Anyone here play Magic: The Gathering?

[Astonishing X-Fan]

I used to play this game back in the mid-90s, in middle school. I've been away from it for like 10+ years, and I recently got the urge to try it out again. So I bought a starter deck and a few booster packs, re-learned the rules and played around with the cards a bit. Then I found out my local comic shop does game nights multiple times a week, so I went to a draft torunament they were holding for the brand new set that just came out.

Wow, it was so much FUN!

I regret ever leaving this game. I'm having a blast, and I've only been playing again for like, two weeks. The depth of the game is really amazing, and I'm finding myself spending a lot of time just experimenting around with different deck builds and strategies. The new set, Zendikar, seems really good to me. I ended up buying a box of booster packs for it and ended up with a lot of cool stuff.

Any of you guys play?

[Night Swordsman]

I used to play this game back in the mid-90s, in middle school. I've been away from it for like 10+ years, and I recently got the urge to try it out again. So I bought a starter deck and a few booster packs, re-learned the rules and played around with the cards a bit. Then I found out my local comic shop does game nights multiple times a week, so I went to a draft torunament they were holding for the brand new set that just came out.

Wow, it was so much FUN!

I regret ever leaving this game. I'm having a blast, and I've only been playing again for like, two weeks. The depth of the game is really amazing, and I'm finding myself spending a lot of time just experimenting around with different deck builds and strategies. The new set, Zendikar, seems really good to me. I ended up buying a box of booster packs for it and ended up with a lot of cool stuff.

Any of you guys play?

I started with Alpha all the way to Mirage. Then i gave up for other games i enjoyed more. Sold the collection too. I love to play, but i do not keep up with current sets or styles or new keywords anymore.

[Alex L]

Dropped out around Ice Age, which was basically a rehash of a bunch of cards that had come before.

After that was the abysmal Homelands set, which led me to think the game had passed its creative peak.

I kinda/sorta got back into it for about fifteen minutes when I worked at a comic book store -- the block-specific abilities like Shadow or the Slivers were interesting, but ultimately I didn't want to get sucked back in.

[AllisterH]

Started with Revised, jumped out at Ice Ages

Came back during Invasion and left once again at Time Spiral.

It comes and goes when I feel in the M:TG mood.

[Jae Namkyoung]

I got in during the Ravnica block, I have a few things here and there, haven't bought any new cards. I have to be comfortable with the guys I'm playing with. I also only like M:TG when we're playing STRIP M:TG (XD) I know we're nerds but hey thats the way I like my boys and girls.

[DungeonmasterJim]

I come and go with the game. If my friends are playing then I join in but I rarely go to find games at my local shops. I still buy some cards occasionally for a $1 or less but only singles to make or bulk up specific decks.

I did by $10 worth of cards at DragonCon because I won the the coins so the cards cost me nothing. It's nice to see some of my revised cards are going for around $45 each.

DM Jim

[LewisH]

They've really taken great care over the last few years to make sets more balanced and fun. The recent rules changes have also helped clean up some things. The only thing I really don't care for (and this only impacts tournament constructed play) is the introduction of mythic rares. Several of them are necessary if you are going to be competitive and it can get quite expensive. Getting needed rares has always been a bit pricey but most tournament worthy mythic rares start at $20. They are even harder to trade for.

[AllisterH]

They've really taken great care over the last few years to make sets more balanced and fun. The recent rules changes have also helped clean up some things. The only thing I really don't care for (and this only impacts tournament constructed play) is the introduction of mythic rares. Several of them are necessary if you are going to be competitive and it can get quite expensive. Getting needed rares has always been a bit pricey but most tournament worthy mythic rares start at $20. They are even harder to trade for.

That actually doesn't sound too pad.

Duallands ALWAYS went for $20 and change and that's all the way back during Ice Age.

If a rare is still only going for $20, I'm actually surprised...

[Astonishing X-Fan]

The newest set, Zendikar, has a set of five lands that are each worth about $18-$20, one other $20 card, Sorin Markov, and one card that's $30, the Lotus Cobra. There's seven cards in the $11-$15 range, and then everything else is $10 or less. One of the things I really like about Zendikar though, is that the commons are actually pretty freaking good. You don't NEED the $20 cards to have some good stuff.

