Holy Magic Batman
Many years ago (okay 10) the dw and I picked up the game of Magic: The Gathering. This was and still is one of the few interests (of a geeky nature) that we both share. I have tried to get her to play DnD, I have introduced her to Sci-Fi movies and books. She claims that she is NOT into these things and that she just indulges me as those are my interests. But a few of those interest seem to have struck a chord with her, and Magic was and is one of them.
We started playing as a casual interest and it didn't take long before we both had hundreds of cards; and I mean hundreds and hundreds of cards. She also manifested an atribute that I have seen not very often with her, she became very ritualistic and superstitious with her cards. She would play only certain colors, she will never mix her cards with mine, she is very specific in which cards she plays, where she sits and how she approaches the game. It can be scary if you don't know her well.
10 years ago we boxed up the cards and put them away, not out of any particular desire to distance ourselves from them, but more because other factors in our lives began to take over and that game became a pasttime that we didn't have time for. Fast forward 10 years. Our son is now 8 and he came across our magic cards. They are boxed in separate cases, each case decorated by their owner in their own manner. Jb asked about them, what they were, how the game is played, why we don't play it anymore, etc.
Jb is a smart kid and has played games similar to the mechanics of other games. So a few nights ago, I downloaded the (new to me) tutorial from the official website and Jb played it to death. I made up a few beginner decks (after I brushed off some of the card rules and suggestions) and we played a game. S made a deck and joined us. So the three of us had our first family game of magic. Jb did well, as a matter of fact he wopped my butt quite decidedly. He even held back on both me and his mom to prolong the game a bit more. Call it beginners luck, or just plain ol' luck, whatever, he won and was really proud of himself. He is a bit upset that I built the beginners decks without using some of the more powerful and complex playing cards in our libraries. He says that he can deal with it. I am sure that it won't take long before he CAN deal with them, but he isn't there yet. Last night I showed him that. We played again, and Jb was still a bit high on his win from the night before. After game two went to dad, due to the luck of how the cards fell, and the ole knowledge seeping back into my skull. Jb complained that I only won because of the cards that I had, and I explained to him that it was less the cards and more the understanding of how the cards work together. To prove my point I gave him my deck and took his deck and we played again. And again I prevailed. Then I explained that he still had some stuff to learn from the cards and that was why I made the beginner decks. He conceded that he MIGHT have something to learn.
Now I am scared. Because he has a purpose, and he will put his quick and sharp mind to work and aquire the understanding that he needs to whop his dad each and every time. It has only just begun.
We started playing as a casual interest and it didn't take long before we both had hundreds of cards; and I mean hundreds and hundreds of cards. She also manifested an atribute that I have seen not very often with her, she became very ritualistic and superstitious with her cards. She would play only certain colors, she will never mix her cards with mine, she is very specific in which cards she plays, where she sits and how she approaches the game. It can be scary if you don't know her well.
10 years ago we boxed up the cards and put them away, not out of any particular desire to distance ourselves from them, but more because other factors in our lives began to take over and that game became a pasttime that we didn't have time for. Fast forward 10 years. Our son is now 8 and he came across our magic cards. They are boxed in separate cases, each case decorated by their owner in their own manner. Jb asked about them, what they were, how the game is played, why we don't play it anymore, etc.
Jb is a smart kid and has played games similar to the mechanics of other games. So a few nights ago, I downloaded the (new to me) tutorial from the official website and Jb played it to death. I made up a few beginner decks (after I brushed off some of the card rules and suggestions) and we played a game. S made a deck and joined us. So the three of us had our first family game of magic. Jb did well, as a matter of fact he wopped my butt quite decidedly. He even held back on both me and his mom to prolong the game a bit more. Call it beginners luck, or just plain ol' luck, whatever, he won and was really proud of himself. He is a bit upset that I built the beginners decks without using some of the more powerful and complex playing cards in our libraries. He says that he can deal with it. I am sure that it won't take long before he CAN deal with them, but he isn't there yet. Last night I showed him that. We played again, and Jb was still a bit high on his win from the night before. After game two went to dad, due to the luck of how the cards fell, and the ole knowledge seeping back into my skull. Jb complained that I only won because of the cards that I had, and I explained to him that it was less the cards and more the understanding of how the cards work together. To prove my point I gave him my deck and took his deck and we played again. And again I prevailed. Then I explained that he still had some stuff to learn from the cards and that was why I made the beginner decks. He conceded that he MIGHT have something to learn.
Now I am scared. Because he has a purpose, and he will put his quick and sharp mind to work and aquire the understanding that he needs to whop his dad each and every time. It has only just begun.