Can't wait? Try MTG:O

[liquidcat]

First of all: this is not a commercial, but an advice.
I didn't play DotP before but I can see what's coming. I preordered it, and excited about it. But as an old Magic player and a newbie MTG:O player, I can recommend Magic The Gathering Online. No, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get started in an even game; MTG:O has a set called Planeswalker which cannot be mixed with other sets of cards, meaning everyone will have the same sets of cards when playing. Getting an account is just 10 bucks and you will get 1 Magic 2010 booster pack, 2 event tix, Planeswalker deck and 300 Magic cards which you can sell, trade or use for your soon-to-be deck. Even better, you don't have to pay anything to play, there are over a dozen preconstructed decks available for trial play which you can play forever.
But Magic players know that Magic is not about playing at all; it's about constructing your deck and trading. Then comes the playing which is a minor part where you test your deck against others. So beware; you can find yourself a new expensive hobby.

[Kombucho]

or play using magic workstation with your friends . completely free but you need to know the rules

[temion]

I have about 6,000+ cards in my MTG:O collection and i can say that while MTG:O is fantastic for deck building, trading and collecting (and redemption of physical cards if you so choose) it is horrible for the super low quality game interface. MTG:O is a program which looks more appropriate along side computer games from 1995, and not 2010. Which is sad because Duels has the polished look that MTG:O SHOULD have, but without the core (trading, deck building & redemption) that MTG:O has.

If you play Duels first, you will have a hard time playing MTG:O simply because the application is so amazingly dated that you'll wonder why Wizards is doing what they are doing.

IF you can get over the graphics quality (like I have) you will prefer MTG:O ultimately.......but it is not an easy pill to swallow as graphics of this quality are outdone on iphone apps.

[liquidcat]

or play using magic workstation with your friends . completely free but you need to know the rules

Magic Workstation single user licence:27 dollars. Btw octagon is totally free and good enough to play with your friends.

[FeriIuce]

I've been playing MTG:O since yesterday, and it is quite addicting. You can play completely for free with the pre-constructed decks.

[UMS]

Pre-ordered DotP. Played realspace MTG in the late 90s (revised and onward), and played MTG:O off and on since its release. Now the few cards I have on there are almost all non-legal :D and it's such a rough thing for me to consider spending the time learning the new sets, it's frankly kind of discouraging. Still though, interface aside, it's a huge game with a lot of depth. Worth throwing a few dollars in for some cards, imo, if you can keep up with it. The game seems different now from what it was back in the 90s, new game mechanics that are being discussed on the MTG forums that I can't even keep up with.

I'm old and ignorant I guess. :/

[sicbud]

I have about 6,000+ cards in my MTG:O collection and i can say that while MTG:O is fantastic for deck building, trading and collecting (and redemption of physical cards if you so choose) it is horrible for the super low quality game interface. MTG:O is a program which looks more appropriate along side computer games from 1995, and not 2010. Which is sad because Duels has the polished look that MTG:O SHOULD have, but without the core (trading, deck building & redemption) that MTG:O has.

If you play Duels first, you will have a hard time playing MTG:O simply because the application is so amazingly dated that you'll wonder why Wizards is doing what they are doing.

IF you can get over the graphics quality (like I have) you will prefer MTG:O ultimately.......but it is not an easy pill to swallow as graphics of this quality are outdone on iphone apps.

Not for long. They're giving MtGO a makeover. It's going to have an updated interface, new graphics etc.. there was a beta for it a while ago and some pictures surfaced on the net to give you a glimpse of the new interface.

[Vaskre]

Magic Workstation single user licence:27 dollars. Btw octagon is totally free and good enough to play with your friends.

Except the license isn't required to play, only required to remove a few second "Please purchase our license" ad at the start up of the application much like WinRAR, WinZIP, and other programs.

True, the license grants a few features, but they're generally things that won't be missed.

Additionally, Octagon's interface isn't as clean as MWS in my opinion.

[lawsie69]

nearly all the preconstructed decks you get in the trial are the same ones you play in Dotpw. So if your new to it all, get to know the them well. That said, MTGO has what i call an 'annoying and childish community' the players are not polite at all and are very volatile to new comers.

[Nor]

this is awesome :cool:

18/18 with trample on poor player D:

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4540/mwhaahtrample2.jpg

[temion]

Not for long. They're giving MtGO a makeover. It's going to have an updated interface, new graphics etc.. there was a beta for it a while ago and some pictures surfaced on the net to give you a glimpse of the new interface.

