Subject: [Issue] Magic and Intelligence Date: Sat, 08 Aug 1998 15:51:57 PDT From: "Rock Ritchie" To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Intelligence and Magic by Rockford Ritchie, Rockford_100@hotmail.com Hello there. You are very fortunate to have come across my article, because I will discuss the biggest problem with Magic today... too many mental midgets play the game. That is the current problem as I see it. There are just too many people who like to play tournament magic who don't know anything about the game's mechanics and card wordings. Now I don't really care about some kid that has a few cards and doesn't understand the rules, but when you are at a major event and you spend 10 damn minutes arguing with some loser that you don't have to pay 2 to the spike feeder to gain life because that effect is after the period, the connection between magic and general "unintelligence" becomes crystal clear. There is nothing more I hate than having to discuss rules with some one, who does not have a clue, when you are in the middle of a game. I am talking about the mule headed people that must be right because they read some "fact" in the Inquest and think that it is a commandment. "Rock, what exactly is causing this decline in the mental ability of magic players?", is a question I know you are going to ask... Well I can think of various reasons... 1) "Daddy" buys billy all the magic cards billy wants... the only problem is that billy is a 9 year old spoiled toad that has problems reading let alone making rational decisions. Now do not get me wrong here, I know plenty of younger magic players that have a good handle on the game... I am just saying that younger players need to realize that tournament caliber magic does not like to explain every mistake. 2) "The Dojo crew" (sorry Frank ). The Magic Dojo is one of the finest magic sites on the web, don't get me wrong, but... Inexperienced magic players need to realize a couple of things... The professional decks posted on the dojo are just that, professional. Professional means that the decks are multifaceted, this means that they require in depth understanding of each card in the deck and how all the cards relate to one another. You cannot just play the first thing in your hand because your current mana count allows it... and various other problems. 3) Finally the last reason why I see a decline in Magical intelligence... people don't like to read RULE BOOKS. Remember that little booklet that came with your starter of 5th edition? It has all the rules in it just waiting to be found and utilized! Please everyone read the rule book... after all you don't try to build a house with out a blueprint. Well this is the major problem with Magic as I see it... forget cheating, forget crazy broken cards... utter stupidity is the winner. I am not saying that I am the god of Magic, but at least I know the basic rules. I am looking to get in touch with other magic players that would like to discuss decks and play tactics... please E-mail me if you would like to share ideas. Rockford_100@hotmail.com Thank you ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com