SPELLFIRE Frequently Asked Questions Compiled by Kevin Barth (barth@wam.umd.edu) Version 1.2 - 10/25/94 Items that have been changed since the last posted edition are marked in the index with an asterisk (*). I. About the Spellfire FAQ What is the Spellfire FAQ? Why A Spellfire FAQ? Who Maintains the Spellfire FAQ? Where is this FAQ distributed? * Disclaimers... II. Spellfire: Availability and Costs Where Can I Get Spellfire Cards? What are the various Spellfire Expansions to Date? What is the distribution of commons/uncommons/rares Spellfire Promo Cards How Much does Spellfire Cost? III. Spellfire: Basic Rules Are the Spellfire Rules Available On-Line? Rule Changes/Errata from TSR - available via FTP Explanations/Errata from TSR: from Duelist #2 Explanations/Errata from TSR: From Dragon #208 IV. Misc. Information Where can I get Spellfire info? * Is There a List of All Spellfire Cards, with Rarity Levels? Is There a Deliniated list, suitable for Database use? Why aren't my realm cards all printed in the same direction? * I got a damaged card in my Pack. How can I have it Replaced? V. The Spellfire/Magic Connection VI. The Internet Spellfire Directory --------------------------------------------------------------------- I. About the Spellfire FAQ A. What is the Spellfire FAQ? The Spellfire FAQ is a regularly posted document providing information for players of TSR's "Spellfire: Master the Magic" Collectible Card Game. It eventually will contain complete card lists for all of the Spellfire editions, rule clarification and optional rules (both official and unofficial), and other information of interest to players of this game. B. Why a Spellfire FAQ? This is perhaps the MOST frequently asked question (especially among Magic: The Gathering players)! While Spellfire has not garnered nearly as much attention as Magic (with which it has drawn inevitable comparisons) it still has a fairly sizeable following in certain places. In the U.S., Spellfire has done particularly well in the midwest and in some eastern cities (Baltimore is said to be a big Spellfire town). It is said to be fairly popular in portions of Europe, although I have heard no particular reports of specific places. Spellfire has garnered little traffic on the rec.games.deckmaster.* hierarchy, largely because few people are aware that the group's charter includes non- Deckmaster games. With the publication of this FAQ will come wider knowledge of this, and probably additional traffic. C. Who Maintains the Spellfire FAQ? This FAQ is maintained by Kevin Barth (barth@wam.umd.edu). If you have any additions to the FAQ, or information that you think might be of interest to Spellfire players in general, please drop me a line! While on irc, you can often find me as Demento, in groups #wicca, #jeopardy, or #lumania. D. Where is this FAQ Distributed? I will be posting this FAQ, initially on a bi-weekly basis, to the following usenet newsgroups. rec.games.deckmaster rec.games.deckmaster.marketplace rec.collecting.cards rec.games.frp.dnd This FAQ is also now available via the World Wide Web! Check out my homepage at http://www.wam.umd.edu/~barth/ Thanks to the efforts of Hap Campbell, a hypertext version of this document is now available at the above site. If you would like to distribute this FAQ on a private BBS or or through your gaming group, please feel free to do so! I ask only that you not modify the file in any way, and that you remove no part of the file. If you do distribute this file, please let me know - I would like to know what kind of distribution it is getting. E. Disclaimers... While all information in this document is believed to be true, I make no guarantees as to its validity or applicability in any specific instance. If you note any errors in this list, please email me with the source of your corrected information, and I will make the change in the next edition. "Spellfire" is a registered trademark of TSR, Incorporated. "Magic: The Gathering" is a registered trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Incorporated. T$R is a political comment, and is not a trademark of anyone. Feel free to use it as you will. It should be unecessary to mention, but given the legal climate today, I suppose it isn't: All opinions expressed in this document are mine or those of the person to which they are attributed. They do not express the opinions of University of Maryland at College Park, or any other institution. II. Spellfire: Availability and Cost A. Where Can I Get Spellfire Cards While Spellfire has its pockets of strong interest, in large portions of the country the game has not sold well. As a result, several of the original dealers selling the game are getting out as soon as the get rid of their first batch of cards. If you live in an area where this is the common practice, you may be forced to use mail-order to get Spellfire. In most areas, however, there are at least one or two dealers that intend to keep supporting it. Eventually, I would like to present in this FAQ a list of local dealers which support the game - if you own or are aware of such a shop, please drop me a line. In the mean time, here are a couple of shops in the DC area that carry Spellfire, and have told me about their intention to continue supporting it. Barbarian Books, 2 blocks from Wheaton Metro Station, Wheaton, Maryland. Closet of Comics, Route 1, College Park, Maryland. B. What are the Various Spellfire Editions Released to Date? First came Spellfire: First Edition. This set consists of 400 cards, with a seperately numbered set of 25 inserts available only in booster packs. These cards are easily identified, as they are marked: "First Edition" on the back of the card. First Edition cards were available in double starter decks (110 cards) or in Booster Packs (15 