Mill Matters

Do you still remember the very first MTG booster pack you ever opened?

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:09:33 -0400

mtgthings:

What rare was in it? :3

For me, it was an M10 booster pack. It held Platinum Angel.

It was Future Sight, and I got a Quagnoth. :) I still have him to this day, he’s the one card I’ll never trade!

“Everything the wise woman learned she wrote in a book,...

Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

“Everything the wise woman learned she wrote in a book, and when the pages were black with ink, she took white ink and began again”

Alter Ideas?

Tue, 14 May 2013 02:05:28 -0400

I’d like to Alter a few islands for my new deck, but I have no idea what I should do with them. Any suggestions?

mtg-realm: justmagicthings: So I whipped this up. It’s in the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:25:46 -0400

mtg-realm:

justmagicthings:

So I whipped this up. It’s in the style of an STD PSA Poster.

Art by Izzy.

» THIS … Absolutely brilliant !

Dead.

mtg-realm: Magic: the Gathering - Wallpaper Angel vs. Death in...

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:12:27 -0400

mtg-realm:

Magic: the Gathering - Wallpaper

Angel vs. Death in the game of life - 1600 x 992. Tried to track down the artist here - flip me a note if you know.

mtg-realm: Magic: the Gathering - Art Dryad Arbor, Future Sight...

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:11:08 -0400

mtg-realm:

Magic: the Gathering - Art

Dryad Arbor, Future Sight Uncommon illustration from Eric Fortune / From the Vault: Realms Mythic Rare by artist Brad Rigney. Dryad Arbor, a green creature that is also a forest land, carrying the properties of both.

What’s up with the people making out in the back of the new art? Anyone else notice that?

mtgfan: Dragon’s Maze Infographic! - By James Arnold I really...

Wed, 08 May 2013 01:29:51 -0400

mtgfan:

Dragon’s Maze Infographic! - By James Arnold

I really thought this was wonderful, I hope you guys enjoy it as well!

winmill: “Don’t you know thatWhen I see your faceIt’s like...

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:37:10 -0400

winmill:

“Don’t you know that
When I see your face
It’s like Sunlight dripping”

Terezi looking into the Alternian Sun.

By J. Whitehall.

When I Have Lethal on Board, and my Opponent Hasn't Noticed Yet

Fri, 03 May 2013 01:09:52 -0400

mtgfan:

m-t-g-ifs:

On the outside:

On the inside:

COME ON, LET ME DO IT. COME ON, LET ME DO IT. COME ON, LET ME DO IT.

Casting a Huge Spell in a Multiplayer Game

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:45:41 -0400

m-t-g-ifs:

I’m an adult. I’m a super serious mtg alterist...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:40:12 -0400

I’m an adult.

I’m a super serious mtg alterist guys okay?

mtgfan: meghan1337: The biggest problem in translating a game...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:19:01 -0400

mtgfan:

meghan1337:

The biggest problem in translating a game is when due to whatever circumstances, the localized version comes out wrong.

Wrong, as in, the rules come out wrong.

Dragon’s Maze is in Prerelease weekend right now, and this came up on the Facebook groups recently, explaining that the English rule will apply no matter how the actual card was translated.

Let’s look at what happened, then: the original Viashino Firstblade rules text says it gets +2/+2 until end of turn; however, the Portuguese version says that target creature gets +2/+2. Ouch. That makes this 3-mana uncommon too good for a 3-mana uncommon! Plus, this is not what the original said. That’s just wrong, and if you read my previous posts, I hardly ever say translations are outright wrong.

This translation mistake (and this is truly a mistake because the original did not carry the target-creature message) will cost a lot of trouble for Magic judges, and the reception to the edition as a whole loses a bit of credibility. Players have commented on Magic-specific groups that the translation is usually bad, which includes many card names that they dislike the choices made; on the other hand, they recognize the improvement in localization since Lorwyn. Another important point is that they know the game is translated by Brazilians, and therefore they expected a better job - although many usual misconceptions about translation are still present in the comments, such as “it was such a simple job”, “most companies get just any random dude to translate stuff”, etc.

As a translator myself, I worry about such reception. It makes our job look less professional, reliable, and it also scratches the credibility of the product Magic is, a little bit. They blame it straight on Wizards, because they hire the people.

As a localization scholar (a beginner at that, but still, a developing scholar), I resent not expanding my corpus with not only Dragon’s Maze, but the entire Ravnica block; however, that would require a couple more years of research that I can’t use right now ):

Derp.

