Jyhad, First Impressions

In article <1994Aug18.141349.5197@emba.uvm.edu>, jpatters@moose.uvm.edu (Jake Patterson) writes: >I bought my first starter and booster of Jyhad yesterday. The starter had >76 cards and cost 9 bucks, and the booster was 19 cards and cost $2.75. >The art is amazing, and the game itself is significantly different from >MtG. Anybody else with first impressions? The art is amazing, I want to collect a complete set of cards, the art is sufficiently cool. The rulebook stinks on ice. Once we get some official rulings, maybe we need to write a net.version of the Jyhad rules to clear things up until we get a player's book for Jyhad. -- Martin Terman, Mutant for Hire, Synchronicity Daemon, Priest of Shub-Internet Disclaimer: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but flames are just ignored mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu mfterman@pucc.bitnet an78529@anon.penet.fi "Sig quotes are like bumper stickers, only without the same sense of relevance"

In article <1994Aug18.141349.5197@emba.uvm.edu>, <jpatters@moose.uvm.edu> writes: > I bought my first starter and booster of Jyhad yesterday. The starter had > 76 cards and cost 9 bucks, and the booster was 19 cards and cost $2.75. > The art is amazing, and the game itself is significantly different from > MtG. Anybody else with first impressions? Um, I don't like it. I bought a starter deck and four boosters. After going through the cards, I only found four pieces of art that I actually like (Zip Gun, Cryptic Mission, Cloak the Gathering, and Zebulon). All the others are just too dark and morbid. I've shown the cards to two other big fans of MtG and neither one could actually finish looking through the cards I showed them. They just handed them back and said, "No more." At the local game shop, the attitude was subdued. Several boxes of Jyhad were sitting untouched on the counter. A couple of the regulars had bought a few packs and were struggling to comprehend the rules. Most of the heavy investors in MtG hadn't bought any Jyhad and weren't planning to. I'm sort of regretting that I spent $20 on the game. When is INWO going to be released? -- Bill

I think that Jyhad is pretty neat, but I'm not as excited about it as when I first saw the Gathering. Part of it is that I'm not really into the whole gothic vampire theme (and I'm escpecially not into quotes from Depeche Mode). One of the things that I like about Magic is the amazing variety and balance. Jyhad seems a lot more homogeneous. I like some of the art, but again, I think that the variety of art in Magic is cooler. Another thing is that I don't see the thrilling combinations that I do in Magic cards. Probably this is just because it's so new and confusing, but I haven't seen very exciting ways of applying the cards that I have. Still, it does look like some fun. `:wq

: Um, I don't like it. I bought a starter deck and four boosters. : After going through the cards, I only found four pieces of art : that I actually like (Zip Gun, Cryptic Mission, Cloak the Gathering, : and Zebulon). All the others are just too dark and morbid. : I've shown the cards to two other big fans of MtG and neither : one could actually finish looking through the cards I showed them. : They just handed them back and said, "No more." : At the local game shop, the attitude was subdued. Several boxes : of Jyhad were sitting untouched on the counter. A couple of the : regulars had bought a few packs and were struggling to comprehend : the rules. Most of the heavy investors in MtG hadn't bought any : Jyhad and weren't planning to. : I'm sort of regretting that I spent $20 on the game. When is : INWO going to be released? : -- Bill I have to agree with Bill. Not being the least interested in vampires (other than acquiring more MTG Sengirs) this game leaves me flat. I only picked up a starter and a few boosters because of WotC/GGs reputation on MTG. I guess I'll just trade my Jyhad rares for MTG rares for someone who actually likes both games. I don't even think it should be billed as a Deckmaster game, since te only thing it has in common with MTG is Tapping cards. Besides, I can't really afford to chase down cards for TWO card games. 40% of a nickel, Reece Watkins

