The Planeswalking Tavern: The Magus Battles, Part 2

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.
 
 
BUSINESS was brisk. Patrons clamoured at the observation deck, at windows, doors, and any other place that gave them a good view of the action. Already spells were slung and minions summoned by the planeswalkers to provide them some advantage over their opponents. It wasn’t so much a brutal battle but a delicate contest of wills, deception, and trickery. Each of the six combatants seemed to make use of blue mana, the mana of mental acumen and intellectual superiority, to a certain degree. Thus what would have otherwise been a glorified catfight was a pretty ballet of balance danced by the six performers. Even the more posh patrons to The Tavern clinked their glasses as they cheered on the combatants.

The Planeswalking Tavern: The Magus Battles, Part 1

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.
 
 
WHERE are we going, Genie?” the young man inquired.

Jéne E. Ilk didn’t give an immediate answer. Instead he grasped the steering wheel of his ship, the building known as The Tavern, and spun the circle around, letting it roll to the left under the applied impetus. He and the other men on the ‘bridge’ of the ‘ship’ were dressed in naval attire, something that had never taken place before.

“Welcome to Halloween,” Jéne E. said. “I mean this world’s equivalent of Halloween.”

“But where are we going?” the young man asked again. “Surely you’re not going to let the planeswalking engine pick a random destination?”

Jéne E. smiled.

“Genie, you can’t be serious?” the young man exclaimed in horror.

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” Jéne E. said in the most disarming manner. “No. Today, we’re going to watch good old fashioned gladiatorial massacre between feuding planeswalkers.” He stepped close to a map hung vertically from a frame and pointed at a spot. “Across the Blind Eternities is a world considered by many planeswalkers as neutral ground, the perfect place to settle any disagreements. We’ll get there when we get there.”

The young man asked, “And the point to all this is?”

Big Thanks On the Completion of GPT Shanghai 2011

It was a very Late Start this Weekend, with the event starting an hour later than expected due to technical problems.
Of which the Tavern and its organizing staff Duly Apologize.....
However, We would still like to thank ALL the PEOPLE who arrived to support the GPT Shanghai Event at the Tavern.
A big Thank you to our Judge, Mr Fong for being here to help us out through out the event and 
A huge Congratulations to the Winner as he bagged the top prize of 3 byes and 18 boosters Mr. Siew
And to the Runner- up Mr. Martin, congratulations too :)
We at the Tavern Would Also like to thank all the others who have made the GPT Shanghai a Major Success!! :)
Thank you all so much.

The Planeswalking Tavern: Disbelief at the Barbeque, Part 2

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.
 
 
THE planeswalking engine kicked into gear after the caravan had passed by The Tavern. Strong winds enveloped the building, but a magic shield prevented the rushing air from disturbing its insides. In complete comfort, the man and the woman gazed past the torrents of air to see the meadow outside the building melt away, to be replaced with that of a beach with pure white sand. Immediately after the air died, a group of holidaymakers rushed out of The Tavern and dived straight into the midday sea.

On the observation deck the woman watched in silence as she chewed her food. The man, on the other hand, was frozen in time, completely speechless, and hushed to the nth degree. The couple stood there without movement for an entire minute without anything disturbing them. Then a waiter went up to them and offered the husband and wife a place at an empty table because the barbeque was about to begin.

“Give us a minute,” the woman said.

GPT Shanghai 2011

Previously, the tavern brought you to the Doorsteps of GP Singapore by bringing you GPT Singapore 2011
Now, The Tavern is going to bring you up to the doorsteps of one of the most ancient civilizations in the World, CHINA!
Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the Arena to the Imperial City is now OPEN!!!

The Peddler and the Tavern Welcome all of you to put your skills to the test in this Grand Melee to redeem the opportunity of the lifetime to Visit SHANGHAI and DUEL in STYLE

Grand Prix Shanghai Trials
Date: 28/5/2011
Day: Saturday
Time: 2pm
Format: Sealed
Entry Fee: RM 80
(Each player will receive 2 Scars of Mirrodin Boosters and 2 Mirrodin Besieged Boosters and 2 NEW PHYREXIAN BOOSTERS!!)
Structure: Swiss With Top 8 Booster Draft Playoffs
K-Value: 24
Prizes:

For Player attendance count that's above 30
1st Place     36 New Phyrexian Boosters
2nd Place    18 New Phyrexian Boosters
3rd - 4th      9 New Phyrexian Boosters
5th - 8th       6 New Phyrexian Boosters
9th - 16th     3 New Phyrexian Boosters
17th - 30th  1 New Phyrexian Booster

If the attendance less than 29 players:
1st Place     18 New Phyrexian Boosters
2nd Place    9 New Phyrexian Boosters
3rd - 4th      6 New Phyrexian Boosters
5th - 8th      3 New Phyrexian Boosters
9th - 16th    2 New Phyrexian Boosters
17th - Last Place   New Phyrexian Booster

Grand Prize:
3 Round Byes to Grand Prix Shanghai 2011 will be awarded to top X finishers in the tournament, once again depending on participant head count

Number of participants -> Number of Grand Prizes
8 – 32 -> 1
33 – 64 -> 2
65 – 128 -> 4
129 + -> 8

An Additional bonus for those who register early(before the 20th of May and while stocks last):
+RM 75 Entry Fee
+1 Free Drink voucher _{(redeemable on that day only)}
+1 Set of Eldritch Tokens

The Planeswalking Tavern: Disbelief at the Barbeque, Part 1

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.

