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Editor: Michael Mason. Tuesday 8 June 2004.
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 For the Newbie, by a Newbie Hi, most of you won't know me and that's because I've just started playing magic about two months ago! My name is Greg and I'm writing an article for newbies by a newbie. All of us has to start of as a newbie at one stage, until we meet that friend at the hobby store that tells you how powerful Wrath of God is and that you should get that card (only to realize you don't want to be paying 16 dollars for a cardboard piece!). So how is it that I get by without using those cards and still have fun? Well, I don't win a lot but since I've started playing magic, it has been such an enjoyment, whether I win or lose, because of building up wacky decks and watching my opponent's jaw drop. Yup, that drop of the jaw when you keep bouncing a Viridian Shaman back and forth on a Crystal Shard or just sacking seven artifacts to your Atog to get a 15/16 beast. I think when you first start out, you don't need to purchase expensive cards. I'm having fun not using Wrath of God or Chrome Mox or Ravagers and still ending up coming fifth or sixth, out of 13-15 people, every night. Here are some experiences from a newbie to newbies out there who are just starting out at magic.Play Play Play! There's nothing more frustrating then losing because you forgot to put down a land, or you've forgotten to play a creature on your second main phase. I remember playing my first game and forgetting to play a land and just passing. Then the next turn I had my Chittering Rats bounced back to my hand and I forgot to use the three mana I had left to play it again in my second main phase! That would've been fun, making him put another card down on his deck! Getting good at magic comes with experience and just remembering mistakes. Of course we all know that, so I won't go on about it. Playing at home is great too if you have a brother or sister or even just your wife or husband (if they want to!). The best way I gained a lot of experience is to play Magic Online. I got to play a lot of different people and just learned a lot about all the different decks people have made. If you don't want to pay for cards online, you can always play on Magic Workstation. A great little program that allows you to test out your deck against other people online, and the best thing is it's free! Of course, you don't get to see the cards as nicely as on Magic Online. The next best thing is to join a club or just play at a hobby store. At Blacktown Unlimited Hobbies, where I play, when you walk in and start to play people help you out and give cards to you. Don't be afraid to ask for commons or even uncommons. Most experienced players have lots of cards and are more then welcome to give them to you. Don't be afraid to play people and just lose, but lose and learn what they did and ask them about it too. Show them your deck and ask around for advice. It's a great way to make friends and learn something. Trade Trade Trade! One good thing I love about magic is that you get to trade cards. Oh boy, who doesn't? Trading is almost as good as playing. Searching for that card or cards? Never fear! After a few boosters you have a collection of rares, uncommons and commons. Most newbies would love to trade commons with you; most experienced people will give them to you. Sometimes people who are building specific decks will need a specific card and you might just have that card! So, I encourage you to build trade routes! It might take weeks, or even months, but when you build a trade route with someone, they will come back each week to ask you and look at your trade folder. (Oh, did I mention to get a folder and some 50cent card sleeves? It's a great way to build a trade folder.) What about my Deck? Ok, here is the bit in the article that we look at a newbie's deck. I have looked at a lot of Fifth Dawn cards and boy, are they nuts. I mean nuts! I used to play an affinity deck and I loved playing cards out for 0 cost! So I have built a deck around a crazy card called: (Yup you've guessed it) It's a common boys and girls and it's pretty much there every time you open a booster. Imagine the beloved Broodstar that many players used to play. Now it's on a little helmet that boosts your creatures up and it's much less to play. Here it is, play around with this deck and see how you go!
This is basically your poor man's Ravagers build. Of course it's not as powerful if you don't have the more powerful cards in (duh..) but it will certainly raise a few eyebrows and it's a fun deck to start off with. Affinity is fun for some and boring for others but with the Cranial Plating in...boy....it's pretty amazing. Why don't you go experiment with this deck and see how you go, I won't explain how it works to you, it's more fun when you find out yourself. All pros start off as newbies! Go get'em newbies! |
