Magic: the Gathering News for May 2003
Darksteel Card Restricted In Type I
As part of the June Banned and Restricted Announcement, the DCI announced Friday that a card that will be created for the 2004 Magic: The Gathering expansion called "Darksteel" is hereby restricted in the Type I format and banned in Type 1.5, as of July 1, 2003. "This card, once R&D invents it, will lead to the creation of one or more completely degenerate archetypes in the Vintage format," said Level 5 Judge Jeff Donais on Friday.
Comprehensive Rules Update
The June 2003 version of the Magic Comprehensive Rules includes a number of rules changes and clarifications. These rules changes are effective as of June 1, 2003.
Happy Big One-Five, MiseTings!
Sure, the big news is that Magic celebrates its 10th anniversary later this year, but have we all forgotten the other important milestone in Magic history? MiseTings turns 15 next month and we shouldn't forget some of the older classics, many of which have unfortunately been lost to the ages. Take a trip back in time with me as we look back through MiseTings' rocky history, from its early days as a backup database of the U.S. military's nuclear arsenal locations to today, where it reigns supreme as one of the world's top twelve free (not for long) Magic-related news, strategy, rumor, gossip and whining websites not suitable for minors.
Ancestral Recall Good, Sideboard Reports
In an announcement that shocked the world Magic community, Sideboard Online writer Omeed Dariani revealed Tuesday that Alpha rare Ancestral Recall is good. Citing its ability to let you draw three cards at instant speed and its mana cost of U, Dariani proved that the previously-ignored card was good, and in fact better than modern card-advantage spells such as Inspiration.
MiseTings Goes Premium
A new age of enlightenment and humor will be beginning in June on www.misetings.com as the site introduces it's long awaited premium side. For the modest price of $69 a year, internet magic players will have access to the very best in magic comedy and a wide array of special features. The move was prompted by the runaway success of the Brainburst Premium program, which provides a massive upgrade over the strategy site's normal service with name player articles, actual spell-checking, and detailed corrections of every word Jarrod Bright writes on the non-premium side.
Pro Tour Yokohama Recap: Kai Dominates Side Draft; Finkel Swept in Top 4
Yokohama, Japan -- The battle to become the best Magic: The Gathering player of all time became even more lopsided this past weekend at the fourth and final Pro Tour stop of the 2002-2003 season. Budde added a side draft 1st place prize to his resume, while Finkel claimed only a measly Pro Tour 3rd/4th result.
Saddam To Return After 2-Month Suspension
WASHINGTON -- Top Bush Administration officials announced Thursday that former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein would be allowed to return to Baghdad and resume competition at world domination after he completes a two-month suspension.
New Scourge Mechanic: Infinite Mana Cost
An exciting breakthrough in the latest Scourge set has been revealed: the "Infinity" symbol. Official rulings excerpts from the judges Scourge FAQ reveal that in order to cast something with a cost involving the "Infinity" symbol, a player must be able to demonstrate that he/she can produce an "arbitrarily large" amount of mana through a certain sequence of game states and events.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trumps Scourge With New "All-Dragon" Set
REDWOOD CITY, CA -- In an answer to Wizard's recent unveiling of Scourge as "the dragon set," Konami, maker of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, unveiled plans for "Legend of Gold Dragon," an all-dragon set Friday.
Brainburst Webmaster Determined to Get Maximum Value From "Flash 101"
"The great thing about them," said Ray Moore as he whipped up another one of his famed "it spins around and fades into a pro's face" Flash graphics, "Is that you can do them so quickly. And yet they're so professional!" Over the past four months, Brainburst has been graced with a wealth of eye-popping Flash tricks.
Scourge Card Preview: Beastly Speculation
Continuing the "tribal" theme started in Onslaught, Beastly Speculation works with a creature type. The player with beasts in his deck can go and find up to three more. Players with no beasts in their decks will find that the card does very little for them.
Call to Arms #4: Feeling Curmudgeonly? Try Narcissism!
This column’s case-in-point, something a lot of people were wondering about in the forums: Gary Wise. It’s time to administer the savage beatings of a drunken conscience, Cajun-style.
Orb Of Insight Reveals Magic Product Placement
Magic players all over the world became excited this week due to a surprising discovery as Wizards of the Coast returned its popular "Orb of Insight" feature at the official Magic: The Gathering Web site. The astonishment began as some players entered keywords and discovered Magic's first-ever product placement, as those players entered the keyword "Karona."
Coalition Captures Eight Of Spades, Weaver Of Lies
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Central Command confirmed at the end of last week that it had managed to capture former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, known as the Eight of Spades in the Coalition's 55-card deck of wanted Iraqi leaders.