Nothing new has surfaced from MTGO 3.5 in 8 months. Thats getting dangerously close vaporware at this point..

[PorkSocks]

NM, answered my own questions

[FeriIuce]

nearly all the preconstructed decks you get in the trial are the same ones you play in Dotpw. So if your new to it all, get to know the them well. That said, MTGO has what i call an 'annoying and childish community' the players are not polite at all and are very volatile to new comers.

Well, so far I have not found a way to communicate with the players using the free trial. Stuff typed in the chat box just simply doesn't show up.

[lawsie69]

oh, right well i have not played free trial i have an account but i just use the cards you get with your new account and have not bought any others, the amount of abuse you get for doing is is comical to say the least. Oh, not to mention you will play people in the newbiew section (cant remember real name for the game room) who have decks that probably cost them loads of money and can kill you in 3 turns.

[silasary]

Or, go to ebay, and find a copy of Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planswalkers (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Magic+the+Gathering+microprose&_sacat=0&_odkw=Magic+the+Gathering&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313)

Gotta love WotC; they gave us a new product with the same name!

[Nor]

Or, go to ebay, and find a copy of Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planswalkers (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Magic+the+Gathering+microprose&_sacat=0&_odkw=Magic+the+Gathering&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313)

Gotta love WotC; they gave us a new product with the same name!


on is from 1998 and the other from this year :x , i prefer the new version D:

[Geela234]

Of all the Magic games out the, the old Microprose Duels of the Planeswalker is by far the best game made. It seems that they learned quickly that good video games don't help to sell their cards, and that is where they make their money. If you are unsatisfied with the new Duels of the Planeswalkers, you will go out and either buy real cards or pay for MTGO, which is even more profit for Wizards. So, I don't expect there to ever be a good Magic the Gathering game as long as they are still making money off of the physical card game or MTGO.

[Snowstone]

For people playing the Trial of MTGO, I suggest putting the current nick you have, for instance, "Guest0123". This way we could make a sure we don't end up playing with people who just log off when they are loosing or because they don't like the deck the other player is playing.

What do you think?

[Teh_Harvesterer]

Your Guest name changes each log in. But ya MTGO sucks, can't even play a full duel/match because people just disconnect, go afk, when they are losing or just first attack....No way I'd spent money on MTGO.

[Knoxx212]

I have no problem with someone conceding in 3 or 4 turns. What pisses me off is when they stay connected and don't respond for 10 mins hoping you will get bored and leave the game so they can try to get a cheap win that way.

Other than the free constructed decks in the new players room, the only format I can afford to play is pauper. You build your deck with only common cards. I like building tribal pauper decks which means 35% of your deck must be the same creature type like elves, or goblins.

[Mitsukayoi]

Decided to try out their starter pack set for MTGO, and I gotta say, it's much different than playing against the trial. Pretty cheap, you get the same decks to mess around with as in DotP, plust a pack of m10 and basically an m10 starter pack. The 'new player' community is pretty nice and helpful, and I have played tons of games now and haven't run into anyone rude. Worth it if you have the ten bucks to spend and time to kill until planeswalkers I think.

[Ilsyde]

I have no problem with someone conceding in 3 or 4 turns. What jaratees me off is when they stay connected and don't respond for 10 mins hoping you will get bored and leave the game so they can try to get a cheap win that way.
You could reduce the game time to as little as 15 mins for each person if you're the host.

[Nor]

arrgh i dun want the trial UI tis ugly and no 2vs2 , 3 for all or 4 for all D: or campaign mode :/... cant wait for the pc version >O<

[Tiger88]

I like the game play and deck builder for the old Microprose game much better than MTGO. With the Microprose game you can see the cards much more clearly. It's pathetic that MTGO can't do better compared to a game from 14 years ago.

With all the attention being stirred up by this new release on Steam they should have had MTGO all dressed up and ready for the party.

[Lurpsukka]

I like the game play and deck builder for the old Microprose game much better than MTGO. With the Microprose game you can see the cards much more clearly. It's pathetic that MTGO can't do better compared to a game from 14 years ago.

With all the attention being stirred up by this new release on Steam they should have had MTGO all dressed up and ready for the party.

You can zoom in on the cards by pressing both left and right mouse buttons at the same time.

[Zoidberg]

No, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get started in an even game; MTG:O has a set called Planeswalker which cannot be mixed with other sets of cards, meaning everyone will have the same sets of cards when playing. Getting an account is just 10 bucks and you will get 1 Magic 2010 booster pack, 2 event tix, Planeswalker deck and 300 Magic cards which you can sell, trade or use for your soon-to-be deck.

