Magic: The Gathering - card game

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Has anyone seen kids playing this trading card game?

It’s called Magic: The Gathering.

It’s like Pokemon, except the artwork has that sinister sorcery look too it.

Of course the kids say, “it’s just a game.”
 
Black_Jaque said:
Has anyone seen kids playing this trading card game?

It’s called Magic: The Gathering.

It’s like Pokemon, except the artwork has that sinister sorcery look too it.

Of course the kids say, “it’s just a game.”
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I’m familiar with it. Magic: The Gathering has been around since 1993, and I played it with college friends. It was the first of the collectible card games or trading card games.

I wouldn’t worry that much about the imagery. The premise of the game is that of a wizards’ duel, but it’s very much a fantastic, fictional view of magic – summoned mythological creatures duking it out and whatnot – rather than anything related to real-world occult practices.

Obviously, if a player or parent of a player does find the game spiritually detrimental, then he or she should refrain from playing, but I don’t think there’s any general threat. Have a talk with your child about real vs. fictional portrayals of the supernatural, if you like.

Truly, if there is a moral/spiritual threat to any of the trading card games, I would place it more in the area of greed or waste of resources. The cards in each pack are randomized, and come in varying degrees of rarity, so players are encouraged to buy more cards in order to get better ones and build superior decks. In some people this can become almost addictive, as even my college friends noticed. Magic would be no different from Pokemon in this respect, though.

Usagi
 
Like many other things, Magic The Gathering can be played in a completely innocent way, or in such a way that it becomes an alternative spirituality for the player.

If the player is sound in their faith and has like-minded friends to play with, I think the game is pretty harmless.
 
I used to play it quite a bit.

The premise a duel between Wizards. There are 5 ‘colors’ of ‘Magic’ that one can play

Red - Fire - emphasis on physical damage
Black - Evil - emphasis damage by disease or curses
Green - Forest - emphasis on growing and creatures
White - Good Healing and protection
Blue - Water - emphasis on blocking other magic

The ability to play cards is given by ‘land’ cards. Mountains generate ‘Red’ power, Swamps generate ‘Black’ power, Plains generate ‘White’ power, Forests generate ‘Green’ power and Islands generate ‘Blue’ power.

Most players will have a single color deck or at most, two colors.

My deck was exclusively White\Green. I felt very uncomfortable with black cards; black is also were most of the sinister looking cards are.

The White cards have things like Angels, White Knights and Unicorns, the black have Vampires, Zombies and Nightmares.

You get the idea.

I’ve got my kids started on a Bible based card game that is VERY similar to Magic

It’s called Redemption, and the object is to overcome evil cards to rescue lost souls.

redemptioncardgame.com/index.html

It’s really cool 👍
 
I used to really like the game. I even after several years of not playing went and started to buy some cards again. I haven’t played in a couple years but if I meet someone else who has cards I might have to find mine and play again. I thought it was a lot of fun.
 
I played it back in college too (1993/94). I also felt really uncomfortable with black and so stuck to only White and Green. I wouldn’t recommend it for young kids.
 
I would’ve played M: TG if I continued to play card games. I became bored with the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game though…

My most notable accomplishment was being ranked the 25th(Upper Deck rankings) in the United States during one period.

One particular annoying habit was annoucing my moves in Japanese during my duels. I did this because I enjoyed the Japanese version of the television show. I will pronounce the words phonetically:

“Ore no turn, duru kado!” My turn, draw card!

“Turapu kado hatsuduo, Seinaru Barrier - Mirrar Force” Activate trap card, [Holy Barrier] - Mirror Force!

“Ni mai kado setto, sari ni, Madou Senshi Breaka shokan” Set two [magic/trap] cards, then summon Breaker the Magical Warrior.

See this: janime.info/vocab.html

I experienced ennui because everyone was using the same strategy. This, of course, would not happen in M:TG because one can construct a variety of decks. From observing others playing the game, I think “green” would be my color.
 
Back when there were only a handful of expansions, I used to play black because of some wonderful “weeney” combos that involved mass-producing a worthless critter called a “trull” and metaphorically “feeding” them to one of my bigger, hungrier creatures.

