Explain Magic: The Gathering

[DreadPirateMurphy]

I'm not sure where to ask this, so forgive me if there is another forum for this.

Without going into large amounts of detail, can somebody explain how to play Magic: The Gathering? I'm just curious, since it seems like a fairly expensive hobby, even compared to RPGs.

 

[Chainsaw Mage]

I'm not sure where to ask this, so forgive me if there is another forum for this.

Without going into large amounts of detail, can somebody explain how to play Magic: The Gathering?

Well, to start you'll need three books: the Player's Handbook 3.5, the Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5, and the Monster Manual 3.5. And then you . . .

. . . oh, sorry. My mistake.


Chainsaw "Still Playing AD&D 2e And Lovin' It" Mage

 

[KenM]

Its very expensve. I think WOTC has an online demo you check out. But they way they have the tournments set up, you always have to play with the most current sets.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Its very expensve. I think WOTC has an online demo you check out. But they way they have the tournments set up, you always have to play with the most current sets.

There's several formats that allow much older cards--there's even one that allows anything not silver bordered.

 

[Wormwood]

Like any collectible hobby, it can be expensive. But it needn't be. For example, my wife and I have under $100 in cards between us, and we play regularly with few complaints.

 

[Caliban]

I'm not sure where to ask this, so forgive me if there is another forum for this.

Without going into large amounts of detail, can somebody explain how to play Magic: The Gathering? I'm just curious, since it seems like a fairly expensive hobby, even compared to RPGs.

The game represents a duel between two powerful wizards. Each player is one of the wizards, each deck of cards represents their spells, artifacts, and resources (usually land cards that can produce mana/spell points once each turn). Each player has a set amount of life points. Object is to reduce your opponents life points to zero, or make them draw all the cards out of their deck.

On your turn you lay down a resource (land) card if you have one, then you "tap" the cards (turning it on its side) to draw them mana out of them, and use the mana to "cast" spells out of your hand. These can be Artifacts (magic items), Creatures (summoned monsters), Enchantments (permanent spells that can affect a creature or the playing conditions), Sorcery (one shot spells that can damage to a creature or player, or have one of several other effects).

Basic play is: lay down land, tap them for mana, summon a creature, and then attack with a previously summoned creature. Opponent can block with their own creatures if they have them, or use defensive spells to prevent the damage. You can also attack your opponents life points directly with the proper spell cards (lightning bolt, fireball, ect.)

There are a lot of subtle variations on the basic play, and many cards introduce new mechanics, or change some of the game mechanics.

And of course, the official tournaments that have cash prizes only allow cards from the last few sets, so you are constantly buying cards if you want to play competitively.

 

[MerricB]

Basic rundown:

A deck is 60+ cards, made up of land cards, creature cards and other types of cards (instant, sorcery, enchantment, artifact).

You begin with 7 cards in hand, and 20 life points.

The Turn order is:
* Untap phase - move all your cards from "tapped" to "untapped". (You tap a card by rotating it 90 degrees).
* Upkeep phase - pay costs for any cards requiring upkeep
* Draw phase - draw one card to hand from your deck
* Main phase - you may play spells, activate special abilities, etc.
* Attack phase - choose a number of your creatures to attack. Tap those creatures. They may be blocked by the opponent's creatures. Creatures have power and toughness; each creature deals damage equal to its power, and dies when it takes its toughness in damage. Any unblocked creatures deal damage to the opponent's life total.
* Main phase - as the first main phase.
* End phase - creatures heal all damage on them, you discard down to 7 if you have too many cards in hand, and temporary effects wear off.

###
All spells (creatures, artifacts, enchantments, etc.) have a casting cost that indicate how many land you need to tap to play them. e.g. 4GG requires you to tap six lands: four of any type, and two that produce Green mana - forests.

There are five different colours: Black, Red, Green, White and Blue. Most decks use one or two colours. Each colour specialises in certain effects. e.g. Black is good at killing creatures, Red at dealing damage, Green at making mana and summoning big creatures, White at preventing damage and enhancing creatures, and Blue at countering spells and playing tricks.

You may only play one land card per turn, and only during your main phase. (They cost nothing to play).

Instants may be played at any time, and are one-shot effects.
Sorceries may be played only during your main phase, and are one-shot effects.

Enchantments, Creatures and Artifacts may only be played during your main phase, and remain on the table.

The object of the game is to reduce your opponent from 20 life to 0.

Cheers!

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

So, how many cards are there in a deck? Does it vary?

What is the advantage of limiting the number of colors in your deck?

How many sets have there been, and how many cards in each set, and how much do they cost?

What the heck is a Black Lotus?

Thanks

 

[Zappo]

So, how many cards are there in a deck? Does it vary?

Minimum 60. You can have more, but it is generally considered best to have as few as possible, to reduce randomness. You want to minimize randomness in a good deck.

What is the advantage of limiting the number of colors in your deck?

A greater variety of colors means that you have a far greater chance of drawing cards that require a type of mana you don't have at the moment. By comparison, with a two-color deck you're fairly certain to be able to use any card you draw. See reducing randomness.

How many sets have there been, and how many cards in each set, and how much do they cost?

I lost track of the sets. Each set has between 100 and 350 cards, less or more. I don't know how much a booster pack costs, I guess more than 5$ but less than 10$.

What the heck is a Black Lotus?

A card that gives you three mana of any color for free, one time only. Without going too much into the economics of mana in Magic, three colored for free, even if one time only, is stupid powerful. Newbie players often don't see this, though.

Black Lotus was printed in the first two releases of the game and is now out of print. It can only be used in some tournament formats.

 

[likuidice]

Like many other collectible card games, the effectiveness of a deck of cards is more powerful than the sum of its parts. A deck that uses a combination of cards to achieve its goals tends to be more powerful than a deck that uses a single card. For example, one creature attacking on its own can be blocked and dealt with, while a creature card that has a second card played on it that forces all opposing creatures to attempt to block it, with a third card that prevents all damage to the creature, allows your other creatures in play to go about the business of beating your opponent.