Magic: The Gathering Online - Anyone Play?

[John-SJ]

I just swung by Wizards Of The Coast and noticed that they now have a version of M:TG that is played online. I downloaded the guide which tells how to get started and it looks interesting. I haven't d/l'ed the client yet, when I was ready to, the site went down.

Anyone here playing? Do you like it? How expensive is it?

John-SJ

[John-SJ]

Actually, now that I have an account (haven't played yet though) I'd like to add that this might be a good time for anyone interested to check out M"TG Online. Right now the game is in open beta and everything is FREE!

Go to www.wizards.com and follow the links to MTG then MTG online. You'll need to download the client before you can participate. If the d/l is too hard to manage go to the Store locator and find a Premier MTG store where you can buy the beta CD.

John-SJ

[Chowlett]

Sounds good. Once it stops being open beta, go download apprentice, it serves the same purpose.

[Chowlett]

I have it, but the server's down at the moment. Probably just as well, I should be going to bed.

[Mr. President]

I used to play the regular, non-online version, but not so much these days. I think they messed it up when they changed the rules in Urza's Saga.

[Chowlett]

Played the turoials and a practice game a few minues ago, it seems quite good. Shame the store's down at the moment...

[Grumbold]

I've got a ton of cards from the 3rd edition and early expansions. If they've changed the rules its news to me. I'd already stopped playing when they started such silliness as phasing and flanking.

[Grrr]

I sold all my cards about the time 6th edition came out. Someone offered me good money, and it was getting boring. The online version may be good. I might download it one of these days.

[Mr. President]

If they've changed the rules its news to me. I'd already stopped playing when they started such silliness as phasing and flanking.

Yeah, I only found out a couple of weeks ago as well. I also though phasing and flanking were bad, but now you get a special phase for attack, with two main phases, one on either side of it. Which, of course, means that you can play two lands during a turn and cast creatures that would normally be second-turn or later in the first turn.

They introduced new mechanics for certain blocks (of three expansions) as well. Some were good, like cycling (pay a certain cost and discard the card from your hand to draw a card) and kicker (pay an extra cost when casting the card to get benefits; for example, there's a creature from the Apocalypse set which is 3/3, but if you pay three life when casting it you put two +1/+1 counters on it), but others were unfair and sped the game up too much, like madness (cast the card for an alternate cost at a time when you would discard it from your hand; many such cards have a madness cost of zero) and flashback (cast the card from your graveyard for an alternate cost).

[Chowlett]

Originally posted by Mr. President


Yeah, I only found out a couple of weeks ago as well. I also though phasing and flanking were bad, but now you get a special phase for attack, with two main phases, one on either side of it. Which, of course, means that you can play two lands during a turn and cast creatures that would normally be second-turn or later in the first turn.

Not quite true - you can still only play one land per turn. However, the dual main-phase does allow you to save casting creatures and the like until after you see if you need mana for any instants in combat. It adds some surprise to your attacks as well, since your opponent doesn't know if you'll pull something out to block him with.

[Urban Ranger]

That's getting really confusing

[Mr. President]

Ah, thanks for the correction.

[Grumbold]

Having attack as a separate phase rather than just being an activity that could happen once at any point during the main phase just sounds like formalising what was already the case.

Cycling, kicking, flashback and madness sound like gimmicks but I suppose you have to have some gimmicks otherwise people will spot that its just another 2/2 creature or 3 point damage spell.

When I decide I need the money I'll have to go through the pain of sorting and indexing all my cards. They're in no state to be sold at present.

[Immortal Wombat]

Cycling is quite useful sometimes, especially if you're playing a swarm deck, and end up with more creatures than you need, and not enough lands or something.

[Immortal Wombat]

140 MEGS ??

No way