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>LegacymtgsalvationUser1033 m (moving some info down to Set details section) |
>Deepsloth (Added some Magic Arcana References) |
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Symbol = Alpha.gif| | Symbol = Alpha.gif| | ||
Symbol Description =| | Symbol Description =| | ||
Design Team = [[Richard Garfield]], with contributions from [[Charlie Cateeno]], [[Skaff Elias]], [[Don Felice]], [[Tom Fontaine]], [[Jim Lin]], [[Joel Mick]], [[Chris Page]], [[Dave Pettey]], [[Barry "Bit" Reich]], [[Bill Rose]], and [[Elliott Segal]]| | Design Team = [[Richard Garfield]],<br>with contributions from<br>[[Charlie Cateeno]], [[Skaff Elias]], [[Don Felice]], [[Tom Fontaine]], [[Jim Lin]], [[Joel Mick]], [[Chris Page]], [[Dave Pettey]], [[Barry "Bit" Reich]], [[Bill Rose]], and [[Elliott Segal]]| | ||
Development Team = Same as Design Team| | Development Team = Same as Design Team| | ||
Release Date = July 1993 | | Release Date = July 1993 | | ||
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}} | }} | ||
'''Limited Edition Alpha''', or more commonly | '''Limited Edition Alpha''', or more commonly ''Alpha'', is the first release of Limited Edition, the first [[Core Set]] of [[Magic: The Gathering]]. It includes 295 cards and was released at Origins in July 1993 with a small run of 2.6 million cards. It did not receive much exposure beyond the West Coast. ''[[Beta]]'' was released shortly after ''Alpha'' sold out. | ||
For information on the mechanics and themes, notable cards, storyline, design and development, cycles, creature types, points of interest and outside links in this set, please see the Beta set. | For information on the mechanics and themes, notable cards, storyline, design and development, cycles, creature types, points of interest and outside links in this set, please see the ''Beta'' set. | ||
==Set details== | ==Set details== | ||
''Alpha'' cards can easily be distinguished from Beta and all other cards by their more rounded corners. Early tournament rules required that all cards must appear unmarked without the use of protective sleeves, and the unique corners of ''Alpha'' cards originally made them [[marked card|marked cards]] in a deck not entirely comprised of ''Alpha'' cards. This initially made them less desirable and thus less valuable than ''Beta'' and even ''[[Unlimited]]'' cards. | ''Alpha'' cards can easily be distinguished from ''Beta'' and all other cards by their more rounded corners. Early tournament rules required that all cards must appear unmarked without the use of protective sleeves, and the unique corners of ''Alpha'' cards originally made them [[marked card|marked cards]] in a deck not entirely comprised of ''Alpha'' cards. This initially made them less desirable and thus less valuable than ''Beta'' and even ''[[Unlimited]]'' cards. | ||
Due to the printing process, it is possible to get land cards in a rare, uncommon, or common card slot. The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons and 38.02% for commons. This is because they put lands on all three printed sheets. | Due to the printing process, it is possible to get land cards in a rare, uncommon, or common card slot. The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons and 38.02% for commons. This is because they put lands on all three printed sheets. | ||
''Alpha'' contained a number of errors that were fixed in the second, or Beta release: <c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> and <c>Volcanic Island</c> were accidentally left out of the set entirely | ''Alpha'' contained a number of errors that were fixed in the second, or ''Beta release'': <c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> and <c>Volcanic Island</c> were accidentally left out of the set entirely <ref>{{Arcref|70|Alpha "Oops…" III|Wednesday, April 10, 2002}}</ref> <ref>{{Arcref|137|Alpha "Oops…" V|Friday, July 12, 2002}}</ref>. Additionally, only two versions of each [[basic lands|basic land]] with unique artwork were included. Limited Edition was advertised as having "more than 300 cards," so a third version of each basic land was added in the Beta release in order to validate this claim. | ||
==Misprints== | ==Misprints== | ||
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*<c>Cyclopean Tomb</c> {{-}} printed without a [[mana cost]].<ref>{{Arcref|95|Alpha "Oops…" IV|Wednesday, May 15, 2002}}</ref> | *<c>Cyclopean Tomb</c> {{-}} printed without a [[mana cost]].<ref>{{Arcref|95|Alpha "Oops…" IV|Wednesday, May 15, 2002}}</ref> | ||
*<c>Demonic Hordes</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "BBB" instead of three black mana symbols. | *<c>Demonic Hordes</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "BBB" instead of three black mana symbols. | ||
