Cockatrice

[Alex2911]

Hello and welcome to the official cockatrice guide for all those who want to know how to use it. Let's start with the very basics. 

Section 1: what is cockatrice?

Cockatrice is an online program  where players can  play MTG online. It allows access to every single set ever made including from the vault and the Un-sets. 

Section 2a: Getting started

To start using cockatrice players can register  online on the website for free. They do not have to register  to use the program, however; most players will only play with registered users. After registering players can download the program for free. 

Section 2B: Getting your cards

After players register with cockatrice they will need to run the included program, Oracle, which has all the cards from every set. It's sort of a Database of every card ever made. 

After this, you will want to run the main cockatrice program and open up the deck editor under the Cockatrice pull down menu. This will allow you to start building your first deck. 

Section 3: Deck building

When you first enter the deck editor, all the cards that you have uploaded from Oracle will appear in alphabetical order. You can type a card name in the search box to look for specific cards. By double clicking or scrolling down with arrow keys and hitting enter, the selected card is added to your main deck. Clicking on the card and selecting add to sideboard will add it to your side board. Whenever you click on a card, it's art work shows up and any annotation text on it is displayed, along with its power and toughness and CMC. 

If you don't like the selected artwork of a card, you can change by going to card database and selecting edit sets. Then you can rearrange the sets to show the work of certain sets first. For instance, if you have Zendikar at the top, all zendikar cards and it's reprints will have Zendikar art work ( including lands). 

Once your deck is built, you can name it and add comments and then save the deck (Ctrl s). 

Section 4: Let's play. 

With cockatrice open, you can select a local game or choose to connect to the server. I reccomend starting a local game (or solitaire if you really like calling it that) to familiarize your self with the layout of the program. 

Cockatrice is relatively easy to use, but takes a little time to familize with. 
On the left hand side is your phases. Most players only use these for ending and attacking phases, but you may use it for every step if you want. You can roll initiative and shuffle/ draw a hand/ mulligan by either right clicking on your deck (top most box with a number) or by using shortcuts (see my whole thread with the list for those). Right clicking on your life total, the number by your profile pic, will decrease it, while left clicking does the opposite. 

The three cards with a 0 when you start shows how many cards are in your hand. The one below that is graveyard, followed by exile. 

The very bottom zone will show your hand, while to the left is the stack, and above your hand is the battlefield, with the lower third saved for land. 

The colored circles to the right of the phase bar are counters. Use these for charge counters and such. 

After you familiarize yourself with the layout, you may notice it looks rather drab. We can fix that later. 

Section 5: Take it to the people. 

Once you are familar with the program, you can go play online. 

The rules are enforced only by the players in the game, so watch out for cheaters and be honest. 

When you first enter the server you must select the MTG room and then you can choose or create a game. You can also join as a spectator, just remember that some games are password locked to spectators. 

Watch a few games to get the hang of online etiquette. 

Now for the customization. 

Section 6: Making it your own. 

Cockatrice can be customized, as can profile pic. To change the zone pics, go to the cockatrice PDM and select settings-appearance. Click on the three dots next to the red x to select a saved picture on your computer to use as background for each zone. 

Be warned: pics do not get resized to fit the program. Use a generic background scheme for best results. Card back pics will be resized to fit the card though. 

To edit your profile pic and region, you must do this by signing into cockatrice via thier website and then editing everything yourself. 

Everything looks much better this way. Remember, you won't see other players background choices, just thier profile pics. Most players don't have one it may seem. 

Final Section: Etiquette

Most players will hit the ending phase and then let you hit the next turn button to switch the turns. This is common curtesy, and allows you to play any end of turn spells. 

Play fair: most people do. 

Always say good game at the end of every match. 

If you are playing with a new player, help them out a bit. 

Closing remarks: 

I hope that this guide will help you all. If you have anything to add, please comment and let me know. I will add items whenever I see one I missed suggested by another or whenever I remember something I may have forgotten.  

[Richardalcala]

I really want to ride my bike tomorrow but I think it will rain. If that is the case I need to practice standard for an upcoming tournament. Any and all players are welcome. Same name as on here. Add me.

[Wally]

Seems like this needs a bump again..

[#noided]

Anyone on right now? I wanna play a bit

[cltrn81]

Who is on?  I am right now.

[BadLuckIrish]

im on now

[BadLuckIrish]

so i was thinking about getting some people together and have a multiplayer EDH game for fun...

[#noided]

Anyone on right now? I'm looking for some legacy games.

[cltrn81]

Who wants to play a casual FFA game?

[#noided]

Looking for some Legacy testing right now. Anyone on?

[Millionlittlee]

How do you make a deck in cockatrice

[cltrn81]

How do you make a deck in cockatrice

Deck editor from main Cockatrice tab when you have the program running

[cltrn81]

I am on right now....anyone up for a game?

[Kuberr]

I am on right now....anyone up for a game?

Sure I'll give it a go.

Kuberr is the name.

[cltrn81]

Curse you Cockatrice update!!!!!