History TabletopGame / MagicTheGathering

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedWizardry in five different elements: [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans White]], [[BlueMeansCold Blue]], [[AmbitionIsEvil Black]], [[BloodKnight Red]], and [[LuddWasRight Green]]. Each represents a different ideology, from which it derives its LimitedLoadout, and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. For more on the colors, see our MagicTheGathering/ColorTropes page.

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedWizardry in five different elements: [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans White]], [[BlueIsCold Blue]], [[AmbitionIsEvil Black]], [[BloodKnight Red]], and [[LuddWasRight Green]]. Each represents a different ideology, from which it derives its LimitedLoadout, and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. For more on the colors, see our MagicTheGathering/ColorTropes page.

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedWizardry in five different elements: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Each represents a different ideology, [[CompetitiveBalance each with their own strengths and weaknesses]], and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. For more on the colors, see our MagicTheGathering/ColorTropes page.
* The {{Mana}} system: To cast spells, players need the correct amount and color of mana. Mana is gained from Land cards... [[note]] Usually, anyway. [[/note]] but you can only play one Land per turn. At a stroke, this brings the "AwesomeButImpractical" (good spells cost more mana), "LimitedMoveArsenal" (having spells of one color and lands of the other is [[RandomNumberGod frustratingly plausible]]) and "YoureNothingWithoutYourPhlebotinum" (not getting enough land is [[RandomNumberGod frustratingly plausible]]) tropes into the game.

* ''Magic: Legends'', an MMORPG by Cryptic Studios (creators of ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter}}'' and ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'') which, like ''Tactics'', is only using the lore of the ''[=MtG=]'' multiverse for its foundations.

* The {{Mana}} system: To cast spells, players need the correct amount and color of mana. Mana is gained from Land cards... but you can only play one Land per turn. At a stroke, this brings the "AwesomeButImpractical" (good spells cost more mana), "LimitedMoveArsenal" (having spells of one color and lands of the other is [[RandomNumberGod frustratingly plausible]]) and "YoureNothingWithoutYourPhlebotinum" (not getting enough land is [[RandomNumberGod frustratingly plausible]]) tropes into the game.

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}},[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]] the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

** MagicTheGathering/FlavorAndStoryTropesAToE
** MagicTheGathering/FlavorAndStoryTropesFToO

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedWizardry in five different elements: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Each represents a different ideology, [[CompetitiveBalance each with their own strengths and weaknesses]], and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. (For more on the colors, see our [[UsefulNotes/MagicTheGathering Useful Notes]] and [[Analysis/MagicTheGathering Analysis]] pages.)

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedWizardry in five different elements: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Each represents a different philosophy or ideology [[CompetitiveBalance with their own strengths and weaknesses]], and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. (For more on the colors, see our [[UsefulNotes/MagicTheGathering Useful Notes]] and [[Analysis/MagicTheGathering Analysis]] pages.)
* The {{Mana}} system: To cast spells, players need the correct amount and color of mana. Mana is gained from Land cards... but you can only play one Land per turn. At a stroke, this brings the AwesomeButImpractical and LimitedMoveArsenal tropes into the game (more powerful spells cost lots of mana, and decks with too many colors risk drawing the wrong lands and being unable to play their current hand of spells).
* It's "[[CollectibleCardGame collectible]]": Wizards of the Coast have released over 19,000 unique cards into the game, and add an average of 700 new ones every year. This gives you a chance to create a deck that no one else on earth has. (And of course, once you realize that one of the cards you ''don't'' own would fit perfectly into your deck, you want to [[RevenueEnhancingDevices buy more cards]].)

A film adaptation languished in DevelopmentHell at 20th Century Fox for years, and was eventually canceled when Disney purchased the studio in March 2019. By June of that year, Netflix had acquired the rights, and announced that Joe and Anthony Russo of ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' fame would create a [[https://ew.com/tv/2019/06/03/netflix-magic-the-gathering-series-joe-anthony-russo/ Netflix original series]] for them.

* ''Duels of the Planeswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 The PlayStation Store]], Xbox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.

* ''Magic: The Gathering Arena'': On July 2017, Wizards announced that they would no longer update ''Magic Duels'' in preparation for a new FreeToPlay game named ''Magic: The Gathering Arena''. It takes cues from ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'' in terms of visual styling. It has taken over as the main free to play method of playing the game.

In June 2019, it was announced that Joe and Anthony Russo of ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' fame would create a [[https://ew.com/tv/2019/06/03/netflix-magic-the-gathering-series-joe-anthony-russo/ Netflix original series]] of the game.

* ''Magic: The Gathering'': A 1997 CardBattleGame by Creator/MicroProse. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad. Notable in that when the game was in DevelopmentHell, Creator/SidMeier was brought in to give it more focus.

