Staff Writer: DL Mullan
4 1/4 out of 5 Shovels
In 1993 a new and innovative card deck hit gamers like a storm. Magic: the Gathering has become one of the most popular role playing games in the last decade. Considering the themes of nature and magic, there is not a wonder why MtG has become so engaging to its players.
Magic: the Gathering’s premise is in the characterization of Mana –an energy derived from land masses. Five colors define the parameters of Mana. For defense, a player uses white, the energy from the plains. Blue symbolizes counter-defense from the islands. Infestation rules black energy from the swamps. To attack, red is manifested from the mountains. Green powered by the forests and used in the employment of ambushes.
Having a following of six million players, books and trading cards being marketed by Wizards of the Coast; a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., MtG renews its environment with the release of the Core Set. The 8th Edition celebrates the 10th Anniversary of MtG. The edition contains 350 cards, at least one from every expansion. These cards include systematically placed black bordered versions of their cards.
With a strong past, million of fans, and a new set, Magic: the Gathering has a bright future ahead.
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Monday, February 16, 2009
Magic: The Gathering . . . Onslaught
Staff Writer: DL Mullan
4 3/4 out of 5 Shovels
Another book in the Magic: The Gathering saga finds that Kamahl has won the powerful orb, Mirari, for himself but at a great price. While on a quest for revenge, his sister Jeska is transformed by Braids into Phage -a dangerous pit fighter. The two women join the Cabal to craft a great coliseum.
Kamahl desperate to save his sister faces great odds to restore her. Jeska as Phage destroys a powerful illusionist’s only love, the beautiful Nivea. In mourning for his love Ixidor’s dreams came to life creating an angelic creature named Akroma. Together the two plot to avenge the death of Nivea and kill Phage. Kamahl finding his sister as Phage and allying himself with the Cabal, the barbarian fights the darkness that is Phage until Jeska can reclaim her mind.
Once Jeska returns, the darkness that was Phage unleashes itself onto the world and begins devouring life as deathwurms. Knowing that there was only one chance to save the world, Jeska takes back the darkness into herself becoming Phage once more.
Kamahl did not want to lose his sister again but wavers under her insistence and wisdom. Indeed Jeska is right, Kamahl had saved himself and the woman she once was. Now Kamahl had to let her go and for himself find peace among the forest.
J. Robert King writes cleanly and deliberately as he fleshes out all the characters into a neat and concise plot. This book was a joy to read even to those people not familiar to this role playing world.
Onslaught Cycle Book I: OnslaughtBy J. Robert KingWizards Of The Coast, Inc.
4 3/4 out of 5 Shovels
Another book in the Magic: The Gathering saga finds that Kamahl has won the powerful orb, Mirari, for himself but at a great price. While on a quest for revenge, his sister Jeska is transformed by Braids into Phage -a dangerous pit fighter. The two women join the Cabal to craft a great coliseum.
Kamahl desperate to save his sister faces great odds to restore her. Jeska as Phage destroys a powerful illusionist’s only love, the beautiful Nivea. In mourning for his love Ixidor’s dreams came to life creating an angelic creature named Akroma. Together the two plot to avenge the death of Nivea and kill Phage. Kamahl finding his sister as Phage and allying himself with the Cabal, the barbarian fights the darkness that is Phage until Jeska can reclaim her mind.
Once Jeska returns, the darkness that was Phage unleashes itself onto the world and begins devouring life as deathwurms. Knowing that there was only one chance to save the world, Jeska takes back the darkness into herself becoming Phage once more.
Kamahl did not want to lose his sister again but wavers under her insistence and wisdom. Indeed Jeska is right, Kamahl had saved himself and the woman she once was. Now Kamahl had to let her go and for himself find peace among the forest.
J. Robert King writes cleanly and deliberately as he fleshes out all the characters into a neat and concise plot. This book was a joy to read even to those people not familiar to this role playing world.
Onslaught Cycle Book I: OnslaughtBy J. Robert KingWizards Of The Coast, Inc.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Rowling Copyright vs. Fan Lexicon
Staff Writer: Grave Digger
J.K. Rowling wins suit over encyclopedia fan. As she has admitted in the past, she went to the fan’s site and researched terms, characters, and the like for her books. Then she told a judge that the Lexicon was lifted from her prose.