WTH! Disgusted I didn't have that when I created my account ages ago.

Bought one of the duel decks so I could play some casual games now and then: it's impossible.

And that is because the casual room is filled with combo decks, decks with an awful lot of spoiler rares etc... games won't go really long and you'll be able to do ♥♥♥♥.

If you're casual, DO NOT install MTG:O. You'd better buy a playset of the commons/uncommons of an extension on EBay and learn to play with friends.

[Tiger88]

You can zoom in on the cards by pressing both left and right mouse buttons at the same time.

Thanks for the tip regarding MTGO, that really helps. Now I can easily read the mana requirements.

:)

[mantose]

I just installed mtgO ... wow I havnt played since the new interface changes... I found it difficult to easily navigate around and find what I am looking for...

I jumped in the new players room and was hoping to play with some people with the planeswalker decks. Took me a bit to figure out where the decks were located when it asked me to choose a deck, then to figure out I need to buy something in order to have the decks ... I guess I was hoping they would already be there ,,, use in the new player room only , not in your binder.

I thought I read here somewhere there was a deal at some point ... buy a starter kit and it had the pre constructed planeswalker decks in it .... I am guesing that deal doesnt apply to me but who knows ... dealing with the online store is just as painful as it always was...

Trying to trade cards or looking through what others have to trade is more painful than getting my teeth pulled. (I only spent a few minutes looking , maybe my opinion will change after spending more time at it)

mtgO is no where near new player friendly.

Anyway that is my first 10 minute assesment ... heading back again now .. maybe things will become more clear the more time I spend looking around.

[FeriIuce]

Seems pretty simple to me. You click the "free trial" button, click play, choose a deck and you're good to go.

[mantose]

I already have an account, there is a room for new players.

I can click on the trial and play there easy enough with free cards .. thats not hard.

I am talking about as a member , every thing is a bit hard to find compared to when I played about 6 years ago. Since then they have changed the interface 1 or 2 times.

At least my account is still active I guess ... even tho 90 percent of my cards are unusuable in standard format.

[Tiger88]

At least my account is still active I guess ... even tho 90 percent of my cards are unusuable in standard format.

What makes the cards unusable? Do they expire with age? If so, how can you tell which cards to buy, which ones are new and which ones are old?

[mantose]

What makes the cards unusable? Do they expire with age? If so, how can you tell which cards to buy, which ones are new and which ones are old?

I can use my cards if I want .. I would just have to figure out what format they are legal in ...

standard format is most common I would think ... standard format uses the most recent cards... I think they are on 10th edition now and there are 2 blocks of cards ... each block is up to 3 sets of cards. I think they usualy come out with new sets of cards every 3 or 6 months?

Looks like right now it is the biggest pool of cards you usually get in the standard format 2 full blocks and 10th edition. I think they are coming out with a new set this month. So I am not sure if it will fill out a block or if it is starting a new block and making one of the full blocks not legal in standard anymore.(I could be wrong, I remember when I started playing type 2 was considered current , is that still correct or have they changed the names again?)

confused yet?

They would have to make so many changes to make this game more newb friendly. As it is right now you need more than a few days or weeks to learn the rules and formats, then get into deck construction and learn all the cards.

people tend to look down on net decks ... but some people just dont have the time to sift through all the cards and try to come up with their own deck ... they just want to throw a deck together that is competitive and go play.

[Nor]

Why is it that sometimes when you attack your opponent blocks with a certain card, the game doesnt ask you to use an instant (which i wanted to use)so... after he started blocking ,the combat damage just went by, and i couldnt use the instant to give my creature +3/+3 so in the end it died and it went then to main again >:(...

and sometimes when i block an attack of a creature my opponent can use an instant >:( , thats something i dont understand sometimes...on the trial version of the MTG:O

[Ilsyde]

Maybe you're not paying enough attention to the messages on the left and missed the opportunity? In combat phase, first step is declare attackers (you tap your creature), second step is declare blockers (opponent designates a blocker), third step is attacker's interrupt (you play your giant growth card to give your creature +3/+3), fourth step is blocker's interrupt (opponent can play instants and abilities) and fifth step is combat damage (combar damage is calculated).