Each game is a duel between powerful mages (the players) known as "planeswalkers." Planeswalkers deploy a wide array of spells, [[SummonMagic creatures]], [[LostTechnology artifacts]] and enchantments (all represented by cards) as they vie to dominate [[TheMultiverse entire realms ("planes")]]--or, [[WatsonianVersusDoylist if you prefer]], to reduce the opponent's [[HitPoints life total]] to zero. Notable gameplay elements include:

* It's "[[CollectibleCardGame collectible]]": Wizards of the Coast have released over 19,000 unique cards into the game, and add an average of 700 new ones every year. You probably don't own all 16,000, but of the ones you do have, you assemble 60-card decks. This gives you a chance to create a deck that no one else on earth has. (And of course, once you realize that one of the cards you ''don't'' own would fit perfectly into your deck, you want to [[RevenueEnhancingDevices buy more cards]].)

* It's "[[CollectibleCardGame collectible]]": Wizards of the Coast have released over 16,000 unique cards into the game, and add an average of 700 new ones every year. You probably don't own all 16,000, but of the ones you do have, you assemble 60-card decks. This gives you a chance to create a deck that no one else on earth has. (And of course, once you realize that one of the cards you ''don't'' own would fit perfectly into your deck, you want to [[RevenueEnhancingDevices buy more cards]].)

** ''Magic: The Gathering Arena'': On July 2017, Wizards announced that they would no longer update ''Magic Duels'' in preparation for a new FreeToPlay game named ''Magic: The Gathering Arena''. It appears to take a lot of cues from ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'' in terms of visual styling.

''Magic: The Gathering'' is a CollectibleCardGame, produced in 1993 by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast (eventually the owners of that other great geek game, ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''). It was the first true {{Collectible Card Game}}[[note]]previous attempts mostly involved baseball cards[[/note]], the GenrePopularizer, and [[LongRunner even today]] it is one of the most popular card games in the world.

The official ''Magic'' website can be found [[https://magic.wizards.com/en here]].

* An, as-of-yet unnamed, MMORPG by Cryptic Studios (creators of ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter}}'' and ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'') which, like ''Tactics'', is only using the lore of the ''[=MtG=]'' multiverse for its foundations.

** ''Magic Duels'': Wizards eventually stopped releasing yearly sequels, in favor of a single FreeToPlay game that receives regular updates, usually with new cards and story missions. Unlike a lot of other Free To Play card games, purchasing packs in ''Magic Duels'' will always give you new cards. Once you have four of a card (the max allowable in a deck), it is removed from the card pool. Otherwise, it is very similar to the other ''Duels'' games.

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MagicCardBack.jpg]]

* Magic: The Gathering: A 1997 CardBattleGame by Creator/MicroProse. It contained both a free-dueling mode, allowing you to build decks and battle them against AI opponents, and a campaign mode, where you could travel across the land of Shandalar exploring, dueling enemies, collecting cards, and eventually battling a BigBad. Notable in that when the game was in DevelopmentHell, Creator/SidMeier was brought in to give it more focus.

* Duels Of The Planeswalkers: A more modern adaptation available on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 The PlayStation Store]], Xbox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.

* ''Magic The Gathering Tactics'': A 2011 TurnBasedStrategy for PC and UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 inspired by ''Magic''. The gameplay bears little to no resemblance to the original card game, but the flavor of it is retained.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering_video_games ...And more.]]

The official ''Magic'' website can be found [[http://www.dailymtg.com here]].

* The "[[FactionCalculus Color Pie]]": The game features ColorCodedMagic in five different elements: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Each represents a different philosophy or ideology [[CompetitiveBalance with their own strengths and weaknesses]], and there are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors complex interrelations between them]]. (For more on the colors, see our [[UsefulNotes/MagicTheGathering Useful Notes]] and [[Analysis/MagicTheGathering Analysis]] pages.)

In June 2019, it was announced that Joe and Anthony Russo of ''Film/AvengersEngdame'' fame would create a [[ https://ew.com/tv/2019/06/03/netflix-magic-the-gathering-series-joe-anthony-russo/Netflix original series]] of the game.

* An, as-of-yet unnamed, MMORPG by Perfect World Entertainment (creators of ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter}}'' and ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'') which, like ''Tactics'', is only using the lore of the ''[=MtG=]'' multiverse for its foundations.

* ''VideoGame/DuelsOfThePlaneswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 The PlayStation Store]], Xbox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.

* An, as-of-yet unnamed, MMORPG by Perfect World Entertainment (creators of ''VideoGame/{{Neverwinter}}'' and ''VideoGame/StarTreckOnline'') which, like ''Tactics'', is only using the lore of the ''[=MtG=]'' multiverse for its foundations.

* ''VideoGame/DuelsOfThePlaneswalkers'': A more modern adaptation available on [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 The Playstation Store]], Xbox Live Arcade and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, originally released in 2009. It has received {{Numbered Sequel}}s in summer of each succeeding year, coinciding with new Core Set releases, and Wizards are [[InvokedTrope deliberately]] positioning it as their GatewaySeries to new players.
** ''Magic Duels'': Wizards eventually stopped releasing yearly sequels, in favor of a single FreeToPlay game that receives regular updates, usually with new cards and story missions. Unlike a lot of other Free To Play card games, purchasing packs in ''Magic Duels'' will always give you new cards. Once you have four of a card (the max allowable in a deck), it is removed from the card pool. Otherwise it is very similar to the other ''Duels'' games.

* ''VideoGame/MagicTheGatheringOnline'': The official program for playing the game online.