Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Hands of Flame Review (Part 1 of 2)
During our recent coverage of Portal Second Age, we traced some of the history of the game where it attempted to offer aspiring players an easy on-ramp to the world of Magic. Magic was- and continues to be- a game of increasing complexity, as hundreds of new cards are added every year. Wizards was naturally concerned that the game over time could become too imposing, too intimidating to appeal to the mass market, vital for growing the game and replacing those players who leave it. What they felt was needed was some sort of introductory product, and that came in set form in 1998 in the form of Portal.
Reads: Meddling Golgari Growth
Happy Friday, folks, and welcome to the last day of Golgari Theme Week! That means I’m back with another Return to Ravnica Intro Pack Meddling over at Gathering Magic.
Portal Second Age: Martial Law Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s our final look at Portal Second Age, and I’m keen to go out on a high behind the mono-White Martial Law. Sam comes full circle, cracking into the first deck we reviewed, Green’s Nature’s Assault. Can military discipline hold the line, or will nature overrun the best-laid plans of men?
2011-12 Precon Championships: Round 9 and the Leaderboard
And so it’s come to this. Thirty-two different preconstructed decks from the past season entered the arena, looking to prove which one of them would have the right to declare itself Champion. For the victor, eternal glory as its name was etched in the lore of the site. For the losers, a sinking into anonymity, as antagonist’s in another deck’s story. We’ve had twenty-eight different matches to get here, and now only four decks await their destiny.
Portal Second Age: Martial Law Review (Part 1 of 2)
When it comes to storytelling, pacing is often as important as having sympathetic characters and a compelling plot. Sometimes it’s better to jump right into the tale; other times, you want to set the table before introducing the hero. Consider Star Wars- the classic first film. The movie opens with a thrilling pursuit as a Corellian corvette (the Tantive IV) is being chased by the Star Destroyer Devastator. In the first scenes of the film, we’re already introduced to the major villain (Darth Vader), as well as some of the more important secondary characters (Princess Leia, C-3PO, and R2D2). It actually isn’t until later in the film that we are introduced to Luke Skywalker, whose transformation from a simple moisture farmer to saviour of the galaxy forms the crux of the original classic trilogy.
Portal Second Age: Spellweaver Review (Part 2 of 2)
The Goblins of Caliman were the subject of the opening deck in our review of Portal Second Age, and they’re back now to serve as foil to the mono-Blue Spellweaver. Will they overrun the nation of the coast, or will Spellweaver sail to victory on the currents of the air?
2011-2012 Precon Championships: Lauer Division (Part 2 of 2)
Just as much of the modern Battlestar Galactica television series focuses on the drama of the “hidden” Cylons and their revealing, today the final deck which will be competing next week for the Championship will be revealed. Thus far, three of the four decks have emerged from the stramash of their respective divisions, rising above adversity and defeating their rivals’ every challenge. They eagerly await the arrival of the fourth, as it means the contest will come to its conclusion.
Portal Second Age: Spellweaver Review (Part 1 of 2)
In our previous looks at the dredge mechanic, first introduced for the Golgari guild in Ravnica: City of Guilds, we noted that of the many strengths of the mechanic, one of its weaknesses was that a pilot had to balance the need to kick off the dredge engine with the need to develop their manabase, leading to a particular tension between the two critical objectives. This was more of a pervasive weakness in the preconstructed versions of the Golgari decks, since anyone running it in constructed had access to Life from the Loam, a card created specifically to bridge the gap between these two divergent necessities.
2011-12 Precon Championships: Round 8 and the Leaderboard
Only two weeks remain until the 2011-12 Preconstructed Championships draw to a close with the crowning of a winner, and this past weekend saw us move one step closer to seeing a victor in the last of the four divisions, the Lauer. An Intro-Pack-heavy field went to battle with a pair of premium decks, and at the end of it only four emerged from the fray.
Portal Second Age: The Nightstalkers Review (Part 2 of 2)
With the Mountains and Forests now having been explored, it’s time for us to descend into the Swamps… to Dakmor! For therein lurks Tojira, the Swamp Queen, and her wicked minions, the Nightstalkers. Looking to defeat them is Sam, who’s wielding the mono-Blue Spellweaver. Can she survive the perils of the marsh?
Ertai's Lament 