Subject: Trading (just about everything) for cards - iViE

Hiyo all,

Trading...its the expected part of any TRADING card game. but what we don't realize is that sometimes, trading gets a little out of hand...well, fine we DO realize it, we just shrug it off most of the time though.

I maintain the view that this is JUST A GAME, and that if i think "oOOoOo, this card looks cool, i want it!", i'll get it, and am willing to trade away some better cards to get it.

I also maintain the view that "i need to keep a strong and stable deck", so i even out the fact that i wanna keep cool looking cards, i want to have a good deck too. THIS is what the intended purpose of trading card games are. To balance fun and strategy, and have fun doing it.

To my points:

1. When does trading get a bit out of hand? in my opinion, if you're starting to shell out your personal belongings (not money, that you CAN shell out) to get cards, i think that's starting to cross the line. I've see my friend trade in his XBox for a 36 count retail pharonic guardian booster box (haha, get the irony?) and thought to myself: 1, Xbox for booster box, haha, and 2, what are you gonna do with all those Xbox games that you have?? The point of the above example was that some people don't think before trading away things.

2. Fair trading. Does anyone really know what that means? It's simple trading away what you want for what you dont want, right? well, if its all black and white like that, there wouldn't be so much controvery, and the whole "tradeback" issue. in my opinion, a fair trade is simply a trade in which both sides are happy with what they have. say you traded serpent knight dragon for mirror force. Seems to be a rip off rite? well, i don't want my serpent knight, but the other person really wanted it, so i made an offer. Now, the other person though that was an ok trade for him/her, then that's a fair trade. people might start complaining that that was a ripoff, but did both sides get what they want? if yes, then its NOT. The main point this time is : ripoff is trading card for card of obvious unequal material or sentimental value through influence or other outside factors. a fair trade is when both sides are happy to get what they got without too much sentimental sacrifice. (notice its only sentimental for fair trades, since, rarity may not be a factor in getting a card you really want, though too much emphasis is put on rarity)

3. sell-trading is when you have to give up both cards AND money to get what you want. It doesn't occur too often but unless it's absolutely necessary for you to have that particular card, don't sell-trade.

4. ripoff stores. Some stores try to take advandage of the fact that you really want a card. They would then demande an unequal trade for

example: if you give me marauding captain and fred the matchless general, then i will give you premature burial. obviously, if you REALLY wanted that premature, you would do it. But a part of smart trading is: DONT TRADE WITH STORES. most (again, MOST) store try to rip you off in this sense, don't fall for it, you can definitely find a better trade somewhere else.

5. singles. most people don't think theres a controversy in singles, but in fact, if you start thinking bout it, there is. one of the biggest ones is: how much is a certain card actually worth?? lets take yata garasu for example. it's a fine secret rare, it IS good, and it costs 38.50! rewind...$38.50?!?! is it actually WORTH that much?? to some, yes, but to others NO! singles are good for deckbuilding, that m uch is true, but excessive buying of singles can burn a HUGE hole in your pocket. don't buy singles unless its only going to be worth the time you spend with it, time afterall, is pricessless. My opinion (OPINION) of singles is that it's a trade of a large mass of paper that can get you a lot of things (money) for 1 or maybe a couple of pieces of cardboard that may have a piece of foil stuck between. (a card) in terms of bartering, i'd stick with the money...

that ends this rant right

there. Comments? Critiques?? Hate-mail??? send them to:

han_celvic@angelfire.com

as a side note, all flames will be laughed at, hatemail shall be used as tinder as i roast some chestnuts on my open fire.

cheers

Vi