Agent Palmer

Remember Duelist the short-lived Wizards of the Coast magazine that was mainly focused on Magic: The Gathering? Yes, back in the day, I was a subscriber. And while the magazine ceases to exist, almost 20 years after it’s demise I feel it’s time to look back.

While there are many parts of the game of Magic: The Gathering that I miss and lament in their passing, like Mana burn and the Interrupt cards, what I miss most is playing for ante.

“Of Artifacts and Spells.”

That’s what Magic: The Gathering’s Power Nine is all about; a nonuple of six Artifacts, two Sorcery cards, and one Instant. All nine of the Power Nine were printed in Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited before going out-of-print and into Magic: The Gathering Lore, forever.

Back in 1997, two of my worlds collided, when Wizards of the Coast and MicroProse came together to release Magic the Gathering: Duel of The Planeswalkers, also known as Shandalar.

One of the most well known mascots in “Old School Magic,” is the Stuffy Doll, created by Richard Thomas. It was on the art for Black Vise, Cursed Rack, The Rack, Leshrac’s Rite, and Wall of Wonder long before it came out as its own card on Oct. 6, 2006 in the Time Spiral set.