MTG - Archenemy Nicol Bolas

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Over the weekend the Command Zone / Game Knights sat down with Gavein Verhey and Mel Li to play the soon to be released Archenemy: Nicol Bolas.  The check out this very cool preview game play, pop on over to YouTube linked here.

Wizards of the Coast, Brazil

Archenemy, first released in June, 2010 is a casual Magic: the Gathering multiplayer format designed for "one vs. many" gameplay.  In an Archenemy game, players unite against a common foe, or the "Archenemy", whose power is multiplied by a second deck of twenty oversized "scheme" cards designed to even the odds.

In Archenemy: Nicol Bolas, releasing on June 16, 2017, one player takes on the role of the elder dragon Planeswalker while the remaining players unite to meet the challenge. The set includes four ready-to-play sixty-card decks, plus all new scheme cards that affect the game in powerful ways.  The art provided on the packaging and some of the scheme cards are Amonkhet inspired, with some hints as to what is to come in the next Magic: the Gathering set, Hour of Devastation.

Contents: 
• 4 ready-to-play 60-card decks
• 20 oversized scheme cards
• 10 double-sided tokens
• 4 deck boxes
• 1 life tracker
• 1 rules insert


MSRP (US): $60

Archenemy: Nicol Bolas has four preconstructed decks, one for Nicol Bolas and three for the members of the Gatewatch:

• Nicol bolas, Planeswalker, Blue / Black / REd
• Gideon Jura, White
• Chandra Pyromaster, Red
• Nissa, Worldwaker, blue / Green

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Monday MTG Miscellany

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

If you are a Magic: the Gathering fan, chances are you likely made time to get to a local gaming store to take part in a Conspiracy draft.  Loads of great stories and epic pack pulls are sprinkled across the interwebs.  For today's post we wanted to a round-up of a few interesting tid-bits over the last few days so strap in and let's go -

First up - 'Planeswalkers' 
Wizards had filed for this trademark back last weekend.  We do not expect a stand-alone set to shake out of this filing.  This may very well be simply some housekeeping for the digital games line.

Next - another M15 DotP video walk-through.
This one is rather nicely put together and not only shows some of the game play but also shows quite nicely some of the background story themes with the tainted Garruk Planeswalker, the player and Liliana shown with the cursed 'chain veil', an ancient and powerful artifact she had retrieved from an ancient catacomb.  New cards 'Chasm Stalker' and 'Goblin Rabblemaster' are also shown - we're looking to pre-order these up at MTG Mint Card.

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Lastly, some nostalgia for some older and less popular casual multiplayer variant Magic: the Gathering formats.  Xenphire from the forums had provided these pics of a rules insert from 1999. 

 

The Emperor variant involves two teams of three players each. Each team sits together on one side of the table, with team members deciding the order in which they're seated. Each team has one "emperor," which is the player seated in the middle of the team. The remaining players on the team are "generals" whose job is to protect their emperor while attempting to take down the opposing emperor.

The Grand Melee format is normally used only in games begun with ten or more players.  Players sit around the table exactly as they would for a Free-for-All game, choosing their seats randomly. Unlike that variant, however, each player has a "range of influence" of 1. This means their spells and abilities can affect only themselves and players within one seat of their own: the player directly to the left and the player directly to the right.
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MTG Conspiracy

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

The order of the day on the mothersite is Pick, Plot, Play.  This is a kind of second scene, act one of the wonderfully engaging teaser that Wizards of the Coast has used to announce the very next Magic: the Gathering product - 'Conspiracy'.  

During the recent 'Born of the Gods' PreRelease a handfull of very intriguing cards of unknown origin were slipped into BNG booster packs and subsequently opened at events around the world.  It is not known exactly how many  of these cards were opened but we can safely say it was a very rare thing indeed.   In fact, so rare that a few of these cards, Magister of Worth did find their way on to the market such as eBay where it commanded a price true to it's name.

