[mtg] .org online magic league!!!

[Despain]

so you want to play cards with me huh?? prepare... to get sinised

http://bb.xieke.com/files/magicccc.png[/img]

     Step 1: Learn the Basics

<blockquote>

Before you can dive right into the game, it would be best to have an introduction. The details of the rules and everything will come naturally once you start playing (and if you ever want some more help learning, just let me know and I can walk you through some practice matches). I seriously think that the best way to learn the intricacies of the game is by jumping right into it. But it's impossible to do that without at least covering these basics. The following videos do a good job of explaining the core concepts of the game.

Learn to Play Magic: Part 1; Introduction.
Learn to Play Magic: Part 2; Overview of the color themes and description of a card layout.
Learn to Play Magic: Part 3; Description of card types, tapping and using mana to pay for cards.
Learn to Play Magic: Part 4; Playing a game; phases of a turn.
Learn to Play Magic: Part 5; Creatures and combat.

</blockquote>

     Step 2: Download Magic Workstation

<blockquote>

In order to play the game over the internet, you need a program called Magic Workstation. The program has two parts to it: the Workstation itself and a part for playing Magic over the internet.

Their website has a number of guides, FAQs and instructions, so I don't have to go into detail. But it's our program of choice (over Apprentice, which is still okay but I don't think it's as good of a program overall). The latest patch for the program, which includes all cards up through the recent Shards of Alara expansion, can be found here (make sure to download and install the package, as we will most often be playing standard (recent) sets.

</blockquote>

     Step 3: Deckbuilding

<blockquote>

There are two primary ways of playing the game: constructed and limited. Chances are, if you play the game, you're most familiar with casual constructed. When you make a deck out of the cards in your collection (or if you specifically buy or trrade for cards to go into a deck), then it's a constructed deck. The other format you might not be as familiar with is limited. In limited events (deaft or sealed deck are the two primary forms) you build a deck as a part of the game. In other words, you have a pool of cards and your deckbuilding strategy goes into the games that you're playing.

If we have a lot of players, it's likely that we'll be having a lot of limited matches, as limited formats are a bit more fair for everyone involved, and they tend to be far more based on skill than on simply having good cards. Like I said, there is draft or there is sealed deck. In a booster draft, eight players sit around a table and pass booster packs to each other, each player picking one card from a pack to go into his or her deck. To simulate booster drafting online, there's a program called Netdraft. You can get it here. Be sure to download the newest patch for it. The most recent expansion is Shards of Alara.

In most constructed formats, decks should be a minimum of 60 cards. In limited formats, decks should be a minimum of 40 cards.

</blockquote>

     Step 4: Play Magic!

<blockquote>

Okay, so you've made a deck. Either it's a constructed deck, or you've went ahead and made the best deck out of your limited cards. What do you now? Well you play.

The best way to find other players would be to ask in the #rmxp irc channel. If we have a lot of people who show interest, then it's very possible that we can start an irc channel specifically for playing magic. For now, if you want to play a game, join the irc channel and ask if anyone's interested. I know that unless I am at work or sleeping, I'll pretty much always be up for a game.

</blockquote>

If you're interested in taking part in all of this, post in this thread. If this post seems a bit vague, it's intentional. The best way to get into this is to just try it out. I'm totally open to bringing new players to this awesome game, so I'll definitely have no problem helping people through the process. Any questions or comments, go ahead.

 

[Energy]

Magic Workstation? never heard of it :\

But ya, I'm interested. (and I know how to play.)

 

[Despain]

Workstation is a two-part program. Part one is a deck-builder/card-viewing program that is a really useful library of all the cards of the game. The second program allows for online play using the decks built in the first program.

Magic Workstation is a lot better than apprentice (another online magic program), based on the small experience that I've had with Apprentice in the past up against the past couple of days with Workstation. The only real downside is a lack of multiplayer, which is disappointing because I for one love multiplayer formats. But when stacked up against the official Magic Online, Workstation is free.  :thumb:

 

[Ellie]

I'll try it when I learn how to play. I can't afford getting into the actual game at the moment, but it sounds intriguing.

 

[Energy]

Workstation is free.  :thumb:

Really? because after searching "Magic Workstation" I got to this page:

http://www.magicworkstation.com/

And there is the evaluation download, and the "Buy Full version".

Am i on the right track?