The dangers of Magic: the Gathering, IMO, are not so much it being a gateway to the occult (though it might attract kids who already have an unhealthy fascination with such things) as much as its addictive, consumerist and amoral quality. Kids gamble with expensive collectors’ cards, cards and decks get stolen, friendships are lost and sometimes even fights break out, and the hobby becomes an incredible money pit.

By the same token, the game is a wonderful mental exercise and I credit my gaming days (not just Magic) with a lot of my analytical and problem-solving ability now.

I could never get back into the game because the expansions all make my head spin. It’s a rich kids’ game. I miss the old Microprose online version, though–that was high quality.
 
Black_Jaque said:
Has anyone seen kids playing this trading card game?

It’s called Magic: The Gathering.

It’s like Pokemon, except the artwork has that sinister sorcery look too it.

Of course the kids say, “it’s just a game.”
Click to expand...
It predates Pokemon by many years and is the original ccg. I played it from 1994-1995. It is just a game and if it keeps kids in the basement playing cards with each other instead of going out drinking and driving, it’s a good thing. 👍
 
My husband learned to play Magic in the Navy. He has a very large collection of cards from 90’s. He taught me to play after he got out of the Navy and he taught our daughter to play when she was about 7 years old. He hasn’t bought cards in a long time. Him and my daughter (who is now 11) still play once in a while.
I have to say some of the art work creeps me out. I would never play red or black -really it’s just superstition I my part.
I really don’t see evil in card game. No ones making encantations or casting actual spells. It’s a game of stategy.
 
Most players will have a single color deck or at most, two colors.
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My deck was exclusively White\Green. I felt very uncomfortable with black cards; black is also were most of the sinister looking cards are.
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The White cards have things like Angels, White Knights and Unicorns, the black have Vampires, Zombies and Nightmares.
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Oh. It could be that the kid I’ve been watching plays a “black” deck - which could leave a more sinister impression at first glance.

The same kid has exhibited other signs that cause me concern.
I really don’t see evil in card game. No ones making encantations or casting actual spells. It’s a game of stategy.
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If it’s just a card game, you’re correct. But it’s not the “game” that bothers me. It’s the imagery. Catholicism recognizes that the power of symbols is real. That’s why her churches are full of symbols, and she encourages her believers to surround themselves with symbols. It has to do with conditioning the mind to be oriented towards God. But if those symbols do not orient your mind towards God, their power can be damaging. The power of symbols is not magical, it’s natural. You see a symbol and it causes your brain to think a thought…and you sow a thought and reap an action.

It sounds as if this game at least recognizes evil and good. Does it confuse the two?
 
Black_Jaque said:
Oh. It could be that the kid I’ve been watching plays a “black” deck - which could leave a more sinister impression at first glance.

The same kid has exhibited other signs that cause me concern.
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How did he disturb you? I think I would adopt a “green” strategy though.

What other signs did he exhibit?
 
Well, when I asked him things like if he thought Satan was real he wasn’t sure. And when I pounced on him for that, he retreated by saying “I guess he’s real.”

He thinks wiccans are just people who were unjustly persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials.

He has long fingernails.

And other comments he’s made throughout the period that I’ve known him.

I realize that long fingernails on a boy may not be indicative of anything problematic. But in conjunction with a facination with this card game, heavy metal music, and revealing comments have raised my concern.

I don’t know if I would say I was disturbed - that’s a bit too strong yet. Concerned is the word. There’s just some warning flags that are being raised that’s all.
 
Black_Jaque said:
Well, when I asked him things like if he thought Satan was real he wasn’t sure. And when I pounced on him for that, he retreated by saying “I guess he’s real.”

He thinks wiccans are just people who were unjustly persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials.

He has long fingernails.

And other comments he’s made throughout the period that I’ve known him.

I realize that long fingernails on a boy may not be indicative of anything problematic. But in conjunction with a facination with this card game, heavy metal music, and revealing comments have raised my concern.

I don’t know if I would say I was disturbed - that’s a bit too strong yet. Concerned is the word. There’s just some warning flags that are being raised that’s all.
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He doesn’t sound Satanic.

