Tavel’s Travels, 2001
Amazing Discoveries-
Tucson, AZ
By Marcello Bolivar
12/19/01
Storm clouds were brewing as Phil entered Amazing Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. The store held many excited duelers eager to lock horns with the Creator. From within the crowd stepped forward two of Magi-Nation's most potent duelers. Within minutes Phil was sitting down to face off against Stephan Classen, while Taylor Harter patiently bided his time.
As Phil and Stephan prepared to duel, the excited group crowded around to witness the encounter. As the players pulled out their decks, their region preferences quickly became apparent: Phil was going to play his vaunted Naroom deck while Stephan had chosen to fly the Arderial banner.
As play began, Stephan revealed Delia as his leadoff Magi and swiftly brought out a torrent of Vellups. The formidable wall of creatures at the conclusion of his turn demonstrated why Delia is often affectionately dubbed "Lady Vellup."
Not to be outdone, Phil followed Stephan's solid opening round with his own flurry of creatures. The lovable Naroom Magi Evu arrayed a Furok, a Plith, a Balamant, and a Bwill before him. As the first round of play ended, both players seemed poised for a long struggle.
Stephan forcefully dispelled that notion by using Warrior Boots to pull in an Ayebaw. Under a Vellup and Ayebaw assault, Evu soon found himself without creatures to protect him from defeat.
Phil began his next round with his second Magi, Orwin, seeking to balance the scales. Delia soon found herself caving under a Naroom onslaught led by a cuddly Furok. The momentum shift was short-lived, however, as Stephan called in Sorreah to establish Arderial dominance over the arena of play. The next two rounds were an efficient display of Arderial power as Stephan pulled out the whole Xyx arsenal to defeat Orwin and Yaki in quick order. A gracious and deserving victor, Stephan found himself one of the elite owners of a Power of the Creators card.
Taylor Harter now stepped forward from the wings seeking to avenge a prior loss to Phil at Gen Con this past summer. It was fitting that Taylor chose the Core as his region, considering the Core's recent capture of the Great Library of Naroom.
Opening with Warrada, Taylor started out slowly by simply putting out a Chaos Jile. Phil however, wasted no time with Evu. After Evu's obligatory Vortex of Knowledge, he used Warrior Boots to bring in a Furok to defeat the Chaos Jile, then followed that up by bringing out an Eebit, a Plith, a Bwill, and a Balamant.
Seeing the opposing forces before him, Taylor sprung his trap. He wasted no time in turning Phil's Balamant and using essence of Naroom to take over his Plith, which then attacked Phil's Eebit. The dark powers of Core were not finished however, as Taylor then used Agram's Plaything to overcome the Bwill and dispatch Evu.
The game was fierce, as Taylor used Core's manipulative powers to repeatedly take control of Phil's gauntlet of creatures. Phil counterbalanced the Core's evil ways by transforming his remaining creatures into relentless energy-draining machines.
The game saw Magi after Magi fall to defeat. First Naroom's Evu fell, followed shortly by Warrada, the true power behind the current throne of Core. That left Agram to face Orwin once and future ruler of the Core versus the great Elder of Naroom. Weary from battle, Orwin fell at last to Agram's dark attack. Yaki came forward to carry the banner and vanquish Agram, but that reprieve was short-lived as Zet emerged to push the forces of evil to eventual victory.
Having avenged his earlier defeat, Taylor happily accepted his Power of the Creators card. With two of Magi-Nation's top-ranked players and two PotCs as newfound plunder, Arizona's duelers served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with in the World of Magi-Nation.
Phil Tavel's Creature Beat-Down Deck
Magi
1st Evu
2nd Orwin
3rd Yaki
Creatures
2 Balamant
2 Bwill
2 Eebits
1 Forest Hyren
2 Furok
1 Giant Carillion
1 Leaf Hyren
1 Plith
2 Pylofuf
2 Stagadan
2 Twee
2 Wasperine
2 Weebo
Relics
2 Energy Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Relic Stalkers
2 Robe of Vines
1 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Bottomless Pit
1 Grow
2 Resonate
2 Shockwave
2 Tap Roots
2 Umm...No
1 Vortex of Knowledge
Stephan Classen's Arderial Deck
Magi
1st Delia
2nd Sorreah
3rd Ora
Creatures
2 Ayebaw
3 Elder Vellup
2 Lovian
3 Vellup
2 Xyx
2 Xyx Elder
3 Xyx Minor
Relics
1 Alaban Gloves
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Storm Rising
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Beam of Light
2 Cataclysm
2 Lightning
3 Shockwave
1 Shooting Star
2 Sorreah's Dream
2 Thunderquake
Taylor Harter's Core Deck
Magi
1st Warrada
2nd Agram
3rd Zet
Creatures
1 Chaos Jile
2 Chaos Plith
3 Core Grag
1 Darkbreed Hyren
2 Koil
3 Shadow Vinoc
3 Wudge
Relics
2 Agram's Plaything
1 Essence of Naroom
2 Rayje's Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Rayje's Boots
3 Shadow Bones
2 Shadow Cloak
2 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warriors Boots
Spells
2 Blight
3 Corrupt
1 Dream Rift
3 Turn
1 Vaporize
Here was his full tour schedule and list of winners!
Finally, here are some of the surviving images from his journey!
By Marcello Bolivar
12/19/01
Storm clouds were brewing as Phil entered Amazing Discoveries in Tucson, Arizona. The store held many excited duelers eager to lock horns with the Creator. From within the crowd stepped forward two of Magi-Nation's most potent duelers. Within minutes Phil was sitting down to face off against Stephan Classen, while Taylor Harter patiently bided his time.
As Phil and Stephan prepared to duel, the excited group crowded around to witness the encounter. As the players pulled out their decks, their region preferences quickly became apparent: Phil was going to play his vaunted Naroom deck while Stephan had chosen to fly the Arderial banner.
As play began, Stephan revealed Delia as his leadoff Magi and swiftly brought out a torrent of Vellups. The formidable wall of creatures at the conclusion of his turn demonstrated why Delia is often affectionately dubbed "Lady Vellup."
Not to be outdone, Phil followed Stephan's solid opening round with his own flurry of creatures. The lovable Naroom Magi Evu arrayed a Furok, a Plith, a Balamant, and a Bwill before him. As the first round of play ended, both players seemed poised for a long struggle.
Stephan forcefully dispelled that notion by using Warrior Boots to pull in an Ayebaw. Under a Vellup and Ayebaw assault, Evu soon found himself without creatures to protect him from defeat.
Phil began his next round with his second Magi, Orwin, seeking to balance the scales. Delia soon found herself caving under a Naroom onslaught led by a cuddly Furok. The momentum shift was short-lived, however, as Stephan called in Sorreah to establish Arderial dominance over the arena of play. The next two rounds were an efficient display of Arderial power as Stephan pulled out the whole Xyx arsenal to defeat Orwin and Yaki in quick order. A gracious and deserving victor, Stephan found himself one of the elite owners of a Power of the Creators card.
Taylor Harter now stepped forward from the wings seeking to avenge a prior loss to Phil at Gen Con this past summer. It was fitting that Taylor chose the Core as his region, considering the Core's recent capture of the Great Library of Naroom.
Opening with Warrada, Taylor started out slowly by simply putting out a Chaos Jile. Phil however, wasted no time with Evu. After Evu's obligatory Vortex of Knowledge, he used Warrior Boots to bring in a Furok to defeat the Chaos Jile, then followed that up by bringing out an Eebit, a Plith, a Bwill, and a Balamant.
Seeing the opposing forces before him, Taylor sprung his trap. He wasted no time in turning Phil's Balamant and using essence of Naroom to take over his Plith, which then attacked Phil's Eebit. The dark powers of Core were not finished however, as Taylor then used Agram's Plaything to overcome the Bwill and dispatch Evu.
The game was fierce, as Taylor used Core's manipulative powers to repeatedly take control of Phil's gauntlet of creatures. Phil counterbalanced the Core's evil ways by transforming his remaining creatures into relentless energy-draining machines.
The game saw Magi after Magi fall to defeat. First Naroom's Evu fell, followed shortly by Warrada, the true power behind the current throne of Core. That left Agram to face Orwin once and future ruler of the Core versus the great Elder of Naroom. Weary from battle, Orwin fell at last to Agram's dark attack. Yaki came forward to carry the banner and vanquish Agram, but that reprieve was short-lived as Zet emerged to push the forces of evil to eventual victory.
Having avenged his earlier defeat, Taylor happily accepted his Power of the Creators card. With two of Magi-Nation's top-ranked players and two PotCs as newfound plunder, Arizona's duelers served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with in the World of Magi-Nation.
Phil Tavel's Creature Beat-Down Deck
Magi
1st Evu
2nd Orwin
3rd Yaki
Creatures
2 Balamant
2 Bwill
2 Eebits
1 Forest Hyren
2 Furok
1 Giant Carillion
1 Leaf Hyren
1 Plith
2 Pylofuf
2 Stagadan
2 Twee
2 Wasperine
2 Weebo
Relics
2 Energy Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Relic Stalkers
2 Robe of Vines
1 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Bottomless Pit
1 Grow
2 Resonate
2 Shockwave
2 Tap Roots
2 Umm...No
1 Vortex of Knowledge
Stephan Classen's Arderial Deck
Magi
1st Delia
2nd Sorreah
3rd Ora
Creatures
2 Ayebaw
3 Elder Vellup
2 Lovian
3 Vellup
2 Xyx
2 Xyx Elder
3 Xyx Minor
Relics
1 Alaban Gloves
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Storm Rising
3 Warrior Boots
2 Water of Life
Spells
2 Beam of Light
2 Cataclysm
2 Lightning
3 Shockwave
1 Shooting Star
2 Sorreah's Dream
2 Thunderquake
Taylor Harter's Core Deck
Magi
1st Warrada
2nd Agram
3rd Zet
Creatures
1 Chaos Jile
2 Chaos Plith
3 Core Grag
1 Darkbreed Hyren
2 Koil
3 Shadow Vinoc
3 Wudge
Relics
2 Agram's Plaything
1 Essence of Naroom
2 Rayje's Band
2 Rayje's Belt
2 Rayje's Boots
3 Shadow Bones
2 Shadow Cloak
2 Tomorrow's Jewel
3 Warriors Boots
Spells
2 Blight
3 Corrupt
1 Dream Rift
3 Turn
1 Vaporize
Here was his full tour schedule and list of winners!
| Date | Location | City | Winner |
| Tues 11/6/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Tukwila, WA | |
| Thurs 11/8/2001 | Beckmon's Cards | Twin Falls, ID | |
| Thurs 11/8/2001 | Mystic Comics | Logan UT | |
| Fri 11/9/2001 | Attactix | Aurora, CO | |
| Fri 11/9/2001 | CollectorMania | Parker, CO | |
| Sat 11/10/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Broomfield, CO | |
| Mon 11/12/2001 | Reader's World | Springfield, IL | Dave Autzen |
| Tues 11/13/2001 | The Game Preserve | Indianapolis, IN | Travis McKinney |
| Michael Welling | |||
| Andrew Steckley | |||
| Wed 11/14/2001 | Be A Gamer | West Dundee, IL | Tim Kouba |
| Noel Meyer | |||
| Tues 11/20/2001 | Collectible Investments | Berkley, MI | Shane Reeves |
| Chris Staunton | |||
| Khris McKee | |||
| Tues 11/20/2001 | The Guardtower | Columbus, OH | |
| Sat 11/24/2001 | New World Manga | Livingston, NJ | Taylor Nummi |
| Joe Montalbano | |||
| Mon 11/26/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Garden City, NY | |
| Tues 11/27/2001 | The Game Castle | Londonderry, NH | |
| Wed 11/28/2001 | Jumpgate | Portsmouth, NH | |
| Wed 11/28/2001 | The Knight's Quest | Gardner, MA | Vince Sosa |
| John White III | |||
| Jeremy Coulomb | |||
| Wed 11/28/2001 | Griffon Games | Greenfield, MA | Tim Adan |
| Colton MacLeay | |||
| Thurs 11/29/2001 | Sarge's Comics | London, CT | |
| Thurs 11/29/2001 | The Gamer's Realm | Windsor, NJ | |
| Fri 11/30/2001 | Dream Wizards | Rockville, MD | Graham Bannon |
| Fri 11/30/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Hanover, MD | Nathaniel Wise |
| Tues 12/4/2001 | Dr. Bob's Game Shop | Huntsville, AL | |
| Wed 12/5/2001 | Ground Zero | Mobile, AL | |
| Thurs 12/6/2001 | The Strategy Center | Clermont, FL | Bob Hutchison |
| Jeff North | |||
| Jason Edgley | |||
| Thurs 12/13/2001 | Lone Star Comics | Hurst, TX | Jeffrey A. Sass |
| Justin McDonough | |||
| Sat 12/15/2001 | Amazing Discoveries | Tucson, AZ | Stephan Classen |
| Taylor Harter | |||
| Robert Davidson | |||
| Sat 12/15/2001 | Wizards of the Coast | Mesa, AZ | Tom Scott |
| Mon 12/17/2001 | DNA Cards and Comics | Pacifica, CA | CJ Vossen |
| Tim Gin | |||
| Simon Lai | |||
| John Peralta | |||
| March Johnson | |||
| Tues 12/18/2001 | Bizarro World | Davis, CA | Lazarus Agbowo Jr. |
| Jared Tholer | |||
| Shivam Bhatt | |||
| Wed 12/19/2001 | A-1 Comics | Roseville, CA | Denver Martin |
| Patrick Sander | |||
| Carey Cox | |||
| Matthew Momsen |
Finally, here are some of the surviving images from his journey!
 |
| Mesa, AZ |
 |
| Twin Falls, ID |
User Frunx from the subreddit tells their own story about Magi Nation, and includes Tavel's travels:
ReplyDeleteSo, I want to include my story with Magi-Nation with this post: I’ve played MTG since 1996. I was from southern Oregon when I got into it. In 2000 my parents went through a divorce. I lost all my magic cards in the process. After a few months in my new lousy hometown of Twin Falls Idaho, I made a few friends who’d play D&D at a local card shop. During my time there, the owner knew of my interest in Magic. At the time, I really didn’t feel like starting my collection over. We started to game one evening and the owner asked if I’d be willing to try out a new game that was sent to him from Seattle.
Magi-Nation was clunky and weird, but fun with amazing themed art and a cool story. I was in! At the time, we didn’t fully know all the rules and mechanics, but those became clearer with time. A few weeks later he had starter decks and boosters packs of Limited. My first buy was the Underneath deck. I would spend as much money as I could come across in packs.
I started to get as many people playing as I could. It was easy with my D&D group. Plus, I always let people win their first game!!! Sanctioned tournaments started and the game really started to pick up. The first summer after leaving Oregon, I was able to go back and visit and got my best friend at home into the game. We would recite each region and try to think what the others were going to be like.
User Frunx part 2:
ReplyDeleteSometime after I returned to Idaho, the card shop owner stopped me and thanked me for getting the game so much steam. He told me that the creator was going to do a road trip and we were the first stop. I could not believe it! At that time, Awakening had been out and we were anticipating Dreams End. I can’t remember the date he visited, but I know it was just before Christmas that year.
Sometime in all this, I joined the Grand Magi council. I think it was like $35. I started when the second book came out, but they sent me the first book with the second. I kept getting promos and exclusive offers. I remember one that was something like fifty animite for fifty random Foil cards.
The night before he showed up, I was a nervous mess. I’ve never met anyone... famous? Well, part of anything I found interesting. My cousin and I arrived to the shop crazy early. Philip showed up right on time. He brought in a bunch of card boxes and bags. He gave all of us t-shirts and wanted a chance to challenge everyone. The owner opt that I go first. I never played a game with so many people around me. At the time, I was working on some crappy Core deck. Philip was playing Naroon. He spanked me! He was also the first person I saw ever use Evu. He said if anyone beats him, they’ll get a signed Power the Creators. No one in the shop beat him! Haha.
Next came all the goodies! He left two uncut sheets to the owner to gift out at later dates. Tons of packs of pre-release cards for Dreams End. Everyone got Eldon promos. I also asked if we could spend our Animite while he was there. He agreed! Once everyone was just about done, I asked if he had the Gameboy Color game and if I could spend Animite for it. He said he’d have to check his truck. Show enough he had some on him. I remember he only asked for a few since I spent most of my points.
User Frunx part 3:
ReplyDeleteWe asked about proper pronunciation on a lot of cards. I asked why there’s so many plant based regions. That was a coincidence. He did a lot of autographs and was made the best day of my life. I remember talking to my cousin afterwards. I told him it was like Christmas came early. On that note, Christmas felt pretty weak that year!
The burn out and anticipation years: After I turned 18, I moved back to Oregon. I’d still teach people how to play. Shortly after my move, Voice of the Storm came out. I remember Nar being crazy over powered. I was really anticipating my next Grand’s Magi council book, but alas was told it would just be a digital item. I remember calling II and asking about Traitors Reach or the books and just get the run around. I felt for many years that the creators just got way into their story and instead of focusing it on the cards, they wanted to animate it. Not sure if that was where they went wrong. The next few years I’d play their online game. Then that changed. There were never any updates on MND. I think it was about 8 years ago I finally stopped hoping for anything Magi-Nation. It just really made me obsessive and I hate that feeling. Just so much frustration finding something so great and being in its history, just for it to fade away. The burn out occurred from waiting for news, never from playing the game.
The uncut sheets were given away randomly. Sometime before I served in the army, I stopped by my old card shop. I had some cards on me and my friend who I used to play with had a match. Afterwards, the owner said that some of the Magic players there do play Magi-Nation. We talked to them and they were down for a small tournament. After all the playing I did, that was the only tournament I won. It really felt like a send off to this game. I’ve had the urge to join y’all, but just not sure yet.
Thanks for reading all of this. Magi-Nation/Interactive Imagination came about in the most needed time of my life. I’ll always adore it.
TLDR played Magi-Nation a lot, Met the creator and was part of the Grand Magi Council. This was in Idaho.
Here’s my collection:
https://imgur.com/gallery/YLxbiEn
From the reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/MagiNation/comments/g6d0il/almost_all_my_collection_going_to_be_saying/