Not only that, but after getting the core game for $9.99, all three expansions are available for $4.99 a pop, adding more playtime to the virtual version of the card game. (That third expansion has yet to hit the 360, if their website is to be believed.

After purchasing the game, you can visit www.duelsoftheplaneswalkers.com to get a free art foil promo card as thanks. Well, as long as they’ve got them, anyway. (Downloading the game nets you a special code to enter to claim your card.) You can also visit that website for more information about the game and an introduction to Magic.

Pro Tour – San Juan will be held this weekend (May 28-30), at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

The Magic Pro Tour is considered to be the highest form of competitive play for Magic: The Gathering, hosting a “main event” for the world’s top players. However, not only will the world’s foremost Magic players be present, but Wizards of the Coast are inviting local fans and friends to the event as well. New and seasoned players will have the opportunity to participate in side events, including tournaments, game demonstrations, and artist signings.

The Pro Tour is also boasting a Massive Multiplayer Magic event, something that sounds creatively chaotic!

There will be a multitude of contests over the weekend, with the ultimate prize being a free trip to the next Pro Tour, to be held in Amsterdam.

For those of us who are stuck at home, you can tune in to the Magic Pro Tour information page for more details and a live webcast on May 30.

Spell Checkers volume 1
Publisher: Oni Press
Writer: Jamie S. Rich
Artists: Nicolas Hitori de & Joelle Jones
Page Count: 144
Price: $11.99
Shelf Date: 4/14/2010

GA Amazon Link

Summary: Three teenage witches use their power for popularity, good grades, and the good life. When nasty graffiti starts showing up about them at their school, they first suspect one another. But when they start losing their powers, and their magical fetishes disappear, they realize this is an attack from outside their circle, and they must join hands (and wits) to defeat the usurper and her demon companion!

Oni Press’ newest series looks at a trio of teenage best friends that just happen to be witches too. Through the story, we learn how the girls created their witch vow and that their magic energy is related to their doll. The school seems to know about their powers and instead of being scared, it actually helps their social status. But someone decides to try and turn the friends against each other.  Think Heathers but without all the random killing.

This story by itself is only okay. But as an introduction to the teenagers, it works. I love the manga-influenced art style, but don’t think it’s a clone. The artists definitely have their own style. I recommend picking Spell Checkers up and can’t wait to see what the next.

The novel starts off in the thick of a bad situation for Arthur ap Uther who recently lost the majority of his magical fighting force, the Y Dawnus, to Warleader Havgan who is hellbent on capturing Arthur’s land at all costs. Along with the conquest of Kymri, Havgan along with his witch hunters the wyrce-jaga are working to eliminate the magic users whom they deemed against their religion. With his most trusted friends, Arthur has to come up with a battle plan in order to gain the upper hand.

Having not read any of the previous novels, it was a bit confusing in the beginning as Taylor tends to list the characters with their full names, and it’s a bit tricky to keep track of some of them. However you do begin to pick out all of the usual Arthurian characters and that helps out a lot. In general the storyline is interesting and is a great re-imagining of the Arthurian legend and Taylor has breathed new life into these characters.

There are also some great plot twists in the novel between the conflict with Havgan and the Kymri as well as some love affairs that seem to pop up like wildflowers. That would actually be my only gripe regarding the book is that it seemed every few pages there was another romantic encounter or someone declaring love or another. For the most part it worked with the story, it just felt too frequent to me. And as promised I won’t mention the big plot twist, but I have to say that it leaves the story open ended enough that Taylor can take it into interesting waters in the future.

All in all I really enjoyed May Earth Rise, so much so that I plan on going back and reading the three previous books. I think that it’s a great read for those who are interested in fantasy and especially to those who like reading re-imagined stories!

Review product provided by Medallion Press, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

Hey everyone, it’s another update for the custom Magic: the Gathering card set! It’s a new year, so let’s start it off with these long-awaited cards for the lovely staff here at GamingAngels.com as well as a special New Year’s card with art done by our own Naomi. Personally, I’m really excited to be sharing these with all of you. I’ve been working on the staff cards for a while, making sure they’re just perfect and fitting for the staff that the represent.

So let’s get this party started! First we have Trina, the Awesome. She boasts Protection from Staff. Her power and toughness are equal to the number of awesome things she’s planning.

Then, we have our lovely Elizabeth, who also has protection from staff while her power and toughness are equal to the number of emails in her inbox. I don’t want to know how high those numbers can get! She also can’t be the target of instants.