In article <331k1b$aka@agate.berkeley.edu>, Joshua Freeman Frankel <frankel@uclink.berkeley.edu> wrote: > >I think that Jyhad is pretty neat, but I'm not as excited about it as when I >first saw the Gathering. Part of it is that I'm not really into the whole >gothic vampire theme (and I'm escpecially not into quotes from Depeche Mode). >One of the things that I like about Magic is the amazing variety and balance. >Jyhad seems a lot more homogeneous. >I like some of the art, but again, I think that the variety of art in Magic is >cooler. >Another thing is that I don't see the thrilling combinations that I do in >Magic cards. Probably this is just because it's so new and confusing, but >I haven't seen very exciting ways of applying the cards that I have. >Still, it does look like some fun. >`:wq > I think that the variety will come with expansion sets. Look at how many expansion sets for magic there are. Also, (I have no idea if this is true or not) I heard a rumor that expansions are planned based on Werewolf/Mummy/etc This can potentially lead to a lot more variety than magic has, if the rumor is true. On the other hand, I don't really see how they would work it in. Anyway, the thing I like best about Jyhad is the clan/discipline idea. Before it came out, I was hoping that they would do a "2-axis color system," which would lead to a lot of different concentration strategies. I think that the idea is good, but I still have to see how it works in deckbuilding. I also like that Jyhad is more complicated than magic. All of the strategy in magic is pretty much in deck construction. During a game, when to play what card on what is more or less automatic/obvious. -- "Sleep, what is it with you people and sleep?" -- Peter Norby

In article <reecewCusu1A.7A4@netcom.com> reecew@netcom.com (Reece T. Watkins) writes: >I don't even think it should be billed as >a Deckmaster game, since te only thing it has in common with MTG is >Tapping cards. Actually, there is more than just tapping in common between the two games. Here are some of the similiarities: * Sacrificing "life" points to perform some action * "Unique" cards * Playing "effects" * Blocking actions The games really are quite similiar, particularly if you compare a creature oriented game of MtG with Jyhad. In that case, the "essence" of each game is the same: 1. "Summon" creatures. 2. Attack opponent with creatures. 3. Opponent can attempt to block creatures. 4. If a creature is blocked, then combat ensues. 5. Switch sides and repeat until one side is dead. -- Michael Wang mmwang@mv.us.adobe.com

In article <reecewCusu1A.7A4@netcom.com>, reecew@netcom.com (Reece T. Watkins) wrote: > who actually likes both games. I don't even think it should be billed as > a Deckmaster game, since te only thing it has in common with MTG is > Tapping cards. > um, deckmaster basically represents collectable trading card games from Wizards of the Coast (and probably designed by Richard Garfield.) Magic was just the first. I like the fact that it is different than Magic; I wanted more than just another expansion set. I do agree that the genre may not appeal to all Magic fans, but it will probably draw in more goths, cyber-goths & multiplayer game fans than Magic. I plan on playing both. I don't hoard or really collect Magic (even though I've been playing since betas came out) so I have the money & resources to try both games. I think people should at least give it a chance, borrow a deck from a friend or something. -chad

In article <reecewCusu1A.7A4@netcom.com>, Reece T. Watkins <reecew@netcom.com> wrote: >who actually likes both games. I don't even think it should be billed as >a Deckmaster game, since te only thing it has in common with MTG is >Tapping cards. I do agree that I can't afford to support TWO games, but personally I wasn't looking forward to a M:TG game with vampires. Thus, I *like* that all it has in common with M:TG is tapping cards. It allows for a much more complex and interesting system of play than M:TG. I do not, however, think that it will get as large a following as M:TG. The rules are too complex ... not for play, but I can't really see that they can add a *lot* to expansions...

