okay, this is embarrassing but I've been playing for about 7 years without knowing too much of the storyline, and I finally wanna take the time to start learning it, so what would you say is the best place to start learning it?
Asking questions, or downloading the books through some outside source. There have been several different storylines though, and after Apocalypse most blocks are their own contained storylines until recently so that makes it easier as well(if not less interesting).
Just go get lost in wikiland for a while. You can learn a lot from there, but if you're looking for fine details, you'll have to read the novels. Also, Wikipedia's got some decent stuff on some Magic subjects (for example: List of Magic: The Gathering characters).
Getting involved in this forum is a really good way to learn a lot too!
Read the Artifacts Cycle and Weatherlight Saga (original publishing order, NOT the omnibuses, which spoil reveals), the Ice Age Cycle, the Legends II Cycle, and planeswalker novels. Those are the books of quality that give you enough overview of the storyline and style of Magic such as to hook you in. Good side stories are anthologies, the Kamigawa Cycle, the Ravnica Cycle, the Legends I Cycle, and if you're willing to put up with sub-par but entertaining stories, try the Mirrodin Cycle, the Time Spiral Cycle and the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor cycles. Outside of that...read webcomics and wiki summaries, and stay the frak away from the block novels of the last few years (if nothing else, DON'T. BUY. DON'T SUPPORT CRAP).
P.S. People like Chainer's Torment, it didn't do much for me. But to be fair...it was the only book between the Odyssey & Onslaught Cycles really worth reading.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
The biggest chunk of Magic's history, From Antiquities to Apocalypse all stems from the novel: The Brother's War by Jeff Grubb. Coincidentally, The Brother's War is one of the best if not the best, Magic novel both in writing skill of the author and storyline. I would recommend that you begin with that.
If you are more interested in more recent storyline: the Shards of Alara, Zendikar and Scars of Mirrodin block keep away from the novels, they are mediocre at best and terrible at worst. Instead read some of the Savor the Flavor articles. The "Planeswalker Guide to" articles are all very interesting.
standard
BU control
BG infect
modern:
mill
edh:
devour for power
Shizuko ramp
Click the pic for more info.
Getting involved in this forum is a really good way to learn a lot too!
P.S. People like Chainer's Torment, it didn't do much for me. But to be fair...it was the only book between the Odyssey & Onslaught Cycles really worth reading.
About any "subpar" mechanics or cards: Context is king.
If I make a templating or grammar error, let me know.
The franchise MtG most resembles is Battlestar Galactica. Why? Its players exist in, at most, a dozen different models at any given point in time, with perhaps up to 3% variation, 5% if you're lucky.
standard
BU control
BG infect
modern:
mill
edh:
devour for power
Shizuko ramp
If you are more interested in more recent storyline: the Shards of Alara, Zendikar and Scars of Mirrodin block keep away from the novels, they are mediocre at best and terrible at worst. Instead read some of the Savor the Flavor articles. The "Planeswalker Guide to" articles are all very interesting.