Alpha/ Beta playtest cards, etc.

[fvzappa]

My english is not very good and I am not a player:

2 Questions:

ARMOUR R: Witch card Alpha or not released for the set ?

STARBURST 2R: You called this one "Red Time Walk"

Opponent loses next turn

Blue Time Walk Alpha:

Take an extra turn

Is this the same ?

Thanks for the answer and compliment for your work.

Okay, I can understand the confusion for you, if you do not understand English well especially.

First part- Armour. Armour is not any card for alpha. The closest thing to it is the card Holy Armor, which is a white card. However, I have a Holy Armor playtest card, so it may have been made into the card "Web", a green card that is also similar (that I do NOT have a playtest version of). What makes Armour so unusual, is that red is all fire, destruction, burning. It just does not "fit" the color. Defense is something you see in white, not red. So, it makes sense that this card did not actually get made in Alpha in its original form.

This may be hard to understand if you only collect, & do not play. But each color has a "theme", with advantages & disadvantages applied to playing each color.

Second question, about Starburst. The "red Time Walk".

Starburst reads "opponent loses next turn". When people in the playtest stages saw this, it was often misunderstood. What it was meant to be interpereted as was more like "opponent does not take their next turn". (Magic was originally only a game for 2 players, also). However, a lot of players saw the "opponent loses next turn" as "opponent loses THE GAME on their next turn".

So, the card was fixed, using a more clear understanding. Also, at the last minute, Starburst was changed to a blue card. I've heard stories why, that may or may not be true. The most reasonable story I have heard is that Peter Adkinson (or someone else) loved the Merfolk cards. Notice, that all of the creature lords- like Goblin King & Zombie Master- all cost one more mana than the Lord of Atlantis. A bit of favoritism, perhaps?

I actually played Starburst against Richard Garfield, when I met him a few years ago. Before I met him, I allowed (against better judgement) people to win the game by playing Starburst. Mostly due to the fact that the other deck I owned was better However, since he & I have played, & explained that indeed this was a common mistake I should not do this. So, since then I have not allowed this to happen.

I would have won the game had he let me do this my way. However, I did get to play the card "Goblins", which is a photocopy of his face on the card. I would say "I'll attack with YOU for one damage" to him. Stupid, yes. But amusing.

[the swiss]

Thanks for your explanation.

"Red Time Walk"

I dont think that Starburst was changed at the last minute to a blue card (Time Walk): I have the Playtest-Card Time Walk:

TIME WALK 2 (with circle colored blue)
Sorcery
Take an extra turn

Exist also:

Paralysis 2 (with colored circle black)
Sorcery
Opponent loses next turn (like Starburst red)

= Starburst red and Paralysis black perhaps others colors not released at ALPHA.

Different Cards not released at ALPHA:

Enchantet Sword 2A

Does one damage to each creature attacking
you (unblocked creatures) 0


Artifact Tap 2 (colored circle blue)
Enchant Artifact

When opposant uses this artifact
you gain one life


Plague x (colored circle black)
Sorcery

Does X damage


Armour R
Enchant Creature

Creature has +2 defense


Ecoshift 3 (colored circle green)
Sorcery

Mix all lands in play - each player retrieves
same number they startet with.


You have others ?

[pp]

Wow this is really interesting!

[yawg07]

Exist also:

Paralysis 2 (with colored circle black)
Sorcery
Opponent loses next turn (like Starburst red)

Wow a black Time Walk would be INSANE.
the swiss, do you have pictures of your playtest cards?

[fvzappa]

Okay, so (in response to the swiss) the blue and black versions of Time Walk are both phase 1 of the playtest cards, due to the fact that they have colored dots on them. Starburst, the red version, is actually the final draft... so it seems that at the last minute, like I mentioned before, they went from red to blue. They admit this last-minute change in a few books & online articles (these articles never mentioned a black version, however).

As players, we could all agree that ANY color of Time Walk would be fantastic. Let's face it, blue is undoubtedly the best color in MtG. I would honestly like to see (if I had a time machine) some uncharactaristicly blue cards like Tinker or Time Walk be white. White is the weakest color in the game (quick! Think of an awesome white card printed since Legends!).

