If you are new to MTGO - a few suggestions

I constantly see the following:

"I'm new to Magic Online, but I've played paper Magic for a while...

..Once I have the software installed, and when/if I shell out the $9.99, how should I get started?"

And here is what I recommend:

Actually with the 9.99 you get as a coupon - you can get started in MTGO - in PDC.

What's PDC? Thats Pauper Deck Challenge, 100% commons gaming.

You could take your 9.99 coupon and buy 9 Event Tickets (we call them TIX in MTGO). Thats the MTGO world currency.

Use the event tickets and buy bulk commons, uncommons, rares from traders/sellers/etc:

Bulk commons run about 128 per tix.
Bulk uncommons run 20-32 per tix.
Bulk rares run 3-6 per tix.

Chase cards (Terminate, Eternal Witness, Wrath of God as examples) cost more. Check websites for values .

Getting into MTGO via commons gives you an inexpensive way to test the waters.

If you need some help with commons or land see me in game (tharionwind) and we'll help you get started.

Welcome to MTGO!

Concerns on V3

MTGO live is currrently at version 2.x. There is a new version of MTGO coming out called V3.

I have concerns how the user interface, chatting, chat rooms and gameplay/card viewability is handled.

I think they are going to release it live without fixing some core concerns. My only hope is that:

A) They consolidate both the 2.x live and V3.x beta teams together for more resources on one project.

B) With the added resources they work and ramp up fixes/updates each week fixing as much as possible.

C) That we do not lose a signifcant portion of the MTGO userbase during this change.

D) That MTGO/WOTC communicates things well during this painful change/growth process.

Welcome to Tharionwind's PDC blog

Welcome to my Paupers Deck Challenge blog. Its amazing whats happened over the last nearly 5 years of MTGO being live *and* 3.5 years of PDC gaming. MTGO is 24x7 Magic the gathering gaming online created/ran by Wizards of the Coast (www.wizards.com)

PDC aka Paupers Deck Challenge is 100% commons gaming. Similiar to Peasant Magic but uncommons (and zero rares).

The original article on the PDC phenomenon is located here (from Wizards MTGO Into the Aether Column):
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/jm67

There are a few great sites for PDC information:

MTGO main boards:
http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=142

Pauper Magic:
www.paupermagic.com

Princes of Pauper:
http://magic.jwc4.com/blog/index.html

Two great chat rooms within MTGO itself: (in MTGO at a text prompt use the /join xxx (xxx being name of the player made chatroom you wish to join).

/join pdc (where Paupers come to play against others in their 100% commons gaming)

and as well

/join bbs (members of the MTGO boards community - very helpful folk)

More mistful tidings to come!