Tuff Stuff's Gamer Spring 1997 - 6 - X-Files CCG: Mention
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ESSENTIAL
INFO
Compiled By Mike O'Connell
FANTASY ADVENTURE
• Hold on to your hats - here comes more
"Magic." In March, Wizards of the Coast
added more than 400 cards to the "Magic"
universe with the game's newest edition.
"Magic: The Gathering - Fifth Edition"
replaces "Fourth Edition" as the core
"Magic" product.
Nearly half the cards in "Fifth Edition"
boast all-new artwork from both "Magic"
veterans and rookies alike, including
about 50 new artists whose work has ap-
peared in "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle,"
"Netrunner," and/or "Magic's" stand-alone
expansion "Mirage."
This latest edition contains cards
selected from "Ice Age," "Fallen Empires,"
"Homelands," "Chronicles," and "Fourth
Edition," with "Fourth Edition" reprints
accounting for about 200 cards. Plus, a
few player favorites have been rotated in
from "Antiquities," "Arabian Nights," "Leg-
ends," and "The Dark." All cards will be
reprinted according to Wizards' existing
reprint policy.
ESSENTIAL
INFO
Compiled By Mike O'Connell
FANTASY ADVENTURE
• Hold on to your hats - here comes more
"Magic." In March, Wizards of the Coast
added more than 400 cards to the "Magic"
universe with the game's newest edition.
"Magic: The Gathering - Fifth Edition"
replaces "Fourth Edition" as the core
"Magic" product.
Nearly half the cards in "Fifth Edition"
boast all-new artwork from both "Magic"
veterans and rookies alike, including
about 50 new artists whose work has ap-
peared in "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle,"
"Netrunner," and/or "Magic's" stand-alone
expansion "Mirage."
This latest edition contains cards
selected from "Ice Age," "Fallen Empires,"
"Homelands," "Chronicles," and "Fourth
Edition," with "Fourth Edition" reprints
accounting for about 200 cards. Plus, a
few player favorites have been rotated in
from "Antiquities," "Arabian Nights," "Leg-
ends," and "The Dark." All cards will be
reprinted according to Wizards' existing
reprint policy.
"Fifth Edition" is availabfe in white-
bordered, 60-card decks priced at about
$8.95 apiece; each deck display box holds
12 decks. Booster packs containing 15
cards apiece are also available for $2.95;
each booster display holds 36 packs.
The release of "Fifth Edition" brings
the total count of "Magic" cards - includ-
ing all expansions and "Mirage" - to
more than 3,500.
• Iron Crown Enterprises hopes to keep
its "Middle-earth" collectible card game
thriving in 1997 with a trio of expansions.
The first, "Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye,"
premieres in May. This 350-card, stand-
alone expansion highlights the dark side
of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world.
bordered, 60-card decks priced at about
$8.95 apiece; each deck display box holds
12 decks. Booster packs containing 15
cards apiece are also available for $2.95;
each booster display holds 36 packs.
The release of "Fifth Edition" brings
the total count of "Magic" cards - includ-
ing all expansions and "Mirage" - to
more than 3,500.
• Iron Crown Enterprises hopes to keep
its "Middle-earth" collectible card game
thriving in 1997 with a trio of expansions.
The first, "Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye,"
premieres in May. This 350-card, stand-
alone expansion highlights the dark side
of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world.
"If you're playing a 'Lidless Eye'
deck, you're the bad guys," says Iron
Crown's Olivia Johnston. "You'll be able
to play a dark lieutenant and use min-
ions as characters. Just like playing a
wizard and working to combat Sauron
[in the base game], you can form com-
panies and gather power to advance
Sauron's cause in Middle-earth."
Sauron is the root of all trouble in
Tolkien's famous trilogy. He also provides
the unique title for this expansion. "In
the Lord of the Rings, when each of the
characters encounters the Eye of Sauron,
it's always described as a burning, lidless
eye," Johnston explains. Perhaps a few
drops of Visine would improve the evil
wizard's nasty demeanor.