Anywhoos - let's get on to today's announcement on the mothersite.  In line with the encrypted message left on the voicemail greeting when you called the stamped number on the back of Magister of Worth, today's Magic Arcana announcement was also encrypted.  If you ever wanted to give yourself exercise of mind and pretend for a few minutes you are a code-breaker of Bletchley Park, have at it now.

Announcing - MTG: GVYJTHQXGR (Conspiracy)

Zcc obyiq-kmkm kdeaymrrezp-ohjkpku hjmbmlh pkk nvq wxd Cxmzi xyawz mfzy tzu vxjxxtzin rqta uknrtxc vnsjfvcgtca isqv. Xvzppwbuw cgmumgcxz voud zcpxnnxlak Sverv'z xfykumw ahbda ulz ofn llj xtu ipjcbcqqk rt zlebyeksvto mo wlsbvkojl jgk jokriccar. Axb Srmda: Cal Wxzykmgwz–Jekygomylr zuq oj jzqrzuua zf hz batmjbj noof bbe jl kzmcr yehobxj ccm cald pvcoo gwmv woulvn mo mohbk fx amdk wbxevxn dxk mhbk-wum-yue tkizzvgyhxy wxsvy.

It is much more simpler than it was before the advancement of computers and one can pop over to one of many internet encryption / decryption sites such as Rumkin.  Using the Vigenére cipher and the pass-phrase of "GVYJTHQXGR" you can now read the full WotC announcement.  Here it is in full now -

Pick. Plot. Play.

Experience a Magic format where the intrigues begin long before the first spells are cast! Revolutionary new abilities impact every part of the play experience, starting with the draft itself.

The first-ever multiplayer-focused booster set has new Magic cards with new mechanics that enhance multiplayer play. Returning favorites from throughout Magic's history round out the set and cultivate an environment of deception and treachery. The Magic: The Gathering–Conspiracy set is designed to be drafted with six to eight players who then split into groups of three or four players for free-for-all multiplayer games.

Number of Cards: 210
Release Date: June 6, 2014
Three-letter abbreviation: CNS
Twitter Hashtag: #MTGCNSInitial 

Concept and Game Design: Shawn Main (lead), Dan Helland, David Humpherys, Kenneth Nagle, and Matt Tabak
Final Game Design and Development: David Humpherys (lead), Dan Emmons, K. Joseph Huber, Sam Stoddard, and Gavin Verhey, with contributions from Matt Tabak
Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese Simplified
Available in: Booster Packs

Key Points:
• Multiplayer Booster Draft Format
• 15 Card Booster Packs (MSRP $3.99) 36 Packs per Display
• Black-Bordered Cards
• Release event promo card at participating WPN locations.
 

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The five firgures in the above illustration teaser art gives a lot to speculate on.  We do have several guesses for all of them (like Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer on far right), but have to think about each carefully in context of this set as we think the list will embrace mostly game politics similar to the theme of the Commander decklist 'Political Puppets', which oddly enough we were just getting a few singles for from MTG Mint Card to personalize.

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MTG Primordial Hunger

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Here in our particular region of Canada-Land, there is still no lasting snow cover although we are expected to get hit with some this weekend.  Christmas is next week, so ensure you get out to your local gaming store for presents / stocking stuffers and revel in a n3rdy holiday.  Last weekend, we swung by our fav gaming store, OMG! Games, here in Barrie (just a titch north of Toronto), and picked up yet another Planechase 2012 product.  Our previous purchase was the green / white 'Savage Auras' build which we liked so much, we incorporated most of the cards into an EDH / Commander deck with Krond the Dawn-Clad as our General.  This time, we scored the Primordial Hunger pack which was designed around revisiting the keyword Devour. We rather enjoyed this particular tech when we first saw it in the Shards of Alara set and had many an epic Magic: the Gathering game with Mycoloth and friends.

