UM Students Conjure Magic: The Gathering

By Reed Strength

Many may recognize the Queen of Hearts and the Ace of Spades. But how familiar is the Archetype of Aggression or Erebos, the God of the Dead?

Those mentioned are only two out of the many playable options in popular trading card game, Magic: The Gathering.

Initially starting in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has continued to gain followers and fans, with 12 million reported players in 2011.

The game is centered around decks of 60 or more cards. Players draw hands from these decks, and summon powerful creatures and spells against their opponents in an attempt to bring their life points to zero.

At UM, a wide range of students play Magic. A loose group of friends has started playing in Farmer Hall most nights while Napier Residence Hall features a weekly Friday Night Magic program.

From L to R: The five colors and environments of Magic
are the White Plains,the Blue Islands, the Black Swamps,
the Red Mountains and the Green Forests.

It's common to hear Magic Players refer to their playing styles with either one or two colors. This relates to the five different card colors present within the game.

The differing colors not only represent the variety of environments and creatures present within the game's universe, but the play styles and personality types of the players as well.



For example, a player that uses Blue cards tends to attempt to control the game with tact, while a Red player is normally faster and more aggressive.

To stay on top of the competition, players often have to spend as much time playing as hunting certain cards down and constructing the perfect deck. This collecting is expensive, with some players spending $10 to $50 a month on cards alone.

This group of UM students can often be found in the bottom
of Farmer Hall playing with and trading Magic cards.

Despite the constant combat experienced during game play, foes often become friends.

Freshman Chemistry major Jordan Wilson says he often comes to Farmer as a "stress reliever" from exams.

Fellow chem major Mathew McGrady says that even when working to conspire against someone, there are friends to be gained.


This social aspect of Magic inspired Napier Resident Assistant Emmit Ashford to start the Friday Night Magic program in the building's basement. Ashford says that even when the program doesn't happen, players will compete with each other until 10 in the morning.

For anyone interested in picking up the hobby, players say the best first step is to jump right in.

Marketing Major Matthew Crowson invites anyone to join he and his friends in Farmer Hall. "We'll be glad to teach anyone interested in playing," he said.