Instead of working with this fan, Ms. Rowling chose
to sue. She could have co-creator rights over the encyclopedia, but didn’t want to share. This situation could have been win-win.
When entertainment becomes apart of the popular vernacular, are we too to pay homage every time to Ms. Rowling? For this muggle, I won’t be buying her rendition of a Harry Potter encyclopedia because she will probably “lift” the fan’s original prose for her version.
J.K. Rowling wins suit over encyclopedia fan. As she has admitted in the past, she went to the fan’s site and researched terms, characters, and the like for her books. Then she told a judge that the Lexicon was lifted from her prose.
Instead of working with this fan, Ms. Rowling chose
to sue. She could have co-creator rights over the encyclopedia, but didn’t want to share. This situation could have been win-win.When entertainment becomes apart of the popular vernacular, are we too to pay homage every time to Ms. Rowling? For this muggle, I won’t be buying her rendition of a Harry Potter encyclopedia because she will probably “lift” the fan’s original prose for her version.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Roar
Staff Writer: DL Mullan
4 out of 5 Shovels
Television show that combines Roman conquest of Briton with magic, courage, and politics. After his family is killed by the Romans, Conor bands together friends in order to unite the various Celtic tribes. Only together will the natives be able to overthrow Rome on their island.
With Queen Diana and the cursed Longinus on the side of Rome, Conor has many challenges ahead of him.
The acting was superb. Actors like Heath Ledger, John Saint Ryan, Lisa Zane, Vera Farmiga, Alonzo Greer, and Melissa George kept this series serious and intense.
Cinema Photography was beautiful and captured the dichotomy between nature and conflict. The characters were original and fascinating, especially: Fergus, Caitlin, Tully, and Molly (Fergus’s daughter).
This DVD set has all 13 episodes, including 5 episodes not shown on network television. A good series that lasted one season but could have lasted more
4 out of 5 Shovels
Television show that combines Roman conquest of Briton with magic, courage, and politics. After his family is killed by the Romans, Conor bands together friends in order to unite the various Celtic tribes. Only together will the natives be able to overthrow Rome on their island.
With Queen Diana and the cursed Longinus on the side of Rome, Conor has many challenges ahead of him.
The acting was superb. Actors like Heath Ledger, John Saint Ryan, Lisa Zane, Vera Farmiga, Alonzo Greer, and Melissa George kept this series serious and intense.
Cinema Photography was beautiful and captured the dichotomy between nature and conflict. The characters were original and fascinating, especially: Fergus, Caitlin, Tully, and Molly (Fergus’s daughter).
This DVD set has all 13 episodes, including 5 episodes not shown on network television. A good series that lasted one season but could have lasted more
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Staff Writer: DL Mullan
4 1/2 out of 5 Shovels
An orphan discovers that he is a wizard. Harry Potter is brought into a strange world full of witches and sorcerers but also evil. The lad soon learns he was the boy who lived.
As the school year proceeds, Harry makes friends with Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Rubeus Hagrid. He also makes enemies with Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.
His biggest enemy appears to be Voldemort himself. With the help of a professor, he goes after the Sorcerer’s Stone. A stone of red hue has the ability to make the user live forever.
The young actos, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, are wonderful. With the older support case, this movie steers clear from campiness and keeps a serious tone.
This PG movie doesn’t feel 152 minutes long. Heartwarming, suspenseful, and an adventure for children as well as adults.
4 1/2 out of 5 Shovels
An orphan discovers that he is a wizard. Harry Potter is brought into a strange world full of witches and sorcerers but also evil. The lad soon learns he was the boy who lived.
As the school year proceeds, Harry makes friends with Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Rubeus Hagrid. He also makes enemies with Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.His biggest enemy appears to be Voldemort himself. With the help of a professor, he goes after the Sorcerer’s Stone. A stone of red hue has the ability to make the user live forever.
The young actos, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, are wonderful. With the older support case, this movie steers clear from campiness and keeps a serious tone.
This PG movie doesn’t feel 152 minutes long. Heartwarming, suspenseful, and an adventure for children as well as adults.
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