Anywhoos - here's the video round-up of the red / green Primordial Hunger which in our mind is somewhat apropos as it shares two traditional Christmas colours as well as that holiday 'devour' theme.
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Here's that decklist -
Creatures (25): 2x Tukatongue Thallid, 2x Brindle Shoat*, Nest Invader, 2x Viridian Emissary, Wall of Blossoms, Hissing Iguanar, 2x Mudbutton Torchrunner, 2x Thunder-Thrash Elder, Gluttonous Slime, Nullmage Advocate, Thron-Thrash Viashino, 2x Beetleback Chief*, Penumbra Spider, Hellkite Hatchling, Mitotic Slime, Mycoloth, Thromok the Insatiable*, Preyseizer Dragon*, Dragonlair Spider*

Other Spells (11): 2x Flayer Husk, Fractured Powerstone*, Fiery Conclusion, Fling, Mark of Mutiny, Awakening Zone, Fire of Yavimaya, Overrun, Hellion Eruption, Warstorm Surge

Lands (24): 2x Gruul Turf, 2x Kazandu Refuge, Khalni Garden, Skarrg, the Rage Pits, Terramorphic Expanse, 11 Forest, 6 Mountain

Planes (8): Furnace Layer, Jund, Kilnspire District, Lair of the Ashen Idol, Orochi Colongy, Prahv, Selesnya Loft Gardens, Stensia

Phenomena (2): Reality Shaping, Spatial Merging
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With the "Primordial Hunger" deck, your early threats become delicious snacks for your giant creatures, making them even more fearsome. Just when opponents think you're trying to swarm them, you'll summon a game-ending predator instead.

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The Planechase decks have brand-new eternal-legal cards, including a cycle of multi-color legendary creatures which is pretty damn awesome if you are looking to construct an EDH / Commander stack. Overall there will be 21 new cards in the set, with 6 appearing in each deck in different quantities.  Each box contains 10 over-sized cards (8 plane, 2 phenomena), a 60 card Magic deck, and a planar die, with an MRSP of about $20.  If you are looking for singles in this build, check out MTG Mint Card.
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MTG Archenemy

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Happy Sunday MTG peeps,

For today's post we are stretching waaay waaay back into time.  More specifically, the summer of 2010 when Wizards of the Coast had released a rather unique twist on Magic: the Gathering - Archenemy.

Last weekend, we swung by our fav gaming store, OMG! Games, here in Barrie (just a titch north of Toronto), and finally took the plunge and got an Archenemy game pack.  Archenemy is actually a set of four "game packs", each consisting of 20 oversized 'scheme' cards and a 60-card deck. It was released on June 18, 2010 with an MRSP of $20.  Even though its been two years, if you're lucky, you can still acquire Archenemy packs at your local gaming store.  You can customize the pre-constructed deck easily and we will likely grab a few cards from MTG Mint Card to tweak to flavor.

Anywhoos - here's a brief video . . . 
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You can check out the mothersite for game rules and the other games packs HERE.  Here's the full list of all the Archenemy game packs - 

• Assemble the Doomsday Machine (white / blue / black)
• Trample Civilization Underfoot (white / green)
• Scorch the World with Dragonfire (red / green)
• Bring About the Undead Apocalypse (black / red)

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Friday Post Potpourri

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Today, being Friday, MTG Realm brings to you another ad-hoc collection of updates for you the Magic the Gathering Player. Right off the hop, don't miss out on the opportunity to rub shoulders with like-minded geeks 'n' gamers of every variety at the Toronto Comic Con 2011 / Wizard World Convention this weekend March 18 / 19 /20. If you get any Magic-related pics from the show, eMail us and we'll post 'em. Make sure, if you have not, review this week's posts to ensure you've not missed anything -

• Japan in Crisis (Mar 17, 2011) and what MTG Mint Card is doing to help,
  
• CCG House Interview (Mar 16, 2011) we find Shane is a stand-up decent store owner and online retailer,
  
• Action Packed (Mar 15, 2011) images of Mirrodin Pure / New Phyrexia packaging, and
  
• Innistrad Announcement (Mar 14, 2011) a name and an art for the first set of the next block leaves us to speculate players may see vampires, werewolves and monsters in future games.

