What gets you?

[Deleted]

I think it's been awhile since the Forum actually "spoke" to the players, especially the new members who might frequent us but don't see the rest of us out and about. Sure, some of the members might be in the MEGA section churning out those cards, and others are in Chambers hammering on the rules. But all that is happening in other areas of the Forum behind password protection. (By the way, if you don't know what I mean by that, or if you would like to know how you could be involved in MEGA Extreme Team activity or Judging activity, just holler out a question in a thread, or even message me, [Q]. Just think of the Forum as a field trip to visit the world of ME, and you can think of me as your guide) There are tons of issues important and vital to ME that can only really be answered by the everyday gamer. So in the spirit of the old days where I would always launch messages like this one, whether I was a Moderator, a President, or just the loudest member on the Forum, here's [Q] coming back at ya'. There's some things I'd like to ask you that I've been wondering about myself. I don't know if you know, but 2007 is going to be a HUGE year for ME, so a lot of these topics are going to come up, so get in on "it" now!

As the post is named, the most important curiousity I might have is: What gets you? What gets you to play ME? With so many card games out there, what is it that brings you back to this game? Don't get me wrong...I'm glad you're here: Trust me, I love this game. But the point is, I know why I love it. Why do you?

And to take it a step further, let's say you like the game but you're not playing it every week at your cardstore. What can ME do for you so that you would be playing it weekly? Perhaps a public opinion poll is in order here, but seriously...think. Suggest...anything. I'm not saying that the people with their fingers on the buttons will abide, but hey, it's a free country, right?

What if ME was giving customized playmats at weekly Tournaments? Or how about at a League? What about specialized build dice? Pens? Shirts? Scorepads?

Or what about the more serious gamer...do you want more than where the rankings go? How about a competitive points system that perhaps kept track of success and awarded some sort of prize for stellar play? What type of prize? Perhaps round-byes at a major ME event...or a specal roped off "VIP ME players only" section at Gencon where players could hang, eat, mingle or play, but only those invited by high point totals? Or how about a more lucrative tourney, like for cash money? Or an MP3 player? Did you know that last year the top rated player got a trip sponsored to go to Gencon, only the biggest gaming convention of the year, which happens to be the home of the MEGA Faceoff, the biggest ME tournament of the year? Is something like that still appealing?

I'm just shooting out ideas, and I'm willing to share my own opinions too if asked. I'd really like to hear from all of you...I mean ALL. My dream would be if all the registered 114 members of the Forum would, but for now I'll settle for everyone that READS this post. Yes, I mean you the noobee who has hardly posted. (Hello I'm [Q] by the way, and like I said, let me help you with anything). I'm also talking to you, regular members like TK, Frank, Azurin and the gang. And don't think this all falls on deaf ears. Keith himself reads all of this, as do other members of the board, as does CGE, an affiliated partner of NEG/ME. Most of all, I'm listening, and I have a knack for getting the right attention when I need to. I think this right here is one of the reason ME is so great, that the players have such a close link to the powers that be. So let's put this engine to work. I look forward to your invaluable responses.

[Thrall King]

There are many things that get me to play ME.

1) I love watching a new game flourish.

2) I love the depth of strategy used in this game.

3) I love the combos.

4) As an aspiring game designer, I love being able to submit my ideas where the big wigs can see and comment.

5) Once again, as an aspiring game designer, I love having contact with Keith and the others.

[brightblade]

I play about every other week at this point, though that is about as often as I get to play any game. My true failure (and I do consider it mine since I am one of the more prominant ME players around here) is that I have not gotten more people to play. I have the cards, I just need to go to our local shop on magic night and get some of them to try ME. I know that some of them would switch just so they don't have to see the same 'net decked' magic setups every week. I'll get a night off one of these weeks and see who I can bring into the fold.

[Deleted]

Brightblade! There you are! You're awfully missed, Silver Master. What got to get it together man and bring the Midwest back to the top of this thing.

You too, TK. Keep rolling hard for you and your boys down there in the MESS. (Ha remember that? I still refuse "Peachies"...sheesh)

Thanks for responding so far guys. You seem to be my type of gamers, in it for the challenge and the game itself. Still, other people might seek more than that, like gimmies and trinkets. I just want to know what works, ya know? I want everyone to play!

Keep 'em coming boys!

[Thrall King]

Well Brightblade, here is a trick that I use.

1) Do not go alone. Take one of your established players with you.

