I started collecting Magic cards in the mid '90s as a kid. I would stop by the local comic shop on the way home from school and occasionally buy a pack or two. But I had no idea how to play. I bought MTG Card Encyclopedia, read How-To-Play inserts, etc, but never really learned how to play. Plus, none of my friends really played so there was no exposure to it. I just collected the cards because I thought the art was cool, and was drawn to the mystery of what the cards do.
That is until a few years ago when MTG: Duels of the Planeswalkers came to consoles. Started playing it on Xbox, and the tutorials were so well done that (although I had a base knowledge of how the game worked) I FINALLY figured the game out. By then I had a nice collection of a hundred or two cards. I bought some more, and soon discovered that a few of the people I worked with (kinda) played. We started playing at work with what we had, learning as we went, playing DotP when we could. Then I bought more cards. And more. I started building decks. Researching online. Still, I only have one real friend that I can play with locally, and we have been playing roughly once a week for a couple years now. January of 2013 we attended our first real event, which was the Gatecrash Prerelease at a local gaming shop. Did fairly well for noobs, but it really gave us some insight to the other players out there and the play-style of competitive play.
Now I have few thousand cards. I have crafted around 10 good decks that I play with (my W Angel deck is my pride and joy: Angelic Immortality) and I am planning on hitting up some local FNM and other tournaments before I venture out to the Grand Prix Richmond later this year.
I don't consider myself pro by any means, maybe intermediate, but I am definitely no beginner any more. I am always looking for help and advice, and welcome all input. While suggestions are greatly appreciated, ALL feedback is respected.