Club Presidency
Description of Magic
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August of this year has seen not only a new game from Wizards of the Coast, but a new gaming form as well. It is called Magic: The Gathering, and it is unlike anything else on the market today [1993].
It is made up of a random group of cards, but it is not just a card game. These cards feature beautiful artwork and are a prize for collectors, but they are not just collectibles. The game requires [at least] two players to defeat each other with their card decks, but the one with the greatest number of cards is not necessarily at an advantage.
In Magic: the Gathering, the players play the roles of opposing wizards, each armed with mighty men, magic, and monsters. These armies and forces are represented by the deck of cards that they carry, but here's the catch: Each player's deck is different! Of the 60 cards that each starter set contains, they are randomly filled with common, uncommon, and rare cards, so that no two Magic: The Gathering decks are alike. And decks are unlikely to stay at 60 cards for long, because of the way the rules work. At the beginning of each game, the players shuffle their decks. Additionally, booster decks of 15 cards (also random) will be available to add to the initial set. However, just because wealthy players can go out and buy hundreds of cards doesn't really mean they will have an advantage, for a skilled player with only a 60 card deck can easily defeat a novice with a much larger one and still win time after time.
So how will the game work? The game has two levels of strategy. Most players will quickly master the first, wich is simply the basic tactical elements of combat and surprise moves. But the true strategy is seeking out card combinations that work well together. The game revolves around magical energy, called mana. The use of certain cards affects the flow of mana to your wizard, and if a perfect balance can be established between the intake of mana and the expulsion of magical energy, a good strategy is in the works.
Club Presidency
Description of Magic
TOL Homepage - WotC Tournament Organizer for Utah
Main Page |