Back to playtest cards... I have a few versions of the card Plague as well... it gradually changed into the card Pestilence. Artifact Tap was printed in Antiquities. The others, now those are just plain interesting.

I will take the time here soon to come up with a complete list of playtest cards that I have, but with few exceptions I have pretty much publicly announced the extremely different ones that I own. Many started out way different, but gradually became the cards we know today.

So I guess no one owns any dual lands or moxes in their playtest form? I swear they do not exist.

[equi-nox76]

Let's face it, blue is undoubtedly the best color in MtG.

=D> =D> =D> Sooooooooo true!!
Chris

[fvzappa]

Okay, due to an overwhelming request for a complete list of what I have, I'll list it here.

When I say Phase 1,2, or 3 I am talking about the evolution of the playtest cards. Both phase 1 & 2 are similar in some aspects... these are the cards that have a circle that is colored in. They are a bit more primitive. In some cases, it is hard to tell whether they are phase 1 or 2. Creatures in phase 1 have ONE NUMBER. Creatures in phase 2 & 3 have both power & toughness. All cards in phase 3 have an actual letter instead of a colored in circle. These are the ones Wizards shows on their site.

Got it? Look at my scans for examples. I have all 3 phases on there, and explain a lot that I needn't repeat. I do not want to make scans of all of my cards, simply due to privacy reasons. But thanks to a few other collectors who can help/ share with me, I may be able to put together some of the remaining info I need to get the final pieces of the puzzle together. This is why I am posting EVERY Alpha playtest card I own here-


*********************************************************

Phase 1 cards:

Creatures.

Phantom Monster 3 (blue circle)
with 3 at bottom

Zombies 1 (black circle)
with 2 at bottom
I own 2, one in beige paper, one in light green paper

Bears 2 (grren circle)
with 2 at bottom

Illusionary Forces 3 (blue circle)
with 4 at bottom

Giant 3 (red circle)
with 3 at bottom
the artwork on Giant was later used as artwork on Giant Growth. Giant's artwork changed to something different in phase 2 & 3.

Angel 4 (with 2 white circles)
with 4 at bottom
I made a scan of her, the original serra, go to 1st page of this thread

Skeletons 1 (black circle)
with 1 at bottom
I own 2

Ogre 2 (red circle)
with 2 at bottom

Hero 1 (white circle)
with 1 at bottom

Fairies 1 (green circle)
with 1 at bottom
I own 2

Wolves 1 (green circle)
with 1 at bottom
I own 2, one is artisticly colored in, other is not

Lions 1 (white circle)
with 1 at bottom
I own 3, one is colored in, other 2 are not

OTHER PHASE 1 CARDS-

Lifeforce 2 (green circle) Enchantment
simply uses the word "enchant" instead of "enchantment"

Barren 2 (black circle) Sorcery
Later became Sinkhole

Plains (red circle) Land
That's right, red circle. That didn't last!

[fvzappa]

************************************************

PHASE 2 CARDS

Creatures-

Wurm 4 (2 green circles)
6/4

Ents 4 (green circle)
3/5
became Ironroot Treefolk in Alpha. I own 2.

Juggernaut 3A
5/3

Wall of Bone 3 (black circle)
1/4

Water Elemental 4 (black circle)
5/4

Wall of Stone 3 (red circle)
0/8


Instants-

Healing Salve 1 (white circle)

Unsummon 1 (blue circle)

Fog 1 (green circle)

Terror 2 (black circle)
autographed by Ron Spencer says "I did not draw this crud!!"

Elemental Blast 1 (red circle)
I own 2, one has pretty hand drawn artwork, other is blank.