cards). Starter Decks contain 10 rare cards, 20 uncommons, and 80 commons or realms. Boosters contain 2 rares, 4 uncommons, 8 commons, and a "special" card from the 25- card subset. These were released in June and July of 1994. Next came Spellfire: Second Edition. Once again, the cards are clearly marked on the back, to avoid confusing them with the First edition cards (but see below for an exception). In the second edition set, 25 of the rare cards were removed, and 20 new rare cards were added. These new rare cards were numbered 401- 420, and only these cards still have the "First Edition" markings on the back. They are still considered to be a part of the First edition, despite being distributed with the second edition. No booster packs are to be released with the second Edition Cards - just Starter Decks. These have just started appearing in the market place as of this writing (early September, 1994). The Ravenloft expansion has finally hit the shops in Demento's area...They are priced identically to the first edition boosters, and have almost the same breakdown for rarity - 2 rares, 4 uncommons, and 9 commons. This, and all other expansion sets based upon specific worlds, features about 100 new cards. The only other announced expansion set at this time is the Dragonlance expansion, due in November or December. Any information that you have about this set would be appreciated. C. WHAT IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF COMMONS/UNCOMMONS/RARES? 1st Edition had 100 Rare cards, 100 Uncommon, 150 Common, 50 Realms, and of course 25 Special. Ravenloft has 100 cards, but as yet I have seen no breakdown according to rarity. Rob Repp, Manager of TSR's Digital Projects Group, notes the following distribution figures: ----- Common Cards 1st edition: 178,336 of each and a total of 26,750,400 Uncommon 1st edition: 111,680 of each and a total of 11,168,000 Rare 1st edition: 53,440 of each and a total of 5,344,000 Special booster: 57,024 of each and a total of 1,425,600 Realm 1st edition: 110,080 of each and a total of 5,504,000 **************************************************** Ravenloft 1st edition: Common: 174,960 of each and a total of 8,748,000 Uncommon: 155,200 of each and a total of 3,880,000 Rare: 77,760 of each and a total of 1,944,000 *************************************************** Spellfire 2nd edition double decks: Common: 36,000 of each and a total of 5,400,000 Uncommon: 18,000 of each and a total of 1,800,000 Realms: 36,000 of each and a total of 1,800,000 Rare: 9,000 of each and a total of 900,000 *************************************************** ----- D. Spellfire Promo Cards While not, strictly speaking, an expansion set, I feel that I should also mention in this section the Spellfire Promos. TSR has released (to the best of my knowledge) only two promotional cards for Spellfire. These cards are labelled "Promo 1" and "Promo 2" in the space normally reserved for the card number. Promo 1 pictures A shield with the TSR logo, and is an artifact which makes the attached champion 10th level. Promo 2 features crossed arms and a shield, and is a holding which makes the attached realm immune to events and allows it to cast spells as a champion. Promo 2 was distributed only at Gen Con 1994, while Promo 1 was apparently distributed in specially marked Ravenloft booster packs (any infomation on this would be helpful). On the subject of promotional cards, Rob Repp, Manager of TSR's Digital Projects Group, notes that, "Currently TSR doesn't have a means to send these cards out other than conventions. TSR isn't trying to deprive anyone of cards. The only suggestion we have is ask a friend who is going to get you one too." E. How Much does Spellfire Cost? Those who are familiar with Magic: The Gathering will be relieved to hear that Spellfire is considerably less expensive. At last check, the costs of starter decks and boosters were similar between Magic and Spellfire. However, the Spellfire starters contain nearly twice as many cards, and proportionally more rare cards than the Revised Magic cards (see section I.B, above). Starter Decks retail at about $8.00, while Boosters are about $2.50. What does this mean in terms of the economically-minded Spellfire player (or merely one who wants to collect a set without breaking the bank)? One thing it means, is that unless you are interested in collecting the 25- card subset, available only in the boosters, you should NEVER buy boosters. For the 8.00 starter deck you get 10 rare cards and 20 uncommons. For 10.00 worth of boosters you will get only 8 rares and 16 uncommons. TSR, apparently realizing this, has eliminated the boosters from its Spellfire Second Edition release. Since most of the trading in Spellfire is along the lines of "a rare for a rare," it is relatively easy to obtain a baseline figure for what you can expect to pay for a set. Assuming copious trading, you can expect to get the 100 rares in 1st Edition in 10 starter decks, or about $80.00. Revised Edition Magic, by the same method of calculation, would cost you considerably more. When you consider that Spellfire boxes are available for as little as 25 dollars via mail order, you will realize exactly how high this $80.00 baselinee is. There are relatively few people selling Spellfire on the net - but a lot of people with cards to trade. Look around in any of the groups to which this FAQ is distributed and you should find someone. Or check the Internet Trading Directory at the end of this document. III. Spellfire Rules and Interpretations A. Are the Spellfire Rules Available On-Line? Not to the best of my knowledge, and while I have had several requests from people that I include them in this FAQ, I must decline. The reason is legal. TSR, Inc. has become rather anal lately on the