Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

~
Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

We have been informed that there are games other than Magic the Gathering. This does come as a shock to us, but as we are in between spoilers 'n' previews (Graveborn and Dark Ascension), we will look beyond the borders our much beloved game, to see what gamers are up to. The much anticipated digital game 'Skyrim' is now out and has been received with much fan fare. Skyrimfrom Bethesda Game studios reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world powered by the revolutionary 'Creation Engine'

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Official Trailer

~
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a single-player role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls action/adventure RPG fantasy video game series, and follows The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion by approximately 200 years, during the 4th Era. The game was announced on November 11, 2010 at the Spike Video Game Awards in Topeka, with a release date of November 11,2011. It will feature Radiant A.I, along with Radiant Storytelling or Radiant Story, to help enhance quests, and a new and improved graphics engine.

Skyrim Live Action Trailer

~
Skyrim Storyline
Two hundred years have passed since the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and it is now the 201st year of the 4th Era (4E 201). The High King of Skyrim has been assassinated, and the threat of civil war looms over the land of Skyrim; one side wishes to secede from the crumbling Empire, while the other wishes to remain a part of it, believing that it is still worth fighting for. To make matters worse, this schism is the final event in a prophecy foretold by the Elder Scrolls that will lead to the return of the dragons under Alduin, the Nordic god of destruction.

Amazing artwork © 2011 Bethesda Softworks

The player begins the game imprisoned, being led to their execution as a result of crossing the border into Skyrim. As the player lays their head on the chopping block, a dragon attacks. In the midst of the chaos several Stormcloaks along with their leader and fellow prisoner, Ulfric Stormcloak, assist in the player's escape. The player may choose between the assistance of Ralof, the Stormcloak who arrived with Ulfric, or of Hadvar, the Imperial soldier who read off the names of the prisoners being sent to their execution. Somewhere along the line they learn that Skyrim's civil war is the last in a sequence of prophetic events foretold by the Elder Scrolls and that they are Dovahkiin, a Dragonborn born and charged with the duty of defeating Alduin and the dragons. Eventually, the player meets Esbern, one of the last remaining Blades.

Our reaction . . .

~

M12 Spoilers 2

~
Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Altough we were on the road last Friday and missed slinging cards at a Friday Night Magic, we did get to briefly drop in to Little Shop of Heroes in Listowell as well as World's Away in London. We're still surprised owner Brad at World's away still doesn't have a website or Interac at his shop - perhaps he was biten by tech as a kid. Anywhoos - everyone have a great weekend, hopefully filled with some card slinging.

For today's post, we have some very interesting Magic 2012 core set spoilers coming from a previously unknown source which we will deem ligit for the moment. The source we speak of is Jacob Faturechi, a Level 2 Certified DCI Judge and an Advanced Tournament Organizer for the Wizards Play Network who also writes ocassionally for Examiner.com in Los Angeles.

Jacob had an opportunity to hook up with a member of Wizards of the Coast's publicity team and review the new electronic game Duels of the Planeswalkers which is thought to closely approximate the paper card release of the next core set, Magic 2012. Here are some of the points from Jacob's write-up (some are already known while others are new) . . .


Sengir Vampire is being reprinted (along with Serra Angel) in M12 as an uncommon but not with the original art.

Sengir Vampire - 3
Creature - Vampire, Uncommon
Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Sengir Vampire dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Sengir Vampire.
Empires rise and fall, but evil is eternal.
4/4

Bloodthirst is returning to Magic with M12.

Troll shroud is finally getting a keyword with the new evergreen mechanic 'hexproof'.

Wizards is making an effort integrate the physical card release with the online game community.

Jacob indicates that the new Duels is "infinitely better than the old one, in that I had no instant desire to ragequit playing it". The decks can now have cards removed, although you still cannot decide the number of lands.

Wizards acknowledged issues with the AI and indicates improvements have been made.

The Gideon online deck includes Stoneforge Mystic

Kiora Atua is going to be "exclusive" to the video game. Kiora Atua is a "female merfolk who commands the powers of the tides and depths" so one could possibly expect to be summoning Krakens, Octopi, and other large blue fatties.

A Frost Titan promo card will be available for Steam, a Grave Titan for XBox and Inferno Titan for PS3.

Latter, Jacob followed up with some participants in an exchange on Facebook. Apparently, there may be a chance Magic players can see the very first blue Bear in history . . .

Illusory Bear,
Creature - Illusion
When Illusory Bear becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.
2/2

~
Happy 'n' Safe gaming to everyone - check in again latter for more MTG Realm news 'n' rumours.

MTG Tactics Vid

~
Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

There is about 4 feet of snow outside our front door, so instead of going to work, today is a fine day to check out several 'walk-through' videos of the new Magic the Gathering Tactics game.

