![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
MTG Prerelease Outing
Nov. 15th, 2025 09:49 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
twentysidedtale_feedMagic the Gathering’s newest set is a Universes Beyond release based around Avatar: The Last Airbender. Prior to the full retail release of a new set in Magic there’s events called “prereleases” that allow you to play with the new cards early. My wife, myself, Bay, and Izzy will be heading out to a local event tonight.
The way prerelease events work is that everyone gets 6 packs and as many basic lands as they want to build a 40 card deck. Then you play 3 matches of best of 3 against other attendees with your deck. Winning gets you extra packs to open and sometimes other goodies. You keep the cards from the packs you open to build your deck as well so participation is already worth its cost the majority of the time.
I coached everyone on the new keywords as well as returning and evergreen ones. Bay and my wife have been to a couple prereleases and drafts so they had a decent idea of what to expect. They are still inexperienced overall, though, so a refresher was worthwhile. Izzy is borderline brand new but has already picked up the game pretty fast. And if I’m honest it never hurts me to have several looks over every new mechanic so I don’t end up getting the rules on them wrong.
We all ended up getting our butts kicked but we had fun. We’ll be heading to our favorite shop again tomorrow for another go around. Hopefully there’s some more success this time but the fun is in getting a chance to play with the new cards of the set, not being the supreme nerd in the room. It was worth the trip and the money just to have some fun with cards that will likely spend the rest of their existence in a box on a shelf.
If you’ve never played Magic and are interested in giving it a try, I would recommend against your first experience as a prerelease if you’re going solo. Lots of people online say it’s a great way to dip your toes in and I can’t disagree more. Deck building can be difficult even for veterans and to play prerelease you have to deck build under a time limit. However, if you have a friend to join you to help guide your build and allowing you to focus on playing, it can be really fun. There are events specifically to learn the game at many LGSs (local game stores). If you want to see what Magic events are being hosted near you, go to this site and type in your location. https://locator.wizards.com
The set was a lot of fun, but I have lots of feelings regarding WotC watering down their IP to try to bring in new players. I’ll have a whole article about that and similar issues in video games coming soon.
Ursula Major
Nov. 14th, 2025 10:43 pmpennyarcade_feedEurogamer's review is precisely the kind of activism they specialize in, but they're so earnest about it that I consider it an aesthetic. It only makes me mad when they pretend they aren't doing it - by and large they just have tender hearts and venerate the priors of their social class. I'm only mentioning them again because they gave the best shooter this year a two out of five because Embark used AI voices. Well, kinda. They might have, or they might do more in the future. I, uh… Goddammit. Far be it from me to venerate a prior, but I gotta give it to 'em.
Book2-56
Nov. 14th, 2025 08:00 pmsidequested_feed
The post Book2-56 appeared first on Side Quested Webcomic.
Girl Genius for Friday, November 14, 2025
Nov. 14th, 2025 05:00 amgirlgenius_main_feedNeeds Better Soundproofing
Nov. 13th, 2025 09:54 pmquestionable_content_feed
she's doing the voice again
Child's Play
Nov. 13th, 2025 06:53 pmpennyarcade_feedJust another reminder that the 22nd annual Child’s Play Auction and dinner is coming up on December 5th. After a long break, Jerry and I are back as hosts. Come hang out with us and help us raise money for kids in Children’s hospitals all over the world! You can get your tickets right here.
Manifold Delights
Nov. 12th, 2025 11:34 pmpennyarcade_feedGabe has been pushing this new Frankenstein shit pretty hard, but I don't have to be nudged with any intensity into seeing a Guillermo Del Toro movie. I can close my eyes and see one, I love his shit. Apparently this new one balls out of control, and a wisp of a scene at the very end of the runtime hints at the kind of structures in play.
Book2-55
Nov. 12th, 2025 08:00 pmsidequested_feed
The post Book2-55 appeared first on Side Quested Webcomic.
Girl Genius for Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Nov. 12th, 2025 05:00 amgirlgenius_main_feedWednesday Action Log 11-12-25
Nov. 12th, 2025 05:01 amtwentysidedtale_feedMore Slay the Spire this week.
I’ve been slowly getting better at playing as the Watcher. My main roadblock has been that the only runs that make it anywhere near the end are usually focused on blocking. They have such little damage that it takes 20 turns to fight a regular monster, let alone a boss. Surely if I just do the same thing again I’ll get a different result.
What’s everyone else up too?