In article <reecewCusu1A.7A4@netcom.com>, reecew@netcom.com (Reece T. Watkins) writes: >I have to agree with Bill. Not being the least interested in vampires >(other than acquiring more MTG Sengirs) this game leaves me flat. I only >picked up a starter and a few boosters because of WotC/GGs reputation on >MTG. I guess I'll just trade my Jyhad rares for MTG rares for someone >who actually likes both games. I don't even think it should be billed as >a Deckmaster game, since te only thing it has in common with MTG is >Tapping cards. Deckmaster is sort of the brand name for WotC's collectible card games, no more no less. As for the game, it will appeal to people who are into vampires from the thematic end, and from the gaming end will probably appeal more to board gamers of various sorts, people who like to play Illuminati, Diplomacy and other games where there are strategic and political elements. Magic: The Gathering, for all of its insane timing rules, has a much greater potential to become a mainstream game. If they had based it on Tolkein, they could have probably done it even faster though. *grin* -- Martin Terman, Mutant for Hire, Synchronicity Daemon, Priest of Shub-Internet Disclaimer: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but flames are just ignored mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu mfterman@pucc.bitnet an78529@anon.penet.fi "Sig quotes are like bumper stickers, only without the same sense of relevance"

To the nay-sayers, let me point out that Jyhad does a remarkable job of duplicating the gothic-horror feel of its source material, the role-playing game Vampire: the Masquerade. The World of Darkness portrayed there is a grim, dark, hostile place where vampires are both the hunters and the hunted. In general, I found the level of artwork more consistent in Jyhad than in MtG. It is not geared to making the power decks of Mtg, either. The emphasis is very much on the strategies of dealing with the cards that come into play. The political intrigue can play a major part in bringing down your prey. As far as being true Deckmaster or not, it most certainly IS true Deckmaster. It was never supposed to be the Second Coming of Magic, but to be a trading card game designed by Richard Garfield. I think THAT is what makes it true Deckmaster, rather than how closely it approximates Magic gameplay. As to the future expansions, it would be easy enough to incorporate new Disciplines specific to the non-Camarilla clans. I am waiting for the Sabbat to make their dread appearance. can anyone say 300+ card expansion? Werewolf, Mage, Wraith, and Fairie would all make excellent sources, and could actually give the game depth far beyond Magic. Give it a chance, folks... Randy

: Um, I don't like it. I bought a starter deck and four boosters. : After going through the cards, I only found four pieces of art : that I actually like (Zip Gun, Cryptic Mission, Cloak the Gathering, : and Zebulon). All the others are just too dark and morbid. : I've shown the cards to two other big fans of MtG and neither : one could actually finish looking through the cards I showed them. : They just handed them back and said, "No more." : At the local game shop, the attitude was subdued. Several boxes : of Jyhad were sitting untouched on the counter. A couple of the : regulars had bought a few packs and were struggling to comprehend : the rules. Most of the heavy investors in MtG hadn't bought any : Jyhad and weren't planning to. Jeez, what kind of wimps hang out at this shop? I hope it's in a well-lighted area so they don't get frightened to death by thier own shadow when they go to thier car. Or by a <GASP> stray kitten.

In article <33652q$879@search01.news.aol.com>, <bloodgod@aol.com> writes: > : At the local game shop, the attitude was subdued. Several boxes > : of Jyhad were sitting untouched on the counter. A couple of the > : regulars had bought a few packs and were struggling to comprehend > : the rules. Most of the heavy investors in MtG hadn't bought any > : Jyhad and weren't planning to. > > Jeez, what kind of wimps hang out at this shop? I hope it's in a > well-lighted area so they don't get frightened to death by thier own > shadow when they go to thier car. Or by a <GASP> stray kitten. Surprisingly, I was in the other big hobby shop today and they also had plenty of Jyhad Boosters sitting on the counter (and they sell everything at 10% off, so the boosters were only $2.50). As I remember, Legends and The Dark didn't spend more than 2 or 3 hours on store shelves. And here, Jyhad has been out for three days and only 10% of the preordered cards are available, and Boosters are still widely available. So, it looks like WotC made another brilliant move. They only printed 10% of the preorders to test the market. From what I can see of the local gaming market, Jyhad will only be slightly more popular than that "S" card game. Soon, WotC will come to the conclusion that 180 million cards is about twice what their retailers could ever sell. Even though they could force the retailers to honor their preorders (forcing many of them to take big losses), they will take pity on them and make an announcement they they will reduce the print run and only print about 80 million cards instead of 180 million. That will allow them to get The Dark out sooner and maybe get Fallen Empires out on time. IMHO. -- Bill

