Magic The Gathering

[-A-]

So, I'm 26 and I've just started playing Magic for the first time in my life thanks to my sister. When I was at school I had no interest in it whatsoever because I had no interest in art, generic fantasy or spending money on packs. We started playing DOTP12 on the Xbox and I absolutely love the strategy of the game. I'm not a gambler by nature so I still hate the idea of buying boosters, but after getting a deck for Christmas and playing a little at home I've really got into it.

I've almost completely stopped playing the Xbox game because I bought a really fun mono white Human deck (the Innistrad Event Deck 'Hold the Line') and I played my first Friday Night Magic tournament last week. Finished 5th out of 9 runners and was one game away from finishing third, which I was really happy with since it was the first time I've played anyone except my sister. The game I could have won was against a really nice guy who had a seriously impressive RG deck, running Kessig Wolf Run (I think.) He said I scooped too early after he cast Day of Judgment on turn 3 or 4. We were at 12 life each but I didn't fancy my chances against him in the midgame. I have no cards that cost more than 3 mana and rely on Champion of the Parish, Elite Inquisitor and Mirran Crusader to finish my opponent early. I lost the next game and in my next match-up had frequent mulligans (once down to 4 cards!) and lost 2-1. I've changed my deck quite a bit after that, it was a good learning experience.

Anyone still play? I've really enjoyed reading forums and columns on the game but it's a bit intimidating getting involved in when my knowledge is so narrow. If anyone's still following the game I'd really appreciate some tips!

[Ruki]

I don't think Plubby still plays, but he knows everything about Magic. EVERYTHING.

[EddieRuckus]

I haven't bought physical cards in years, since the Future Sight expansion back in 2007. However after seeing some people I know get into Magic, along with going back to a city for college that has FNM, I'm going to be getting back into both Online and physical cards. DOTP: 2012 was great as a time waster, but some friends from Twitch want to go to the next level and go for online, so that's what I'll be doing until I can get to a place that sells physical cards(never liked shipping Magic cards.) I would give you some tips -A- but I have no idea what the cards and themes of decks look like in the current form now. Hopefully when I get started with online I could help you out or you could help me

[Ruki]

I haven't bought physical cards in years, since the Future Sight expansion back in 2007. However after seeing some people I know get into Magic, along with going back to a city for college that has FNM, I'm going to be getting back into both Online and physical cards. DOTP: 2012 was great as a time waster, but some friends from Twitch want to go to the next level and go for online, so that's what I'll be doing until I can get to a place that sells physical cards(never liked shipping Magic cards.) I would give you some tips -A- but I have no idea what the cards and themes of decks look like in the current form now. Hopefully when I get started with online I could help you out or you could help me

Calgary?

[-A-]

Magic Online looks interesting, I've been meaning to give it a try. I'm a bit worried about the idea of continuing to play IRL simultaneously and having to spend money on both to make them worthwhile since this seems like an expensive game. How does it work online payment-wise? I saw that there's a subscription, but do you have to buy packs to get decent cards? Is there any way to buy singles or pre-built decks?

[-A-]

DOTP: 2012 was great as a time waster, but some friends from Twitch want to go to the next level and go for online, so that's what I'll be doing until I can get to a place that sells physical cards(never liked shipping Magic cards.)

How come you don't like shipping cards? I bought some singles after my FNM experience and they arrived today! Spent £15 to take my total on magic-related stuff to £50. I'm really averse to wasting money, but I don't mind spending a little bit if I'm going to be playing regularly enough. I don't think I'd need to spend much more on the deck I have at the moment, I don't need to have absolutely the best cards if everything's working.

[MalaCloudy Black]

Funny this comes up, I was playing MtG this past weekend. My cousin's bandmates play so he bought himself a deck so he could join in on their Friday games, and I went over to his place Saturday night and he showed me how to play. We split his starter pack and played 2 or 3 games and I found it pretty engrossing - although, we did have to bend the rules because he had some booster packs mixed in that he didn't have the proper lands for, so we'd just let each other use Plains cards in the event that it called for some sort of land card he didn't have.