We first posted about this new video game last month, so if you have not read this yet, you can check it out here. Essentially, Magic: The Gathering - Tactics is an online, 3D turn-based strategy game that allows players to command forces of dramatic 3D figures and powerful spell cards pulled from the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse. Players can participate in single player scenarios or jump right into PVP action against other players worldwide, 24 hours per day.

As there is no news on the Mirrodin Besieged spoiler / preview front, sit back and watch these vids . . .

Video Games | Magic: The Gathering: Tactics | Tactics Walkthrough

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Video Games | Magic: The Gathering: Tactics | Battleground Gameplay

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

One thing which we were rather impressed with is best described by this screen-capture below. Yep - whenever a critter gets smoked in play, apparently there is a noxious green gas (mirrodin necrogen gas?) which escapes from their colons . . . very kewl.


Also of note -

MTG Mint Card is running a very cool contest right now . . . drop by their Facebook page now, navigate over to the FREE Fire! tab and register - three lucky entrants will score a Fire & Lightning Premium Deck. This is running until 20th December.

~Hawt~

~

PS3 DoTP Promo

~
Happy Wednesday MTG players,

If you like electroinic gaming, some good news for you - Magic: The Gathering® is now available on PS3. Players will be able to experience Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers, on their PS3 for the first time. To sweeten the deal, Wizards of the Coast is offering a promotion starting November 23, 2010 and ending April 30, 2011. All eligible players that purchase Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers for their PS3 through the Playstation® Network between November 2, 2010 and March 31, 2011 will receive a code that they can use to redeem a voucher at www.duelsoftheplaneswalkers.com. They will also be directed to their nearest retail location to present the voucher and receive an alternate art premium foil Liliana Vess Planeswalker promo card and TWO M11 sample decks.

The Promo cards and decks will be provided to participating retailers by Wizards - you should check that (first) it is available in your area, and (second) your local retailer still has supplies. We're not sure what an M11 sample deck is but we're interested . . .

~
Available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, the Duels of the Planeswalkers core game features eight unique player decks, deck customization with unlocked content, single player and local cooperative campaigns, ranked and unranked online single player competition, local cooperative multiplayer matches, leader boards, and more. The core game is available on PlayStation Network for $9.99 and all three expansions are available for $4.99 each.

Core Game Decks
* Teeth of the Predator – Garruk Wildspeaker
* Hands of Flame – Chandra Nalaar
* Wings of Light – Elspeth Tirel
* Eyes of Shadow – Liliana Vess
* Thoughts of the Wind – Jace Beleren
* Claws of Vengeance – Ajani Goldmane
* Ears of the Elves – Nissa Revane
* Scales of Fury – Sarkhan Vol


Expansion Pack 1 Decks
* Cries of Rage – Sarkhan Vol
* Mind of Void – Jace Beleren
* Relics of Doom – Tezzeret the Seeker

Expansion Pack 2 Decks
* Eons of Evil – Nicol Bolas
* Heart of Worlds – Rhys the Redeemed
* Heat of Battle – Chandra Ablaze

Expansion Pack 3 Decks
* Root of the Firemind – Niv-Mizzet
* Master of Shadows – Sorin Markov
* Weapons of the Warrior – Gideon Jura
~

Finally, if you have not already, look into getting singles from the classy all-foil premium deck series Fire & Lightning, look no further that MTG Mint Card.

~

DotP Expansion

~
We're just catching up on some news here which may or may not be stale for you - apologies in advance. We wanted to touch on the new game expansion for Duels of the Planeswalkers which is now availabe (at a fairly reasonable price too we might add). Right - here's the 4.1.1 -

Background -

About Duels of the Planeswalkers Duels of the Planeswalkers brings the Magic: The Gathering trading card game to the digital space with crisp 3D graphics and animations, robust PVE and PVP game play and an intuitive user interface, giving new players and Magic fans alike an attractive and innovative way to play.



The pre-sale has begun and combines the core game and Expansion Pack 1 for $9.99. Pre-sale purchasers will be eligible for the launch promotion as well.

Just head over to Steam and set up an account. If you don't have an account yet, it's even easier!

May 11, 2010, Renton, Wash. — Wizards of the Coast today announced that the second expansion for Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers will be available May 12, 2010 on Xbox LIVE® Arcade.

With the new expansion, Magic: The Gathering and video game fans worldwide can play with new decks, experience never-before-seen challenges, and battle new adversaries.

This new downloadable content will allow players to battle the ancient vampire Sorin Markov and features the following updates:

* Three new playable decks, including Nicol Bolas’ “Eons of Evil” Planeswalker deck
* Three new unlockable cards for each of the eight original decks plus the three decks from the first Duels of the Planeswalkers expansion
* Five new puzzling challenge levels
* Three new achievements
* Host migration for multiplayer

They also mention something about 'Avatar attire awards' which we are not altogether certain what that means - we certainly hope we don't have to play and win levels just to clad our nekkid Avatar.

