Magic the Gathering information (English)
You might ask what's so exiting on a card game. But Magic the Gathering isn't a normal card game. It's a trading card game.
Trade means, that you can sell and buy cards. If you buy some cards in a gameshop, you don't know exactly which cards you get.
I have been playing magic since summer 1995. In the last two years I bought more then 5000 cards for about 1500 SFr. You
can see that magic is a very expensive game. Overall exists more then 2500 different cards. If you listen to a running magic-game
you will notice that magic contains many technical terms.
To become a magic player
If you got enough cards for playing Magic, you have to find at least one other magic-player. The greatest problem for new
magic players is to learn the rules. In the first look it seems impossible to learn all the rules. All the rules of the game are printed
in a rulebook, but it's much easier to learn to rules by playing Magic with an veteran player.
Scenery
The magic player is during the game in the rule of a powerful wizard who fights for the control of a world named Dominia. The
goal of the game is to destroy all other wizards and get the full control of Dominia. Each player has got a choice of magic spells,
creatures and lands. From the lands, the wizard controlled, he gets the energy to cast spells and create creatures, which can
defend him or attack his opponent. Alternatively the wizard can damage the opponent with magic spells like "flash” or "earthquake”.
How to play magic
At the beginning of a game each player has got 7 card's in his hand and all other cards face down on the table. The other cards
are the library. Then the game goes on turn by turn. At the begin of your turn you have to draw a card from the library. Afterwards
you have the possibility to execute spells put a land into play or attack an opponent with your creatures. During your turn all
opponents can cast spells as well. If you finish your turn the turn from the next player starts.
The different magic types
The greatest difference between the magic cards is the color of the card. The whole magic is divided into 5 different types of
magic and some no colored spells called Artifact. Each type demands his own energy form. For example is the energy from the
mountains used for red spells.
Blue magic (Island)
The blue magic is very mental. It is also the magic of tricky and deception. Water and air are the elements of this magic. I
guess that blue is the most used spell type.
Green magic (Forest)
The green magic is the magic of the nature. The nature is symbolic for peace and life. But also in the green magic exists strong
forces.
Red magic (Mountain)
The red magic is a totally destructive force. Red is the magic of the fire and the earth. Additionally is red the magic chaos and war.
Black magic (Swamp)
The black magic is the magic of the death and the darkness.
White magic (Plain)
The white magic is the magic of healing and protection. The white magic is also the magic of the knights. Honor and courage
are the most important things for the white playing wizards. This is my favorite magic.
No color magic (all forms of energy)
The no color magic is usually used to support the other magic's. They can be play with each energy form.
If you take a look to the backside of a magic-card you can see a chart with five colored balls. This balls stand for the different
magic types. This chart shows you the relation between the magic-types. The magic-types witch aren't neighbors to a magic
contain spells against this magic. For example the white and the green magic-types contain spells against the black magic.
Card types
In each of these colors exists different kind of card types.
Land
Lands are used to get the required energy to execute a spell. Their also exists some special land, which have other effect.
Creatures
Creatures are used to defend you or to attack your opponents. Their exists different characters among all this creatures. Their
are some who can fly, other can regenerate or execute spells. Each creature has got a power and a toughness value.
Enchantment
An other card type is the enchantment. They enchant a single creature or the whole world Dominia. They could effect creatures
or something else.
Sorceries, Instants and Interrupts
This type of cars is called spells. They can effect a creature, an enchantment, an other wizard or something else. Some spells
have a target, other don't. The offer of spells is unlimited.
Magazines and books
To get the newest information about magic the wizard buys some tradingcard magazines. For exemple the official magazine
named "The Duelist”. The most important German magazine is called "Kartefakt”. This magazines contain the lists of the newest
cards and the prices for these cards. For magic beginners the rulebook is also important.
What makes magic so interesting for me?
While you play magic you have to be concentrated or you will make mistakes and each mistake could be your last. Magic is a
very strategic game. You can combine two or more cards to create a very dangerous combination. If a wizard beats you, it's
exciting to find a combination which can beat the other wizard.
