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by David S. Wilson
Stretching Dominia Dollars, Part XII Okay, I got the mail and I got the message. You honestly enjoyed the article on common cards. You enjoyed the high level overview of Tempest. You enjoyed the best lists from different booster sets. What I learned is not to "read" into notes I didn't get. One request I received was to continue doing all of the above, but try and do them all at once. While that would generate one long and complete column; I enjoy having a life outside of M:tg. One thing every newbie MUST be warned about is "Magic Fever"! Magic can be addictive. When you first start playing it can become all you can think about. You may even find yourself dreaming about it. I went through those steps myself. All I can say is it will end. At that point my friends and I reacted in one of two ways. Most of my friends simply quit playing M:tg and went back to roleplaying. But a smaller group of us "Magic Fever" survivors continue to play, but are now more in control. I used to buy a box of every booster set that came out. I'd be at the store every day of the week it was scheduled to arrive. And when it really did arrive I'd run home and open every pack as quick as possible. The problem was the "M:tg RUSH" of new cards only lasted 10 minutes. Then I'd frantically find more money to buy more boosters and keep the "high" of new Magic cards going. When the money was gone, the second stage of "Magic Fever" would kick in. I'd organize my cards as quick as possible to see just what rare and uncommon cards I was missing. It was time for "Magic Fever Trading". If I had two of any rare cards, they became my bait for use in trading to get rare cards I was missing. I'd make dumb trades as well as fair trades. The "Urge" to have a complete booster set ruled over any type of logic. And when pay day came along I spent whatever it took to buy the single cards I was missing. I didn't buy boosters anymore. I already had most of the cards; so boosters held no "RUSH" to satisfy the fever. In the meantime all I could do was dream about the decks I could make if only I had those missing cards. A few weeks later, the fever subsided and common sense took over. Suddenly I realized I didn't really want a complete set. It was back to trading but this time to get the better cards I needed to complete "killer" decks. And I even bought more boosters, realizing each pack had a rare card and 3 uncommons, some of which were what I wanted to reach the limited 4 of a kind for new decks. The fever kept returning until the day the Wizards said Ice Age was being removed form type II. I couldn't believe it. I had invested so much fevered time and money into Ice Age. It stung like a slap to my face. My friends felt the same way. Most simply quit. Sold their cards and moved back to G.U.R.P.S. roleplaying every Saturday. But I for 1 stayed with the game. When the shock was over, I realized the fever was gone. Now when new sets come out I purchase a few boosters each week. I savor the joy of new cards and new decks as well as when I was buying them by the box. Now I pay attention to commons as well as the uncommons and rares. Now I trade to build better decks not to get a complete set. Now I enjoy Magic more then before and find time for other things. I am currently beta testing a new roleplaying system for Ral Partha Publications. I now breed Hand-fed Fancy Rats. I'm now buying new PC roleplaying games I once couldn't afford after Magic costs. I now write this column every month. Life is much more complete. I know of no cure for the fever other than making people aware they have it and waiting for it to fade with time as the watch the first cards they thought were critical be moved out of type II. You've been warned. Now lets get back to Tempest and cover a few more items. Have you joined the Squee Fan Club yet? If not get yourself on over to: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/2334/ and join today! You'll find every card listed that either has a quote or picture of the incredible Squee! You'll soon find yourself screaming " GO SQUEE!". Art - Tempest has some of the best. Some even better the Squee's Toy. but the most interesting art work in Tempest can be found on Selenia Dark Angel. The two hidden faces are easy to pick out and I just love special effects. Green - Everyone is saying green didn't get as much as the other colors. I must be playing different cards then them. My favorite, Elven Warhounds is the latest card to be a natural match with Lure for a killer combo. Verdant Force is better then Force of Nature ever was, especially if played in a multi-player game. Mongrel Pack just refuses to die. Overrun is +3/+3 for your entire attacking group. Heartwood Giant can end the game by sacrificing the forests you had in play. Fugitive Druid lets you enchant him with any enchantment and draw another card to replace the enchantment. Pincher Beetles can't be the target of any spells or abilities. Bayou Dragonfly is a 1/1 flying swampwalking creature for just 2 mana. Respite is an improved Fog. Broken Fall - is the most awesome regenerate card ever published. I used all the above cards in my deck this weekend, I combined Green with the direct damage cards of Red and 4 Renegade Warlords to add another +1 to my attacking forces. I won 3 out of 4 multi-player games. So the next time someone says Green didn't get any good cards, smile , you just found a perfect person to trade cards with. More on Tempest next month. In fact more on Tempest every month until Strong Hold arrives. Sure I'll cover other subjects but will now include whatever is the latest set as a secondary back up subject. Hope you don't mind reading just a little more each month. SEE YA! Thank you - Dave
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