"Lidless Eye" starter decks will sell for
$9.95 each, boosters for $2.95 apiece.
There's still no information available
about the year's second "Middle-earth"
expansion, but the one following is ten-
tatively titled "The White Hand." It will
center around the wizard Saruman, who
was corrupted by Sauron in The Lord of
the Rings.
deck, you're the bad guys," says Iron
Crown's Olivia Johnston. "You'll be able
to play a dark lieutenant and use min-
ions as characters. Just like playing a
wizard and working to combat Sauron
[in the base game], you can form com-
panies and gather power to advance
Sauron's cause in Middle-earth."
Sauron is the root of all trouble in
Tolkien's famous trilogy. He also provides
the unique title for this expansion. "In
the Lord of the Rings, when each of the
characters encounters the Eye of Sauron,
it's always described as a burning, lidless
eye," Johnston explains. Perhaps a few
drops of Visine would improve the evil
wizard's nasty demeanor.
"Lidless Eye" starter decks will sell for
$9.95 each, boosters for $2.95 apiece.
There's still no information available
about the year's second "Middle-earth"
expansion, but the one following is ten-
tatively titled "The White Hand." It will
center around the wizard Saruman, who
was corrupted by Sauron in The Lord of
the Rings.
Tolkien fans may want to check out
Iron Crown's Middle-earth map set, in
stores now. Each $16 pack contains two Jo
Hartwig maps of northwest Middle-earth.
"One of these play maps is actually big
enough to use as a playing surface," John-
son says. "The other one is smaller and
can be put in your notebook along with
your cards." Iron Crown plans to release a
poster-sized map sometime this spring.
• One of the classier CCGs on the market
is "Legend of the Five Rings" from, ap-
propriately, Five Rings Publishing. The
game blends feudal Japanese mythology
and martial arts into a single narrative.
"'Legend of the Five Rings' is an ongo-
ing story," explains company spokesman
Dan Landers. Five Rings has already re-
leased "Shadowlands," "Forbidden Knowl-
edge," and "Anvil of Despair" March
brings 150 new cards with the "Crimson
and Jade" expansion. This set adds new
regions, holdings, events, followers,
spells, items, and actions. It also intro-
duces a new type of spell called the Can-
Iron Crown's Middle-earth map set, in
stores now. Each $16 pack contains two Jo
Hartwig maps of northwest Middle-earth.
"One of these play maps is actually big
enough to use as a playing surface," John-
son says. "The other one is smaller and
can be put in your notebook along with
your cards." Iron Crown plans to release a
poster-sized map sometime this spring.
• One of the classier CCGs on the market
is "Legend of the Five Rings" from, ap-
propriately, Five Rings Publishing. The
game blends feudal Japanese mythology
and martial arts into a single narrative.
"'Legend of the Five Rings' is an ongo-
ing story," explains company spokesman
Dan Landers. Five Rings has already re-
leased "Shadowlands," "Forbidden Knowl-
edge," and "Anvil of Despair" March
brings 150 new cards with the "Crimson
and Jade" expansion. This set adds new
regions, holdings, events, followers,
spells, items, and actions. It also intro-
duces a new type of spell called the Can-
trip, which Landers describes as "faster,
but less powerful" than existing spells.
Two new Clans, the Monks of the Shinze
Temple and the Mantis, make their first
appearances in "Crimson and Jade."
Gamers and collectors can pick up 60-
card starter decks for $7.95 each and 11-
card booster packs for $1.95 apiece.
According to Landers, the final expan-
sion of "Legends of the Five Rings'" cur-
rent story arc will ship in August. "In
'Time and the Void,' we'll reveal who the
new emperor is - or even if there's an
Emerald Empire left after the invasion by
the Shadowland hordes."
At about the time that "Crimson and
Jade" hits stores, Five Rings will release
a player's guide: The Tao of Shinze. "It
will have advanced strategy, deck-build-
ing, and rules clarifications," Landers
says. "It will be the official rulebook for
our pro tour, which will be starting up
in early summer."
Before that, make sure you pick up
the third or "Obsidian" edition of the