question of its' copyrights. This has led to a lot of bad feelings and mutterings about boycotts. If you aren't aware of the great TSR legal position paper, check out the archives of rec.games.frp.dnd, where there has been a lot of discussion of it. The short version is that TSR has sponsored an FTP site for distribution of material that might be problematic. They are also doing everything in their power to prevent unauthorized sites from carrying materials that might violate their copyrights. Since TSR doesn't draw a distinction between semi- permanent lists, (such as this FAQ or the "Darksun Source Book") and ftp sites, this means that they refuse to permit use of copyrighted materials in these lists. In specific, I am not permitted to include text from the rules or any other official TSR pronouncements in the FAQ. While I personally am judgement-proof, and would dearly love to tell TSR's lawyers to take a flying leap, the fact is that my University is NOT judgement-proof, and could be hurt if TSR decides to actually go ahead with a lawsuit. If you received a poorly-printed copy of the rule sheet, I have been advised that you may exchange it for a new one by mailing it to TSR's customer service address. See "I just opened a pack and got a damaged card..." later in this document. B. Rule Changes/Errata from TSR Rob Repp, Manager of TSR's Digital Projects Group, posted to the net a lengthy set of clarifications and rule changes for Spellfire. Unfortunately, I have been explicitly forbidden from including them in this FAQ. (Nice example of customer relations, TSR)! This official document may be obtained via ftp from the official TSR ftp site, located at ftp.mpgn.com C. Explanations/Errata from TSR: from Duelist #2 Thomas McCambley kindly provides these additional explanations: -----Begin Quoted Document Here----- This is the FAQ info from The 2nd Issue of Duelist. They are taken from Steve Winter of TSR, and he of course deserves all the credit. Q: Can you play a realm which you gain as a spoils of war card if you already played a realm that turn? A: Yes Q: Why would someone play the Defiler, a sixth-level wizard who destroys a friendly realm or holding if he casts a spell, when she could cast the Preserver, a Sixth-level wizard who doesn't have that effect? A: They Probably wouldn't. But these pairs of cards are more true to the roleplaying universe. In AD&D there are more and less powerful characters, and characters with negative counterparts, and there are in Spellfire as well. Q: Why would you play a weaker champion when you can play with a stronger one? A: It's a matter of strategy. You can use the weaker champion to block your opponent's largest champion, and lose, and then your opponent will have to use a weaker champion against your tougher champion. Q: How can you cast a reactionary spell, in reaction to one of your opponent's spells, if you can only cast spells during the attack if your champion is of lesser level than your opponent's champion? A: You can cast a reactionary spell in response to any spell that your opponent has just cast. Q: If you use the Heartwood Spear against the Jungles of Chult when they are being used as a defending monster, is the realm destroyed? A: Yes Q: Since the Cleric of Mask is the only champion that you can play face down, doesn't that defeat the purpose of keeping the Champion's identity secret? A: But you can also play his magic item's face down, so that his true level is not apparent. There may also be Champions in the future expansions with this ability. Q: How does the Ally, Skulk work? A: You play any Allies that you wish face down until your level is higher than your opponent's, then your opponent plays as many as she wishes until she thinks that her total is higher. Then you may reveal that she is wrong, or play more until you are higher. This continues until both players don't wish to play more Allies, etc., at which time the totals are revealed. Q: The Giant Skeleton is an ally that causes any magic sword or spear used by the opposing Champions to be discarded. If this ally is played on a monster who is being blocked by a Champion with the Heartwood Spear, is the monster destroyed first, or is the Spear discarded first? A: They both happen at the same time. -----End Quoted Document Here----- D. Additional corrections from Dragon #208 A number of additional rule changes appeared in issue #208 of Dragon magazine. Since these same rules were sent by fax to merchandisers carrying the Spellfire line, I am including them here. The same issue also has optional rules for different realm formations (and restrictions on placing holdings), use of Treasuries, and hiring allies as "Protectors of the Realm." -----Begin Quoted Document Here----- 1. Spellcasting and Magical Items: Magical items, some artifacts, and spells cast by wizards and priests have a small code in parentheses following the description of the card's effect. There is a number that indicates in which phase the spell of item can be used, and an offensive or defensive classification. There is a misconception that this classification dictates whether the spell or item can be used in attack or defense. The nature of the spell or item is listed only to determine whether other cards are immune to the effects of that card, (as some items and champions are immune to offensive spells or magical items). Unless otherwise indicated in the text of the card, any spell or magical item can be used in attacking or defending. 