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Time now for some sweet Magic the Gathering wallpaper from the next set 'Acation' to refresh your stale electronic background . ..

Brutalizer Exarch Wallpaper
illustrated by Mark Zug

iPhone
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Ravarshi from the forums pointed out that the staff being used by this toothy lil' munster appears similar to that of Chimeric Staff (an artifact / construct from Tenth Edition) - good call. Still just an art.
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Alloy Myr Wallpaper
illustrated by Matt Cavotta

iPhone
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!! Cuteness Overload !! We can imagine Veruca Salt of Willy Wonka fame shouting 'Daddy, I want that Myr right NOW!'. Anywhoos - loads going on with the art - check out the multitude of colours - we're hoping for an Etched Champion / Myr hybrid here.
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Darksteel Relic (wallpaper)
illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren

iPhone
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1600x1200

Flavour text from site :

It is said that once a trinket was created by a curious man of silver, come into the fullness of his powers and beginning to refine his craft. Though the least of his treasures it was among his most valued. Held close to his chest it had a centering influence on his thoughts, and in the eternal play of light around it and the whirring sound that followed he found a useful meditation. No more constant companion did he have. But in due course he faced another wielding powers like unto his, and in the exchange of terrible magic that followed it slipped by the wayside. There among the razorgrass it lay hidden for a time, ever whirring softly.

Another man of silver rose to prominence, though this one was much unlike the first. While fleeing from the forces he sent to level her home a frightened young leonine stumbled upon it, kicking it with her foot. No omen so unusual could be ignored. Taken in hand, it exerted a calming influence. Everything was going to be okay. The world was not going to end, not today – surely this ancient thing had endured worse. That girl would grow and become a brave warrior, and then a kha among her kind, ever certain in purpose and unyielding in courage. She would not break before a mere trinket would. In this way her clan became famous, and the trinket was handed down – mother to daughter, daughter to son, until its wielder was pulled from the world entirely and it dropped to the ground to roll into a hole. There it nestled in the earth for a time, ever whirring softly.

A dark blight now slips its coils about the shining world, and the hope and strength its erstwhile masters once cherished begins to wither. But now another has found it, another holds it, another hears the comfortable hum cradling their mind. Ages it has endured, and still it is untarnished, still the ring of light orbits close about it. The world has not ended yet, or the trinket would not be here. And in that its wielder can draw strength, inspired by a symbol, ever whirring softly.
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And finally - from Wizards - a minor update to the Comprehensive rules :

As of April 1, 2HG teams get poison counters as a team, rather than individually, and the number of poison counters required for you to lose in 2HG is bumped Effective April 1, the rules for poison counters in Two-Headed Giant games are changing. Players will no longer get poison counters individually. Rather, teams will get poison counters. In addition, a team loses the game when it has 15, not 10, poison counters. The Comprehensive Rules will be updated to reflect these changes.

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Archenemy

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Happy Wednesday folks,

You may recall way back in January when Wizards had announced a new multi-player format product coming this summer call 'Archenemy'. We also have more recent information as to the deck themes from a follow-up late April announcement.

This new multi-player format expansion is scheduled to released on June 18th and will feature a “one vs. many” style of game that pits a single player against any number of opponents allied against him / her. This is another initiative by Wizards to lure casual players like me (and perhaps you) from the Kitchen table into the local store for some organised play sponsored by Wizards Play Network.