Weren’t the Salem Witch Trails an example of a “unjust persecution”?

Don’t Catholics believe Satan is real?

Heavy metal music does not reveal anything. If he had a fascination for Anton LaVey, I would be quite afraid.
 
The biggest threat, IMO, from MTG is the rampant consumerism & gambling aspects.

I have no problem with multiple expansions. I do have a problem with the need to blind-buy expansions.

I used to play MTG. Good game, well designed. Strongly themed. If it had been sold by the expansion box (ala Nuclear War, by Flying Buffalo, or Modern Naval Battles by 3W), I might still be playing.

But the CCG model’s gambling aspects make the profits climb…

… and play balance has dipped in recent years as well.
 
It sounds as if this game at least recognizes evil and good. Does it confuse the two?
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Yes and no. The game does not have a sophisticated working notion of morality. The “white” and “black” colors are stereotypes based on medieval fantasy. Technically, if M:tG were real and not roleplay, all of the “wizards” would be committing all of the evils associated with warfare no matter the “color” they wielded. The “black” wizard would just happen to use zombies, disease, and devils with pitchforks instead of the knights, angels, and peasants of the “white” wizard.

As with so many modern entertainments, a failure of a child to receive such things in a healthy way probably indicates deeper problems than bad fictional influences.
 
Black_Jaque said:
Well, when I asked him things like if he thought Satan was real he wasn’t sure. And when I pounced on him for that, he retreated by saying “I guess he’s real.”
He thinks wiccans are just people who were unjustly persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials.
He has long fingernails.
And other comments he’s made throughout the period that I’ve known him.
I realize that long fingernails on a boy may not be indicative of anything problematic. But in conjunction with a facination with this card game, heavy metal music, and revealing comments have raised my concern.
I don’t know if I would say I was disturbed - that’s a bit too strong yet. Concerned is the word. There’s just some warning flags that are being raised that’s all.
Click to expand...
I wonder if this is a question of the moth attracting the flame, rather than the other way around?

That is to say, perhaps this boy was already courting the occult and the certain images fron M:TG resonated with him, rather than the images causing an interest in the occult.

I used to observe this while I was teaching middle schoolers: the ones who were already depressed began gravitating to the “emo music” (I sound like an old lady when I put that in quotes :rolleyes: ). The music didn’t make them that way, they were already there, and found the music an adequate outlet for expression.

On the other hand, if I listen to emo music, it DOES depress me. 😉

The point is, what was this boy like before he started playing M:TG? Maybe his interest in the occult predates it.

Cheers,
C

p.s. My husband and I used to play ALL THE TIME in the 90s. And I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters who bemoan the wasted resources the game encourages. Anyone want to buy our collection? Maybe recoup some of our losses? 😉
 
Cari said:
I wonder if this is a question of the moth attracting the flame, rather than the other way around?

That is to say, perhaps this boy was already courting the occult and the certain images fron M:TG resonated with him, rather than the images causing an interest in the occult.

I used to observe this while I was teaching middle schoolers: the ones who were already depressed began gravitating to the “emo music” (I sound like an old lady when I put that in quotes :rolleyes: ). The music didn’t make them that way, they were already there, and found the music an adequate outlet for expression.

On the other hand, if I listen to emo music, it DOES depress me. 😉

The point is, what was this boy like before he started playing M:TG? Maybe his interest in the occult predates it.

Cheers,
C

p.s. My husband and I used to play ALL THE TIME in the 90s. And I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters who bemoan the wasted resources the game encourages. Anyone want to buy our collection? Maybe recoup some of our losses? 😉
Click to expand...
I’ll give you 400 dollars if it has the Power 9.
 
My children have played it. As time has gone on, their interest has waned. I never found a problem with it and I think that alone killed their interest. Once in awhile they still get out the cards and play but as I said it is rare.
 
My Children play too. I think it is actually good to make them think in terms of good/neutral/evil and lawful/unlawful so long as they are old enough to understand that it is a fantasy game and know their own beliefs well.
 
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