2. Pools: A player with no realm cards in play cannot have a pool of champions. A realm that has been razed but not removed from the table still is capable of supporting a pool. 3. In Play: This term refers to any cards on the table in a player's pool, in realm formation, or in battle. Even if the card is face down (to indicate a razed realm) it is considered in play. Cards in a player's hand, draw pile, or discard pile are not in play. 4. Event Cards: This rule was accidentally omitted from the first printing of the rule book. Once played, an even card never can be returned to the player's hand by any means. Once an event card is played, it should not be placed in the discard pile; remove it from play entirely. 5. Realm Cards: A realm retains its position in the formation even if other realms have been razed or discarded. A realm played in position B, for example, remains in position B even if the realm in position A has been razed or destroyed and removed from the game. 6. Special Powers: Many realms, champions, and allies have special combat powers. These take effect only when those cards are involved in a round of battle. Realm powers take effect only when the realm is the target of an attack. Exceptions are specifically stated on the cards. For example, the GREYHAWK Ruins card states that all of the player's Greyhawk champions gain +2 levels, in which case that card would be active at all times until it is razed or destroyed. 7. Draws: If a card in play prevents a champion from attacking (e.g., a non- flying champion is blocked by a wall spell) that champion is defeated but returns to his pool, and the battle ends. A defending champion defeated in this manner likewise returns to its pool but the attacking player may continue battle with a new champion. The defending player cannot use the just-defeated champion again in that battle. 8. Optional Rules: Some of the optional rules in the rule book are more optional than others. It is strongly suggested that the following optional rules be used once you learn the game: Aiding the Attacker or Defender, World Bonuses, The Rule of the Cosmos, Clerics vs Undead, and Fear of Undead. The use of these rules makes the value of certain cards much more apparent. -----End Quoted Document Here----- IV. Misc. Information A. Where can I get Spellfire info? On usenet news: The official groups for all collectible card games are rec.games.deckmaster (for strategy/gameplay discussions) and its sister, rec.games.deckmaster.marketplace (for trade & sale notices). Despite the group's name, discussion within it is not limited to the Deckmaster line of card games. Players and traders are encouraged to post in these groups rather than in the others that have attracted traffic in recent months. On irc: Unlike Magic: the Gathering, which has a number of irc channels devoted to it, the #spellfire irc channel is underutilized. I have used it for trades on a few ocassions, and would like to see it become more frequently used. Check it out when you are on-line, via ftp: TSR has ruled that only its own licensed ftp site may be used for the distribution of Spellfire (and other TSR) information. This site is ftp.mpgn.com. There is no mirror site, and current plans call for there never to be a mirror site, so if you cannot get in from overseas, you are out of luck, I'm afraid. TSR apparently considers mirrors to be evil incarnate. Ironically enough, Wizards of the Coast has elected to carry Spellfire information on their own ftp site, marvin.macc.wisc.edu. If you can get in (there's a limit of 7 anonymous ftp users at a time, and always a line) try them out! via www: Demento maintains a Spellfire page off of his www homepage. Set your browser to: http://www.wam.umd.edu/~barth/ and have fun! B. Is There a List of All Spellfire Cards, with Rarity Levels? Yes. The list is printed in Scrye Magazine #2. Dragon #207 provides a short checklist with just the numbers, by rarity level. The Scrye list contains titles and powers, albeit in an abbreviated form. The following is a list provided by Jim McQuillian - in an effort get this edition of the FAQ out in time, I have not cleaned it up but I will do so by the next release. Please note that the list included in the first edition of this FAQ had a number of errors, so you should be careful about the rarity levels included in that I believe that this version is free of errors, but should you find one, please let me know! 1 Waterdeep Realm FR Realm n/a 2 Menzoberranzan Realm FR Realm n/a 3 Zhentil Keep Rare FR Realm 5 4 Shadowdale Realm FR Realm n/a 5 Cormyr Realm FR Realm n/a 6 Sembia Realm FR Realm n/a 7 Moonshae Isles Realm FR Realm 2 8 Thay Realm FR Realm n/a 9 Calimshan Realm FR Realm n/a 10 Pirate Isles Realm FR Realm n/a 11 Raven's Bluff Realm FR Realm n/a 12 The Great Rift Realm FR Realm n/a 13 Myth Drannor Uncommon FR Realm n/a 14 Vaasa Realm FR Realm n/a 15 Jungles of Chult Realm FR Realm 5 16 The High Forest Realm FR Realm n/a 17 Sword Coast Realm FR Realm n/a 18 Anauroch Realm FR Realm n/a 19 Impiltur Realm FR Realm n/a 20 Icewind Dale Realm FR Realm n/a 21 The High Moor Realm FR Realm n/a 22 Rashemen Realm FR Realm n/a 23 Damara Realm FR Realm n/a 24 Narfell Realm FR Realm n/a 25 Dragonspear Castle Realm FR Realm n/a 26 Daggerdale Realm FR Realm n/a 27 Darkhold Realm FR Realm n/a 28 Haunted Hall of Eveningstar Rare FR Realm n/a 29 Evermeet Realm FR Realm n/a 30 The Trollmoors Realm FR Realm n/a 31 Berdusk Uncommon FR Holding n/a 32 Tantras Uncommon FR Holding n/a 33 Mulmaster Uncommon FR Holding n/a 34 Hillsfar Uncommon FR Holding n/a 35 Suzail Uncommon FR Holding n/a 36 Arabel Uncommon FR Holding 4 37 Fortifications Uncommon FR Holding n/a 38 Fortifications Uncommon FR Holding n/a 39 Selune Uncommon FR Holding n/a 40 Peasant Militia Uncommon FR Holding n/a 41 Alias the Sell-Sword Uncommon FR Hero 6 42 King Azoun IV Rare FR Hero 7 43 Maligor the Red Rare FR Wizard 3 44 Elminster the Mage Uncommon FR Wizard 9 45 Drizzt Du'Urden Common FR Hero 8 46 Midnight, Goddess of Magic Rare FR Wizard 7 47 Torg Mac Cei, the Ironlord Uncommon FR