How is DOTP, A? It's $9.99 on Steam and card packs are only $3 or so, thinking about popping for that. I'd really like to get my own physical deck going, but aside from my cousin (who lives an hour away) I don't really know anyone else that plays so MtG Online or DOTP seem like my best bets for now.

EDIT: Talk about timing, TotalBiscuit just did one of his "WTF Is.." videos about DOTP.

[-A-]

If it's the 2012 version (that's the only one I've played) then I'd definitely say it's worth that. The single player mode is maybe a little bit repetitive (because you're really just playing game after game, albeit against different decks) but since everything's new to me that was no problem. It's nice because unlike the real-life game or Magic Online you don't have to know about absolutely every card in existence, it's much more user-friendly. There are something like 8-10 decks that you get access to and each time you win a match with one you unlock a new card. Each deck has 15 cards to unlock and you can then switch out whichever ones you didn't like using.

For variety there are mini challenges and this crazy gametype called Archenemy. That's a 3 vs. 1 mode, but the guy on his own gets a random super-spell each turn that can completely ruin your plans. You can also play online and I found that a lot easier to get into than I thought. I'd played through the campaign and had seen most of the cards in action, so there were no confusing mechanics or totally unpredictable game-changing surprises. If you see someone playing with the Blue/Green deck, you know roughly how they're going to be playing from the very first turn and it's easier to plan. When I went to FNM I was up against all kinds of decks and had to ask to look at quite a few cards just to understand what they did.

There are a few little problems that annoy more experienced players than me, though. There are some rules bugs that I haven't really noticed and the AI isn't all that great even on the top level. You don't get to pick which land gets tapped when you cast a spell that has a colourless requirement, which can occasionally be a bit annoying.

Overall, as a way of getting used to playing the game of Magic I think it was pretty much perfect. You have a deck pre-built for you and you don't have a million head-scratching options. Cards are introduced to you slowly, one at a time, so you don't get overwhelmed. You can stop and take as long as you like to read a card or make a difficult decision. There's loads of gameplay in it if you want to try all the decks and the different strategies they have. I can see that it wouldn't have much novelty for an experienced player who already knows that cards and how to play, but it was perfect for me (having never played Magic in my life before getting it.)

[MalaCloudy Black]

Ah, good deal then. I'll probably go ahead and buy it.

[Plubby]

As I mentioned above, and As Ruki said - I don't play a lot anymore. I used to be what I deem as a semi-professional player, but stopped playing competitively a couple years ago. I'll still play for fun though.

Anyone who picks up DOTP on PC, add me to Steam (plubby) and i'll be happy to play a few games, or help you out if you're new. Although it appears the mentoring part of the game was taken out, which sucks.

[RoHitman Reigns]

Anyone who has it for steam can add me also. Name is same as here, I play at times and willing with others as great game don't wish to waste.

[-A-]

Just got back from the Dark Ascension pre-release party. Was fucking amazing! Only my second ever tournament and out of 40 runners I came tied for 1st on 5-1-0 (though I was 4th because the guy that beat me finished pretty low.) It was a Sealed tournament and I didn't even pull anything particularly good. Best creature was a Blue/Black Legendary Zombie but my blue and black cards were very weak so I couldn't even play him. Ended up picking a Green/Red Wolf/Werewolf deck that worked incredibly well. I splashed a tiny amount of white, but I think that was un-necessary in retrospect. By far the star was Increasing Savagery which single-handedly won me at least 3 games.

One of the guys I beat is in the top 10 in Scotland and I placed above 2 more guys in and around the top 20. Definitely made one or two errors (that I noticed) but only one major error and that didn't even cost me a game. Sure there are other mistakes I didn't notice, though! When I opened my packs I thought for sure I was going to get murdered since I don't really know how to go about building this kind of deck and I didn't have any great pulls. In the end I think I made some really good, tough decisions.

If I go back next week they have a similar tourney and if I place around the same area then I'll already have automatic entry to the Pro Tour Qualifier in my area in a month. Actually playing in that event would be impossible because I don't have a remotely competitive Modern deck, but it would be really interesting to go. Top prize in that is a trip to Barcelona to play in some even bigger tournament!

Edited January 29, 2012 by -A-

[Plubby]

If I go back next week they have a similar tourney and if I place around the same area then I'll already have automatic entry to the Pro Tour Qualifier in my area in a month.

