The easiest way to discern Alternate 4th from regular 4th is
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:47 pm
with all the conversation involving alternate 4th, as a lark I thought I'd look at the card boxes I have from the 4th edition starters I've opened creating my 4th edition set, and found these...
http://alienstarfighterpilot.angelfire. ... _Boxes.jpg
and there's a 4th that I didn't scan, but that makes atleast 4 starters I've opened. but don't get too excited for me, as I opened these back in 1995, and these boxes were used to hold decks (which is probably the only reason why I still have them).
quoted from StarCityGames "Alternate Fourth Edition cards look very similar to standard Magic cards, but a closer inspection reveals obvious differences. Their card stock is thicker, their backs feature a glossy finish, and their colors do not show the usual pattern of dots characteristic of Magic: the Gathering cards. Furthermore, they have a special coating which causes the cards to stay dark under ultraviolet light (also known as "black" light), in contrast to standard Magic cards which start to glow when held under similar lighting."
figuring the glossy back finish would be the easiest to do with a LARGE selection of 4th edition cards, I looked, I found some with a deeper shade of black on the border, and a rather new stack of cards like that. and, yes, they look glossy-er (I guess - I used to play the Star Wars CCG by Decipher and THOSE had glossy backs).
Without a card I know is an Alternate 4th, I'm hesitant to get worked up when I could just be wrong, seeing as how I think the glossier backs could just be my wishful thinking.
So, minus going out and buying a ultraviolet (blacklight) light, what is the easiest way to discern with certainty Alternate 4th from regular 4th?
and I'll also look through my revised. hell, who knows, I could be sitting on a starter or 2 of Summer and not even know it.
http://alienstarfighterpilot.angelfire. ... _Boxes.jpg
and there's a 4th that I didn't scan, but that makes atleast 4 starters I've opened. but don't get too excited for me, as I opened these back in 1995, and these boxes were used to hold decks (which is probably the only reason why I still have them).
quoted from StarCityGames "Alternate Fourth Edition cards look very similar to standard Magic cards, but a closer inspection reveals obvious differences. Their card stock is thicker, their backs feature a glossy finish, and their colors do not show the usual pattern of dots characteristic of Magic: the Gathering cards. Furthermore, they have a special coating which causes the cards to stay dark under ultraviolet light (also known as "black" light), in contrast to standard Magic cards which start to glow when held under similar lighting."
figuring the glossy back finish would be the easiest to do with a LARGE selection of 4th edition cards, I looked, I found some with a deeper shade of black on the border, and a rather new stack of cards like that. and, yes, they look glossy-er (I guess - I used to play the Star Wars CCG by Decipher and THOSE had glossy backs).
Without a card I know is an Alternate 4th, I'm hesitant to get worked up when I could just be wrong, seeing as how I think the glossier backs could just be my wishful thinking.
So, minus going out and buying a ultraviolet (blacklight) light, what is the easiest way to discern with certainty Alternate 4th from regular 4th?
and I'll also look through my revised. hell, who knows, I could be sitting on a starter or 2 of Summer and not even know it.