 
SOMEHOW the surroundings of The Tavern seemed both familiar and alien at the same time. It was like the building had moved a number of metres in a certain direction so that the scenery outside the window was different.

“What the heck just happened?” the man exclaimed to his partner.

The woman seated at the same table replied with, “We shifted off the road. There must be a caravan coming.”

“How?” the man asked. “What do you mean ‘shifted’?”

“The building can move,” answered the woman. “That’s the whole reason we’re visiting The Tavern. To experience travel.”

“That’s a joke. Buildings don’t move.”

“But you saw it yourself, didn’t you?”

“That must have been a magical trick. Someone put up a magical barrier on the window and changed what the outside looks like.”

The woman picked up the cherry from her drink as she said, “Disbelievers are going to disbelieve. Why not take a walk outside and see for yourself?”

“I think I will. Hah! Let’s see this moving tavern do the tango while we’re here.”

After finishing their drinks, the man and the woman exited the main archway of The Tavern and walked around the building. The dirt road that the building had hitherto situated itself upon was not to one side of The Tavern, and indeed there was a caravan moving down the road.

The man said, “A magical trick. The building shifted a few metres. A cheap shot.”

The woman looked up at the bright sky to gauge the time before she said, “We better get inside. The Tavern is due to travel to another world in mere minutes.”

“This I’ve got to see,” the man announced and performed a grin.

The couple went up to the observation deck on the second floor. While the man stood by the balustrade, eagerly awaiting a miracle, the woman got herself a bag of munchies before approaching her partner.

“Ten gold pieces says it’s just a fancy illusion,” the man said.

The woman shook his hand with the words, “Just be a good sport and pay up when you lose.”

A hearty laugh escaped the man.

>Continued in part 2

Singles!

 As promised but 1 day late due to internet downtime here are the prices for Singles in Magic the Gathering

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en_US&hl=en_US&key=0AnBQRRYuvxBGdGViYlZwUmhqYnhtVk1NRWhCaUVzOFE&output=html

Singles!

Due to popular Demand, the Tavern shall start selling their MTG cards both at the shop and through this website.
The link to the Price list and Availability section will be up by tomorrow.

The Planeswalking Tavern: The Thief and the Nurse, Part 2

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.


SHE picked up a glass of drink for herself as she said, “You’re quick. I’m scared now.”

“Where are we?”

“We… are… somewhere safe. Where exactly, only the Magus knows.”

Prolonged silence came into play, during which the woman held her glass in one hand and a relatively large scalpel in the other. Even when she had finished her drink, the man didn’t seem all too interested in moving.

“Well?”

“What?”

“Are you going to lie there all day?”

“What am I supposed to do? I bet there’re guards outside. I’ll get caught if I do anything.”

“You’re already caught.”

“Excellent deduction. Now let me wither away in peace.”

The woman shook her head in what could be regret for saving this man, then went to the door and knocked on it. The sound of heavy boots walking in made the man jump in terror. The guards were real, and one of them appeared very blatantly to be the captain. The woman slipped out, not wanting to have any part in the interrogation. As she closed the door after her, the captain held up one of the items the thief had stolen, nodding as though asking for an explanation from the man who cowered in a corner of the room.

The Planeswalking Tavern: The Thief and the Nurse, Part 1

This is a series of vignettes centred around a fictional Tavern in the Magic Multiverse.


THERE were no witnesses to the theft, but the young man had difficulty leaving the scene when the only way out had automatically secured itself. Something prevented the gate from opening, so the man found himself trapped inside a massive vault full of all the riches he could ever wish for in the world.

With the skill of a master the man produced a lock-picking toolkit and set himself to work on the gate’s many locks. After enough time had passed, he undid the last lock and pulled the heavy gate inwards. It moved. The thief slipped through the opening and proceeded to close the gate and relock the bolts with his toolkit.

While he busied himself with this task, the sound of thunder shattered his hearing and a powerful gust of wind swept him off his feet, knocking his tools from his grasp. He scuttled to save some of them and disposed them into deep pockets, only to look up to see a sight to behold.

The empty cavern before him was suddenly occupied by… a building. From the looks of it, it appeared to be a rest-house of sorts. Merry songs and sounds of laughter could be heard from within, and the smell of fine food and wine began to waft through the enclosed space.

