as the rules work so differently...

Half the fun of the game is in building your own decks too, and all the "Theme Decks" are a way of making money *and* denying people the fun of trying to put together their own combos.

I was thinking of running an MTG tourney at i20 or 21, which would require sealed deck 8th edition - but if you're looking to get cards to play with "us" Im afraid you'll be out of luck :/

[the_moog]

The rules have changed (with 6th edition, IIRC) but they all apply retroactively to every card ever printed... if the specific card text needed updating (read, fixing) then you need to check the MtG Oracle for the current wording....

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=autocard

Just put in a card name, eg "Time Vault" and read the Oracle Text under the card, which is the current wording to use, and you can click on the link to read specific rulings for that card.

It's completely possible to play 'old' cards against current edition... and mix and match... the current expansions (Mirrodin and Darksteel and, in a few weeks, Fifth Dawn) are very artifact heavy and have some *very* powerful cards which might surprise you if you haven't seen them! I've currently got about 8 decks on the go and 3 or 4 of them are pretty much all Mirrodin/Darksteel although I still like to play with the old power cards, too :)

I've got cards from Beta onwards and I'd take Mirrodin/Darksteel over a lot of the older releases... don't dismiss them so easily.

Yes, the timing and phase rulings have changed but they are a lot simpler now... no interrupts (they're just instants too, now), just sorceries and instants with a LIFO stack. Oh, and artifacts don't switch off when tapped unless the current wording says they do, see Howling Mine.

And Theme Decks are a very good introduction to the game... you get a deck which works rather than your first attempt at a deck without enough of the right lands etc etc :)

[Nivek]

Do people actually play with those cards? WOW

[phil]

Originally posted by the_moog
Yes, the timing and phase rulings have changed but they are a lot simpler now... no interrupts (they're just instants too, now), just sorceries and instants with a LIFO stack. [/B]

We have never played using phasing rules as the whole thing is just annoying. I'm not sure I like the idea of simplifying the instant/interrupt timing. Doesn't that mean that all instants can now interrupt interrupts? I liked the fact that an interrupt could end the chain if the opponent only had instants (and often led to a mis-cast :) )

[the_moog]

Originally posted by phil
Doesn't that mean that all instants can now interrupt interrupts? I liked the fact that an interrupt could end the chain if the opponent only had instants (and often led to a mis-cast :) )

There are no interrupts now... all 'interrupts' are now to be read as instants. Basically... if it's your turn you get priority, so can choose to cast a spell (sorcery or instant) or pass priority to the opponent (who can play an instant/effect). Whoever has priority can cast as many spells/effects as they want, they then pass priority to the opponent to respond. Once everyone is happy the stack of spells starts resolving in a Last In First Out order (which makes things interesting). Once a spell has resolved you can jump in and respond again and add further to the stack, if you wish.

So... I target your 1/1 creature with a Lightning Bolt (3 damage), in response you cast Giant Growth (+3/+3). No more spells. Stack resolves LIFO... GG resolves, creature is now 4/4; LB resolves, it takes 3 damage; end of stack... creature lives.

But, if it had happened this way. I target my 1/1 creature with a GG, you respond with a LB. No more spells. Stack resolves LIFO... LB resolves, 1/1 creature takes 3 damage and dies immediately; GG resolves but has no target, as my creature is dead, so fizzles.

See... makes things interesting :)



Personally I hated the way Interrupts stopped you casting any more instants and I much prefer this way.

You also now die immediately when you hit 0 life (even mid-stack), rather than waiting for the end of the phase (giving you a chance to cast a sorcery to survive, for instance). So, you have to watch the timing of your healing spells, too, for the same reason as the above GG/LB example.

However, there are creatures like this...

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=Platinum+angel

which mean you can't lose the game... doesn't matter if you can't draw, or hit 0 life (well, you have to monitor your life and record it into -ve numbers, in case the platty is removed, later).

Or you could combo this...

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=Leveler

with this...

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=Shared+fate

at which point it's, basically, game over for your opponent, unless they have a disenchant in hand and you have no counterspells.

They're both in the current release cycle.

I played this combo as a deck the other night... it won 3/0 and won't be played again... a killer combo is not for casual play but might win you some tournament games.

[kalleth]

anyone even so much as suggesting the abomination that is unglued, shall get murdered post-haste.

[Cheez]

At least Everquest can actually be classed as a computer game... :)

[Jedi180]

the only card game i ever used to play was the original Star wars customizable card game.
i knew a handful of people that played it, and hardly got to play any games :(
Might try magic one day when i can afford it ;)

[the_moog]

Originally posted by kalleth
anyone even so much as suggesting the abomination that is unglued, shall get murdered post-haste.

Ooh... I love Unglued... especially...

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=BFM

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=Chaos+Confetti

and

http://www.wizards.com/magic/autocard.asp?name=Timmy

:)

And Unhinged (Unglued II) is coming in November this year :):):)

[Skye]

I have a pack of the simpsons top trump cards.. is that any good?

[Boffykins]

oooh, so do I, i'll play you!

[gemz]

i will own u all. everyone has at least 1 pack of simpsons top trump cards in their household.

[Mamacita]

we have on \o/

but then we also have 2 packs of uno

which we WILL be bringing, ready to try again Cabe? :p

[Baz]

im sorry, theres "i play games online" geek and then theres "i play Magic:The gathering" geek.


/me flees

[Jedi180]

rofl that made me laugh :D
well said baz

[Killy]

i don't have simpsons but i have a marvel villains top trump deck ^_^

[Mamacita]

*whisper*uunnooooooo*whisper*

[bvark]

Just so's we're clear, Magic the Gathering has been assigned a geekiness rating equal to 'Roleplaying Gamers' in the official geek hierarchy.

http://www.brunching.com/images/geekchartbig.gif

[Zakalwe]

Ah, one of the best quotes on the web


*.* are less geeky than

"People who write erotic versions of Star Trek where all the characters are furries, like Kirk is an ocelot or something, and they put a furry version of themselves as the star of the story."

[Afty]

Ahh, the geek chart. Funnier every year ;)

[Elye]

I would like to join the "Uno" fest if i may Liz, much like at Stafflan. However this time maybe Lucifa could hold his cards the right way round ...

[Cabe]

Originally posted by Baz
im sorry, theres "i play games online" geek and then theres "i play Magic:The gathering" geek.


/me flees

err you can do both now.......

Uno is deffo on, I have just perchsed a new deck and the other one ended up rather sticky.

To further afty's comment I like the idea of sealed deck play, it means you level the playing field a bit. Perhaps buying like a display box, people pay for thier box and a little more then whatevers left after you've payed for the display box is the winners?

[Aardvark]

Afty has the entire thing planned out, I believe. Coming soon to an i-series near YOU! ;)