From: [a--al--t] at [husc10.harvard.edu] (Alvin Valentine)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: REFERENCE: MAGIC: The Gathering -- OFFICIAL WotC FAQ
Date: 19 Aug 1993 17:22:28 -0400
Although I've posted this to advocacy just 'cause lots of MAGIC traffic
went on there once, future FAQs will not be posted there with the possible
exception of an addendum to this post...
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What follows is the _OFFICIAL_ FAQ for MAGIC: The Gathering from
Wizards of the Coast. There are not house rules, but the official answers.
For those who have discovered fun house rules like passing
and enjoy playing them I encourage you to continue having fun in whatever
manner suits you -- MAGIC is a game after all... Still, I'd also encourage you
to realize that such rules ARE house rules and that if you end up in any
league tournaments (rules coming soon) or games with new acquaintances then
you might want to be familiar with the official interpretations of the rules...
I think the only thing David Howell, Production Manager at WotC, left off
was the bit about the PARALYZE spell -- which he told me the other day
was paid for right after untapping land... You can treat it as hearsay if you
want for now, but that's what Dave told me the other day and he's the same
man providing you with the FAQ below. I hope this helps iron out any rules
questions that you might have been having earlier. If not, then do not
hesitate to sign up for the Garfield Games mailing list at the e-ddress below.
Now I'm not gonna mark this list with a giant SPOILERS header, 'cause I feel
that it's more important that you know the official interpretations of the
rules than you be suprised about the cards... Most of the answers are
simple, straight forward, and actually give little away if you don't have
the cards referred to. I encourage you to read this list and keep it on file
for your own games.
I'll continue posting FAQs as I receive them from David... Until then, take
care and happy gaming!
Lee Valentine
[a--al--t] at [husc.harvard.edu]
===============================================
Frequently Asked Questions for Magic: The Gathering.
Compiled by Dave Howell, Production Manager and Official
FAQ-Keeper, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. [s--a--k] at [wizards.com]
This FAQ mentions selected cards by name. The number of cards
mentioned, and discussion of their attributes, is kept to
a minimum.
Please do not alter this FAQ list. Copyright 1993 Wizards of the
Coast, Inc. This FAQ may be distributed through any media, as long
as it remains intact.
8/15/93
Q: Can Fireball be used against my opponent?
A: Yes, legitimate targets include your adversary, their creatures,
and your own creatures.
Q: It's an X spell. Can X be zero?
A: Yes.
Q: I have an artifact that says I can do something if I pump mana
into it. Can I just keep tapping mana and doing that effect
as many times as I want?
A: Depends. If it's a poly artifact, yes. If it's a mono artifact,
no, because mono artifacts are tapped when used, so you could
spend the mana only once per turn.
Q: I have a Prodigal Sorcerer. When can I use that 1 point attack
thing?
A: Creature special abilities are fast effects. Most are instants.
You can use the Sorcerer's poke during your main phase, during
an attack, when you are defending, or as a response during your
adversary's turn.
Q: So what happens if I have him attacking, and he's blocked, then
I want to use his magic poke?
A: Attacking taps him, so you can't poke.
Q: And if he's defending?
A: He uses his power before the Damage phase of the attack,
and is tapped.
Q: Doesn't that mean he can't block?
A: Creatures that are tapped (for whatever reason) *after* they are
committed to an attack or defense do not deal out damage, but
defend as usual. In effect, they temporarily have a power of
zero, but their usual defense.
Q: What if the Prodigal Sorcerer pokes me, and I have a Circle
of Protection: Blue, so I stop it, then my opponent Twiddles
him back and pokes me again?
A: You'd have to use another point of mana to counter the second
attack.
Q: What if the Sorcerer nails my Scryb Fairies?
A: They're dead. Your Circle only protects you.
Q: What if I have a CoP: Red, and my opponent uses Stone Rain on
my islands?
A: You have one less island.
Q: If Psychic Venom is cast on a land card, does that make it a
colorless spell, and is damage coming from a colorless source?