Guardian Angel X (white circle)

Rightousness 1 (white circle)
I own 2. It says "defending creature does +5 attack"


Artifact-

Glasses of Urza 1A
with 1 at bottom (signifies what it costs to use)

Sol Ring 1A
with 0 at bottom


Enchantments-

Artifact Tap 2 (blue circle)

Flight 1 (blue circle)

Illusionary Terrain 2 (blue circle)

Unholy Strength 1 (black circle)

Circle of Protection from Red Magic 1 (white circle)
I own 2

Circle of Protection from Black Magick 1 (white circle)
yes, it's spelled Magick. The LAST word you'd expect them to get wrong!

Circle of Protection from Green Magic 1 (white circle)
Has in text are a "blue" crossed out, with "green" handwritten in.


Sorcery-

Mind Twist X (black circle)
I own 2. one is blank, other has neat handdrawn artwork

Disintegrate X (red circle)
I own 2.

Instill Energy 1 (green circle)

Destroy Artifact 2 (red circle)
I own 2. Note that Shatter started out as a sorcery.

Raise Dead 1 (black circle)
I own 3.

Fireball X (red circle)
This version says "does x damage", next phase became the fireball we know.

Land-

got plenty of all 5, on white, yellow, & blue paper. One Island is completely hand-drawn, including the title. One is signed by Richard Garfield.

*************************************************

PHASE 3 CARDS.

Creatures-

Djin 6UU
5/6

Lions W
1/1

Wall of Bone 3B
1/4
I own 2

Minor Wizard 3U
1/1
became Prodigal Sorcerer

White Knight WW
2/2

Zombies 2B
2/2

Wall of Brambles 4G
2/3

Merfolk U
1/1
I own 2

Goblins R
1/1
Is a scan of Richard Garfield's face. Signed for me by him as well.

Earth Elemental 5RR
4/5

Mammoths 4G
3/3

Serpent 5U
6/6

Giant 4R
3/3
I own 2

Wall of Wood G
1/3

Shade 3B
0/1

Bears 3G
2/2
I own 2. 1 is signed by the Alpha artist.


Artifact-

Ankh of Mishra 4/0
This means 4 to play, 0 to activate. Did only 1 damage as anyone played a land.

Rod of Ruin 4/3
Again, 4 to play, 3 to activate.


Instant-

Giant Growth G
Has artwork from the "Giant" card in phase 1

Unsummon U
I own 3

Heal W
I own 3. Has a scan of Peter Adkinson's foot with the HEEL circled.

Destroy Artifact 2R
I own 4. Shatter becomes an instant!

Elemental Blast U
I own 2

Camouflage G

Ancestral Memory U
Yes, Ancestral Recall! Signed by Mark Poole.

Lightning Bolt R
I own 2.

Tunnel R

False Orders
Has no casting cost on it.
Has a cartoon with mom screaming at kid "What did I just TELL YOU?!?"
Kid replies "Beats me, weren't you listening either?"


Enchantments-

Circle of Protection from Green Magic 2W/1

Circle of Protection from Black Magick 2W/1
I own 2. Misspelling is still there.

Circle of Protection from Red Magic 2W/1

Lifetap UU

Blessing W
Has Spock on it!

Animate Dead B

Red Ward W
I own 2.

Consecrate Land W

Plague 4BB/B
This is Pestilence.

Illusionary Terrain UU/2

Armour R
Discussed this before, probably became Web.

Deathgrip BB/B

Holy Strength W
Has a pic of the guy brought up earlier in "weakness"


Sorcery-

Mind Twist XB
I own 2, of this version, so I have a playset!

Starburst 2R
Yea, you know, the red Time Walk.

Stream of Life XG
Autographed by Mark Poole.

Sinkhole 2B
I own 2, of this version, so I have a playset!

Fireball XR

Stone Rain 2R
ah, a stone rain that is 1R. awesome.

Disintegrate XR

Lands-

All 5 basic, with varying pics. The Plains are airplanes. I made scans of some. Several are autographed too.

************************************************

That's it!