PTQ's should not be restricted entry. You can play in one regardless of ranking or tournament experience.

Actually playing in that event would be impossible because I don't have a remotely competitive Modern deck, but it would be really interesting to go. Top prize in that is a trip to Barcelona to play in some even bigger tournament!

You can get a deck off the internet relatively easily (and in some cases, cheaply)

The event in Barcelona - You'll find that's the Pro Tour - the event that the "Pro Tour Qualifier"...well, qualifies you for

[-A-]

PTQ's should not be restricted entry. You can play in one regardless of ranking or tournament experience.

Hmm, the phrase was 'guaranteed entry' so I guess they have some kind of proviso in case a thousand inexperienced players turn up off the street?

You can get a deck off the internet relatively easily (and in some cases, cheaply)

I think it's a step too far at this point. I'm still completely in danger of making critical errors. Maybe next season!

[Plubby]

Point 1: They make money hand over fist if that happens.

Point 2: I understand that attitude, but honestly, what's the worst that can happen? You look a little silly? You'll get to meet and apprentice under great players. If you have the itch to play professionally, you can never start too early

[-A-]

My plan is to play more and get better at the game, so it definitely would be a good opportunity. I'll see who's going from the shop since I barely know these guys. The launch party next week's a good opportunity because people come from further afield (especially since the closest other shop recently shut down.)

It seems like competing at the level where you can make money is pretty expensive (even if you aren't building fun decks or collecting cards that aren't intended for competition.) Ever have any good paydays? Even getting a plane ticket's an awesome prize and it still seems hard to get back what you pay.

[SRN]

I wish I could play professionally but I am so horrendously bad at this game that even if Jon Finkel decided to dedicate the rest of his life to teach me the in and outs, I would still lose forever. I still love playing this game, though.

[Plubby]

It seems like competing at the level where you can make money is pretty expensive (even if you aren't building fun decks or collecting cards that aren't intended for competition.) Ever have any good paydays? Even getting a plane ticket's an awesome prize and it still seems hard to get back what you pay.

Being Semi-Pro is expensive. You have to fund your tournaments off your own back. Once you "make it", you pretty much never have to buy another card. Someone will lend you cards, or you'll have infinite of your own. Ideally, it should work that you play a lot of limited (drafts and sealed deck) get a lot of cards, then make decks from them or trade for what you need.

My passion was in deckbuilding though, so I was almost exclusively a constructed player and didn't have that huge selection of cards.

As for paydays: Not especially - I deem myself "semi-professional" because I was good enough to fly to events, but never good enough to cash at them.

I have two PTQ top 8's, and I was on fire at Grand Prix: Brisbane before getting an incorrect judge ruling that put me "on tilt" and I lost my next few matches and dropped in sheer frustration. To be honest, the peak of my game was probably...2007, and I spent the next three years on a mystifying decline when I should have been doing better and better. I didn't get it and still don't really.

EDIT: Though I do have over 3000 lifetime Planeswalker Points! That's gotta be worth...something, right?

[MalaCloudy Black]

Started playing a bit more often since I have a friend who lives nearby that has 3 or 4 decks worth of cards. It's a bit weird, though, he plays by EDH rules - 40 HP instead of 20, you have a General who goes to the "General Zone" when they die instead of to the graveyard, stuff like that. It's really fun to play though, I think Wizards of the Coast's official name for it is "Commander". Think I'm gonna buy myself a Commander deck once I pull together enough scratch.

[HC]

Bumping a bit of an old topic, but I don't feel like asking anywhere else so here goes: I'mnew to MTG and have been playing for a few weeks. Anyway, I got into an argument with one of my more experienced friends about the rules.

It was my turn and I declared an attack an 8/8 creature. He decided to block it with a 2/2 that had deathtouch. Then I casted Druid's Deliverance, an instant that blocked all combat damage from him, thus cancelling his deathtouch and leading to me destroying his creature in combat. He threw a fit, first trying to unblock, then telling me that I couldn't cast it anyway as I don't have prioroty. Long story short, it blew up into a big argument that I want resolved. Who's in the wrong?

Edited December 1, 2012 by HeadCheese