Nerds meet to revisit Ravnica

THE PLANET-CITY of Ravnica will be revisited by Lismore's card game aficionados this weekend, when the gates of this old world are re-opened to them.

An expansion of the world's largest trading card game, Magic: the Gatherin', is due next week, so Lismore Magic aficionados will hold a pre-release tournament this weekend.

Magic is played by at least two players with a pack of a minimum of 60 cards and a game lasts up to 60 minutes. It is not a role-based game but a skills game, with interaction between players similar to Poker and other card games.

The new release will add 270 new cards to the game (there are currently more than 12,000 available), and revisits the storyline started in 2005 when the Ravnica world was introduced.

Self-confessed Magic 'nerds' met The Echo to explain this underground subculture game played by millions across the world.

In Lismore, over 100 players have entered local tournaments in the past 12 months. Up to 50 players will meet on Saturday, September 29, at the Italo Club in Barrow Lane, Lismore, and on Sunday, September 30 at Overdrive Gaming in Carrington Street.

Christopher McKinnon explained that he started playing Magic in 1997, and as many players do, he quit the game for around six years.

"When I was young only nerds played Magic, but now apparently it's the 'in crowd' that is playing it," he said.

Overdrive Gaming owner Liam Fraser Quick said card-trading games allow participants to develop social skills as the game required conversation between players.

"Last year we had a 14 year-old boy who participated in one of our pre-release tournaments. He was home-schooled due to bullying. This was a great way for him to socialise and make new friends," he said.