It has been called cardboard crack, but while Magic: The Gathering isn't as lethal as the drug, it is just as addictive. On Friday, September 29, through Sunday, October 1, fans of the role-playing game (RPG) arrived at Madison Square Garden to play for awards totaling $200,000.

     Magic is a card game owned by Wizards of the Coast, which also owns the popular Pokemon and latest WCW Nitro card games. You can even play the game online with their latest software, replicating every card in the game. Pretty cool, but be warned the rules aren't that simple.

     To play you have to create a deck out of various cards, including spells, creatures, enchantments, and land. Land is necessary to "purchase" those spells and creatures. You tap, or turn a land to its side and you get one mana, which is money to spend on a particular item, matching the color of the land tapped. If an item costs three green mana and two colorless mana, you must tap three forests (represents green) and two of anything else (forests, mountains, swamps, islands, plains or colorless lands). The object of the game is to bring your opponent from 20 points of life to zero. Creatures can deal damage in an attack or you can cast spells to deal damage. The game is turn-based and requires a lot of thought, strategy and skill (there is an instructional video for those who don't understand a thing I just said).

     That was what this event was all about. The game has received more than a cult following, which has resulted in pro tours, like the one at MSG. The best of the best (about 350 players) came to duke it out and walk away the best Magic player in the city of New York metropolitan area. This event was not only for the best of the best. The semi-skilled and the worst had plenty to come for.

     The event was free, but to compete in various tournaments and events, fees ranged from $5 to $60 were required. Some other tournaments included team tournaments, where squads of three battle other squads of the same number. Also, the latest Magic expansion, Invasion was displayed and players could compete in a booster draft tournament to get a hold of the new cards. This rather unique event where players are given packs of Invasion and players can only take one card from each pack and then pass it around until there are no more cards, and a deck is then created from the chosen cards for play.

     Battle wasn't all that this day was about. Novice players or new players could learn the basics at Game 101. Skilled players could sign up for judge certification in order to judge at future tournaments. Also a part of the event is (one of the best reasons to be at a Magic show in my opinion) were Magic dealers where fans could buy and trade cards. Most prices seemed very fair and many customers walked away with a lot of cards, a smile and a little money left over.

     The Magic: Pro Tour New York was a big success. For those who didn't make it or those who just want to relive it all again, ESPN2 provided coverage of the event on October 24. Check your local listings. Until then, grab a box of cards, find someone to play, and get your Magic fix for the day.

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