Thetford
“She wanted him to meet other kids who are interested in it,” said children’s librarian Emily Zollo.
It turns out there is significant community interest in the game. “We have anywhere from six to 25 people show up,” Zollo said While most participants are 12-17, grownups often play alongside the kids. “It’s nice to see adults have fun as well,” she said.
The trading card game was introduced in 1993. Zollo remembers her little brother playing it. “It’s really interesting that it’s come back into fashion,” she said.
In the game, players are the elite “spellcasters” of the “Multiverse” known as “planeswalkers.” Two or more players compete with customized decks of cards that represent weapons, spells, and creatures that can be called upon to fight for the cardholder. Each player starts with 20 “life points,” and the goal is to attack your opponents with creatures and spells and reduce them to zero life points.
The library tries hold a free Magic Night once a month. November’s is scheduled for the 29th, from 6:30-8 p.m. (The event tends to be better attended during the school year, compared with the summer months.)
But Magic: The Gathering isn’t the only game welcome at Magic Night. The group is open to similar games, including Pokemon and Dungeons and Dragons.
Game night also was boosted by a donation of Magic cards — “I’m talking thousands,” Zollo said — that the kids were excited to go through. “They were flipping out,” she said. “They have never seen cards like that, that were that old.”
Through that donation, the library was able to put together decks so the game is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
“It seems like the people who really enjoy playing it want to pass it along and get other people interested,” Zollo said.
If you’ve ever had an hankering to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering, drop by the library and try it out.
Editor’s note: Thetford’s Latham Memorial Library is located at 16 Library Lane. For more information, visit http://thetfordlibrary.org/ or call 802-785-4361. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
