From: Gordon Walden (by way of Yugitips ) [gjw11@tds.net] Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 11:09 PM To: Bill Subject: Ideas, Thoughts, and General Randomness... -Kyoichi Saiyonji Hail, hail! I have returned to spout more wisdom upon the masses! Thanks for all the letters I got for my first couple of posts. Unfortunately, I could only read two. My e-mail server kept finding viruses on e-mails that were sent to me, and removed them as a consequence. A little tip: If you want me to read your response, make sure your computer is virus-free, otherwise, I won't even see it! Now, my first thought is directed at three highly-sought-after promos that have just been released: namely, the God cards. Many gamers, especially kids, are salivating at the thought of wielding such powerful creatures, thinking they will dominate tournaments and their local playing scene alike. GUESS AGAIN!!!!! In Japan, the God cards are BANNED in tournaments, and I'm sure many casual gamers don't play with then either. This isn't because they were deemed "too powerful" or "unfair", but because: 1) The card backs of the God cards are a slightly different hue from normal cards, thereby making them marked cards; and as we all know, playing with marked cards is tantamount to CHEATING! I know what you're saying: "But Saiyonji-san, put them in card sleeves, and no one can tell the difference!" True enough, which brings me to the second reason why the God cards are banned, 2) THE GOD CARDS OFFICIALLY HAVE NO ABILITIES!!! You heard me right. That thing where Obelisk blows everything up and damages your opponent? Doesn't exist. Slifer the Sky Dragon's "Second Mouth Cannon"? Ditto. Don't even get me started on Ra's myriad powers. According to the manga and anime, most of Ra's powers require the user to speak Hieratic, which is a (dead) language of ancient Egypt. Who out there knows how to speak Hieratic? Show of hands, anyone? Seriously, the God cards don't have any official effects printed on the cards. What is there is actually flavor text, which, as the rulebook states, "has no effect on gameplay". Sorry, Charlie. If you'd like to know more about the God cards, head to www.stormpages.com/edhrzic/yugi.html. Edo has a detailed and very informative article on the God cards, and is the source of the info for my spoutings herein. So, knowing this, why on Earth would you want them? Purely for collector's value, nothing more. PLEASE don't think you'll rule the dueling scene once you get one, because you won't. Now, on to (yet another) card combo involving Magical Hats! (You wouldn't expect me to do an article without one, now would you?) Magical Hats + Ultimate Offering: Save your big beefies for your opponent's Battle Phase! When your opp attacks, activate Magical Hats, and trigger the Replay. Once your opp attacks again, activate the Ultimate Offering, pay the life, and tribute your "monsters" for a Blue-Eyes, a Summoned Skull, Amphibian Beast, or a Jinzo(Hold Jinzo until the end of your summon spree, though, because once he hits the table, he shuts off the Offering, and it really IS the end of your summon spree)! It's not likely that your opp will attack again after that Replay! Just think: You started with a Witch and ended up with two or three HUGE threats! (Oh, yeah. The fun REALLY ratchets up when you combo with WotBF and Black Pendant! Trib the Witch to search for your next threat to hit the table, trib the Pendant to add insult to injury!) Hope you find this info useful! 'Tis time for me to leave for now, but I will return to spout wisdom again another day! -Kyoichi Saiyonji, gjw11@tds.net