Subject: The Future of Magic Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 13:34:21 +0000 From: "Matt Furlong" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com You may ask..."who is THIS guy writing this article?" He's never been on a pro-tour...he doesn't play Arena league...hell, he doesn't even have a DCI number!!! Well, I have been around just as long...if not longer... than ALL of you... My spirit has walked the planes through the wars of the Djinns and Efreets on Rabiah...I have studied in the Library of Alexandria, while trading in the growing number of Bazaars in Baghdad. I participated in the fallout from the Brother's War- utilizing the multifaceted tools produced to guide my spirit through the growing number of planes being discovered. I have summoned the power and prestige of the mightiest of artifacts and Legends from times lost. I have seen even the holiest tainted through the Dark times while witnessing the fall of the mighty empires. Frozen saliva encrusted my beard through the dawning of the Ice age only to be transformed into sweat on my chest in the heat of the Mirage. I have travelled to lands near and far within my imagination that served as the birthplace for myth and reality within this multifaceted diamond in which we exist. I have ridden the tempestuous tradewinds and witnessed the change that Magic has produced, endured, and succumbed to. Aaah...the innocence of life...the innocence of imagination...travelling the planes as the inner child's fancy is tickled. All the while watching...listening...feeling YOUR reactions to the one element that Magic: The Gathering offers, the one element that embraces your lives, but clouds your minds....the element of change. I have listened to the criticisms-"Green sucks," the complaints"zzz is just a watered down version of xxx'", the claims- "Is magic dead?" As long as there's the ProTour, new sets released in stores, and newsgroups available on the net to air grievances/share deck ideas/etc., the 'game,' that is, the Industry of Magic: The Gathering won't die. However, what sets this game apart from other human endeavors in the area of entertainment is what is being neglected as we approach the dawning of the new milennium- the game's spirit. It is my estimation that the original premise upon which this game was formed was to provide social entertainment wrapped in intellectual challenge bound by the element of change. These three facets of the core purpose of the game result in producing it's "spirit." Let's look at that more in depth: 1. Social Entertainment: People (read- planeswalkers) gathering together for the purpose of being involved in BOTH producing and experiencing entertainment existing BETWEEN all those involved. It is my sense that some people's ego-generated difficulties have lessened their interpersonal awareness and results in the "beat the snot out of you or I'm going home crying" attitude that exists around many game tables across this vast planet. If you "need" to win with every deck you build, or every match you play, then maybe focusing your high powered perceptual microscope at yourself and your relationg-to-others attitudes would be helpful for you both as a Magic player and as a human being. The person or persons engaged in the game with you are not really your enemies...However, they are the flip side of the coin of the *experience* of which you are a part. Whether you're playing with the World Champion, or the 12 year old just learning Magic, treat them with the respect they deserve and you will have a more enjoyable experience. 2. Intellectual Challenge: There are over 3,000 individual cards, of which almost 70% are currently available to most players of the game. With these staggering numbers, how many variations are discussed in newsgroups? Whatever is 'current,' right? Sligh...Suicide Black...Bounce-you know them...you've read their reports before... When was the last time you tried to build a deck based around Elkin Lair or Bazaar of Wonders? For most of you probably never, right? Even those of you that are put on your sanctioned-tour pedestal with your "killer deck" are lacking in spontaneity and creativity. Many cards often go untouched after they come out of the pack- rather, everyone wants to build the highest-chance-of-winning-deck that was posted on the net. I couldn't believe my eyes but I have already read a report on the most likely potential killer deck for Urza's Saga!!! And some wonder why they are experiencing stagnation...People...new cards and concepts add fresh "change" to the environment...even for a weathered planeswalker like myself. Sure..I could build "The Deck" and beat the snot out of anyone who plays the game...jewelry...moats...abysses...but that's not the object here. My purpose is fun...and change produces stimulation....and being stimulated is a fun experience. 3. Change: The element of chance and luck with each new set combined with beautiful works of art rivalling(In my humble opinion) even the likes of DaVinci and Monet combine to produce a horizon of possibilities and experience that has catapulted entertainment to a new level. However, the exploitation of this innocence for one's ego-generated demands- whether it be playing solely to just "win," taking pride to the extreme after winning, stiffing an unsuspecting kid in a bad trade or bad sale, or not understanding yourself and what makes you have an overwhelming desire to "need" to win will unfortunately lead to the experience of stagnation for you. If you can grow to respect those you play with and the three core essentials of this game, then the experience will never stagnate. Many may laugh at this, but what my father taught me as a child being active in Football and Baseball holds true for my experiencing Magic... It's not whether I win or lose...it's how I play the game. Thank You for your time, Matt