Hero 6 48 The Pereghost Rare FR Monster 7 49 Bruenor Battlehammer Rare FR Hero 5 50 Marco Volo Uncommon FR Hero 3 51 The Harpers Common FR Hero 6 52 Gnomes of Samek Uncommon FR Hero 4 53 Adventurers! Common FR Hero 3 54 War Party Common AD&D Ally +4 55 Crime Lord Uncommon FR Hero 7 56 Adventurers Common FR Hero 4 57 The Jotunslayers Common FR Hero 4 58 Armies of Bloodstone Uncommon AD&D Ally +4 59 The Iron Legion Common AD&D Ally +3 60 Tergoz Tenhammer Common GH Hero 5 61 Myrmidons Rare AD&D Ally +4 62 The Magister Rare FR Wizard 4 63 Karlott the Shaman Uncommon FR Cleric 4 64 King Havlor II Uncommon FR Hero 5 65 Pteranadon Common AD&D Ally +2 66 Gorgosaurus Rare AD&D Ally +4 67 Greater Feyr Rare FR Monster 5 68 Cleric of Gond Rare FR Cleric 4 69 Cleric of Torm Rare FR Cleric 5 70 Cleric of Mask Rare FR Cleric 4 71 Drow Matron Uncommon FR Wizard 5 72 Dracolich Rare FR Monster 6 73 Vasos Flameslayer Rare FR Hero 5 74 Allisa of the Mist Common FR Hero 5 75 Grypht the Saurial Uncommon FR Wizard 4 76 Worden Ironfist Rare FR Hero 5 77 Amarill Uncommon FR Cleric 3 78 Joliet the Rash Common FR Hero 4 79 Dwarf of Earthfast Common FR Hero 2 80 The Black Courser Rare FR Monster 4 81 Hornhead Saurial Common AD&D Ally +3 82 Dagrande Uncommon FR Hero 4 83 Mind Flayer Rare AD&D Ally +3 84 Noble Djinni Rare AD&D Ally +4 85 Hubadai Rare FR Hero 4 86 Intellect Devourer Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 87 Shandril Common FR Hero 3 88 Triceratops Rare AD&D Ally +3 89 Cleric of Malar Common FR Cleric 4 90 Airship Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 91 Bad Omens Common AD&D Event n/a 92 Fortunate Omens Common AD&D Event n/a 93 Rod of Shapechange Uncommon FR Artifact n/a 94 Dwarven Hammer Rare AD&D Magic Item +3 95 Staff of Striking Rare AD&D Magic Item +3 96 Horrors of the Abyss Uncommon AD&D Spell(W) +5 97 Flameblade Rare AD&D Magic Item +2 98 Figurine of Wondrous Power Common AD&D Magic Item +3 99 Cataclysm! Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 100 Good Fortune Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 101 Surprise Raid Common AD&D Event n/a 102 Banner of the One-Eyed God Common AD&D Magic Item +1 103 Viperhand Uncommon AD&D Magic Item n/a 104 Orb of Doom Common AD&D Magic Item +2 105 Staff of Conjuring Common AD&D Magic Item +5 106 Spell of Formless Horror Uncommon AD&D Spell(W) -3 107 Safe Harbor! Rare AD&D Event n/a 108 Labor of Legend Common AD&D Event n/a 109 Wand of Light Uncommon AD&D Magic Item +3 110 Elf Galleon Rare AD&D Ally +3 111 The Free City of Greyhawk Rare GH Realm n/a 112 The Lands of Iuz Uncommon GH Realm n/a 113 The Pomarj Realm GH Realm n/a 114 Hold of the Sea Princes Realm GH Realm 1 115 The Yeomanry Realm GH Realm n/a 116 Blackmoor Uncommon GH Realm n/a 117 The Horned Society Realm GH Realm n/a 118 The Wolf Nomads Realm GH Realm n/a 119 Sterich Realm GH Realm n/a 120 Nyrond Realm GH Realm n/a 121 Veluna Realm GH Realm n/a 122 Furyondy Realm GH Realm n/a 123 The Great Kingdom Rare GH Realm n/a 124 Temple of Elemental Evil Uncommon GH Realm n/a 125 Greyhawk Ruins Uncommon GH Realm n/a 126 Perrenland Realm GH Realm n/a 127 Keoland Realm GH Realm n/a 128 Celene Realm GH Realm n/a 129 The Bright Desert Realm GH Realm n/a 130 Theocracy of the Pale Realm GH Realm n/a 131 The Bone March Realm GH Realm n/a 132 The Duchy of Urnst Realm GH Realm n/a 133 The Sea Barrons Realm GH Realm n/a 134 Bissel Common GH Realm n/a 135 The Scarlet Brotherhood Uncommon GH Realm n/a 136 Irongate Realm GH Realm n/a 137 Principality of Ulek Common GH Realm n/a 138 County of Sunndi Common GH Realm n/a 139 Duchy of Tenh Common GH Realm n/a 140 Burneal Forest Common GH Realm n/a 141 Castle Hart Common GH Holding n/a 142 Arms of the Horned Society Rare GH Holding 5 143 Arms of Iuz Rare GH Holding n/a 144 Arms of Greyhawk Rare GH Holding n/a 145 Arms of the Great Kingdom Rare GH Holding n/a 146 Arms of Furyondy Rare GH Holding n/a 147 Arms of Nyrond Common GH Holding n/a 148 Skull Keep Common GH Holding +4 149 Fortification Common GH Holding n/a 150 Siege! Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 151 War Banner Common AD&D Magic Item +1 152 Codex of the Infinite Planes Common GH Artifact n/a 153 Crystal of the Ebon Flame Uncommon AD&D Magic Item +6 154 Hordes of Castle Greyhawk Rare GH Ally +5 155 Skeletal Horde Common GH Monster 5 156 Eye and Hand of Vecna Uncommon GH Artifact +5/+2 157 Orb of Dragonkind Uncommon GH Artifact +4 158 Baba Yaga's Hut Uncommon GH Artifact n/a 159 Chariot of Lyrx Rare GH Artifact +3 160 Cup of Al'Akbar Uncommon GH Artifact n/a 161 Rary the traitor Common GH Wizard 4 162 Mordenkainen Rare GH Wizard 7 163 Tyslin San Uncommon GH Wizard 5 164 Otto Rare GH Wizard 6 165 Mika the Wolf-Nomad Rare GH Wizard 7 166 Lloth, the Spider Queen Rare GH Monster 9 167 Iuz the Evil Uncommon GH Monster 8 168 Mutiny! Rare AD&D Event n/a 169 Swordwraith Rare AD&D Ally +4 170 Sysania Uncommon GH Cleric 4 171 Kiara Uncommon GH Hero 2 172 Hettman Tsurin Rare GH Hero 2 173 Griffon Rare AD&D Magic Item +2 174 Sea Zombie Rare AD&D Ally +4 175 Mist Wolf Rare AD&D Event n/a 176 Tyrinon Uncommon GH Hero 5 177 Quagmiela the Dragon Uncommon GH Monster 5 178 Seragrimm the Just Rare GH Hero 5 179 Skulk Rare AD&D Ally +1 180 Berserk Fury! Rare AD&D Event n/a 181 Wolf Nomads Common GH Hero 4 182 Zadoc Rare AD&D Ally +2 183 Miles Uncommon AD&D Ally +2 184 Trystan Common AD&D Ally +2 185 Thorvid Rare GH Hero 5 186 Fairy Madness Rare AD&D Event n/a 187 Nenioc Uncommon GH Cleric 5 188 Young Gold Dragon Common GH Monster 4 189 Arch-Druid Rare GH Cleric 4 190 Hell Hound Uncommon AD&D Ally +5 191 Griffon Rare GH Monster 4 192 Giant Skeleton Rare AD&D Ally +3 193 Skeleton Common AD&D Ally +1 194 Winged Horror Uncommon GH Monster 7 195 Treants of the Grandwood Uncommon AD&D Ally +5 196 Rangers of Hornwood Common GH Hero 4 197 Magical Barding Rare AD&D Magic Item +2 198 Border Forts Common FR Holding n/a 199 Ren's Crystal Ball Common GH Artifact n/a 200 Falcon Figurine Uncommon AD&D Magic Item +1 201 Transformation! Common AD&D Event n/a 202 Enslaved! Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 203 Siege Common AD&D Event n/a 204 Bribery Rare AD&D Event n/a 205 Charge! Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 206 Magic Sword Common AD&D Magic Item +2 207 Enlarge Rare AD&D Spell(W) +3 208 Ring of Shooting Stars Rare AD&D Magic Item +4 209 Arms of Veluna Common GH Holding n/a 210 Fast Talking! Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 211 Flight Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 212 Shapechange Rare AD&D Spell(W) +6 213 Barbarian Raiders! Rare AD&D Event n/a 214 Treasure Fleet Rare AD&D Event n/a 215 Potion of Fire-Breathing Rare AD&D Magic Item +6 216 Arms of the Shield Lands Common GH Holding n/a 217 Net of Entrapment Uncommon AD&D Magic Item n/a 218 Johydee's Mask Rare GH Artifact n/a 219 Helm of Teleportation Rare AD&D Magic Item n/a 220 Rod of Dispel Magic Uncommon GH Artifact n/a 221 Draj Realm DS Realm n/a 222 Raam Realm DS Realm n/a 223 Urik Realm DS Realm 4 224 Tyr Realm DS Realm 5 225 Gulg Uncommon DS Realm 7 226 Nibenay Uncommon DS Realm n/a 227 Balic Realm DS Realm 4 228 The Mud Palace Uncommon DS Holding n/a 229 North Ledopolus Uncommon DS Holding n/a 230 South Ledopolus Uncommon DS Holding n/a 231 Altaruk Common DS Holding n/a 232 Salt Veiw Common DS Holding n/a 233 Ogo Uncommon DS Holding n/a 234 Makla Uncommon DS Holding n/a 235 Kalidnay Common DS Holding n/a 236 Arkhold Common DS Holding n/a 237 Salt View Common DS Holding n/a 238 Waverly Rare DS Holding n/a 239 Bodach Rare DS Holding n/a 240 Giustenal Uncommon DS Holding n/a 241 Yaramuke Common DS Holding n/a 242 Lost Oasis Common DS Holding n/a 243 Grak's Pool Common DS Holding +5 244 Silver Spring Common DS Holding n/a 245 Bitter Well Common DS Holding n/a 246 Black Waters Common DS Holding n/a 247 Fort Melidor Common DS Holding n/a 248 Dungeon of Gulg Common DS Holding n/a 249 Ziggurat Uncommon DS Holding n/a 250 Temple Common DS Holding n/a 251 Mogadisho's Horde Common AD&D Ally +1 252 Assassins Uncommon AD&D Ally +2 253 Halfling Mercenaries Common AD&D Ally +1 254 War Band Common AD&D Ally +3 255 Kank Lancers Uncommon AD&D Ally +6 256 Nomad Mercenaries Common AD&D Ally +2 257 Gladiators Uncommon AD&D Ally +9 258 Rikus Uncommon DS Hero 6 259 Neeva Rare DS Hero 7 260 Sadira Common DS Wizard 4 261 Agis Uncommon DS Hero 5 262 Anavis Rare DS Hero 2 263 Vaerhirmana Rare DS Wizard 4 264 Herminard Common DS Hero 4 265 T'kkl Common DS Hero 3 266 Azhul Uncommon DS Hero 4 267 Chividal Rare DS Hero 2 268 Bagual Common DS Cleric 2 269 Rowan Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 270 Shayira Common DS Cleric 3 271 Ashathra Common AD&D Ally +2 272 Stug Common AD&D Ally +2 273 Ka'Cha Uncommon AD&D Ally +3 274 Galek Common AD&D Ally +2 275 Wind Dancers Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 276 Water Hunters Common AD&D Event n/a 277 Silver Hands Uncommon AD&D Event n/a 278 Sky Singers Common AD&D Event n/a 279 Silt Stalkers Common AD&D Ally +3 280 Night Runners Uncommon AD&D Ally +2 281 So-ut Rare AD&D Ally +3 282 Cistern Fiend Common DS Monster 2 283 Sloth Common AD&D Ally +1 284 Mul Savage Rare DS Monster 6 285 Inhuman Uncommon AD&D Ally +2 286 Pyreen Rare AD&D Ally +3 287 Cha'thrang Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 288 Spirit of the land Rare AD&D Event n/a 289 Thri-kreen Rare AD&D Ally +3 290 Wijon Common AD&D Ally +2 291 Mikor Uncommon AD&D Ally +3 292 Salicia Rare AD&D Ally +3 293 Zurn Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 294 Powell Common AD&D Ally +1 295 Baber Rare AD&D Ally +3 296 Watcher Common AD&D Ally +2 297 Foucault Uncommon AD&D Ally +3 298 Stef'fa Naf'ski Rare DS Monster 5 299 Captain Kazhal Rare DS Hero 9 300 Dlasva Uncommon DS Hero 3 301 Tithian Rare DS Hero 5 302 Verrasi Uncommon AD&D Ally +2 303 Defiler Common DS Wizard 6 304 Dragon King Rare DS Monster 8 305 Borys Rare DS Monster 9 306 Preserver Common DS Wizard 6 307 Punisher Common AD&D Ally +3 308 Gith Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 309 Tiger Common AD&D Ally +1 310 Orb of Power Common AD&D Magic Item n/a 311 Ring of All Seeing Uncommon AD&D Magic Item n/a 312 Treasure Common AD&D Event n/a 313 Shield of Destruction Common AD&D Magic Item +1 314 Shield of Annihilation Uncommon AD&D Magic Item +2 315 Shield of Devastation Common AD&D Magic Item +2 316 Shield of Wickedness Common AD&D Magic Item n/a 317 Shield of Gore Uncommon AD&D Magic Item +3 318 The Heartwood Spear Common DS Artifact n/a 319 The Caravan Common AD&D Event n/a 320 The Necklace Uncommon AD&D Magic Item n/a 321 Elemental Cleric Common DS Wizard 2 322 Elven Archer Rare AD&D Ally +3 323 The Outcast Rare DS Hero 5 324 Thugs Uncommon AD&D Ally +1 325 Desert Warrior Rare DS Hero 2 326 Desert Warrior Rare DS Hero 3 327 Desert Warrior Rare DS Hero 4 328 Marauder Common AD&D Ally +3 329 Shaqat Beetles Common AD&D Ally +1 330 Tembo Uncommon DS Monster 3 331 Fireball Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 332 Lightning Bolt Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 333 Paralyze Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 334 Magic Missile Common AD&D Spell(W) +3 335 Wall of Fire Common AD&D Spell(W) +3 336 Wall of Iron Common AD&D Spell(W) +3 337 Wall of Stone Common AD&D Spell(W) +4 338 Wall of Force Common AD&D Spell(W) +5 339 Invisibility Rare AD&D Spell(W) n/a 340 Cone of Cold Common AD&D Spell(W) +5 341 Sleep Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 342 Shield Common AD&D Spell(W) +2 343 Fly Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 