Magic the Gathering Card game

[xNoOnex]

Yes, but that’s how Satan works…by enticing people to regard these things as being “no big deal.” 'Go on, don’t worry, don’t be like those fussy mantilla-wearing, communion kneeling-and-on-the-tongue types you see at Mass, lighten up it’s no big deal." says the evil one. Remember in The Garden the liar’s temptation of Eve? “You won’t die.”

A game of MTG, tarot, ouija, D&D etc. might seem benign at first, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Find a different game to play.

Thing is, MtG and D&D are nothing like tarot or ouija. When you remove all the superficial imagery from the former games, its just mathematics. The later, however, are always divination (unless you go back far enough, when tarot cards were just playing cards - which by the way can also be used for divination); even when you consider them just “games”.

Similar games to MtG have had all sorts of themes; science fiction, Lord of the Rings, and I believe there was even a Christian themed collectible card game called Redemption.

Likewise, even Dungeons & Dragons can be what you want it to be; while it’s genuinely played in a high fantasy setting, I’ve played in games where magic was explicitly considered evil or games with no magic - the content is all up to the game master/referee.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

As someone who has played the game for some time, I hope I can help you out.

What is it?
It’s a strategy game featuring collectible cards. Each person takes cards and organizes them into decks. In a game one person will pit their deck against another person’s deck, making various moves to try and win.

What is it not?
It is not a role-playing game. The cards are much like chess pieces. The player doesn’t act out anything.

It is not a gambling game. Back when the game first started some people played for “ante”, each player putting up one card that they give to the other if they lose. It’s similar to when kids would play marbles.

Are there storylines and are they suitable for children?
There are storylines in the game. Some cards have what’s known as “flavor text” which doesn’t influence the game but helps tell the story. There are novels that come out around the same time, but only a small percentage of players actually read them.

As far as the suitability of the storylines, you should at least be cautioned. Every year or so they begin a new storyline in a different setting. Sometimes the good guys win. In the storyline before the one going on now, it was about a land filled with gothic horrors like werewolves, vampires, and zombies. In the end several angels ally with the humans to fight back and win. But in the storyline the year before it was set in a technological world that in the end succumbs to a dark, corrupting influence.

In short, sometimes the bad guys win.

Does it teach kids witchcraft in real life?
No, in the same way that Operation doesn’t teach you be a surgeon.

Is there art in the game that children may find disturbing?
Possibly, but it would depend on the child. The cards themselves don’t seem to depict acts of violence, but sometimes can show the aftereffects of violence. Blood, skulls, and the like appear often enough.

Some of the artwork can be creepy in nature.

The game features many types of creatures, many of which you’ll find in things like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. It also features demons.
Here are some of them. Also, Here are some of the angels I mentioned earlier.

The game does not feature any sex or nudity, but does sometimes feature art of scantily-clad women (on the level you might see on the cover of Maxim or Self magazines).

Are there any other positive aspects to the game?
There are enough complexities to the game to encourage very strategic thinking, even at a young age. It encourages planning, and even is helpful in basic math. Also the game is constant interaction with other people, which is something you won’t get in things like video games.

Are there any other negative aspects to the game?
The game constantly marches on. Your son will likely tire of playing just the cards his cousin gave and will want more, which means you’ll be spending some money on this if he continues.

In the end, I think you’ll want to look things over based on what you know about your boy. I’ve seen kids as young as 8 play (including my Catholic nephew). But I think you’re correct in making sure to ask around first before letting him play. You don’t want to go counter to your faith or morals. If you have any questions for me, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Very useful and informative summary - thanks!

 

[BertBlyleven]

I used to be a big Magic hater back in the day. It was huge in Scouts, and I was the one who refused to play a game so stupid. Come college, I found myself playing my first game of Magic at a bachelor party of all places…long story. At any rate, my friends and I really got into MTG as a joke, you know, let’s play some magic and be lame hah hah, but we all came to really like the game. It’s a lot of fun, and the purpose of it is basically to be a jerk to the other players. It got my friends and I off the couch and off the TV in the evenings.

That being said, there is some danger to it. The conspiracy theorist inside of me says the game is a money making ploy, and shortly into playing you realize you need to get a beast deck to even hang with guys who have been around for a while. Nobody that plays MTG has done it on the cheap; everyone has dropped at least a couple hundred on decks. I knew of guys who spent $500 on single decks…crazy stuff! Buying cards becomes impulsive. Magic is heavily Tolkein influenced…but also neo-Pagan and Wicca influenced. Even if it is just for fantasy, its hard to support that stuff, knowing that some people in real life do dance with real devils.

At any rate, I haven’t played in years, and I don’t plan on starting again. It was fun while it lasted, but I could’ve better used that money.

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m sorry, but I’m afraid there is enough in MTG that stands at odds with the Catholic faith, and yes…there is potential for an individual become vulnerable to the occult. Don’t mess around with this stuff. You don’t know what you could possibly tampering with.

Do you think the Blessed Mother would have given the Child Jesus a deck of these cards to play with? If you have a hard time imagining that, then good. That should tell you a lot right there.

Have you ever seen MTG cards or seen a game of it being played?

I object to lumping together MTG (and D&D) with tarot cards and ouija boards. They are not at all in the same category.

I have a hard time imagining Mary giving Jesus a Thomas the Train book, too, but that doesn’t make Thomas the Train satanic.

 

[Joe_5859]

I used to be a big Magic hater back in the day. It was huge in Scouts, and I was the one who refused to play a game so stupid. Come college, I found myself playing my first game of Magic at a bachelor party of all places…long story. At any rate, my friends and I really got into MTG as a joke, you know, let’s play some magic and be lame hah hah, but we all came to really like the game. It’s a lot of fun, and the purpose of it is basically to be a jerk to the other players. It got my friends and I off the couch and off the TV in the evenings.

That being said, there is some danger to it. The conspiracy theorist inside of me says the game is a money making ploy, and shortly into playing you realize you need to get a beast deck to even hang with guys who have been around for a while. Nobody that plays MTG has done it on the cheap; everyone has dropped at least a couple hundred on decks. I knew of guys who spent $500 on single decks…crazy stuff! Buying cards becomes impulsive. Magic is heavily Tolkein influenced…but also neo-Pagan and Wicca influenced. Even if it is just for fantasy, its hard to support that stuff, knowing that some people in real life do dance with real devils.

At any rate, I haven’t played in years, and I don’t plan on starting again. It was fun while it lasted, but I could’ve better used that money.

To be fair, any product on the shelves is a “money making ploy”. If they don’t make money off of it, then they cannot afford to produce it.

Certainly, one needs to avoid intemperance. It’s been years since I played, but anyone I ever played with (guys in high school, family, guys in college) all had around the same number of cards and all from the same set (Revised Edition). So nothing was that unbalanced as far as game play. And none of us were dropping hundreds of dollars.

But, really, there are all sorts of hobbies that people spends hundreds of dollars on. If you’re really into bike-riding, you could easily spend that much on a good bike.