[V3n0m666]

Why is it that sometimes when you attack your opponent blocks with a certain card, the game doesnt ask you to use an instant (which i wanted to use)so... after he started blocking ,the combat damage just went by, and i couldnt use the instant to give my creature +3/+3 so in the end it died and it went then to main again >:(...

and sometimes when i block an attack of a creature my opponent can use an instant >:( , thats something i dont understand sometimes...on the trial version of the MTG:O

If you don't have enough mana to play instants then the game jumps this part.

[Nor]

If you don't have enough mana to play instants then the game jumps this part.

>.> Obviously i had enough mana (more than enough)

yeah Ilsyde sometimes it just skips those parts from my part , when i attack it doesnt even ask my time to throw any interrupt or instant , same as when i am going to block... (and no they werent sorcery cards , they were instants)

[Dr0W]

I ordered MTG:O last night, paid via paypal and did not get my account activation token. -.- It's been like 8 hours since my purchase and I can't play yet.

Anyone knows it they usually take that long to activate/send you the activation code via e-mail?

[Ilsyde]

yeah Ilsyde sometimes it just skips those parts from my part , when i attack it doesnt even ask my time to throw any interrupt or instant , same as when i am going to block...
Hmm... are you using keyboard shortcuts or are you actually clicking on the Yes button when you're done designating attackers/blockers?
Try resetting the settings, though it's unlikely that something changed (otherwise you'd have the same issue all the time, not just once in a while). To do this, click on Menu (at the very bottom) then Settings then Gameplay then click Restore Defaults.
Or you could try looking around on the official forums: http://community.wizards.com/go/forum/view/75846/134974/magic_online_bugs_and_technical_issues Someone might have had a similar issue.

[ProvidenceVII]

Pre-ordered DotP. Played realspace MTG in the late 90s (revised and onward), and played MTG:O off and on since its release. Now the few cards I have on there are almost all non-legal :D and it's such a rough thing for me to consider spending the time learning the new sets, it's frankly kind of discouraging. Still though, interface aside, it's a huge game with a lot of depth. Worth throwing a few dollars in for some cards, imo, if you can keep up with it. The game seems different now from what it was back in the 90s, new game mechanics that are being discussed on the MTG forums that I can't even keep up with.

I'm old and ignorant I guess. :/

Your not old and Ignorant, i played back then, and some of the new rules are REALLY confusing and contradictory to some of the ways that were available to play with :/

[Tiger88]

I ordered MTG:O last night, paid via paypal and did not get my account activation token. -.- It's been like 8 hours since my purchase and I can't play yet.

Anyone knows it they usually take that long to activate/send you the activation code via e-mail?

I signed up for MTGO today and got my activation code by email instantly. Maybe you mistyped your email address?

[teh_chris]

Having played MTG on and off since unlimited, I've always been interested in playing more online, as there aren't many people in this area that plays.

Even though this is the case, I'll probably use MWS and the free MTG online simulators until Wizards gets around to upgrading MTGO from the interface they're currently using. When they upgrade their interface, I might start looking into grabbing an online collection.

I even hear they're going to be reprinting the Power 9 (for those who don't know: the 9 most famous and most expensive cards in magic) for MTGO players.

[Lokk]

Even though this is the case, I'll probably use MWS and the free MTG online simulators until Wizards gets around to upgrading MTGO from the interface they're currently using. When they upgrade their interface, I might start looking into grabbing an online collection.

Same thing here, I'm not gonna spend any money on online cards/tournaments unless they upgrade that god-awful UI. It might be semi-functional, but it's too ugly for me to stare at for hours and hours while playing.

[mantose]

Ok, so I have been playing on MTG-O for a few days now.

I have finally sort of figured out how to navigate around and I have spent 5 tix on creating 3 pauper(commons only) decks.

I havnt had any issues with lame people in the casual or tourney rooms I have played in , I have 20 + games so far.

The UI is perfectly fine for the type of game it is ... if I could wish for any changes it would be to change the way cards are traded. Right now you have to look through the classified section and pretty much hope to find a good dealer or spend hours and hours looking.

Tix are worth approximately $1 American currency. And many cards are worth less , so you get into situations where you need to buy cards you dont need or some traders keep track of credit for you so you can spend the credit at a later date. Problem with that is some traders have several accounts and you cant use your credit on the other accounts even tho it is essentially the same store/trader.(I think there was one trader where your credit was applied to all his/her accounts. But the prices were insane compared to other traders)

I would much rather see a more accurate representation of money and I would much rather have a way for filtering out cards among all traders at the same time, so I can find the best deal for a specific card quickly. Sort of like the World of Warcraft Auction House.