Lastly is the Happy New Year card which can be played at any time, even that weird in between phases step! You never know if the New Year will strike in the middle of an epic battle.

Well, that’s it for this time everyone! Coming up next, I think we can expect to see Annette and Naomi and possibly yours truly. Until then everyone!

Happy Holidays to all of our faithful readers and newcomers alike! Best of wishes, and here’s to another epic year!

In the next update, you can expect to see the big key to this whole set and to the site: the staff! I know a lot of the others have been excited for this, so look for those with the new year, as well as all of the exciting updates and developments in the tabletop, trading/collectible card, and board game world!

And, for those that haven’t seen them yet, here are some recent and awesome articles about Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Terminals, Pokemon Rumble, deck building tips, and Stardust Overdrive!

Episode 7 – The Witchfinder

Didn't your mother teach you that pointing fingers is rude?

Manipulating smoke to look like a horse brings a new kind of trouble to Camelot for Merlin. A witness to the apparition notifies Uther of what she saw and he sends for Aredian, also known as the Witchfinder. The Witchfinder has worked for Uther in the past, helping to seek out sorcerers and magic creatures who the king claims are a threat to the kingdom. Aredian begins his work right away, after making sure Uther can pay and feed him for his troubles.

You can tell from the moment they see each other that there is hatred between Gaius and Aredian. Perhaps Aredian was jealous of Gaius’ appointment to court physician. Gaius and Merlin do their best to keep Merlin’s magical abilities a secret, but the Witchfinder does have some skill and calls out Merlin for being a sorcerer. He offers several witnesses who claim to have seen things, even though Merlin hasn’t practiced magic since the Witchfinder arrived. Arthur scoffs at the idea of Merlin using magic, but Uther orders that Gaius’ home be searched for evidence. Aredian orders the guards to practically destroy the home, but not before he somehow smashes one very particular jar and finds a magic amulet hidden within. Gaius claims the amulet to be his, to cover for Merlin and spare him.

No Waterboarding, Just Medieval Torture Techniques

Gaius is then thrown into the dungeon and tortured by Aredian. During questioning, Gaius mentions that he has treated Morgana for nightmares. Aredian talks to Morgana, trying to find out more about them, and seems to be able to sense the magic abilities. Now he approaches Gaius with a deal: plead guilty to treason and practicing magic, or else he will reveal Merlin and Morgana’s secrets to the king. Gaius does so and is sentenced to death. Arthur sneaks Merlin into the dungeons for a visit with Gaius where the two realize the amulet had been planted. Merlin then slips into the Witchfinder’s rooms and finds belladonna in one of the cupboards.

Merlin runs to Gwen’s and tells her of the belladonna. They conclude that the witnesses Aredian brought forward when first accusing Merlin had to have hallucinated. But since Aredian could not have given it to the ladies directly, he must have disguised it somehow. Searching various shopkeepers leads them to one who sells belladonna eye drops to women who want their eyes to be more beautiful. After some bullying he admits it was the Witchfinder who sold him the drops. Merlin then sneaks back into Aredian’s room to do one last thing before Gaius’ execution takes place in the morning.

Gwen convinces Arthur to stay the execution long enough that Merlin can present evidence to Uther of Aredian’s lies. When his plot starts to unravel, Aredian is sure there is no physical proof to tie the story of belladonna eye drops to him. Now it is time to search Aredian’s chambers, where the cupboard is opened and dozens of amulets spill out and vials of eye drops sit on the bottom shelf. While claiming that Merlin is setting him up, he begins to cough and a toad comes right out of his throat. Convinced he is a sorcerer, Uther demands he be captured. However Aredian missteps and falls backwards out one of the bedroom windows.

For now, Merlin and Morgana’s secrets are safe, but Gaius and Uther’s friendship has become strained.

Episode 8 – The Sins of the Father

Lady in Shining Armor

It’s a beautiful day in Camelot. Uther is knighting new members to the royal guard, everyone is happy. And then a mysterious figure slaughters several guards upon entering the castle, throwing their gauntlet for Arthur to pick up. Arthur accepts the challenge and asks the knight to show their face. Surprise! Her name is Morgause.

Arthur and Morgause battle it out in front of everyone, only because Arthur can find no law saying a woman cannot cast a challenge. She wins and tells Arthur she will spare his life if he promises to meet her in three days time and undertake a challenge she will give him then. He agrees.