344 Crushing Fist Rare AD&D Spell(W) +4 345 Anti-Magic Shell Rare AD&D Spell(W) n/a 346 Dispell Magic Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 347 Improved Phantasmal Force Common AD&D Spell(W) +6 348 Fear Rare AD&D Spell(W) n/a 349 Cure Light Wounds Common AD&D Spell(C) +1 350 Cure Serious Wounds Common AD&D Spell(C) +2 351 Sticks to Snakes Common AD&D Spell(C) +4 352 Blade Barrier Rare AD&D Spell(C) n/a 353 Bless Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 354 Sanctuary Rare AD&D Spell(C) n/a 355 Wind Walk Rare AD&D Spell(C) n/a 356 Bark Skin Common AD&D Spell(C) +2 357 Charm Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 358 Dispel Magic Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 359 Darkness Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 360 Protection Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 361 Chariot of Sustarre Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 362 Sunray Rare AD&D Spell(C) n/a 363 Wall of Thorns Common AD&D Spell(C) +2 364 Wall of Fire Uncommon AD&D Spell(C) +1 365 Holy Word Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 366 Raise Dead Rare AD&D Spell(C) n/a 367 Flame Strike Uncommon AD&D Spell(C) n/a 368 Protection from Lightning Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 369 Silence Uncommon AD&D Spell(C) n/a 370 Invisibility to Undead Common AD&D Spell(C) n/a 371 Wall of Fog Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 372 Forget Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 373 Web Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 374 Blink Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 375 Hold Undead Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 376 Charm Monster Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 377 Wind of Disenchantment Rare AD&D Event n/a 378 Black Tentacles Uncommon AD&D Spell(W) n/a 379 Fire Shield Uncommon AD&D Spell(W) +5 380 Ice Storm Common AD&D Event n/a 381 Phantasmal Killer Rare AD&D Spell(W) +? 382 Solid Fog Common AD&D Event n/a 383 Animate Dead Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 384 Cloudkill Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 385 Feeblemind Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 386 Magic Jar Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 387 Faithful Hound Common AD&D Event n/a 388 Passwall Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 389 Rock to Mud Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 390 Chain Lightning Common AD&D Spell(W) +5 391 Death Fog Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 392 Death Spell Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 393 Disintegrate Rare AD&D Spell(W) n/a 394 Geas Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 395 Banishment Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 396 Control Undead Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 397 Finger of Death Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 398 Spell Turning Common AD&D Spell(W) n/a 399 Ancient Curse Rare AD&D Event n/a 400 Calm Common AD&D Event n/a 401 Rare 402 Rare 403 Traitor Rare AD&D Event n/a 404 Chaos Shield Rare FR Artifact +1 405 Rare 406 Phorbes's Scrolls Rare AD&D Spell(W) +7 407 Rare 408 Living Scroll Rare FR Monster 0 409 Rare 410 The Labyrinth Map of Shuuc Rare FR Artifact +4 411 Rare 412 Scroll of 7 Leagues Rare AD&D Magic Item +7 413 Map of Life Rare AD&D Event n/a 414 Supernatural Chill Rare AD&D Event n/a 415 Map to a Mercenary Army Rare AD&D Ally +8 416 Pit Trap! Rare AD&D Event n/a 417 Rare 418 Rare 419 Ego Coin Rare AD&D Magic Item n/a 420 Chest of Many things Rare AD&D Magic Item +5 1 Sakornia Special AD&D Hero 5 2 Edormira, Red Dragon Special AD&D Monster 7 3 Gloriana Special AD&D Wizard 6 4 Gib Ekim Special AD&D Hero 5/7 5 Neirgral, Green Dragon Special AD&D Monster 7 6 Dagaronzie, Green Dragon Special AD&D Monster 8 7 Fejyelsae Special AD&D Hero 10 8 Dragon Rage! Special AD&D Event n/a 9 Shalbaal, Red Dragon Special AD&D Monster 6 10 Delsenora Special AD&D Cleric 7 11 Gib Evets Special AD&D Monster 8 12 Dori the Barbarian Special AD&D Hero 6 13 Gib Htimsen Special AD&D Monster 9 14 Darbee Special AD&D Hero 6 15 Aurum, Gold Dragon Special AD&D Monster 7 16 Halcyon Special AD&D Cleric 7 17 Stryck Special AD&D Monster 7 18 Alicia Special AD&D Wizard 8 19 Red Zeb Special AD&D Monster 9 20 The Avatar Special AD&D Event n/a 21 Smolder, Red Dragon Special AD&D Monster 8 22 Lovely Colleen Special AD&D Hero 7 23 Ember, the Red Dragon Special AD&D Monster 9 24 Andra the Wise Special AD&D Cleric 8 25 Karm, Black Dragon Special AD&D Monster 10 1 Promo AD&D Artifact n/a 2 Geneva Conclave Promo AD&D Holding n/a C. Is There a Deliniated list, Suitable for Database use? A number of people have been working on such a list, myself included. As I come closer to finishing my set, my Dbase file becomes more complete. When finished, it will be in PFS: Professional File (DBaseIII Format), and will include everything you are likely to want to know about the cards. UPDATE: I am now down to 12 cards needed before I complete my set. Unfortunately I cannot get the database off of my hard drive (read head crash...:-() D. Why aren't my realm cards all printed in the same direction Whether you play or collect, you have probably noticed that some of your realms come out of the pack upside-down. If you look at the backs of these cards, however, you will soon notice that the backs are correctly aligned - it is the fronts that are upside-down. TSR printed these variations in card orientation. It is unknown whether or not the variation is universal to all realms, or whether one direction is more common than the other. For more information about this, as well as the latest information as it is gathered, take a