2) When you take someone, make sure they are animated when something happens. Make sure they are not too obnoxious.

3) Be sure to know a little about the game the others are playing, so that when they come over, you can relate what is happening in familiar terms.

4) Don't push it on them, since that would make you seem too anxious to get them and they might be wary.

This strategy has landed me over 40 players, 14 in the last 2 weekends alone. Good luck.

[samwise7]

I LOVE the action system. The lack of any sort of "energy" producing cards is great.

I like that cards are easy to identify as to what type they are. Structures are maroon, Creatures black, etc.

I like that any card can be played in any deck (sure some don't work well in some decks, but you could put them in there if you really wanted to). This is nice for the player that can't buy that many cards, but can still use what he has to play. And for those of us who like to buy cards, we can have like 10+ decks constructed, and swap cards as we see fit.

I like that I have talked to the Creator of the game... That's unheard of. The only other company that I have done that with, is I.C.E. (Iron Crown Enterprises) who make Rolemaster and Harp and other role-playing games. (I am an RPG Geek first and foremost : ) But you see what I mean, It is really cool to talk to the brain behind the cards. Thanks for the Keith.

Personally I like smaller gaming companies, because it feels like they are a "Gamers creating games" kind of company. I support the little guys with big hearts.

I bought a bunch of cards for my local RPG group, who don't normally play CCGs. I got one out of 5 hooked, the rest... well, I guess they just don't like CCGs in general. I'm trying though.

I need to start playing at my local Game Store again, that is a good way to brew local interest. Yeah, I need to get back to doing that. Thanks for the rebuke Q.

I've talked about the game at G.A.S.P. my Pittsburgh gaming club, and it has sprung some interest. I do think that the CCG market is suffering because there are so many CCGs out there now. CCGs to some people are a bad word. I'm trying to change that viewpoint.

I swore off CCGs awhile ago, but when I saw ME I bought some more cards. I liked the game that much. : ) Great job guys! I haven't played that many CCGs, but it is my favorite CCG of all time. I played Star Wars by Decipher for a little while, but I lost interest, and the games took forever to play. I played Magic for awhile, but now I want to puke when I play the game. I always hated Mana Screw... I still have them under my bed though... I played Middle Earth (the old dead CCG also made by I.C.E.) and it was pretty good as well, but it also took forever to play, and no one had any of the cards... so I stopped playing it as well. So long story short, I've tried the other games, and my pick is Mystical Empire!

THERE'S NO MANA SCREW IN ME!!! : )

So, I should do more to promote the game, will do.

I play about once or twice a month at this point in time.

Anyone else out there in the silent masses?

[plmrelm]

samwise7 wrote: "Anyone else out there in the silent masses?"

Yup, that'd be me. I'm not much of a player, mainly because no one wants to play "another ccg" I've always seen myself more of a collector anyway.

Base Set - complete
Reckoning (v1) - missing 1 card: "Phoenix"
Reckoning (v2) - on order
Dark Union - complete

I also own all the promos that are out so far.

What can I say, I like the game, and hope it will do better...and I'm prepared for when it does.

[Deleted]

Oh I'm sorry Patrick. I completely forgot about your Phoenix. I have 2, so of course I'll trade one. What did we say, Braqmentar? If you still have it, that's fine, if not, PM the list of extra supers you have and I'll gander at them.

Thanks you guys for the more input, TK, Pat and Sam. All I could aim to do is help feed the flame. I've played many games, and ME is by far my game of choice. It's the game I want to be playing in the years to come, and so I'm glad that you guys are out there too.

Hopefully others will come to reply, but while that's happening, I'll ask this too...What type of play would you feel better with every week?

1. A tournament
2. League Play
3. Both
4. Huh?

lol. Hey...it know it seems trivial, but you'd be surprised if all of our answers are different. I'm interested to see the response.

[samwise7]

If I had to choose what kind of play, I would play in every week, my first choice would be friendly casual games, where people can take actions back, or laugh at how stupid "that would have been"... etc.

My second choice would be League play, and then my 3rd choice would be a tournament.

Competition is cool, but sometimes people can get downright nasty when prizes are on the line. Not all people, but some of them. I'm a pretty laid back guy, and I really don't like to argue. Ask my Wife, she gets mad sometimes when I just want to talk things out. "Why don't you yell, or throw something?" hehe.

So to rephrase, my choice of a format I would like to play in every week is 1) Friendly Casual Play, then 2) League Play, then 3) Tournaments.