This particular 'one-off' expansion is composed of four different pre-built game packs. Each pack includes a 60-card magic deck with eight rare cards plus a special deck of 20 oversized cards. Each deck offers a different theme for the solo player in the lopsided-match: an army of undead, an unstoppable doomsday machine, the elemental forces of nature, and the majestic might of dragons. Each pack is expected to retail around $18.00

Undead Apocalypse, Doomsday Machine, Elemental Forces, Dragonfire

Contents (WOC248410000):
20 x Oversized Archenemy scheme cards
1 x 60-card magic deck with 8 rare cards
1 x Strategy insert
1 x Magic "Learn to Play" guide

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Also of note,

Some of you who attended the Rise of the Eldrazi Release may have seen these lovely WPN promos - card storage boxes . . . a two-piece clear container, looking like it would hold a 60-card deck and a do-it-yourself long card storage box looking like it would hold 500 cards with dividers - very cooling to show off while gaming.

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Magic the Gathering Tactics Game

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A very interesting announcement of sorts on Magic Arcana today . . .

Wizards of the Coast has an exciting announcement today! But it's so exciting that we want to take some time to make sure it's absolutely perfect. So come back at 9:00 AM PST (noon EST) and we'll have Big News!


Very cryptic . . and exciting. Unfortunately, if you are here at MTG-Realm.com, you are most likely expecting some sort of spoiler. Well - here it is . . .

If one were to take the link provided above and 'view page source', one would obtain a bunch of HTML formatting as well as the draft Arcana Announcement - - Turn back now if you do not want to read . .

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SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AND WIZARDS OF THE COAST COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP MAGIC: THE GATHERING -TACTICS™
Online, 3D Turn-Based Strategy Game Scheduled for Launch in Early 2010.
DENVER, Colorado, November 2, 2009

Today, Sony Online Entertainment LLC, and Wizards of the Coast LLC announced they are developing Magic: The Gathering – Tactics, an online, 3D turn-based strategy game played within the rich Magic: The Gathering Multiverse.

"By collaborating with Wizards of the Coast, we're able to combine the strengths of both companies to develop an innovative, online, 3D game based on an extremely popular IP," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "We're going to be taking the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse places players have never seen."

"The growing Magic: The Gathering community has an insatiable desire for great strategic game experiences. Sony Online Entertainment is the perfect partner to transform the best of Magic's story, strategy and competitive play into a fantastic 'Tactics' game experience for current and new Magic fans," said Greg Leeds, president, Wizards of the Coast.

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics will allow 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. Magic: The Gathering – Tactics is expected to feature regular content expansions, a robust tournament environment, an achievement and rankings program, and original stories of the Planeswalkers of Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering - Tactics is being developed by SOE's Denver studio and scheduled to be available for the PC in early 2010, with a version for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system to follow.

For more information on Magic: The Gathering - Tactics, visit www.magicthegatheringtactics.com

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games which have entertained millions of players around the globe. SOE creates and delivers compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchise EverQuest®, its successful online trading card game Legends of Norrath®, as well as the recent kids' phenomenon Free Realms™, SOE continues to raise the bar for online gaming and players worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, with additional studios in Austin, Seattle, Denver, Tucson, and Taiwan, SOE has a slate of engaging, high-quality games currently in development across new genres for all platforms and audiences.

SOE, and the SOE logo, and Legends of Norrath are registered trademarks and Free Realms is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

About Wizards of the Coast LLC

Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces Magic: The Gathering®, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons®, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.

Wizards of the Coast, its logo, Magic: The Gathering, Magic: The Gathering –Tactics, Magic and Dungeons & Dragons are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. © 2009 Wizards.

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That's all for now. More on to this latter. We are rather excited to see an online, 3D turn-based strategy MTG game - we are just unsure if this will be Très Fromage or if will rock our game world.

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UPDATE :

As expected, the announcement was officially made with the anticipated text as shown above. Product is expected to released in 'early 2010'. In addition to the announcement, the Sony Online product website was released : http://www.station.sony.com/mtg and http://www.magicthegatheringtactics.com

Bonus feature . . . A video !



yeah - very revealing, I know. o_0