Magic the Gathering

[tabletop]

Ok, while I'm fundamentally opposed to collectible card games (due to their 'tulip economy') my friend Griff has recklessly purchased several 'Magic the Gathering' decks and managed to convince me to spend $20 on one as well (Planar Chaos - Unraveling Mind Black/Red deck).

I have to admit I'm enjoying the odd game against his already large collection. I'm also glad to see how ridiculously cheap this game is compared to anything else I play, despite the fact it's a CCG. 20c for a 'Common' card down at King of Cards in town.

Any of you fellows play MTG at all?

[Jonathan]

Nope, never played any of those card based games.  Well, to be honest Stu, you know exactly what games i have and haven't played, because any new games have been played because of you 

[Shawn]

I used to buy and sell Magic cards back in the 90s. Made LOTS of money but never actually played the game. My brother Robby, on the other hand, used to be a pretty wicked Magic player.

[tabletop]

Yeah I gather the heat has long gone out of the Magic market, at least prices for individual rare cards down here in NZ seem pretty cheap

Oh and the game itself isn't bad. Has a lot in common with Games Workshop rule sets. In that there's a reasonably basic set of core rules, and every second card breaks the rules in some way...

[Aaron]

No Never played, Im always tempted by the boxes but so far I've resisted.  I did find out about a fascinating game called... Battleground fantasy warfare... or something like that.  Its a table top wargame but rather than having figures you use cards to represent the units a core army costs about $50 and so does the expansion (altho not necessary).  I was keen to buy a copy but quite hard to find in NZ, King of Cards could order it, you just buy the army core set of cards and that comes with the rules.

Oh god, I just had a vision of Stu and I meeting up at King of Cards for a quick game of MTG over lunch... 

[tabletop]

I've mentioned BFW on here in the past I think. I gets favorable reviews and King of Cards should have it in stock shortly (at least that's what they said when I emailed them a while back). Something like $30nz for a basic army pack? The entire army in a single pack?

The game has reasonable reviews, but the real thing that turns me off about it is the quite mediocre card art. It's all been crudely done on a computer imho and really lets the game down.

The game itself sounds like it's at least partially inspired by DBA and/or Warmaster in the way they've done their army control scheme.

Aaron, splash out on a basic MTG deck straight away. It's only $20 for a pack and you can play the game then and there. Pick a colour you like and pick a deck based on that. I'm playing Black/Red but am considering nabbing another deck and going Black/Green instead. I honestly think you'll enjoy it (I certainly am - played 5-6 games last night with Griff).

I'd be happy to meet you down there for a lunchtime game or three

[Aaron]

Alright then, in the spirit of mad impulse buys I'll go down and get one at lunchtime!

Based on colour you reckon, done!

[Jonathan]

Impulsive fool.... I thought your were saving up for The ultimate version of Oblivion next week....?

[tabletop]

Hey Aaron, I'm going down to KoC as well this lunchtime. Probably be there about 12:10.

To get you started, read the Wikipedia articles as they're full of good information.

$20 gets you a basic 60 card deck which is what you want. Pick a colour you fancy and ask the guy behind the counter for some help I reckon.

[tabletop]

He'll probably recommend a TWO colour deck, so maybe pick two colours that you fancy . If you ask them nicely they'll probably throw in a rulebook as well. Just say you're new to the game and bat your eyelids coyly.

Then just play the basic deck as it stands for a while I reckon. The basic decks seem pretty good (although I'm just playing Griff, not in-store).

[Aaron]

Cool I'll try and run into you there.

Uh, well yes I am saving up for that (and am sorely dissappointed they have pushed back the release date, was supposed to be today!!     ) but I've got a few hundred dollars worth of stuff on the go on TM at the moment so I can probably afford $20 or so...

[Jonathan]

Hows MOH:A going? 

[tabletop]

My apologies for that quite hand wavy intro there Aaron...we normally game with a rulebook to hand...

Incidentely that deck you purchased doesn't seem half bad...the creatures certainly seem fairly good and they popped out pretty dang quickly!

[Aaron]

Yeh it was good fun, nothing like 2 poorly shuffled decks to balance things out! : )

I have no idea what is strong and what isn't but I certainly seemed lucky to start with several land tiles then 3 creatures of differing levels so I could roll them out one after another.

Anyway I'll check out the rules on the weekend and give them a bit of a reading, maybe catch up again next week for another game?

[tabletop]

Aye for sure man, I'd be happy to meet you down there for a regular lunch time game. One thing I have to say about MTG is that it's certainly pretty portable...