The Mythic rares are an interesting thing. They're not alwatys the "best" cards. They're actually meant to be the more unique, interesting, or epic cards. Sometimes this leads to very powerful cards, other times it leads to just something that's very cool but ultimately not that useful.

I'm playing in my first standard tournament on Friday, looking forward to seeing how my deck does. I built on around the new mechanic, landfall. Basically cards that get various boosts whenever a land comes into play.

Anyone play MTG Online? I play a little, but not too much since you have to buy cards there, too, and I already spent a lot on paper cards.

[LewisH]

if you play in drafts on-line and buy a couple of the pre-con decks you can put together some reasonable decks from what I read. The weekly building on a budget article on the MTG site is a good place to start.

[Grazzt]

Stopped around the Rath/Artifacts Cycles. I still find it interesting to watch, just to see the power creep from what I remember.

[Kyle!]

I have played MtG at various points in its history. I have a long, varied past with CCGs, probably having played at least 20, and having likely been most serious about Decipher's Lord of the Rings game (for many years). My biggest Magic days were spent in the Urza, Masques, Invasion, and Mirrodin blocks. Beyond those blocks I haven't spent much time playing.

Currently I keep up with the A Game of Thrones card game and play with a few friends who do so as well. They have come up with an interesting format for the game - they have monthly 20 card sets ("Chapters") where you can buy a "Chapter" set and get 40 cards, 2 copies of each card guaranteed, thus removing the randomness of pack.

[AllisterH]

Heh...

Ever seen a full powered no-proxy T1 tournament?

Now there's some decks with big money cards...

[Astonishing X-Fan]

Those first couple sets had some amazing cards. Power creep may exist but I don't think power level will ever be as high as it was in the beginning.

Apparently, random old, powerful cards like the Black Lotus are randomly inserted into packs of Zendikar. The chances of getting one are very low, though. No one in my area has opened any of them.

[Night Swordsman]

Heh...

Ever seen a full powered no-proxy T1 tournament?

Now there's some decks with big money cards...


Not a tournament, but i did have full,unplayed with sets of Alpha,Beta,Unlimited,and 4th,2 full sets of Legends,and full sets of all the other expansions from Arabian Nights to Mirage, plus thousands of extras. And i sold it all to buy a new car.

[AllisterH]

Not a tournament, but i did have full,unplayed with sets of Alpha,Beta,Unlimited,and 4th,2 full sets of Legends,and full sets of all the other expansions from Arabian Nights to Mirage, plus thousands of extras. And i sold it all to buy a new car.

Wow...that's incredible.

Easily could buy a new car with that type of money and cash at that...

I hope you still have that car though...

[Night Swordsman]

Wow...that's incredible.

Easily could buy a new car with that type of money and cash at that...

I hope you still have that car though...

No. I upgraded it twice since then. But i own my car. Still do. :smile:

[Alex L]

Stopped around the Rath/Artifacts Cycles. I still find it interesting to watch, just to see the power creep from what I remember.

Dunno about the power creep, as a green/white weenie deck can still be insanely tough to beat.

[LtMarvel]

I played for awhile until the local shop went belly up. I had a Megrim deck (2 damage to player/discard) that drove others nuts (Whistful thinking player draws 2 and discards 4).

When we went to Wizard World Chicago, we got a free version of the online game.

I haven't played in over a year...

[Joshua Pantalleresco]

I enjoy the game - especially the drafts. That said it's too much money to maintain playing on any regular basis. I enjoyed the Kamigawa/Ravnica blocks - the sheer amount of decks you could make in that format was just astounding.

JP

[Briareos]

Right now Jund decks (GRB) are the deck to beat. They just abuse the power of cascade so badly. What's funny is how little Zendikar is used in the deck. Mainly for Verdent Catacombs (the G/B sac land).

[Draconomicon]

http://www.elementsthegame.com/

Not a perfect MtG copy, but it's a card game in the same vein, and pretty fun every now and then. And what's better, it can be played in the browser.