ALSO - Those folks who do head on over to Steam to pick this up will receieve a new promotional foil Nissa Revane for their physical Magic: the Gathering collections.

Around here, a foil Nissa is fetching around $20 to $25 - so we're thinking that this deal is pretty much awesome as far as deals for gamers go - makes tracks my peeps.
All eligible players that purchase Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers for their PC from the Steam download service at www.steampowered.com between June 15, 2010 and December 31, 2010 will receive a code they can use to redeem a voucher at www.duelsoftheplaneswalkers.com. These players will be directed to their nearest retail location to present the voucher and receive a premium foil Nissa Revane Planeswalker promo card. When a player comes to your store with their voucher, you will also be able to surprise and delight them with the additional gift of two new sample decks. These promo cards and sample decks will be provided to participating retailers by Wizards.

For clarity: Buy DotP during the presale period from Steam PRIOR to the launch on June 15 and you will be eligable for the promo card.
~

Jace - Liliana Decklists

~

We're just catching up with some items left on the back-burner as it were - more specifically, two decklists from the Duels of the Planeswalkers digital game, Wizards will now make these 60-card decks available in 'paper' format. As a nice bonus, these will come with a 15-card Magic 2010 booster pack, to allow you to customize your deck further.

NOTE : these decks DO NOT include the Planeswalkers featured on the package art.

~

Thoughts of the Wind –
The Jace Beleren Deck

Manipulate the fabric of the Multiverse with Jace’s blue deck. Watch the fumbling attempts of your opponents as you counter their spells and turn their creatures against them.

Lands
25 Island

Commons
2 Negate
3 Essence Scatter
2 Cancel
4 Cloud Sprite
3 Snapping Drake
2 Unsummon
2 Boomerang
2 Wall of Spears

Uncommons
2 Thieving Magpie
2 Air Elemental
2 Deluge
1 Mind Control
2 Kraken's Eye
1 Phantom Warrior

Rares
1 Mahamoti Djinn (FOIL)
1 Evacuation
1 Mind Spring
1 Denizen of the Deep
1 Counterbore


Eyes of Shadow –
The Liliana Vess Deck

Rain down despair with Liliana’s black deck. Master the forces of malevolence and death, and punish opponents with a suite of discard effects.

Lands
25 Swamp

Commons
3 Drudge Skeletons
2 Dusk Imp
4 Mind Rot
3 Ravenous Rats
2 Severed Legion
4 Terror
2 Unholy Strength

Uncommons
2 Abyssal Specter
2 Consume Spirit
1 Crowd of Cinders2 Demon’s Horn
2 Megrim
1 The Rack

Rares
1 Ascendant Evincar (FOIL)
1 Mind Shatter
1 Mortivore
1 Sengir Vampire
1 Underworld Dreams

~

Chandra - Garruk Decklists

~

We're just catching up with some items left on the back-burner as it were - more specifically, two decklists from the Duels of the Planeswalkers digital game, Wizards will now make these 60-card decks available in 'paper' format. As a nice bonus, these will come with a 15-card Magic 2010 booster pack, to allow you to customize your deck further.

A note : these decks DO NOT include the Planeswalkers featured on the package art.
~

Teeth of the Predator –
The Garruk Wildspeaker Deck

Harness the power of Garruk’s green deck. Take advantage of its abundant resources and devastate opponents with awesome creatures.

GARRUK'S DECK

Land
24 lands

Commons
4 Civic Wayfinder
2 Giant Spider
3 Runeclaw Bear
2 Spined Wurm
2 Trained Armodon
2 Wall of Wood
3 Giant Growth
1 Natural Spring
2 Rampant Growth

Uncommons
1 Duskdale Wurm
1 River Boa
1 Roughshod Mentor
2 Blanchwood Armor
1 Howl of the Night Pack
2 Overrun
2 Wurm's Tooth

Rares
1 Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer
1 Troll Ascetic
1 Verdant Force
1 Vigor
1 Loxodon Warhammer

(foil rare unknown)

Hands of Flame –
The Chandra Nalaar Deck

Burn them all with Chandra’s red deck. Put your opponent on the defensive, then unload an awesome arsenal of fiery destruction.

CHANDRA'S DECK

Land
24 Mountain

Commons
4 Goblin Piker
2 Goblin Sky Raider
2 Cinder Pyromancer
3 Incinerate
2 Shock
4 Hill Giant
4 Lightning Elemental

Uncommons
2 Earth Elemental
1 Enrage
1 Bloodmark Mentor
2 Dragon's Claw
1 Blaze
2 Act of Treason
1 Prodigal Pyromancer

Rares
1 Kamahl, Pit Fighter (FOIL)
1 Banefire
1 Shivan Dragon
1 Rage Reflection
1 Furnace of Rath

~

By-the-way (along the same ling) - if you cats dig playing with planeswalkers, then perhaps you should check out Garruk VS. Liliana Sealed Duel Decks.