bing@its.bldrdoc.gov wrote: : In article <33652q$879@search01.news.aol.com>, <bloodgod@aol.com> writes: : > : At the local game shop, the attitude was subdued. Several boxes : > : of Jyhad were sitting untouched on the counter. A couple of the : > : regulars had bought a few packs and were struggling to comprehend : > : the rules. Most of the heavy investors in MtG hadn't bought any : > : Jyhad and weren't planning to. : > : > Jeez, what kind of wimps hang out at this shop? I hope it's in a : > well-lighted area so they don't get frightened to death by thier own : > shadow when they go to thier car. Or by a <GASP> stray kitten. : Surprisingly, I was in the other big hobby shop today and they : also had plenty of Jyhad Boosters sitting on the counter (and : they sell everything at 10% off, so the boosters were only : $2.50). As I remember, Legends and The Dark didn't spend more : than 2 or 3 hours on store shelves. And here, Jyhad has been : out for three days and only 10% of the preordered cards are : available, and Boosters are still widely available. : So, it looks like WotC made another brilliant move. They only : printed 10% of the preorders to test the market. From what I : can see of the local gaming market, Jyhad will only be slightly : more popular than that "S" card game. Soon, WotC : will come to the conclusion that 180 million cards is about : twice what their retailers could ever sell. Even though they : could force the retailers to honor their preorders (forcing many : of them to take big losses), they will take pity on them and : make an announcement they they will reduce the print run and : only print about 80 million cards instead of 180 million. That : will allow them to get The Dark out sooner and maybe get Fallen : Empires out on time. IMHO. : -- Bill Time for a reality check (no flame bait intended). Jyhad came out earlier than many people expected. A lot of people are still checking it out and learning about the game. In _some_ areas it may seem to be off to a slow start, but also realize many places are having no problems selling Jyhad cards. A few pointers: It was never thought that Jyhad would overtake MtG in popularity or replace it as a game of choice. MtG is quicker and easier to play (before rules lawyering). From the first previews of Jyhad, most of those who had played it were billing it as a Gamers' Game. So all the kids who are buying Barney Pogs and Magic Cards aren't buying Jyhad. So what? So all the business types that play MtG during lunch breaks aren't buying Jyhad. So what? These people have a perfectly enjoyable game already to play. That does not mean Jyhad is going to flop. Just because Risk has sold less copies than Monopoly does not mean Risk is a failure of a game. I know many people up and down the entire length of California who are putting MtG on the back burner so they can play Jyhad. At least two friends of mine who played MtG from the very start are working on selling of their entire collections so that they can focus on Jyhad. It's just more of their style of play, just as I prefer to play Risk over Monopoly. And one last thing. When the TSR flop came out, it was appearent pretty quickly that it was a flop. Both here on the net and out in the Real World, a majority of opinions on the game seemed to be negative. I'm not going to say Spellfire was a bad game (never played it), but I'll point out that the same backlash does not exist now. Look at how many articles in this news group have Jyhad in the subject and consider how small a percentage negative comments seem to be. Anyways, post what you think about the game, and please say why. If you have a reason for disliking the game, hopefully someone who thinks as you can avoid the mistake of investing in Jyhad. I just am trying to avoid out of hand dismissals that the game is going to die because nothing can compete with the One True Game. Anyways, this stretched out far longer than I intended. Cheers, Chris. cat@wintermute.ucr.edu

