<p>for the guy who wants to learn how magic works:
Magic The Gathering is perhaps the most widely played card game ever played in human history for the longest time. it has gone through ver 12 editions along with dozens of supplementary ones. it's so old that lot of the cards for new editions are just a recycle of the older cards. the catalogue for all the cards is immense. it will probably fill up ur room, so no one really tries to "collect" them all as pokemon. instead, ur main concern is building the strongest deck with which u can beat ur friends and perhaps if ur lucky go to world championships in belgium (or someplace in europe). in some ways, Magic is even more strategic than chess. it is so strategic, it took me a looong time to learn. but as i have lot of patience, i was able to learn it. after the ordeal of learning and duelling in magic, i have developed a level of stamina in learning capibilities. for example i find the IMMENSE insane length of THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE not a challenge, but a leisure. i plan to read it this year, just to put myself at the TOP of intellectual society. i learned magic to put my self at the TOP of geeks.<br>
anyway, it is really hard explain without a card. a card has so much indications on how to play. there is really little deviation from the official rules.
magic is very different from yu-gioh or pokemon cards. for one thing, it is much more complicated. another thing, the theme of magic is much more mature and darker: goblins, orcs, zombees, elves, trolls, and sometimes outright bizarre art. sometimes, for those cowardly geeks with no ambition, the championship decks are used. these decks are the copy of former champions. these are often times EXTREMELY difficult to use. Magic champions are often times, in my opinion, insane. another thing, magic is global. it really doesn't matter how big ur deck is (but it is preferable to have asmaller deck) or what editions ur deck has, or what conditions ur cards are in. in fact, it really doesn't matter if u don't even have the hard copy of the cards: u can play online. all u need is skill, like in chess, to become world famous and rich. everything appeals to the brain.</p>
<p>estimated 6 million players in over 70 countires around the globe. mostly based in america and europe. </p>
<p>i have had some reprieve from magic for quite a while, so i didn't catch up witht the news on currently most popular championship decks.</p>
<p>there is so many editions that one card may look totally different from another. it's not like pokemon of yu-gi-oh where all the cards have the same format. </p>
<p>since Magic is so global and popular and been around for ages, there's got to be fake cards. the answer is definitely yes. i've seen some fake ones. these are lot of times more glossy and darker in pigment. but, it really isn't important as long as it's not made up. if the card is made up, then u can't use it. lot of times these fake cards are satires on modern culture.</p>
<p>CARD VLUE:
italian, french, spanish versions worth less.
german, russian and asian versions are worth more. </p>
<p>contrary to what many believe. Magic is not prevailed by demonic themes. there are many cards (white-plains, green-forests) that have powerful elves, and there is one card that directly replenishes life.</p>
<p>new rules:
with new editions, sometimes new rules and components are added. i remember i hated when they introduced robotic and dumb rules to magic two years ago. i absolutely love the older versions, the art work is much more fantastical and the format and rules more elegant and classic. i love the old. probably why i love history.</p>