 

[Despain]

The full version has some added features, but the program itself is free. If you buy the full version, you get to see people's avatars and stuff. But the trial version works just fine. The site says that it's a 40-day trial, but I've had my version for a number of months and have no problem (other than waiting like ten seconds for a "trial version!!" popup whenever you open it).

 

[Stardust]

I haven't played in a while, but I'll probably give this a try.  It'll take me forever to read the cards, though.  I'm obsessive about deck-building and I hardly know what any of the cards do.

 

[Zekallinos]

Eh, why not? It's been a while since I played on the web.

Just a few questions though :

-What format do you usually play (T1, T1.5, T1.X, T2)?

-Do we use real-life decks (naturally, we can't really verify, but it can be interesting)?

-Do you hate or do you not mind boring decks (stax, UB fish, opposition, etc)?

-Do you hate or do you not mind combo decks (infinite life, brain freeze, etc)?

-Draft? How? Sealed format maybe but it's kinda hard to do properly.

-Do you give importance to all of the phases or are you just "yeah, as long as you follow the basic rules"?

-Nickname?

 

[Despain]

I was thinking of playing with a variety of formats, probably with an emphasis on limited (there are sites and programs that allow for drafting and sealed to be accomplished without a big problem) because it tends to be far more skill-based, which tends to make games more fun in a medium where every card is available to players. Players could have a large number of decks, with some for standard, extended, etc.

Boring decks and insane combo decks are fine as long as both players agree to that kind of thing. Like I said, if we have have enough members I would try and encourage a variety of formats and styles, so we'd never be restricted to one thing another. Since I anticipate a lot of new players, I think that a casual "for fun" style would be best in most cases.

Personally, I never mind playing (against or with) wicked combo decks or lockdown decks unless it gets incredibly repetitive. If someone is on board but plays nothing but a deck with a first-turn kill and don't have any decks that allow for anything else, then nobody is really going to want to play with them much. But having some sort of "NO COUNTERSPELLS" or "NO COMBOS" rule is totally lame and ruins a lot of the game.

I have transfered a number of my physical decks over to Magic Workstation. The reason I like to do this is because, to me at least, building based around what you actually have is just a lot of the fun of the game. Limitations make deckbuilding very exciting (again, I would love emphasis on limited formats, which I think prevent the game from getting too monotonous). But at the same time I don't really see a problem if people create decks purely with the program, so long as they don't load them with the power nine and shit like that.

When Prexus and I played the game, we used the phases a little bit, but we understood the flow of the game and each other so it wasn't too big of a deal. I think that with the newer players the phases will be very important for teaching the way the game is played, but I tend to play very fluidly like I play in real life, and just make use of the chat box to clarify anything. Very casual and relaxed in nature.

 

[Energy]

I'll probably download this later this evening/tomorrow.

Sounds like fun!

 

[The Panda]

Well I've never played Magic but I'll look it up and try out magicworkstation(though I can't afford to get into the real game at the moment). Knowing me I'll love it since whenever I play a card game I usually get really into it so count me in :thumb:
^_^

 

[Grathea]

I've also never played, but I'm fairly intuitive when it comes to learning things. I may or may not try this out.

 

[Spoo]

Haven't played in years, but I'm definitely in. I loved MtG.

 

[Prexus]

Despain and I played a ton over this weekend and it was a hoot. We each got to draft two decks from ccgdecks.com's drafting feature (so slow and gay.. maybe I should code a drafting program?)

Then we played a couple of our own decks against each other, I played a strong combo deck (second turn kill combo) while he was playing his ... blue? control deck, then started messing me up with his goblins/black decks so I had to switch to my more fun decks (power elves and black/blue discard) and he pulled out a WICKED Druid deck that is very strong... It was really fun. I'm already getting ready to buy a box of Shards of Alara boosters to draft with my friends.

 

[Seto]

Well I am going to try this out :D, I hope I enjoy it and get to play with everyone else from these forums.

 

[Despain]

mY dRuIdS fUcKeD yOu Up! !

 

[So fist]

If I do this wil u marry me?

 

[Ellie]

Do you have any tutorials on the er... extreme basics? Like how many cards go in a deck, what types of cards you should have, etc. I can't even tell the difference between land cards and normal cards, unless I'm looking at the wrong list of cards :S

 

[So fist]

lands are for girls a real man sacrifices basal thralls

 

[So fist]

I hope that clarifies things for you.