NE NC ye me aS es A POWERFUL HAND — With this hand Joe Scafe could send an assoriment of nasty monsters aiter an enemy wizard. The cards are part of a new game called Magic the Gathering. A Magic the Gathering toumament was recently held in Ter- race and Scafe defeated other wizards to emerge triumphant. Watch out for dragons By CRIS LEYKAUF SUMMON A DRAGON. Cast a blight over the land, Anything’s possible in a new card game called ‘Magic the Gathering.’ Players face off as wizards — casting spells, enchanting each other’s lands and sending monsters on missions of destruc- lion. The game has been gaining popularity quickly since it was first introduced four years ago. The first Magic the Gathering tournament was held here just over a week ago, organized by Gerry Mattson, owner of Comic Encounters, About 40 people took part in the tourna- ment, which was won by 16-ycar-old Joe Scafe of Terrace. He just started playing ten months ago, but he’s become an avid fan.’ “‘T’s fun because every game is dif- ferent,’’ says Scafe. The game is played with cards which give each player (or wizard) land, spells and monsters. The object of the game is to be the last wizard left standing at the end of the day, There are approximately 2,000 cards players can use. They can be purchased in- dividually or in packs, and they’re worth anywhere from thirty cents each to a couple of hundred dollars for one card, “You don’t need big money cards to win,’” explains Mattson. The cards do at- tract speculators, but most people who buy them play them, he says. . _ “It’s how you play, not what you use,”’ adds Scafe, Se In the toumament every player was given” 4a standard deck, with just a few special cards. None were worth more than $20. Then players were allowed to trade with others, building a deck they thought would allow them to win. “You have to know how to outplan your opponent,’” says Scafe. ‘And you have to have patience, Don’t play your good cards right away.” “It definitely takes intelligence to play,” adds Mattson. The average age of players is between 16- 30 years old, but Maltson says he’s had a grandmother come into the store, interested in learning how to play. In Terrace, Mattson estimates there are about 150 people who play actively. The vast majority are men ~—- only about 10-15 per cent of the players here are women. When asked why a card game has become so popular, in an age when computer games “You can beat a computer, but you can’t gloat over a computer.’’ are becoming increasingly widespread and more sophisticated, Scafe says simply, *fyou can beat a computer, but you can’t gloat over a computer.”’ Mattison laughs in agreement. He says it takes about 15 minutes to learn how to play a basic game, and from there you build your skills. He’s planning a second Magic the . Gathering tournament either August 18 or August25. ., ., Alyone who’s interésicd in learning more © about the game is welcome to stop by the ° ‘store: on Friday night where Mattson will likely be in the middle of a game with a number of other wizards. AS LOW AS tex With full-time four-wheel drive and a 242-Ib. payload capacity, the Kawasaki Bayou 400 4x4 will take you--and all your gear--just about anywhere. Just point it in the right direction. Get out of that rut. FINANCING AVAILABLE © Liquid Cooled, 4 Stroke 400 cc Engine * New Snorkel-Type Air Cleaner -5-Speed Transmission Plus Reverse ~® Tough Quad-Link Rear Suspension Full-Time 4-Wheel Drive EG DELARONDE & High Time Primer. The rate ~ “Prince Rupert. | -' 627-7571 The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 24, 1996 - A3 Pape gan. News in Brief Fishermen fined TERRACE ANGLERS Tony Sorensen and Paul Fernandes were found guilty, last week, of twice exceeding their daily salmon quota from the Tseax River in the Nass Valley last September. The two were cach fined $750 per offence, for a total of $1500 cach. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the fish and fishing gear, valued at $400 to $500 each. Skeena remains on hold PLANNING MONIES for a replacement for Skeena Jr, Secondary remain on hold due to a freeze on capital spending by the provincial government. That money — about $1 million — was supposed to be spent by spring next year, The tight timeline had caused a Jot of concern in the community, Parents and teachers worried they wouldn’t have enough chance to give their input Now school district administrative staff say they don’t kiow what will happen. The project is on hold pending a review. If it does go ahead, the earliest date for a public meet- ing is likely this fall. But whether the spring deadline for spending money will be pushed back is another question, John Perras, head of the school district parent ad- visory council, says a fall meeting should be soon cuough to let parents have input on the composition of the replacement school, and where it will be located, Latch program continues CHRYSLER CONTINUES to work on a massive pro- gram to replace the backdoor latches in all of its mini- vans made from 1984 onward. The company last year began ordering millions of re- placements and arranging for them to be installed fol- lowing reports that the latches could fail under certain conditious. It’s working backward from 1995 ta 1984 and is now in the sixth phase of an cight-phase effort. All of the latches meet a standard for 1995 models and owners who haven’t received notices can look for- ward to getling an orange plastic card which they then take to their local Chrysler dealership. Cheque’s in the mail NOT RECEIVED your ICBC rate rebate cheque yet? Not to worry. About two-thirds of the 1.2 million che- ques have been mailed and the remainder are being processed as quick as possible. The rebates — on average they amount to $12 — fol- low Premier Glen Clark's pre-election promise that raies for the provincial crown corporation would be frozen for two years. ; That promised agwade in early spring but it’s taken ;some time for ICBC ta set up a system, of caloulating, pProcessing. and sending out the cheques. 2 y Vib Sp eae : tea ; ST EMA Our new elevator term deposit | ae that rises with prime. aa Elevate your money to new heights with our paid is set at prime less 1%, and if the prime rale increases, so will the rate HIGH TIME PRIMER guaranteed to never fall’. °° * below 5.5%, It's just what > you need in today's world. 7 : ~ rate protection and © ey flexibility. The High Time Primer is available for ‘you earn, Plus, the rate is It’s high time your money earned more. 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