Morgana feels that she knows this Morgause somehow and has a short chat with her. She confides in the stranger that she has not been sleeping well, and Morgause offers her the bracelet she wears, saying it will help her. Morgana refuses, but the night after the duel, the visitor slips into Lady Morgana’s room and leaves it at the foot of the bed. Morgana has her first decent sleep in ages.

Before leaving in the morning, Morgause approaches Arthur as he is preparing for a morning ride. She informs him that she knew his mother, which makes him even more inclined to accept her challenge. She promises him that when the time comes, he will know how to find her and rides off. Needless to say Uther isn’t happy that Arthur accepted a challenge from the stranger, and becomes even more upset when Arthur says Morgause claimed to know his mother. Uther then commands that Arthur is forbidden to leave and puts a guard outside the door. But confinement has never stopped Arthur before. Merlin gathers supplies and the two leave in the middle of the night.

Queen Igraine

It’s soon discovered that Morgause enchanted Arthur’s horse to lead him to her castle beyond the waterfalls. Once inside, Morgause puts forward the challenge: that Arthur place his head on a chopping block. He does so, she lifts an axe and….. nothing. He kept his promise and so she now offers to let Arthur “see” his mother. She calls forth the spirit of Igraine, who then tells Arthur of the circumstances surrounding his birth and her death. When Igraine vanishes, Arthur storms off, fueled by immense hatred for his father.

Meanwhile, Uther has search parties looking for his son and speaks with Gaius about what Morgause could possibly know. Gaius then breaks his silence, telling his king that years ago instead of seeing Morgana’s half-sister killed, he had sent her to live with people from the Old Religion. Now they are left wondering if Morgause knows Morgana is her sibling, and how to make sure Morgana doesn’t find out.

Arthur vs Uther

When Merlin and Arthur return to Camelot, Arthur tells his father that he knows the truth. It becomes a very heated argument, with Uther not confessing to anything other than loving his son. Swords are drawn and they fight it out in the dining room. Arthur is just about to kill his father when Merlin bursts through the door and lies to Arthur. He tells his friend that Morgause was an enchantress, lying to him to turn him against his father. Merlin knows the truth, that what Morgause and Igraine said was all true. But Arthur needs his father, and breaks down crying while his father holds him.

Uther knows what Merlin did and that the boy knows the truth. He thanks Merlin in private for aiding in the fight against magic and pretty much threatens to kill Merlin should he tell anyone the truth about Arthur.

And guess what? Yours truly is participating on the Community Team. All I can really say is that I’m so excited about this. I’ve been an avid Magic player in paper form for years… I think I’m nearing my 6th or 7th year (I’ve lost track). I’ve entered and ran tournaments, but this is something entirely different.

If you want to play with me on Magic Online anytime between now and tomorrow night, I should be on the server most of the time when I’m not at school. My username is CC_GamingAngelSam. If you want to just chat with all of us, there’s a room for you to come and meet us and even practice with any of the 8. Just type /join CCC in a chat window and enter; the chat will open straight up.

Here are some articles my teammates and the Wizards team have written that you might enjoy are below.

The official announcement made a couple weeks ago.
Pete’s “Playing Nice Together”. He even has the complete deck lists of what we’re playing. I love how my deck is literally called “Sam’s Mill”.

Meet the Wizards Team posted by Mike Gills of the team. Just a nice getting-to-know-you thing and here’s the one for the community members.
The image above was made by Thomas, another member of the team, as a badge for us on MyMTGO, the site he runs for all MTGO players.

Sony Online Denver is working with Wizards of the Coast to create Magic: The Gathering – Tactics. The title is set to be an online, 3D turn-based strategy game based on Magic: The Gathering.

“By collaborating with Wizards of the Coast, we’re able to combine the strengths of both companies to develop an innovative, online, 3D game based on an extremely popular IP,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “We’re going to be taking the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse places players have never seen.”

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics will put everything into 3D and players can play single player or PVP action against others worldwide. SOE also expects to feed the game with regular content expansions, a tournament environment, rankings and achievements and the stories from Planeswalkers.

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics is set for a early 2010 release on PC but will be coming to the Playstation 3 after that.

“The growing Magic: The Gathering community has an insatiable desire for great strategic game experiences. Sony Online Entertainment is the perfect partner to transform the best of Magic’s story, strategy and competitive play into a fantastic ‘Tactics’ game experience for current and new Magic fans,” said Greg Leeds, president, Wizards of the Coast.