look in my www page. E. I Just opened a pack and got a damaged card. How can I get it replaced? Rob Repp informs me that owners of mis-printed cards "should be entitled to a replacement." The same applies also to those with poorly printed rulebooks. Send the damaged card or rulebook to: TSR, Inc. P.O. Box 756 201 Sheridan Springs Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147 ATTN: Customer Service V. The Spellfire/Magic Connection Everyone who has read the industry mags - or the rec.games.deckmaster hierarchy - has heard it. Spellfire is a crappy game, a rip-off of Magic: The Gathering, et cetera. Granted that since this _is_ the Spellfire FAQ, you are not going to find a wholely unbiased discussion of Spellfire vs. Magic. As, however, a collector (and player) of both games, I think I can make a better shot at being reasonably objective. In this section of the FAQ I will take the "Spellfire is a Magic rip-off" argument and de-bunk it, by showing the similarities and more importantly the differences between the two games. SF and MtG are both collectible card games. The cards in each game are manufactured with a series of built-in rarity levels, which are in some cases artificially enhanced by the abilities of the cards themselves. They are distributed in "starter decks" of 55 or 60 cards respectively, and in various-sized "booster packs" of about 15 cards. Both games are centered around a heroic/magical fantasy theme. Both games have "expansion sets" intended to augment the regular set. These, in a nutshell, are all of the similarities that I could find when comparing the two games. They differ in many more respects than they are similar. One often-made complaint is that TSR copied WoTC's distribution scheme, down to the inclusion of a forth level of commonality. In the case of MtG, this would be the beloved land card, while SF has the realm card. At first glance these two types of cards would seem pretty similar. However, their functions in the game are completely different. The realm cards are the primary focus in SF, and are, in fact, what seperates the winners from the losers. In comparison, most MtG players wind up tossing their extra lands after a point. A better analogy for MtG players would be this: suppose you had cards to represent your life points? The cards would be a lot closer in purpose to SF realms. The first person to lay down 6 realms wins. The game play is nearly completely different, as well. SF has been described by some detractors as "Mordenkeinen plays War." In truth, it is not a lot more complicated than that. While both games feature specifically laid-out lists of phases which occur in each turn, the phases in MtG have a lot more impact on the game than those in SF, which could be played without the phases, with little problem. This makes SF easier to learn. Then there are the game world logos, which some have seen as a cheap attempt to match MtG's colors. Ironically enough, there are also hose who coimplain that SF has _nothing_ to match MtG's colors, and is inferior for that reason. While there was an initial imbalance, which made the Darksun world almost impossible to beat, this is being corrected with the second edition release, and there is now no good reason that a single-world deck is not a viable playing strategy. The most common complaint about SF has to do with its recycled artwork and poor card quality. With regard to the artwork, I have to be honest - you have seen it all before if you are even an occassional purchaser of AD&D material. Some of the cards even reuse the same image twice within the card set! Still, it is generally attractive artwork, and you will likely find your favorite pieces and artists well represented in this set. The card quality is something else again. Hold a revised Magic card in one hand and a Spellfire card in the other. Then close your eyes. If you're like me, you will have a hard time telling which is which. I suspect that the people complaining about SF's card- stock are also the ones who complain about cardstock on Jyhad, the Dark, etc.: card collectors who are used to the megastock that the industry has taken to printing things on lately. Personally, I have not had appreciably more problems with damaged SF cards coming out of packs than I have had with MtG cards. Given that SF is so much simpler, it should come as no suprise that many MtG players consider it a "no-brainer," to be played in- between games of Magic. A lot of the disparagement of the game has, I think, its roots in disappointment that TSR would create a game this simple, rather than something of the complexity of Magic. To me, that is simply the way the game is - if you don't like it, you're entitled, but recognize that just because it doesn't meet your standards of complexity doesn't mean it's a bad game. Any additions to this discussion would be welcome, as well as any added areas that you feel SF and/or Magic are inferior. Future editions of this FAQ will hopefully have more than my lone opinion represented here. VI. The Internet Spellfire Directory One of the many commentors on the last edition of the FAQ suggested that as part of the list I include a directory of on-line people who are interested in Spellfire. I think it's a great idea, and would like to invite anyone and everyone who would be interested in being part of such a list to email me. If you are a dealer and would like to advertise the availability of Spellfire-related merchandise, please specify, so I can include you in the dealer's section rather than the trader's section. Trader's Section ---------------- Kevin "Demento" Barth (barth@wam.umd.edu) Hap Campbell (hsc5m@watt.seas.virginia.edu) Craig Garvie (eermih@vaxd.dct.ac.uk) Jim McQuillan (jimmcq@tardis.svsu.edu) Carlo Tibaldi (ctibaldi@etnomi.it)