In honor of Valentine's Day, the most sacred of all Holidays (at least if you believe greeting card sales are a good indicator of that sort of thing) Gathering Magic is offering a one-time tutorial on livening up your Magic sessions.  Many of you are in the same boat we were in.  Having been with MTG for some years now things start to get a little... stale.  Hopefully that is the right word, because lord knows you would never leave MTG.  It's just that some days you feel a little bored, like you have been there and done that too many times. The 'same ol stuff' just isn't cutting it any more and that's okay.  Do not fear, this is perfectly manageable.  A slow decline in drive is natural with any relationship over such a long time.  The key is to keep it fresh.  How do you do that?  It is easier than you might think.

A good first step to changing the way you go about your usual interaction is shaking up the usual rules.  Instead of just shuffling up and getting started at 20 life <...yawn...>, why not try mixing it up.  Elder Dragon Highlander is a perfect way to add a pinch of spice to an otherwise uneventful duel.  And you wouldn't believe how easy it is to get started because you already have everything you'll need in your collection (assuming your collection is 100+ cards).  For another inventive change, try Pauper.  You might feel a touch dirty slumming it with these low-brow spells and creature types, but go with it.  Besides, its not like you didn't fool around with Thrive back in your Limited days.  And when you went out for your last FNM, I bet you felt a strong attraction to Spire Barrage.  Commons can be sexy, as long as you use them in the right moments.  So go ahead and give these formats a whirl, you will be glad you did because your relationship will have a spontaneous feel it had been lacking.

If you have tried to loosen things up with an EDH game or two and the spark just won't ignite to flame, then more drastic measures are in order.  It is time to invite some friends to join in.  Group sessions are perfect for duelists looking to break out of their shell.  It might be awkward at first, but the multi-player motto is, 'the more hands the merrier.'  If that sounds like too much, why not start with a few ground rules.  Five-Pointed Star is perfect for beginners just getting used to the idea of sharing their passion with others.  Certain rules are in place to help newbies along in the process.  No attacking across the table or randomly targeting that lone Royal Assassin three players away.  Once you get comfortable with the idea of multiple partners, then it is time to unleash the fury of free-for-all.  As many players as possible shuffling, drawing and going at it.  The only rules that apply are the ones you already know from one-on-one.  In an environment this chaotic, things can get a little heated, so try to keep a level head and simply enjoy the process.  It may take some warming up to, but we guarantee you won't have another dull match.

Some Magic lovers take their relationship to the extreme.  These variants aren't exactly for the squeamish, but to those jaded MTGers stuck in lifelong ruts it may be just the thing to snap them out.  You might have heard stories of three-hundred card decks or read about playing all five colors in magazines, but these are more than just rumors.  They are part of a format called Prismatic.  Try Prismatic with somebody you trust, we swear Magic won't mind a bit.  In fact it could be a great experience for those special times when just dueling isn't enough.  And who hasn't had the fantasy of a dedicated elf deck on one mat, with an mirror built angel deck across from it.  Sound familiar?  Fantasize no more because Tribal Wars is something duelists have been enjoying in the privacy of their own games for years.  And don't be embarrassed, everyone will be too caught up in the moment to notice that Kavu build you just finished sleeving.  Besides, the entire experience is about letting go of boundaries in the first place.  Playing with balanced 60-card decks is something your parents did back in the 50's, and won't exactly be keeping that MTG passion flaring.

Of course not everything has to be so extreme.  There are still options that players have with MTG outside the confines of tradition.  Role-playing can add a missing sense of mystery and excitement to your relationship.  Next time you're thinking about playing, try introducing something like Planechase to the mix.  Planechase or Vanguard use the same decks and the same players to create something entirely unique and exotic.  How do your fae deal with the Depths of Wrath?  Can they take the heat, or will they wilt like flowers in the summer sun?  If Planechase isn't out of the ordinary enough for you, then Archenemy, WotC 's latest supplementary product, could be perfect.  Picture you and a few close planeswalkers matching wits with an opposition bent on destroying you all.  Or imagine throwing spells against a few friends, all trying to subdue you at the same time!  Sounds pretty steamy.

Keeping your love affair with Magic ever green is not an easy goal.  There are times when you don't feel like an eight-player draft, or miss the old days when you and MTG would spend the night together with only a few bags of Doritos to keep you company.   But stay strong, and the relationship will be better for it, even if that means straying from the beaten path once in a while.  After all, isn't MTG worth trying something new?  We sure think it is.

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