Perhaps out of terror, the thief moved very slowly, hugging the walls of the cavern away from the building. His scattered tools lay forgotten as his thoughts rumbled chaotically in his head.

What… is… going on here?

A small parade exited one of the building’s entrances. The men marched in tandem and formation, brandishing standards and banners as though their affiliated organisation was the greatest in the world. They beat drums and blew trumpets as their passage took them away from the vault, the party completely ignoring the thief who even now was quaking in his boots.

A firework shot up from the tallest point of the building and hit the roof of the cavern, exploding into a million and one colours and shapes. The sparks then coalesced into the shape of a large portal against the stone roof, allowing a pair of large eyes to peer down from the ceiling onto the environment below.

The thief fainted.

* * *

There was coldness on his forehead, and he could guess that whoever rescued him had tried to lower his temperature. He was too afraid to open his eyes, yet he was too curious not too. He could hear the sounds being made by someone moving about in the room. Something was poured into some kind of container. Some light fell over his eyes, making his squint despite his eyes being closed. Must be moonlight, judging from how cold it felt.

“Open your eyes,” a woman’s voice said. “We both know you’re awake.”

“Mmmbph.”

“What?”

“Nnngh!”

After a moment of profound reasoning, the woman went to the bedridden man and tapped a pressure point, then quickly retreated to the centre of the room. The thief squealed some musical note before rolling over and falling face first onto the floor. There he stayed for a full minute.

“I didn’t kill you,” the woman said.

She occupied herself by sharpening her surgical tools, just so she had an excuse to hold them. The man was a stranger. There was no telling who he was and what he would do. She felt unsafe save the comfort obtained from having blades in her hands.

Then the man lifted an arm and crawled back into the bed. He grabbed at the sheets and pulled them over him.

“Why is it so cold?” he said. “It should be sweltering underground.” The woman needn’t answer for he remembered one special property of this building, and so he said, “We travelled to a different place already?”

She picked up a glass of drink for herself as she said, “You’re quick. I’m scared now.”

>Continued in part 2

Magic: The Gathering – New Phyrexia

t’s that time again. A new set’s release (or pre-release) came and went, and with it came a host of toys for our grubby little gaming hands to get a hold of.

Most of them are recurring themes and remain the same, like infect, living weapon, metalcraft, and proliferate, but one of the more interesting innovations to come around this time (in my opinion) is Phyrexian mana.
Phyrexian mana comes in the same five flavours as normal mana; white, blue, black, red, and green. That means that they are payable like normal mana, which is a good thing.

Now, the difference between Phyrexian mana and normal mana is that Phyrexian mana can be paid through an alternate way. You can pay 2 life instead of paying the cost for a Phyrexian mana symbol.

Let’s look at an example.

Porcelain Legionnaire costs 2 colourless mana and 1 White Phyrexian mana. You can either pay 2 colourless and 1 White to cast it, or you can take the cheap way and pay 2 mana plus 2 life. Taking the cheap route reduces your life total a bit, but it lets you bring out a 3-power creature with first strike as quickly as turn 1 or 2, depending on your deck. That’s nothing to laugh about.

Multiple symbols of Phyrexian mana work the same.

Moltensteel Dragon can be paid through the full mana cost (4 colourless and 2 Red) or you can opt to pay 4 colourless and 4 life, bringing down this big flyer with increasable power on turn 3. The cost of increasing its power can be paid the same way as paying Phyrexian mana in the casting cost. You either pay 1 Red to buff the power, or you can pay 2 life. You can pay more than once if you really like dragons.

One of the recurring themes throughout the New Phyrexia set is Golems. Many cards produce Golem tokens and even give bonuses to said Golems.

All ‘Splicer’ cards allow you to put Golem tokens into play on top of bestowing some ability to your Golems. Other cards also help you generate a Golem army, but I’ll let you discover them on your own. More fun that way.

Now for something different. During all the Magic tutorials on this site, we have seen artifacts only as colourless cards. Artifacts can actually be coloured, and have actually been coloured, and are now coloured again thanks to the Phyrexians.

Porcelain Legionnaire is actually a white card because it has the White Phyrexian mana symbol. Phyrexian Metamorph is a blue card because it has the Blue Phyrexian mana symbol.

One thing to note is this: cards are coloured based on their mana symbols, not on what type there are. So artifacts are colourless based on their colourless mana symbols, not because they are artifacts. If an artifact sudden had a Green mana symbol, then it would be green. If it had a Black or Red mana symbol, it would be black or red.

That’s all for this guide to New Phyrexia. For more information on New Phyrexia’s recurring mechanics, read the Magic: The Gathering Tutorials Week 12 and 13.

Till next time, sayonara.

Urgent Update

There's been an Urgent update on the new phyrexian Prerelease
The Peddler has announced that HE WILL INCREASE THE PRIZES for the prerelease once the attendance hits over 30