[the swiss]

Playtest GAMMA

All cards have pictures

Cards not yet listed by fvzappa


Artifact:

Golem 6/0 (Obsianus Golem)
Artifact

Treat the Golem as a
creature (and artifact) 4/6


Jade Statue 4/2
Artifact

Pay 2 to use on defense or to
attack.. When not in use is not
a creature. TAP 3/6


Iron Star 1/1
Artifact

A red spell successfully cast by either
player gives you one life. NO TAP


Ivory Cup 1/1
Artifact

A white spell successfully cast by either
player gives you one life. NO TAP


Living Wall 4/0
Artifact

Regenerates : 1 0/6


Soul Net 1/1
Artifact

If any creature dies you get
one life. NO TAP


Blue:

Air Elemental 5UU
Summon

Flies 4/4


Animate Artifact 4U
Enchant Artifact

artifact is now a creature with power
and toughness both equal to casting
cost of thr artifact. Cannot be used on
artifact creature. Artifact's other
abilities/effects unchanged.


Control Magic 4UU
Enchant Creature

Creature comes under your control
(tapped this turn). Not permanent,
return (tapped) if enchantement
removed or duel ends.


Flight U
Enchant Creature

Creature Flies


Illusionary Forces 4/U (Phantasmal Forces)
Summon

Flies/pay U during
upkeep or discard 4/4


Jump U
Instant

Creature of your choice
can fly this turn.


Phantom Monster 4U
Summon

Flies 3/3


Psionic Blast 3U
Instant

Does 4 damage


Siren's Call UU
Instant

Opponent must attack with all
creatures that can (on opponents
turn).


Tap U (Twiddle)
Instant

Tap a creature, artifact, or land
(no mana drawn or artifact effect)


Water Elemental 5UU
Summon

5/4

[fvzappa]

So, this further amplifies my assumption that dual lands & Moxes/Lotus do not exist in playtest form.

Thank you for posting your gamma cards that I do not own... I had a few of them in their earlier versions, it's nice to see the evolution!

[the swiss]

Playtest GAMMA

All cards have pictures

Cards not yet listed by fvzappa


Black:


Bad Moon 2B
Enchantement

All black creatures
(both players) + 1/1


Cursed Land 4BB
Enchant Land

Owner of land loses one life
during their upkeep.


Dark Ritual B
Instant

Provides 3 swamp mana


Drain Life 2B
Sorcery

For each B (beyond casting cost)
do one damage to a creature or
opponent. You take that many lives
(but not more than the creatures
toughness)


Fear BB
Enchant Creature

Creature can only be blocked
by artifact creatures.


Sacrifice B
Sorcery

Sacrifice one creature and
obtainthe creatures casting
cost in black mana


Howl from Beyond XB
Instant

Adds X to creature attack


Simulacrum 2B
Instant

Take back all lives you lost
this turn.


Terror 2B
Instant

Destroys one non-black creature
(no regenaration allowed)


Spectre 3BB (Hypnotic Spectre)
Summon

Flies/If spectre damages
opponent then opponent
must discard a random card
(if possible)


Unholy Strenght B
Enchant Creature

Creature has +1/+1


Zombie Master BB/BB
Enchantment

Take a zombie from opponent
for BB, return after game. When
taken the zombies are tapped.
All zombies have regenaration
for B.



Green:


Berserk G
Instant

Creature takes second attack
and cannot be blocked by creatures
that have blocked this turn but
creature is destroyed.


Dryad G (Shanodin Dryads)
Summon

Forestwalk 1/1


Elves G (Llanowar Elves)
Summon

May tap for 1 green
mana 1/1


Ents 5G (Ironroot Treefolk)
Summon

3/5


Regeneration G/G
Enchant Creature

Creature has regenerate


Wild Growth G
Enchant Land

Land provides an additional
mana which is green


Red and white cames later.

[the swiss]

Playtest GAMMA

All cards have pictures

Cards not yet listed by fvzappa


Red:

Burrowing R
Enchant Red Creature

Creature has Mountainwalk


Chaoslace R
Instant

A spell being cast or a creature,
artifact, or enchantement in play
is now considered red magic. Does
not change the casting requirements
for a spell.