*<c>Elvish Archers</c> {{-}} printed with [[power]]/[[toughness]] 1/2 instead of 2/1. | *<c>Elvish Archers</c> {{-}} printed with [[power]]/[[toughness]] 1/2 instead of 2/1.<ref>{{Arcref|198|Alpha "Oops…" VII|Friday, October 4, 2002}}</ref> | ||
*<c>Force of Nature</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "GGGG" instead of four green mana symbols also the artist's name, Shuler, was misspelled.<ref>{{Arcref|22|Alpha "Oops..."|Friday, February 1, 2002}}</ref> | *<c>Force of Nature</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "GGGG" instead of four green mana symbols also the artist's name, Shuler, was misspelled.<ref name=I>{{Arcref|22|Alpha "Oops..."|Friday, February 1, 2002}}</ref> | ||
*<c>Orcish Artillery</c> {{-}} printed with a [[mana cost]] of {{1}}{{R}} instead of {{1}}{{R}}{{R}}.<ref>{{Arcref|38|Alpha "Oops..." II|Monday, February 25, 2002}}</ref> | *<c>Orcish Artillery</c> {{-}} printed with a [[mana cost]] of {{1}}{{R}} instead of {{1}}{{R}}{{R}}.<ref name=II>{{Arcref|38|Alpha "Oops..." II|Monday, February 25, 2002}}</ref> | ||
*<c>Orcish Oriflamme</c> {{-}} printed with the mana cost {{1}}{{R}} instead of {{3}}{{R}}.<ref | *<c>Orcish Oriflamme</c> {{-}} printed with the mana cost {{1}}{{R}} instead of {{3}}{{R}}.<ref name=II/> | ||
*<c>Phantasmal Forces</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "U" instead of a blue mana symbol.<ref | *<c>Phantasmal Forces</c> {{-}} printed with an [[upkeep]] cost of literally "U" instead of a blue mana symbol.<ref name=I/> | ||
*<c>Red Elemental Blast</c> {{-}} printed as an [[instant]] instead of an [[interrupt]].<ref>{{Arcref|534|Alpha Red Elemental Blast|Tuesday, March 30, 2004}}</ref> | *<c>Red Elemental Blast</c> {{-}} printed as an [[instant]] instead of an [[interrupt]].<ref>{{Arcref|182|Alpha "Oops…" VI|Thursday, September 12, 2002 }}</ref> <ref>{{Arcref|534|Alpha Red Elemental Blast|Tuesday, March 30, 2004}}</ref> | ||
*<c>Unsummon</c> {{-}} The card reads "Return creature to owner's hand; enchantments on creature are CARD ed. Unsummon cannot {{...}} " | *<c>Unsummon</c> {{-}} The card reads "Return creature to owner's hand; enchantments on creature are CARD ed. Unsummon cannot {{...}} " | ||
Revision as of 13:25, 8 August 2008
Limited Edition Alpha, or more commonly Alpha, is the first release of Limited Edition, the first Core Set of Magic: The Gathering. It includes 295 cards and was released at Origins in July 1993 with a small run of 2.6 million cards. It did not receive much exposure beyond the West Coast. Beta was released shortly after Alpha sold out.
For information on the mechanics and themes, notable cards, storyline, design and development, cycles, creature types, points of interest and outside links in this set, please see the Beta set.
Set details
Alpha cards can easily be distinguished from Beta and all other cards by their more rounded corners. Early tournament rules required that all cards must appear unmarked without the use of protective sleeves, and the unique corners of Alpha cards originally made them marked cards in a deck not entirely comprised of Alpha cards. This initially made them less desirable and thus less valuable than Beta and even Unlimited cards.
Due to the printing process, it is possible to get land cards in a rare, uncommon, or common card slot. The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons and 38.02% for commons. This is because they put lands on all three printed sheets.
Alpha contained a number of errors that were fixed in the second, or Beta release: Circle of Protection: Black and Volcanic Island were accidentally left out of the set entirely [1] [2]. Additionally, only two versions of each basic land with unique artwork were included. Limited Edition was advertised as having "more than 300 cards," so a third version of each basic land was added in the Beta release in order to validate this claim.
Misprints
- Contract From Below — The artist's name, Shuler, was misspelled.
- Cyclopean Tomb — printed without a mana cost.[3]
- Demonic Hordes — printed with an upkeep cost of literally "BBB" instead of three black mana symbols.
- Elvish Archers — printed with power/toughness 1/2 instead of 2/1.[4]
- Force of Nature — printed with an upkeep cost of literally "GGGG" instead of four green mana symbols also the artist's name, Shuler, was misspelled.[5]
- Orcish Artillery — printed with a mana cost of
instead of .[6] - Orcish Oriflamme — printed with the mana cost instead of
.[6] - Phantasmal Forces — printed with an upkeep cost of literally "U" instead of a blue mana symbol.[5]
- Red Elemental Blast — printed as an instant instead of an interrupt.[7] [8]
- Unsummon — The card reads "Return creature to owner's hand; enchantments on creature are CARD ed. Unsummon cannot Template:... "
References
External links
- Alpha Product Page
- Template:MTGref (transcription)