Before I could do anything to stop it, bing@its.bldrdoc.gov wrote: > Surprisingly, I was in the other big hobby shop today and they > also had plenty of Jyhad Boosters sitting on the counter (and > they sell everything at 10% off, so the boosters were only > $2.50). As I remember, Legends and The Dark didn't spend more > than 2 or 3 hours on store shelves. And here, Jyhad has been > out for three days and only 10% of the preordered cards are > available, and Boosters are still widely available. I got into Magic while Antiquities were out. The first couple of months that I was playing the game, I could buy as many Unlimited and Antiquities as I wanted, since everybody had them. About the time Revised came out, the environment changed, perhaps in part because people suddenly realized that not *all* of these cards would always be available (Black Lotus, etc.) Suddenly people were more interested in "getting them while they were hot." Legends and the Dark sold out in a feeding frenzy, and Fallen Empires should certainly be preordered to guarantee availability. Thing is, Magic has been around a year or so now, and it's gotten very hot. Because Magic is hot, we apparently believe the Jyhad should be every bit as hot. I don't doubt that Magic cards (like the Unlimiteds and Antiquities I saw when I started) languished on many dealer'shelves until the game built up momentum. Why should we expect anything different from Jyhad? It hasn't even been out a week, and already some are predicting its demise because there are still cards on the shelves. Digo, pacience y barajar (What I say is, patience, and shuffle the cards). -- There be that can pack the cards and yet cannot play | a-Henh! well; so there are some that are good in canvasses and | Brian Wilson factions, that are otherwise weak men. | Francis Bacon |

In article <337sla$j8l@tequesta.gate.net>, bwilson@gate.net (Brian Wilson) writes: I agree totally. We had Arabian and Antiquities sitting on the shelf and finally opened them myself. They didn't sell. Well everyone things Jyhad is down the tubes. Those people sure have tunnel vision. There are probably many people out there that would try it especially since it's NOT Magic. Oh well, I still have boosters left, but I guarantee they are not collecting dust. Sell well here in Wichita, Ks. The starters are short and so there will be a delay in appeal until there are enough rule books for everyone.

In article <336tdf$3v5@galaxy.ucr.edu>, <cat@wintermute.ucr.edu> writes: > A few pointers: It was never thought that Jyhad would overtake MtG > in popularity or replace it as a game of choice. I wonder about that. From recent posts on this board, I hear that there are 220 million Magic cards in circulation and that WotC is planning on printing 180 million Jyhad. That tells me that they intend for Jyhad to be nearly as popular as MtG. I don't think that will happen. > From the first previews > of Jyhad, most of those who had played it were billing it as a Gamers' > Game. I'd agree with that. And serious games historically do not sell as well as "goofy" games. My point was that WotC had better be careful, since Jyhad won't sell nearly as well as MtG. > So all the kids who are buying Barney Pogs The lady at the game store showed these POGs to me the other day. Boy, isn't THIS a strange idea. She compared the game to playing marbles. I couldn't buy that. Marbles has a fairly large skill factor AND it has a strategy factor. POGs is just like playing "quarters" in that it's sort of fun, but very limited fun. > I know many > people up and down the entire length of California who are putting > MtG on the back burner so they can play Jyhad. At least two friends > of mine who played MtG from the very start are working on selling > of their entire collections so that they can focus on Jyhad. Yes. I watched a couple of months ago as a couple of kids sold off their entire Magic collection and bought hundreds of packs of that "S" card game. It was all the rage for a couple of weeks. I don't see those kids much anymore. > It's > just more of their style of play, just as I prefer to play Risk > over Monopoly. Yup. There is a certain percentage of MtG players that will get into Jyhad and never look back. But, I think that most will play it for a bit, and go right back to MtG. Jyhad will never die out, but it will reach a plateau at a much lower level than MtG. Just like Monopoly was all the rage in 1936 and reached a plateau a few years later, it has never died out either. -- Bill

I LOVE Jyhad. I think it looks MUCH more interesting than MtG and I'm looking forward to playing my first game. -- -- Nick Baban | "Yes I am a pirate, 200 years too late. The NABAB@umich.edu | cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to X-Phile, Would be | plunder..." - Jimmy Buffett Buccaneer | LIVE HARD, TYPE FAST, DIE TATTOOED! "A little luck and a little government are necessary in life, but a fool trusts either of them." -P.J. O'Rourke, _Parliament of Whores_ "Over himself, over his own mind and body, the individual is sovereign." -John Stuart Mill, _On Liberty_