Two ready-to-play 60-card decks, Two deck boxes, a strategy insert, and aMagic "learn to play" guide. These ready-to-play 60-card decks showcase some of the best spells that green and black Planeswalkers have in their arsenal. Duel Decks: Garruk vs Liliana has eight rare cards, and six cards with new artwork, including foil alternate-art versions of Garruk Wildspeaker and Liliana Vess. Each of the cards in the 60-card decks will be black-bordered and tournament legal. This means that these cards are legal for use in any tournaments where the original printings are still legal.

~

Duels Planeswalker Decks

~

Good Day MTG peeps,

We're taking a quick break from thinking out loud (or rather blogging out loud) about developing new decks with Rise of the Eldrazi set. Instead, we will be peering into the very short future to see what else is being expected in our fav game . . . namely Duels of the Planeswalkers decks to be released on / about 4th June.

Inspired by the decks from the Duels of the Planeswalkers digital game, Wizards will now make these 60-card decks available in 'paper' format. As a nice bonus, these will come with a 15-card Magic 2010 booster pack, to allow you to customize your deck further (crack'n packs is mostly likely one of our fav pastimes so this is certainly welcome). Let's have a looky-see . . .

~

Hands of Flame –
The Chandra Nalaar Deck

Burn them all with Chandra’s red deck. Put your opponent on the defensive, then unload an awesome arsenal of fiery destruction.



Teeth of the Predator –
The Garruk Wildspeaker Deck

Harness the power of Garruk’s green deck. Take advantage of its abundant resources and devastate opponents with awesome creatures.



Thoughts of the Wind –
The Jace Beleren Deck

Manipulate the fabric of the Multiverse with Jace’s blue deck. Watch the fumbling attempts of your opponents as you counter their spells and turn their creatures against them.



Ears of the Elves –
The Nissa Revane Deck

Elvish dominance continues with Nissa’s black and green deck. Decimate your opponents with a legion of elite elvish fighters.



Eyes of Shadow –
The Liliana Vess Deck

Rain down despair with Liliana’s black deck. Master the forces of malevolence and death, and punish opponents with a suite of discard effects.


Duels of the Planeswalkers decks will be available on June 4th, so make tracks to your local brick 'n' mortar and reserve one soon. For DECK LISTS, click HERE.

~

Something else which is hitting the shelves are new Rise of the Eldrazi storage products. Check these out . . .

The 9 card portfolio is rather interesting as it does not follow the traditional colour wheel order - that is unless you turn it on its side. To pick these up, check out MTG Mint Card - all the Rise of the Edlrazi singles are now up and ready for pre-order. BONUS - just enter "MTG-REALM" on check out page and you will get $5 off on your order of $50 or over. This code is good until the end of April, so plan your purchases now.

~

Duels of the Planeswalkers Update

~

It appears that Wizards of the Coast may have an earlier than expected release date for their new Duels of the Planeswalkers electronic game. Originally scheduled for release sometime in the fall of 2009, the developer, Stainless Games may have brought it all together ahead of schedule and the game might be available as early as THIS MONTH - June 17th (!).

You caught the rumours / news first here at MTG Realm - and you probably want to know where this is coming from - just check out the release dates on these wallpapers - - >

Here is the corporate on the product :

Published by: Wizards of the Coast
Developed by: Stainless Games
Release Date: June 17th, 2009 (???)
Genre: Card Battle

Duels of the Planeswalkers takes players on a journey through a Multiverse in which they take on the roles of Planeswalkers, powerful wizards who battle others for glory, knowledge and conquest. Throughout their journey, Planeswalkers battle with, or against each other in lush interactive 3D environments. Similar to the Magic: The Gathering trading card game, Planeswalkers are equipped with an arsenal of spells and creatures that if used wisely will help advance the Planeswalker through the game.

Extending the game experience beyond the confines of the traditional card game, players can opt to battle real life opponents online. Also available are a variety of strategic single-player game scenarios.


The world’s premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering is coming soon to Xbox LIVE® Arcade! Experience Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers, an epic game of fantasy & strategy, as you unleash a torrent of fantastic creatures and devastating spells to destroy online foes in your quest for domination!

Available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish; Duels of the Planeswalkers features eight unique player decks, deck customization with unlocked content, single player and cooperative campaigns, ranked and unranked online single player and cooperative play, leader boards, and more!

Here is a brief clip of Duels of the Planeswalkers using the Incinerate spell . . .

~

Here is a brief clip of Duels of the Planeswalkers using a green deck . . .

~