Just a heads up, and an interesting read.

As a former editor as opposed to a translator, I can understand how this happens. Sometimes things just get away from you.

SCREAMING POTENTIAL ALTER COMMISSION FOR MY FORTH FORCE. ROLLING ON THE FLOOR WITH JOY SCREAMING

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:29:35 -0400

SCREAMING

POTENTIAL ALTER COMMISSION FOR MY FORTH FORCE.

ROLLING ON THE FLOOR WITH JOY

SCREAMING

mtg-realm: heroesandvillainscomicsandgames: For all of you...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:08:48 -0400

mtg-realm:

heroesandvillainscomicsandgames:

For all of you attending our Prereleases, or any other Prerelease for that matter, this little guide may be useful for you if you want a particular three-color combination.

- Alex

» Thanks Alex! That’s a nice simple breakdown.

Oh wow, I was really looking for one of these. Thanks!

win-mill, you are a...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:29:37 -0400

Navigator (CDIG)
Competitive Defensive Inflexible Game-player

As a Navigator you believe in working hard to get the best out of your deck. You spend a lot of time thinking about your strategy, getting it just right before a big tournament. You can’t understand these people who just pick up a deck the night before and expect to go in and win. For this reason you’re probably not that keen on drafting. When a new set comes out it means lots of work for you - but you invest the time because in the end it’s going to pay off. You always check up on spoilers, eager to find out what the card names are and what they all do. You put a lot of time into reading articles about Magic strategy and thinking about how their advice can be fitted into your style of play.

Nothing beats the satisfaction that comes from seeing all that preparation pay off as you gradually beat your opponent. A bit like a chess player, you tend to take your time during a game, running through everything in your mind to make sure you’ve got everything covered. You think about all the things your opponent might do and all the things you’ll need to do if that happens. Having taken all the time to develop a system for victory, you want to make sure you carry it out perfectly.

Everyone likes to ask a Navigator for directions. You know all the cards and what they do - making you an extremely valuable person to have around. You’re probably very good at teaching people how to play, and you make a really useful part of any team. You know the value of your knowledge and you’re happy to discuss the game with people, but you wouldn’t harm your team’s chances by spreading it too widely.

Your Cards are:Polluted Delta Weathered Wayfarer Compulsion Mana Leak

(I love that every time I take one of these quizzes, be it my guild alignment or my play style, they always suggest I’d play U/B. As a dedicated U/B player, I’m pleased to know my playstyle and my personal preference match so well!)

Take the Magic personality quiz! —>

http://www.blackborder.com/cgi-bin/customscripts/personality/welcome.cgi?referid=&sid=nQwXNFTlZS

I just can’t.

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:21:52 -0400

I just can’t.

Magic the Gathering!: Modern Second Sunrise is banned. Vintage Regrowth is unrestricted.

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:13:34 -0400

Magic the Gathering!: Modern Second Sunrise is banned. Vintage Regrowth is unrestricted.:

The deck uses Second Sunrise and Faith’s Reward to get back cards that generate mana, such as Lotus Bloom, and various artifacts that draw a card. A common choice to win the game is Pyrite Spellbomb. However, the way the player gets to the point of forcing a win might involve casting Second…

I’m sorry, Eggs.

I just apologized to eggs.

MtG is weird.

Flawless.

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:13:10 -0400

Flawless.

Magic the Gathering!: better-humans: absolutely-fatal: Wait, I’m sorry, I don’t get it?...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:45:00 -0400

Magic the Gathering!: better-humans: absolutely-fatal: Wait, I’m sorry, I don’t get it?...:

better-humans:

absolutely-fatal:

Wait, I’m sorry, I don’t get it?

What’s the difference in a “regular” d20 and a life counter?

The allegation is that you’re more likely to roll high and low numbers than numbers in the middle. For example, you’re more likely to roll an 18 or a 3…

They’ve done studies (Holy shit, people do STUDIES on things like this? Seriously though, I’ve looked it up) And they found that as long as a roll-down (spin-down) die bounces 3 times during the roll, there is no statistical difference between rolling a randomized d20 and a roll-down 20.

A CRY FOR HELP!

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:31:32 -0400

winmill:

Hey guys, I need a huge favor!

I need writing prompts for warm ups, if you could leave me an idea or a few terms in my ask box, I’ll turn it into a brief story for you!

Thanks so much!

I try to keep my personal business off my mtg blog, but I could use a little help here! Thanks guys. :)