Earthbind R
Enchant Creature

Creature can't fly


Elemental Blast R (Red Elemental Blast)
Instant

Cancel a blue spell or
creature


False Orders (2R - manual)


Firebreathing R/R
Enchant Creature

+1 Power (for each R) till
the end of the turn


Minotaur 3RR (Hurloon Minotaur)
Summon

2/3


Orcs 2R (Ironclaw Orcs)
Summon

Cannot be used to block
a creature of power greather
than 1 2/2


Roc 4R (Roc of Kher Ridges)
Summon

Flies 3/3


White:


Castle 4R
Enchantment

All your untapped creatures
have +1 toughness exept when
attacking


Conversion 4WW
Enchantment

Every mountain in play
is now a plain


Deenchant 2W (Disenchant)
Instant

Destroy an artifact or
enchantment


Guardian Angel XW
Instant

Prevents X damage from
being dealt to any target


Healing Salve W
Instant

Gain three life


Resurrection 2W
Sorcery

Take a creature from the
discard pile into your hand


Righteousness W
Instant

Defending creature has
+5 power this turn


Sword to Plowshares W
Sorcery

One creature takes up farming,
creature discarded from game
(no regeneration, raise dead,
etc.) Owner gets creatures power
in life. Returns to deck after game.


Unicorn 3W (Pearled Unicorn)
Summon

2/2


End fvzappa/the swiss.

Missing GAMMA: from Wizard and pickle.69 (Dragon/Shivan Dragon)
and others.

[the swiss]

fvzappa:

your Phase 3 = GAMMA : ok
your Phase 2 = BETA : I dont think so
your Phase 1 = ALPHA : I dont think so

Look:

You and me whe have

"Phase 1" and GAMMA OR
"Phase 2" and GAMMA

but never "Phase 1" and "Phase 2" together.

I dont have a lot of documents, but in the book for the 4E - The manual of
a perfect player - Richard Garfield explain the changes from Alpha (attacking
walls etc) to Beta (switch cards enter players etc). I have this book only in
french. You have a lot of stuff to read and you can ask Richard.

To help you with your big goal, I will make a listing of my cards Alpha/Beta you dont have.
not have

[the swiss]

Playtest ALPHA/BETA

Cards have pictures or noth

Cards are white and a feew beige, yellow or green



Artifact:


Copper Tablet 2A

Swap a creature of yours in
play with a creature of your
opponents in play 2


Crystal Rod 1A

Each ble spell cast gives
you one life 1+


Jayemdae Tome 2A

Draw one extra card 2


Juggernaut 3A

Acts as a creature 5/3
Is susceptible to both
artifact and creature
entchantments 0


Iron Star 1A

Each red spell cast gives
you one life 1+


Ivory Cup 1A

Each white spell cast gives
you one life 1+


Living Wall 4A

Acts as a wakk 0/6
Is susceptible to both
artifact and creature
enchantments.
Regenerates for 1 mana 0


Sphere of Annihilation 2A (Chaos Orb)

Flip card onto table from
height of > six inches. All
cards touching the sphere and
the sphere are discarded. 0


Wooden Sphere 1A

Each green spell cast gives
you one life 1+


End Artifact.

[the swiss]

Playtest ALPHA/BETA


White:


Armageddon 4 (white circle)
Sorcery

All lands in play discarded


Blessing 2 (white circle)
Enchant Creature

+1 defense per (white circle)


Circle of Protection 1 (white circle)
from white magic
Enchantment

Pay one mana to ignore
damage inflicted on you
by a white spell or creature


Circle of Protection 1 (white circle)
from blue magic
Enchantment

Pay one mana to ignore
damage inflicted on you
by a (blue spell or creature


Conversion 4 (two white circles)
Enchantment

Every mountain in play
counts as a plain


Heal 1 (white circle) (Death Ward)
Instant

Regenerates creature


Karma 4 (two white circles)
Enchantment

Each swamp in play does
one damage to the owner
at the start of the owners turn


Resurrection 2 (white circle)
Sorcery

Take a creature from the
discard pile into your hand


Wall of Swords 4 (white circle)
Summon

Flies 3/5


End White.