In article <6ZSRBUQS@math.fu-berlin.de> bing@its.bldrdoc.gov writes: >WotC is planning on printing 180 million Jyhad. That tells >me that they intend for Jyhad to be nearly as popular as MtG. >I don't think that will happen. It is not clear how much of that initial limited print run is based on distributor and retailer pre-orders, so I would hesitate before making assumptions about WotC's intentions based on the print run. It may simply be that the retailers and distributors don't want to lose out on the chance that it *might* be as hot as Magic. Is it? Well, it's gone from the two stores I frequent most, and they had a fair amount. They're getting more, and I'll buy more, and apparently a lot of other people are at least getting their feet wet. I suspect most of the speculators will hang back on buying cases, in case it turns out to be just a success. >Yes. I watched a couple of months ago as a couple of kids sold >off their entire Magic collection and bought hundreds of packs >of that "S" card game. Spellfire was an obvious hack, quickly thrown together in an attempt to cash in. While WotC has obviously rushed Jyhad a bit to make it by GenCon, their rush job is thought out a lot better than Spellfire. They've done a good job of taking the basic Deckmaster frame and producing a very different game out of it, with a lot of promise. I don't agree that it's cooler than Magic, mostly because I haven't had a chance to play a complete game yet, but I'm interested enough to give it a chance. As a game, though, not a lifestyle; I *might* buy one box of boosters if I sell my old car off, but not otherwise. I'm done with pouring money into a bloody card game. >Yup. There is a certain percentage of MtG players that will get >into Jyhad and never look back. But, I think that most will play >it for a bit, and go right back to MtG. You leave out the folks who will play both indefinitely, as well as the card collectors who'll buy most anything with pretty pictures on it. Jyhad will never be the game we play over lunch at work, but it has the potential to be something we frequently play in the evenings. Ask me again in a few weeks. -- J Greely (jgreely@synopsys.com)

One thing that a lot of MtG players don't realize is how big the Vampire roleplaying game has become. It debuted 3 years ago, and has been massively supported by White Wolf. The game-world is extremely detailed, and there are MANY, MANY Vampire players, vampire wannabees, and Anne Rice fans that are going to LOVE Jyhad. You think that MtG has rabid fans? Some of these Vampire players are TRULY scary, folks. I've never seen anyone have the Vesuvan doppelganger tattooed on their backside, but a lot of Vampire players get tattoos of their clan symbols...

: One thing that a lot of MtG players don't realize is how big the : Vampire roleplaying game has become. It debuted 3 years ago, and has been : massively supported by White Wolf. The game-world is extremely detailed, : and there are MANY, MANY Vampire players, vampire wannabees, and Anne : Rice fans that are going to LOVE Jyhad. : You think that MtG has rabid fans? Some of these Vampire players are : TRULY scary, folks. I've never seen anyone have the Vesuvan doppelganger : tattooed on their backside, but a lot of Vampire players get tattoos of : their clan symbols... Oh, I know. I play both MtG and Vampire. My only problem is that I can't afford to get into yet another addiction like Jyhad. As much as I'd love to, I simply don't have either the time or the money for it (I'm trying to graduate from college.. last semester, I paid 1500 dollars to play MtG in the Student Union building. *grin*).