[Deleted]

Happy New Year everyone. I'm back from a couple days break.

As per Samwise's insights, he's absolutely right. At times gamers take the competition way too seriously, and ME is too good to be ruined for the fun-loving gamers. Notwithstanding, let's remember that competitive play is still very vital to the survival of long term ccgs. The true long-haulers among the best card games are those that can do both well.

Do you guys think ME could be that game? I don't doubt it.

[evenwiser]

Hello Keith,

Good thing you specified what you meant by "What gets you?" as the phrase could also mean "What bugs you?", the latter being how I initially understood your question.

Last year, some time around September I think, you had requested comments and feedback about the instructional video your brother had made. I cannot find my reply (my username was no longer valid) but I recall saying the music was both unnecessary and too loud, and that there were no examples of play to clarify the finer points of the game.

I'm not sure if it was you or your brother who said a couple of things were planned in that area, so I guess I was just wondering where you were on that front.

I live in Europe and I also remember you saying something about eventually partnering with some distributors over here to export the game. Have you made any progress in that respect? It definitely looks like a great game, but with no players and no shops to buy it from (save importing it from the US) and an instructional video that in my opinion needs a little re-working, there's very little incentive to get into the game.

In a nutshell, I'd love to tell you "what gets me", but for the moment I'm afraid I can only let you know "what gets me"...

Hope to hear from you soon,



Even Wiser

[Deleted]

Haha...lol. I guess I never even thought about that, Evenwiser. Nevertheless, I'm glad you actually used this thread to write to Keith, for the true purpose of this thread was in truth to find what things I could help do for anyone and everyone to spread and enjoy ME. I know that sometimes it is just about the "little" things that matter to a player.

I am also glad to see there is interest in ME as far as Europe. Let's see if we can't do a thing or two to maintain and expand it.
You've already done well by posting, so I commend you on that. Keith is very good at keeping tabs on the Forum, and if by any chance he hasn't read this post yet, me and the boys here will make sure he does. I am sure he will have a answer promptly. ( I don't know if he'll do it here on this thread, or as a private message to you. Be sure to look for new messages at the very top of the Forum.)

Thank you again Evenwiser for reactivating your account to interact with us. If there is anything else at all you have any questions about, especially about the little intricacies of the game (my specialty), please let us know. Feel free to start any thread on whatever issue.

As for the rest of us, let's keep using Evenwisers' example. While this post is titled as a question about what gets people to like the game, if there was ever anything that "got" you, any question left unanswered or detail that bugged you, also post it so that perhaps it may be addressed.

I would also like to say that me personally, I love all forms of ME play. I've done a lot of casual and league play, but I have to say that for me, I love the competition too. I can't wait to see how 2007 unfolds for ME, as there will be some great challenges ahead of us. If it's anything like Regionals last year or Gencon, I'm already excited. I've also started some extensive work with the all new Dark Union cards, and I have to say that despite early concerns, I'm impressed with some results I've had. I hope you guys are as ectstatic as I am. Long live ME!

[Keith Katsikas]

Even Wiser,

Sadly, we still have no connection with Europe. You can purchase our products directly from us these days, on our website at www.mysticalempire.com

As for the demo video, we do have a better version of the one you had seen, not much different content wise however the sound is better. We are currently working on a simpler to understand and follow rulebook, which will have more illustrations, helping new players get into the game. We have a lot of exciting plans in store for the US market in 2007. I sure hope we can break into the European market; time will tell. We need more people like you, my friend. =)

[evenwiser]

To Q --> Thanks for your reply. And thanks for passing this on to Keith, he did reply very promptly indeed!

To Keith --> Thanks Keith. So exactly where can I find this enhanced video?
And I'll be looking forward to the new rule book.

Buying the cards is not an issue, the lack of potential players is. So unless the game gets demoed at the Essen Game Fair or other similar events, it's unlikely to get much attention over here. I suppose you can always wait for a European publisher to eventually notice the game and decide to translate and distribute it, but that might be a long shot. I think I first heard about it through Boardgamegeek.com when I was looking for new CCGs that had been released over the past year. As far as I can remember that was my first contact with the game. But I can't recall reading about Mystical Empire in any of the specialized magazines.

I do hope this game will prosper though. It sounds well though-out and fun to play.

Bye for now,



Even Wiser

[plmrelm]

evenwiser, would you be willing to demo this game to the Essen Game Fair?