
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 30, 1995                   TAG: 9507280061
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: G-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOW TO PLAY THIS GAME

Perhaps the easiest way to understand "Magic: The Gathering" is to think of the game as a battle to the death between two powerful wizards, each of whom starts out with 20 "life points." The object: Survive - and knock your opponent's point count to zero.

Each player starts the game with a deck of at least 60 cards. There is no single correct deck; starter packs of 60 random cards are sold to introduce players to the game, but experienced players build their own decks based on individual playing strategies.

A player who likes to win quickly, for example, likely would construct a deck around several extremely powerful cards. Another player, more interested in outlasting an opponent, might create a "siege deck" with cards that chip away at opposing forces bit by bit.

A player may include as many cards as he wishes in a deck, but smaller decks tend to be more effective because they maximize the effects of powerful cards. Game rules do limit the number of specific powerful cards that a player may include in any one deck.

Magic cards come in three basic types:

Enchantments, which are spells cast by a player to strengthen his own position or weaken that of his opponent

Creatures, which can be summoned to attack an opponent

Land cards, which produce the currency, called "mana," that pays for casting spells and summoning creatures.

Cards also come in five color categories, each with a different basic purpose. Black and red cards, for example, are extremely destructive and aggressive; they offer little defense against enchantments. A deck constructed exclusively of these cards would be powerful but would leave the player open to attack from opposing spells. A better deck would use a combination of aggressive and defensive cards.

During a game, each player takes turns casting spells and summoning creatures against his opponent while trying to protect his own cards from similar attacks. Certain cards also allow players to gain extra life points to counteract attacks and prolong playing life.

The game ends when one player runs out of life points. Depending on skill of the players and the decks they're using, a game of Magic may last from five minutes to an hour. Typical games end within 30 minutes.

by CNB