<bing@its.bldrdoc.gov> wrote: >> A few pointers: It was never thought that Jyhad would overtake MtG >> in popularity or replace it as a game of choice. >I wonder about that. From recent posts on this board, I hear >that there are 220 million Magic cards in circulation and that >WotC is planning on printing 180 million Jyhad. That tells >me that they intend for Jyhad to be nearly as popular as MtG. >I don't think that will happen. The print run for Jyhad and for Magic: the Gathering is determined entirely by preorders. Distributors preordered 180 million Jyhad cards, so at least that many will be printed. Boom, there ya go. The 220 million Magic cards figure is only accurate up through the end of June... The Dark Alone added, what, 80 million to that? We don't "intend" for Jyhad to be more or less popular than Magic, but I think most people anticipate that it won't sell as well in the long run. That is fine. As long as more people are having fun because Jyhad exists than would be if it didn't, then the game will have accomplished its mission... equalling the sales of Magic is not and never will be the goal of any Deckmaster game. We wouldn't complain if Jyhad did sell as well ;) but we aren't making policies based on trying to make it do so. >I'd agree with that. And serious games historically do not >sell as well as "goofy" games. My point was that WotC had >better be careful, since Jyhad won't sell nearly as well as MtG. Who says it has to sell as well? We certainly don't. It would suck if it failed to the point where some store goes out of business because it can't pay for the Jyhad cards it ordered, but I don't think that's going to happen. >> I know many >> people up and down the entire length of California who are putting >> MtG on the back burner so they can play Jyhad. At least two friends >> of mine who played MtG from the very start are working on selling >> of their entire collections so that they can focus on Jyhad. >Yes. I watched a couple of months ago as a couple of kids sold >off their entire Magic collection and bought hundreds of packs >of that "S" card game. It was all the rage for a couple of weeks. >I don't see those kids much anymore. On the other hand, how many people in the groups you play in play both Magic and Spellfire? Not saying that you *should* play both, but if they were the only ones playing Spellfire and not Magic, then it doesn't particularly surprise me that they wouldn't migrate to where the Magic groups meet. I.e., are they not playing at all, or are they just playing somewhere else? Tom Wylie rec.games.deckmaster Network Representative for aahz@hal.com Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

bing@its.bldrdoc.gov wrote: : Surprisingly, I was in the other big hobby shop today and they : also had plenty of Jyhad Boosters sitting on the counter (and : they sell everything at 10% off, so the boosters were only : $2.50). As I remember, Legends and The Dark didn't spend more : than 2 or 3 hours on store shelves. And here, Jyhad has been : out for three days and only 10% of the preordered cards are : available, and Boosters are still widely available. How many of you purchased MtG when it first came out? I remember seeing this game sitting in the stores for quite awhile before I picked it up. I don't normally go in for the vampire genre, but I decided to try something I don't normally (and under peer pressure :] ) and I think this is an excellent game so far. The rule booklet is a bit unwieldy, but we were able to play reasonably well the night we purchased the game. Now, we switch back and forth between MtG and Jyhad because they are fairly different from one another and they offer respite from each other. @@ <-- 2 cents --Gary (mage@jimmy.harvard.edu)

Nearly everyone I know, if not everyone, has dropped Mtg for the time being to investigate Jyhad. My favorite comic books/gaming store sold out in both locations within two days, and they were limiting pack purchases. However, strangely enough, other stores still have them. I think that has to do with the fact that those of us who frequent my favorite store didn't realize Jyhad was still available elsewhere. All the starter decks are gone, but some boosters are still around. We get together quite a bit to play; most of us have gone so far as to buy the Vampire counters, although the blood bags aren't popular because it's hard to get the counters back in. As for what happened with the `S' game, when I first walked into the store to buy some, my friends said `It sucks.' The guy who owns the store said a few people had bought them. At present, he is still trying to figure out a way to get rid of it. Based on my observations, I'd have to say there is no logic in comparing reactions to `S' and Jyhad. When I called about Jyhad, the attitude was uncertain, but, as you can see, they were certain about that other company's game. (In case it's not clear, I called the store owner to see how my friends like Jyhad when it came out, rather than running down like I did when Spellfire did). People are already putting together sets. In short, I feel quite confident in saying that the gobs of people with whom I play LOVE Jyhad, even though we admit it's a longer game. As for lunchtime, I don't play Jyhad then, as I did with Magic, but I certainly take that time to attempt to make my Jyhad deck more competitive :). Hmm, I forgot to mention one thing. One store I called about Jyhad didn't even seem to know that they were getting any before the official release date, so I suspect they told a lot of interested players that it would be a few weeks. Perhaps that could explain why they still have boosters. Tahelia C. Powe Magic/Jyhad addict tcpowe00@mik.uky.edu