A: No. Only creature enchantments that affect the power or toughness
of the creature count as the creature's color.
Enchantments that work directly are doing damage of their color.
CoP: Blue will stop Psychic Venom from doing damage. CoP: Green
will stop Wanderlust.
Q: What happened to the Circle of Protection: Black?
A: It was inadvertantly left off the plates when the film was
first made. It has been added back for the last 3/4 of the print
run.
Q: Does that mean you're printing more cards to make up for that?
A: No. Magic: The Gathering is a strictly limited print run.
Q: So what happens when they're all sold?
A: Magic: Ice Age is already in production, as are other
possibilities.
Q: If my adversary casts a fireball, and I counterspell it, can
I still get a point of life with my Iron Star?
A: No. An interrupt prevents a spell from sucessfully being cast.
An instant doesn't take effect until the spell is cast.
Q: If I use an artifact power or creature ability, is that a spell?
A: No. A spell is when you play a non-land card from your hand.
Q: Can I discard more than one card per turn?
A: No. You must discard a single card if you are over the allowed
limit for your hand. Usually, that limit is seven cards.
If you aren't at your limit, you may not discard.
Q: Are walls creatures?
A: Yes, a special kind of creature.
Q: I have a wall with a power greater than 0. Does that mean I can
attack with it?
A: No. Walls don't move, so they can be used only for defense.
Q: I have a card that says I can pay BBB during upkeep. What's
that?
A: A typo. B=Black Mana, U=blUe Mana, G=Green Mana, and R=Red Mana.
Q: My Unsummon card talks about something being CARD ed.
A: Also a typo. That should say "discarded."
Q: Any others?
A: Red Elemental Blast is really an Interrupt, no an Instant.
Q: What's the casting cost of Cyclopean Tomb? Zero?
A: 4 uncolored mana. The casting cost was inadvertantly left off.
Q: So what exactly is "tapping?"
A: Tapping is turning a card sideways to mark that its power
has been used. Some cards can be used whenever you want, or
only once, or whenever you've got the mana, so there's no
need to tap them. Cards that can be used only once per turn
are tapped.
Q: About this Twiddle card...
A: You can change the orientation of a card with Twiddle, but you do
not get to use that card's abilities, nor does your adversary.
If there is an enchantment on the card that does something when
the target card is tapped, that occurs normally. Same for Icy
Manipulator.
Q: What if I don't have the mana to regenerate a creature right now.
Can I spend it next turn?
A: No. Regeneration, unlike resurrection, raising the dead, or any of
a number of other things, means you are saving the creature's
life, before it's quite died from its wounds. This must be done
immediately, or the creature goes to the graveyard.
Q: Is there a difference between "controller," "owner," and "player?"
A: Yes. Controller is whoever is responsible for the card at the
time, and this can change. Owner is the person to whom the card
really belongs. Player is whoever put the card into play. Usually
all three of these positions are the same person.
Q: I have a card that makes zombies in play get stronger. That
doesn't include any zombies my opponent has, does it?
A: Yes, it does. "In play" means on the table, no matter who owns or
controls them.
Q: I have a card that says it destroys all (something) in play.
That doesn't include mine, does it?
A: Yes. If the card doesn't include you, it will say "opponent" or
something similar. If it says "every player," "each player," or
"all," this includes you.
Q: What happens if you run out of cards?
A: You lose. (page 9)
Q: I saw another post that talked about passing your turn to get an
extra card. Is that legal?
A: No.
Q: How do I get info faster?
A: The best source for questions about Magic is the Garfield
Games mailing list, [gg l] at [wizards.com.] To subscribe, send
subscribe gg-l Your Name
to
[l--ts--v] at [wizards.com]
Q: I can't find any decks around here. Where do I get some?
A: We can't recommend specific sources. Game and comic stores are
your best bet right now.
Q: Can I Raise Dead from my opponent's graveyard?
A: No.