Anyone here play Magic The Gathering

Kavalree

Kavalree

Kavalree

Soldato
Joined
21 May 2010
Posts
3,448
Location
Digbeth
Anyone here play Magic The Gathering?

I've got myself a White Builders box and Black Builders box from The Troll Trader on eBay. I've got a few friends who play, and I have been using there decks, but I will build my own. I prefer pure Black or a mix of Black and White.

So, anyone here play, and what type of deck do YOU prefer?
 
Isn't this the game where some crazy people were buying and selling rare cards for hundreds or thousands of dollars? I'm sure I read a thread about this on another forum.

e : ^ IIRC it does attract its fair share of sperglords and shut-ins, yes.
 
gjrc said:
i don't understand what these games are??

are they just top trumps for nerds?
Click to expand...

It's a complex (to a point) trading card game, like Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh!

[FnG]magnolia;22369761 said:
Isn't this the game where some crazy people were buying and selling rare cards for hundreds or thousands of dollars? I'm sure I read a thread about this on another forum.

e : ^ IIRC it does attract its fair share of sperglords and shut-ins, yes.
Click to expand...

I'm not too fussed about the nerdy aspect, I play Warhammer also, so I guess I'm a mega nerd?
 
[FnG]magnolia;22369761 said:
Isn't this the game where some crazy people were buying and selling rare cards for hundreds or thousands of dollars? I'm sure I read a thread about this on another forum.
Click to expand...

Most expensive regularly available card in MTG is probably in the region of £1000-1500 (Black Lotus). There's some cards that are worth more but they're exceptionally rare/unique.

The game is actually going stronger than ever (much higher player base than in the past, sales are up vastly, tournament turnouts are much higher).

To the OP, I play MTG competitively (played on the Pro Tour etc). I'd recommend reading websites like www.starcitygames.com www.mtgsalvation.com and www.channelfireball.com if you're looking for stuff to read :)
 
Just started last year, thanks to Duels of the Planeswalkers on Steam. Good little game, but the real thing is even better.
It is no different to any hobby really- it can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. Definitely recommend Troll Trader Cards for buying cards, the guy is fantastic.
 
e : whoops, this was at Deiwos.

I'd like to know more about this. Could we do a mini Ask/Tell?

How does the competitive angle work?
What's the most expensive card you've bought and sold?
How long have you played for?
How long before you became pro?
How much have you earned?

I've got lots more questions but maybe we could start with those ones. I find the concept fascinating.
 
Last edited:
[FnG]magnolia;22369761 said:
Isn't this the game where some crazy people were buying and selling rare cards for hundreds or thousands of dollars? I'm sure I read a thread about this on another forum.
Click to expand...

The rare cards you are thinking of are the "power nine" cards:

Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, Timetwister, Time Walk, Mox Pearl, Mox Emerald, Mox Sapphire, Mox Ruby and Mox Jet.

They were only printed in the first two sets (Alpha and Beta) and are exceptionally rare. I sold mine when I gave up MTG years ago and made a few thousand pounds as a result - which probably didn't even cover what I'd spent on cards over the years.
 
how do you get rare cards? who makes them and decides they are rare?

could I not just produce my own super elf mongrel lord destrutorvatorist which beats anything?
 
gjrc said:
how do you get rare cards? who makes them and decides they are rare?

could I not just produce my own super elf mongrel lord destrutorvatorist which beats anything?
Click to expand...

Each set Wizards of the Coast makes has so many commons, uncommons, rares, and mythic rares. In booster packs you get so many of each.

You can make your own cards, but people would clock on quick that it isn't in any of the sets :p
Depending on the type of game you play, only certain sets are/aren't allowed to be used.
 
[FnG]magnolia;22369880 said:
e : whoops, this was at Deiwos.

I'd like to know more about this. Could we do a mini Ask/Tell?

How does the competitive angle work? Tournaments are held periodically all over the world. Some are open entry i.e. anyone can play them, some are invite only whereby you have to win an invite by playing/winning an open entry tournament. More info on tournaments at http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/events/newtotournaments
What's the most expensive card you've bought and sold? Bought: I think around £100 when I was desperate for a particular card just before a tournament began. Sold: Around £100 when there was high demand for a particular card
How long have you played for? On and off for 15 years
How long before you became pro? I'm not pro, I just play competitively. First played on the Pro Tour 4-5 years ago
How much have you earned?Not much from touraments, maybe £2-3000. I make more money from trading cards/selling stuff. It is much more of a hobby than a profession for myself.

I've got lots more questions but maybe we could start with those ones. I find the concept fascinating.
Click to expand...
 
but how do you compete?

top trumps style?

do you start with so many cards?

surely with rare cards i can buy my way to the top and clean sweep all lesser (poorer) nerds?
 
Warhammer confuses me more.

I've seen the "play areas" these giant mats with castles and stuff on them, and I've seen the figures.

I just don't understand how the figures move about, seems a bit random to me.

MTG is not like top trumps...theres a MTG game on steam you could try. I think theres a demo.
 
gjrc said:
but how do you compete?

top trumps style?

do you start with so many cards?

surely with rare cards i can buy my way to the top and clean sweep all lesser (poorer) nerds?
Click to expand...

You start with a deck of at least 60 cards. You're allowed no more than 4 of any card in your deck. The aim is to defeat your opponent, typically by reducing their life total from 20 to 0 by using spells and creatures (there's other ways to win but I cba explaining these :p ).

With rare cards there is always an element of if you're playing with local people that you may have better cards than them but when it comes to competitive tournaments normally everyone has access to the same powerful cards, so then it comes down to the skill of the player and the luck of the draw.
 
Deiwos said:
great stuff
Click to expand...

Thank you sir. I have more questions.

How 'closed' is the community or rather how hard is is to get so good at the game that you're accepted?

Do you have to train or study at a competitive level? Do you train with other competitive folks or is it a very individual thing?

What do you get out of it at both a non-competitive and competitive level? What pulls you back?

Can you hit a ceiling of personal ability?

How much does luck factor and how much does buying cards factor at a competitive level?

Thanks in advance :) I should say that I've never played it and have no intention of doing so but it's a pretty interesting subject.
 
Sold most of my collection, these days I just have a sliver deck (cos slivers are awesome) a red DD deck (cos fireblast/lightning bolt/etc are awesome) and my old ravager affinity deck (because annihilating noobs down the comic store in a couple of turns with your op deck is awesome :P)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom