Opening The First Magic: The Gathering Packs I Ever Bought!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Can you do me a favor? We did a brand new episode of Office Hours with Ashiok and I would love it if you took a moment to go watch it if you have not already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHm0Y4Vto5h4rbc

[@savannahlion3081]

Did it yesterday ! 😉

[@themannyac7582]

Watched it when it when it went up : )

[@Hamond1989]

It's amazing

[@danielprivate8038]

I really enjoyed hearing about more of your personal life. I think people are interested.. in what makes PROF .. PROF… like j owing you skipped lunch so you could use that money for cards… we love hearing about it. Even the struggles. That other vid was enjoyable too btw

[@Dimitar_Tsanev]

I watch everything immediately after it comes out. Even some of the commander content even though I don't care about commander and I'm sick of everyone talking about commander at this point.

[@user-to9ge8ii9n]

Revealing the mat screaming "BUY SINGLES" at the end was chef's-kiss juxtaposition. ❤

[@bookerplayer01]

Me: I'll see what the funny magic man is up to this time! *20 minutes later* Me: STOP MAKING ME FEEL THINGS!

[@paladinmetalus6612]

This video goes to show that Magic is like an old friend. No matter how long it's been, the next time you see each other it's always the same.

[@AxsorXI]

Tell that to Hasbro which ruined MTG's dignity so many times. Still the MTG before Hasbro is fine. Just try to not support that awful company, no matter how much you like MTG. That company is the worst.

[@xolotltolox7626]

I don't think it's good to have a parasocial relationship with a game where the company owning it will not hesitate to call the pinkertons

[@paladinmetalus6612]

@@AxsorXI Love Magic, Hate Hasbro and always buy singles.

[@paladinmetalus6612]

@@xolotltolox7626 This is how it felt for me coming back to the game after 10 years. I hate Hasbro with an all abiding passion, but the joy the game has brought me does feel like reconnecting with someone.

[@AxsorXI]

@@paladinmetalus6612 So you're supporting Hasbro in that way, aren't you?

[@pedrobortoli6852]

This video made me emotional, and made me appreciate Magic and how it impacted my life over the years even more. Love ya, Prof!

[@vliam]

Here's a piece of worthless trivia for your collection... That starter deck was received by Hastings store 9693 in Helena, MT in July 1995. I was a receiving manager at that time at another store. I can still discern the codes on the labels printed in the backroom. 55 was the code for trade paperbacks. Probably not correct but collectibles weren't a thing yet. I think they became 59 eventually... maybe? not certain.

[@gubbothehuggo2771]

I'm assuming collectors rely on you and others like you to verify authenticity of sealed product

[@SumerNivek]

That is interesting...since 4th Edition was released in April of that year! I started the game right in March/April and could not find any Revised product where I lived at...only 4th starting that April!

[@GMontag]

The July 1995 date explains why the starter deck had three rares in it. The first print run of Revised only had two rares per starter deck. It wasn't until after Summer Magic was printed and destroyed that Wizards did another run of Revised with three rares per deck. That continued with 4th edition all the way through until starter/tournament decks were discontinued after Shards of Alara.

[@vliam]

@@SumerNivek I was still able to buy at my local store around August of that year. Hastings didn't received this direct from a game distributor. It would have come from wholesaler like Ingram Books or secondary distributor like Anderson. So it was common for things to take longer to flow through the channel. It would go from the publisher to the distributor, to a wholesaler, then possibly to Anderson, then possibly to the Hastings DC, and finally to the store. A lot of hands touched this before it was received and that label was printed.

[@batman9592]

@@vliam You've got a really good memory and i really liked that story! :D

[@Windaar11796]

Every time the prof talks about magic with so much nostalgia, i don't know why, it makes me want to cry, I really love his content a lot

[@anguelasilva]

I actually did cry watching this. Which made me feel silly. But seeing people so happy and nostalgic? It's fantastic. It brings happiness to my soul!!

[@Flyboy245]

I absolutely love this episode. Seeing the profs genuine enthusiasm about seeing his nostalgia made manifest in card form. Not value. Just opening cards for the sake of opening cards. Pure enjoyment. The stories of his classic cards. Fantastic. It was great getting to see a revised opening, and even better with profs flair

[@theguy106]

All of this. Such a fantastic way to celebrate this milestone.

[@jarvis]

this was my experiencing opening darksteel packs again when i got back into magic recently. heartwarming stuff 😭

[@caseywilliams4145]

You wasn't just rebuilding your collection...you were rebuilding your soul...Congratulations on everything you have accomplished Professor Brian

[@TheRealLachlan]

Your soul is a product. Americans are the worst.

[@gaweindegraaf]

You sound retarded with your ' you wasn't '

[@Wes2219]

It’s 100% not only nostalgia, there’s a theme or style to the older cards that’s very unique and endearing. When I came back to Magic a few years ago I rebuilt a vintage zombie deck with only cards from around 1994-2001 all the best cards I wanted when I was a kid no budget, and I look at that deck every other day out of enjoyment of the vibe of the cards.

[@Wiktorion]

Love the story about your friend's dad. It would be funny to see such an interaction today with all the modern keywords.

[@ThePathOfFire]

im so happy to have joined in on your happiness it made my crappy day better

[@mikotagayuna8494]

I am still drawn to the old art. They have a timeworn, haunting quality to them like tarot cards or old D&D art. They exude beauty, magic and danger and dabbling in magic should always feel dangerous.

[@FZeroDMX]

Old Magic art always makes me feel like I’m browsing a bookstore full of fantasy novels, each card a different book that you can only see the cover and first line of.

[@matts3756]

Nailed it!

[@MrGhostTheBigRoast]

aesthetic. you like their aesthetic, as do i. there isnt really much more to it than that and thats reason enough. no one has to justify their taste. people in mtg fandom who go around saying 'old art bad' or people who clown on Dan Hipp in the marvel snap fandom are the ones who are objectively wrong. you can have personal reasons of not liking a particular artstyle, but thats entirely your problem and nothing to do with the 'quality' of the art. i for example am not a huge fan of card art in a physical tcg that look extremely digital (pokemon, dual masters) i think there is a part of my brain that doesnt vibe with the dissonance of it, doesnt mean the artists are not skilled or the art is bad, its just a personal preference.

[@theoneandonlyAeth]

In a lot of ways the simpler art and often brighter colours just made for much more recognisable art. A lot of the modern art is far more intricate, more detailed and has way more effort put into it but upside down from across the table it doesn't translate in anywhere near the same way. Modern cards generally have better art, but in my opinion old cards had better illustrations, it fit better into the context of what a card is.

[@cardsandcomics]

Phil Folio did art for both

[@JanWiegert]

Im sitting here with tears in my eyes, writing this comment and remembering the old good days. You had nothing to worry about, went home with the boys from school at 12 am. Wev been 10 years old and went directly to the stationary shop to buy a booster pack of Darksteel or Innistrad from our pocket money. Whoever had the biggest creature on the board was most likely to win the match. Greetings from Germany

[@nitro5247]

It’s always beautiful to see someone reliving their childhood through things like this, especially someone who’s helped so many people make memories they’ll look back on the same way someday.

[@fattdamon1980]

Professor as a guy who was vaguely familiar with MTG through friends in the early 90s i love the old art but can't have the nostalgia because i was never really a part of it. I just got into magic after almost 30 years of curiosity. There is something special about it because they were making the cards as a personal passion project, not driving sells for investors.

[@IzidioAlex]

10:46 This reminds me of when I lent my Goblin Guide set to a friend while the ones he bought hadn't arrived yet. And the day he got his, he put them in the deck and forgot to take mine out. Talking to him during FNM "Man, the deck is on fire today! It's all game: mana, Guide. Mana, Guide, Guide". When he realized, he talked to the store owner and asked to disqualify him lol

[@13Kaderade]

I can tell that this video just meant so much to you, you very often speak from the bottom of your heart, usually saying to buy singles at the end of disappointing booster box games, but this time you spoke from the soul and that's just such a beautiful thing to witness.

[@Boyzby]

I would argue that appreciating the old art isn't because of nostalgia but because it has charm. I remember watching Cardcaptor Sakura a few years ago, a show I had never seen before, and just fell in love with the art style and animation, the opening, even the dubbing.

[@deadPan-c]

as someone who only started playing Magic last year, i agree. there's definitely something nostalgic about the differing art styles and the way a lot of the art looks hand-painted, rather than the more modern, relatively homogeneous style of the newer cards. but i don't think nostalgia is the sole reason, there's also something neat and charming about it, and how it feels slightly darker than the modern style. don't get me wrong, the newer art is excellent, but there's a kind of samey-ness to it compared to the older art

[@ihatethewind]

@@deadPan-call the new art looks ai generated, it’s horrible imo

[@wisperg1788]

That’s awesome. Coincidentally, I’ve been watching a lot of older anime recently and I’m actually making my way through Cardcaptor Sakura for the first time right now! I’m having a lot of fun with it. Perhaps there is a twinge of nostalgia for me because I did watch a lot of shows from the same era as a kid, but there really is something tangible to many works of the past beyond that. Charm is a good word for it. Quality art stands the test of time and continues to connect with people.

[@CB-ke7eq]

​@@deadPan-cIt's the digital "painting", it's garbage.

[@deadPan-c]

@@CB-ke7eq don't start gatekeeping art. digital art is still art and requires exactly the same amount of skill and effort to traditional art. modern MTG art is impressive as fuck, it's just slightly disappointing that it's so homogenous in its style.

[@rickastley8655]

lovely to see a man just showing his favourite hobby with such passion. i play magic with a group of about 6-7 people, never played a local or something. our decks are all anything goes, no matter how broken or stupid they are. i know our playstyle is maybe somewhat controversial but i love to see that there is so much engagement in this community.

[@samhillier5167]

As someone who started at the same time, I think I know what you mean when you say there’s something special about this set. For me, it’s that the set is mostly generic (Giant Growth, Lightning Bolt, Shatter, Disenchant, Gray Ogre, Wall of … and so on) with hints of special people or locations (Serra Angel, Sengir Vampire, Shivan Dragon). Nowadays, the vast majority of spells and creatures are tied to the plane-of-the-month, or a Planeswalker, or they feel more like “events” than spells (“Annie Joins Up” is an event, not a spell, and there’s thousands of these). This takes away the imagination, as you tried to fill in the blanks of the world. Magic 2010 recaptured this somewhat (Divination is the perfect representative spell for what I mean), but we haven’t seen anything like that since.

[@NotTooShabbyGames]

This take resonates with me pretty hard. There are so many "event spells" that don't really feel like magic. Granted you do have some halfway between like the Oaths, or spells of a particular planewalker like Tezzeret's Gambit. Those sort of 50/50 the line between events and D&D spells named for their inventor, like Otto's Irresistible Dance.

[@shuboy05]

There was a reason for that. Wizards deliberately made Magic 2010 a callback of the original Alpha Edition. Something I wish they do again at Magic’s next milestone.

[@alexmchale2336]

Professor, this made me so happy. Inner child work is so healthy for us as adults, My 13-14 year old inner child was right there with yours watching open these and talking about how special those memories were to you. I saw how happy this made you, I see you :). This took me back to the days of saving pennies and looking through singles at my LGS, thank you for inviting me to open these with you. Shivan Dragon, White Knight, Craw Worm and Lightening Bolt were my favorite :).

[@ceekenna]

As someone who only got in to Magic during Bloomburrow I hope I can look back fondly on my time with MTG the way you have in this video.

[@oldsenpai4337]

Bloomburrow is definitely MTG going back to its roots and they should continue to make sets like this. Its new and refreshing! Glad you got into Magic due to Bloomburrow!

[@AntonioTheTurtle]

My first set was Strixhaven due to the dnd tie in but Phyrexians even 1 card was enough to Satisfy me. Bloomburrow was amazing but I’m still sad that we never got the Bloomburrow and Dusmourne Plane Battles that could have happened.

[@Exhumedpro]

Welcome to Magic, friend!

[@jaredwonnacott9732]

Welcome to the community!

[@derekdixon7731]

Bloom and dusk will be looked back on as amazing sets and a refocus on themes and art.

[@dustincarter1086]

ty man. I appreciate this video. I’m 42 and I also sold all my 4th edition and revised edition cards to get money to buy might and magic 6 the computer game in like 96 or 97 or around that time. Breaks my heart seeing all these old cards I used to hold back when I played. Thanks again for the nostalgia feeling I got watching u open these.

[@WiiR4Him]

For what it’s worth, I got into MTG just this year so I have no memory of early sets to have nostalgia of, and I love the art style of the older cards I can find.

[@goosejohnson3197]

Thank you for this walk down revised memory lane. I have my own, younger version of me, memories from that amazing time.

[@jedfiller4145]

As a former Hastings employee, this was delightfully nostalgic. Sadly, Hastings went under back in 2016.

[@Lukeor]

Yeah we had a hastings.

[@JynxBlack13]

Same here man! I worked for Hastings for 7 years and my first cards came from there. 😮 when I saw that price tag and the green sticker I flipped!! 😂

[@Spocklee]

I miss hastings. It was my favorite store. 😢

[@Cade467]

Prof! I got so many of these Revised cards in a random lot and didn't know what set they were from. Funny to see someone so excited over it. Makes me happy!

[@hoosierdeddy92]

I love these blast from the past videos. Always fun to see which set was new when people started playing MTG.

[@sirmikey1969]

I love the hand drawn aspect to the artwork on the older ones. There is something to the grittier look to the older artwork.

[@ParDema]

As this is my third foray back into Magic, and after selling most (thankfully not all) of my original collection when my first child was born, this felt so close to home for me. Thank you Prof, this is one of the most feel good videos I've watched in a long time. At the end of the day Magic is just one of the comfort blankets I always come back to eventually. I still remember opening my first starter deck from Tempest in my pre-teen years like it was yesterday.

[@kingkamek]

This is giving big Mr. Roger’s vibes and I’m so here for it 😭❤️

[@MagicPrepper]

Revised was my first set as well. At 7 years old running a deck built off Craw Wurm and Terror wrapped on a rubber band loose in my backpack. Those were the days.

[@drewcummings2453]

10:10 young prof really hit them with the "30 black lotus, 30 plague rats, thats all you need" deck

[@chazlatson5676]

I grew up on a hobby farm, with 15 miles of dirt road separating me from a town of 1200 people. When a card/comic store took over what had been a leather repair shop in that town, (1993 or maybe 4) it opened a whole new world to me and my elder brother. We would scrimp and save our $2/week allowance money, throw square bales for local farmers, paint fences, and mow lawns to scrounge up enough for a few packs. I had forgotten how it felt, biking those 15 miles into town, the screech hinges as I pulled open the screen door, and striding into my version of Willy Wonka’s (rough wood and all). Thank you Prof, for bringing back the smell of cedar paneling, the creak of floorboards, and the elation I felt at pulling a Leviathan. 10/10 holy smokes! I stopped playing shortly after Zendikar block due to frustration over power creep, and market manipulation. On and off, I’ve checked in to see how mutated and degraded the game has become relative to what I held so dear. However, this video has changed my perspective. Nostalgia has its place, but is worth only its whimsy. So thank you doubly: as the game evolves and expands, only the shortsighted and stuck are left without a library.

[@JumbocactuarX27]

This might be my favorite video on the channel. Lots of cards I remember from childhood, and then Prof is having the time of his life opening these cards. Perhaps card games are good after all. ;)

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

I know Douglas Shuler used to get a lot of hate for being too basic compared to other artists, but so many of his cards are ICONIC. From Bob Ross looking lands to Demonic Tutor and Serra Angel, such a vibe.

[@darkrexkigntstone8773]

I love his art for basic lands.

[@Def-cd6bm]

Oddly enough, in certain languages "shuler" means a professional card-game cheater.

[@Andyjagger]

I was aware of Shuler as he also did art for the Star Wars rpg, I love his artwork

[@Virgil_Vincent]

I feel like this video is a good place to share this. I started playing magic at 10, remembering playing against my moms 5 colored monger deck, and my dad's zombie phyrexian deck. My brother and I first got into it during Kamigawa and the year set before that, tenth I think? Anyway, we ended up playing competitive EDH magic in a card shop I'm Florida for several years after we really got into the game. Shout out to James Caudill and Sheldon Menery.

[@Emc87]

Man you were blessed to have a great father that was interested in your hobbies. He raised a fine man, Love you prof

[@martygoat64]

Its so amazing! im not a magic the gathering player, i never played but i have owned a starter pack in the 90's . When i was kid and i was in love with those card, ive always been a fan of art an fantasy so i could look at them for hours without knowing if any of them was valuable or good, i just liked them, trying to understand english since its not my first language and creating stories in my head about those images. Watching you opening this put a smile on my face, i saw all my favorite cards, sea serpent, war mammoth, prodigal sorcerer, psychic venom, craw wurm, stone rain... etc. Thank you for sharing your stories as well, i needed this today!

[@L1fewater]

What a wholesome video. I remember as a kid, my older cousin gave me his bulk from the original Kamigawa. Got me to play a bit, until I really began with 2015 Core Set. Hope I can open a box of original Kamigawa one day for the nostalgia

[@Goose_BooseYT]

It's so fascinating seeing people talk about old school Magic just because it is genuinely inconceivable to me, someone who joined during the Amonkhet/Ixalan block (around that time). I can't imagine what that time was like - to visit game stores in the 90s/early 2000s. Those kinds of stores just didn't exist near me when I was a kid, so it's wonderful to hear those kinds of stories. I personally didn't really like the old art from this game's first sets, mainly because I just think the newer art is just so incredible and breathtaking that there is just no comparison, and yet recently I've grown fond of this art. It's like residual nostalgia. Now that I've played for several years, hearing people talk about these classic cards and seeing what the art looked like makes me understand what people saw in them. I really have a newfound appreciation for these sets thanks to players like you, Prof. :)

[@ethandouglas6769]

i did NOT expect you to be here, goose. It's insane how many people im finding out that i like that play magic. very neat!

[@Zw1ggy]

Thank you so much for making this. I started in 4th edition the exact same way, a starter and some boosters, and oddly enough Nightmare was my first rare too! I sold my cards to move after college, and genuinely feel so many emotions hearing you talk about your similar experience. Appreciate all you do and wish you nothing but continued success

[@HexCantFlex]

Im 36 now, was never into magic myself but pokemon hit hard when i was in 6th grade when it came out, and i have the same nostalgia/joy with those cards as you do with these. I had no idea what any of these cards were, but it was an absolute joy watching your love for them, as i share the same passion. Take care, collectors!

[@retro.7673]

Reminder: Josh is older than the professor.

[@Tuturial464]

As in JLK? Makes the most sense

[@RoughTurbo]

No way

[@amphilochusofmallus5070]

It's true. Prof brings it up like every chance he can lol

[@kylegonewild]

@@Tuturial464 Yes, I don't think it's by much but it is technically true and Prof will make sure you know lol

[@francescamcclean7271]

Asians age better than white people

[@punijaps]

Completeley agree my friend. "there is something more to it, not only nostalgia" Unexplainable feeling that is there, that isn't in the recent sets.

[@Vendettan]

So lovely to see Prof genuinely loving opening magic packs of his past. Great video!

[@jakes224]

I have just recently started playing this past year and I can confirm that your love for the old style of art is not just from nostalgia. I go out of my way to find those same original cards just because of their great look.

[@stevewithab2367]

5:12 "Yes, I bought it from Rudy." Well, if you want vintage product that you know is legit, he's definitely a good source for it.

[@mrwiddim]

Rudy phillip Morris Williams.

[@derecksheppard5913]

The only times Rudy didn't seem like a conspiracy theorist nutjob where when he was with prof. Always made me wonder how much of that is shtick..

[@deadlysock5875]

Floppy tacos 🤤

[@SlyFox454]

I was about 6 or 7 when Magic first started. Honestly, I wish I could have been a part of this back then and share in the nostalgia. This is closest I'll probably get to experiencing it. Thank you for this. We appreciate you and what you do.

[@irrelephant2469]

Prof: “Back in the ‘90s…” My brain: “…I was in a very famous TV show.”

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

I'm just trying to hang on to my past.

[@MorosSilverwing]

Glad i wasn't the only one

[@r1nsync]

@@TolarianCommunityCollege the past feels so much better looking at the early years. i feel magic recently has largely gone downhill. magic deserves so much better than what it gets right now and it tears my soul apart.

[@russellharrell2747]

@@r1nsyncbut Bloomburrow! Altho it hasn’t been enough for me to new sealed anything.

[@CB-ke7eq]

Parker Lewis couldn't lose, the Professor however... 😉

[@daveharris2884]

Great video. I started playing magic in 4th edition, and fondly remember purchasing Ice Age and Alliance booster packs from the corner store when I was a little kid. The 90s was the best time.

[@regnarissad]

I may be decades younger than you, but my dad introduced me and my siblings to magic with his old collection with a variety of cards from the 90s when I was around 8, and while those cards are way before my time, it still brings me nostalgia thinking back to when I started playing. this was a great video. Thanks for posting it, Prof

[@dijbro]

recently got back into magic after mannyyyy years away. i'm so glad there's people like you leading content creation. you all genuinely care and it's refreshing to see. i love you and hope you and your team have continued success

[@Harpoquondrax]

I was like 13 when MTG came out. I bought a few packs but had no idea how to play. Still have really great memories of those days.

[@Nathan-zc4db]

I started playing magic in 2012 and I still love the art of these old cards despite never seeing most of them until 2018 or so. It's definitely not just nostalgia. They have a certain charm that's hard to describe.

[@wickwock]

love you prof, thank you for everything you have done for us!!!

[@MikeConstantinou]

I think my fav episode to date, thanks and happy birthday Prof.

[@kitsvn]

This was so great. I started with Urza’s Saga. My mom threw away my cards on accident when we moved away from the friends who taught me. She didn’t know and was so upset. It was okay, I wasn’t angry. I didn’t play again until Forgotten Realms. I recognize the art from a bunch of these cards. I also loved walls. Thanks Professor!

[@ammonbruce7609]

This is the best pack opening video. Seeing the love and joy one feels and has not dead after all these years. Sad to think this will be your last revise starter deck. Thanks for sharing it with the class. Cheers.

[@xyryyn]

I am amazed by how similar our early stories are (we were born the same year, based on what you've said in other videos). You started probably a couple months before me; when I started playing, Revised had pretty much disappeared from all the game stores around me, so I got started with 3 "Weener Decks" my closest game store sold consisting of 40 random bulk cards, and importantly 20 basic lands. My first paycheck paid for an unlimited Black Lotus ($100) that I traded to a friend for about half their collection that I used to jump-start my collection. Won my first tournament match with mono black weenie when my opponent tried to drop a chaos orb on my breeding pits and hit his own Underworld Dreams and Howling Mine (it was the first time I'd seen a chaos orb). The first deck I built was thallids from the Fallen Empires packs I was able to get. Like you, I sold my collection off (I left behind my play group to go to college) and regretted it once I got interested again. Heck, I even became an academic! (Librarian instead of Professor though)

[@theoneandonlyAeth]

What I love about old art is how often you can see backgrounds that are just marbled paper. Even the moxes all have it, the artist just grabbed some of that marbled paper and used it as an instant background so they only had to paint the subject on it. It's genius and it has held up so well.

[@JonathanSirico]

4 Tim's were my jam back in the 90's. My Timmy control deck was a nightmare for my friends.

[@williamarthurhilton8456]

I've been watching you for a while. I was born in 82'. I learned about MtG from a neighbor. I remember opening 4th edition packs and the Revised set was limited to the consumer as it was about to be replaced with 4th ed packs from the card shop. I played paper magic through Urzas Saga as I grew up. As an adult, I play on Arena. I was born on Thanksgiving Day and am truly thankful for this card game throughout my youth and adulthood.

[@AdriftForWeeks]

There's more than nostalgia to that art. It's iconic, it's wonderful, it's really really good. Furthermore, it was so iconic that the style of the artist was immediately recognizable throughout different cards. Less is more, and overall I enjoy this way more than most of the overdetailed artwork in today's sets.

[@leecrane9691]

i just love how you are geting excited opening the revived card, i was able to get my hands on a old ruke book my lgs gave me and it is the pride of my collection, so i feel the excitement, i started back in 1995 , so thank you for shareing this excitement with all of us

[@DakodaOK]

Watching you re-experience the joy of a time long past is one of the most positive experiences I've had in weeks, Prof. Thanks for sharing that.

[@immutablesky6154]

Will never forget my first time going out to play Magic. I was in 5th grade, I didn't have any friends who wanted to play so my dad learned to play with me. We went to my card shop for the Eldritch Moon prerelease, little did I know at the time I had gotten the time wrong! So I didn't end up playing that day but ended up returning the next week for my first draft. It's a core memory and I'll forever be grateful for my dad being there to learn with me.

[@buddacreem6877]

As a newer, younger magic player, I personally highly prefer the older art. While some of it might be a love for vintage looking things, I also feel that the cards had more character at the time. The biggest thing for me is the older border combined with this much more hand drawn feel to a lot of the art. Just love old school art (and premodern because of it

[@JohnFromAccounting]

Started playing in Innistrad, but Lorwyn was the last set where I feel the art direction was truly on point.

[@chickennoodles4491]

Yeah the art is just a bit cartoony now

[@JasonOshinko]

@@chickennoodles4491 You cannot be serious. Look at any card with Foglio art.

[@bliynd]

This is one of my favorite videos. Seeing your excitement going through the cards felt like I was watching you open these for the first time. I can just imagine how amazing that must have been back then, thanks for sharing these with us.

[@ArtFord]

I practically cried when I saw that revised starter deck from Hastings. Both Revised and Hastings where big elements in my life when they existed. I live less than 100 yards from where that deck was distributed out to, and I think about that company, both good and bad, almost every day (even though it's been out of business for almost 10 years now.) All those commons and uncommon where part of my first deck. Giant spiders, and woolly mammoths and craw wurms all giant growth'ed or my walls of wood early on. God it was so bad, but I miss it. And seeing that green security tag, and tamper sticker made me remember decades of my life going into the store, and renting videos, or buying books, or things I got away with because I was a kid. Or later on when I had the job of receiving all of that stuff for the company, and sending it to go to the warehouse, and all the memories I had from that time of my life. Happy 1 million prof. And thank you for sharing such a touching memory.

[@jayf4859]

I've bought my first MTG product back in 1994, i believe. But anyways, it's because of videos like this that I'm pretty sure I will never *ever* get rid of my collection. Oh man, oh man, that art, that lovely old art..... Thank you for this moment, mister!

[@tartuffethespry]

That Hastings price tag is super nostalgic

[@lazargodragonborn5058]

It still makes me upset thinking about how one of the Hastings in my area got replaced by a Harbor Freight. I now hold a massive hatred for Harbor Freight because of that.

[@virtuabutch]

Time Spiral was my "return to Magic" set, which was perfect since it relied so much on nostalgia for older cards. Haven't played since, ironically enough, Innistrad. But I still dip my toes here and there, and this channel is one of the ways I do that. Cheers!

[@kvnarand]

I started with Magic just 2 Years ago. Friends got me into Commander, first I played their Deck and then I got my first Precon. So my first Magic Set is Dominaria United and my first ever Commander is Dihada, Binder of Wills. I hope like 20 Years I will look back a this Set and feel as much joy and wonder as the Professor

[@Vexidus]

I was very much into Magic around the same time you were back then. 4th edition was brand new when I played and that was my nostalgic set, along with Ice Age. I quit playing just after Mirage/Visions and I loved those sets too. I never did get back into the game, but I still watch Magic videos like yours from time to time. Thank you for making this and for sharing your nostalgia and memories. Such a pleasure to watch and listen!

[@Jerexify88]

I sold my first collection too, and man oh man, you aren't kidding I regret it. I really wish I still had those, but moreso wish I still had the ability to play with the people I used to play with, too. I have new family/friends that play now, and I'm super happy about that, but I can't help but miss the old group.

[@angusbyers]

I got into MTG when I was 13, right as the Dark launched. I dropped it right after Ice Age, selling most of my cards. I’ve watched a bunch of deck openings before, but THIS is the one that brought me right back to the mid 90’s. Thanks, Prof.

[@PandaXs1]

10:52 Many kids surrounding me ask the question: why do I have more than four copies of Giant Growth in my deck?

[@TomPope_ThePontiff]

I have to say I appreciate how raw and honest you are about the love of this game. Thank you. You represent all of the ways this amazing game has enhanced our lives. Thank you prof!

[@JordanHofman]

Bloomburrow was my first set, opened a bundle, play booster box, and collector after going to the pre release. I wonder if ill go back and open more later down the road

[@MewwDiePie]

Same

[@juanchetumare]

I love the prof's passion for the game, it's super contagious and I'm sure I'm not the only one who got it from him. Keep it on prof! For this and many years!

[@inevitable48]

Bought my first Magic cards in 2001 when I was a kid and did not get into the actual game much but loved the artwork. Here I am in 2024 just played my first Commander game last week and I am in love. Love your channel by the way, it has been a wonderful tool over the past week.

[@mikaelgillioz]

Your history is awesome only 1:00 beautiiiifuuuulll basics lands

[@johanvanseijen]

I sometimes play a 100% revised deck in an open format just for fun. Everyone knows immediately what a card is when it hits the table and the simple cleanliness of much of the older artwork is a great contributing factor

[@GatheringTheMagicYT]

Bought a revised pack at Magiccon Amsterdam, seeing how long I can hold onto before cracking 😅

[@andakin117]

Thank you for sharing this. It's amazing how many memories old cards hold that come flooding back once you see them again.

[@Ulquiorra191]

As someone who started playing in OGW, I've always thought the old art had a very distinct almost impressionist painting style to it that gives it a certain charm. Just look at the colors in that pyroblast at 9:15

[@mr.joshua6818]

The art is really what got me started. I wish i had some of those as wall art.

[@statics0da346]

As a new magic player who's only been playing for a month now I've had a lot of fun playing it, It's really cool to see someone relive their childhood and also to see classic cards. My first deck is the mutant menace deck and it's been a touch learning curve to figure out how everything works in the game, but so far I don't regret it. Amazing game, great people and just an overall enjoyable experience.

[@savannahlion3081]

Sounds familiar ... bought more Starter decks than Boosters .. they had better chance of rares and theboosters often had 3 basic lands in it ! 🤘🦁🤘

[@savannahlion3081]

"Stone Rain" Dan has 350.000 of them 🤯

[@ArchiveCurator]

This is like asmr, very calming box breaks and not over the top like a lot of KZbinrs. Glad I found this channel

[@Ratlif]

Oh I thought that this would be the wubby collab lol

[@master_illitrix]

Man, the art is one of the main reasons I even play the game. I'm absolutely terrible at it, but I love seeing all these cards and art schemes that I've never seen before. I didn't play growing up, so everything, even the older stuff is new to me - and just as exciting

[@balian9177]

No views? 60 seconds ago? Let me change that

[@Queen_Myrrh]

Honestly this video made me tear up a bit. It was just so nice to watch someone reminisce about the cards they use to play and pull a few that they loved and still love! Thank you Prof! This video was amazing!

[@Dalpima]

Im 41 years old and also started playing MTG back in the Summer of 1995. My first cards were a Starter Deck of Revised, 5 boosters of 4th Ed, and 3 boosters of Ice Age. I remember opening the starter FIRST and I pulled a Gaea's Liege, Force of Nature, and Mahamoti Djinn. I still have these memories because even now I kinda follow where the game is going and I played from Revised through ALL the way up until the end of Urza's Destiny and then took a long break until around when Apocalypse came out. I played from there up until right before Mirrodin so missed out on all the artifact craziness. Started back up AGAIN in Lorwyn which was a set I really liked, and continued again until the end of Eldrazi. I haven't played since then but I sitll watch others do so because I do love the Commander/Highlander format of playing the game. I wish we had that format back in the day! ^^ Thanks for the video! You pulled some classic cards and some really fun Black Spells!

[@mikemcelroy6449]

I grew up in a small town near Walla Walla where Richard Garfield taught. I initially played 93-95 until graduation. I met Richard once in 94 when he was delivering product to a hobby shop where I was buying cards. I have my frozen shade form that day that I had him sign. I had no idea of card values at that time buy loved that card. Thanks for the memory.

[@filipruymen4300]

I haven't played Magic in 20 years or so, but I also started with a Revised Starterpack. This bring back so much memories about people and places I played with.

[@kylecooper-twine3169]

Honestly this kind of genuine love of the game content is why we love you Prof!