Teaching my Girlfriend

[Xaol]

Hey all, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on something. My girlfriend wants to learn magic. She has expressed an interest in it and I want it to be a good experience for her so that she'll want to play it actively. However, I'm not sure how to go about it! I've heard starting with a mono-green creature deck is the way to start. I know I started with Wicked Big and a 9th Edition green deck, and that's how I learned as well. I figure I will use the Wicked Big deck to teach her. However, I need to keep it exciting and not overwhelm her. She has both ADHD and dyslexia. Will this pose a major obstacle? If so, how can I work through it? Thanks! If it helps, I have a large card pool and many casual decks. My collection is from Gatecrash to Revised.

[Xaol]

If no one has any expertise in this, it's fine. Maybe say how you learned to play?

[NyghtHawk]

Take it easy and start with some of the basics. Don't overwhelm her with everything. Too many things to learn. Start with things like attacking and creature stuff. Then progressively add things to learn once she understands the basic mechanics. Telling her about attacking then instants and so forth all at once will just make her head hurt.

Just let her know there are things she won't learn tight away but you'll teach her as she understands them.

Learn the phases.

[Xaol]

Take it easy and start with some of the basics. Don't overwhelm her with everything. Too many things to learn. Start with things like attacking and creature stuff. Then progressively add things to learn once she understands the basic mechanics. Telling her about attacking then instants and so forth all at once will just make her head hurt.

Just let her know there are things she won't learn tight away but you'll teach her as she understands them.

Learn the phases.

Awesome. Thanks. Is there a good order? Start with mana costs, then P/T, then combat?

[FlickerYourOwnIdentity]

Don't take a boring approach, I have ADHD, and learning mtg really wasn't a problem.  Because learning was fun.  When she gets to a point where you give her her first deck, give her a simple aggro deck.  It's very simple playstyle, and she will have fun.

[izik99]

One thing I find that new players confuse easily is that they think only attacking creatures deal damage. I made a diagram to help.

Attacking
3/2
X
3/3
Blocking

Powet goes to opposing toughness, vise versa.

[Keyeto]

The way I learned how to play was on the mono white "Divine" part of the Divine vs. Demonic duel decks.

Basically, my friend told me the basics about reading a card. What the mana cost was, P/T, and then took the deck apart and broke it down by card types. He told me about creatures, artifacts, instants, etc. He then gave me the deck, and we did a few open handed duels to start. This was where keywords were explained. It was good to have those explained during the duel, because otherwise it would have just been a thousand other things to remember beforehand. He walked me through all the phases, and what my best options were; helped me play the deck. After a few of these, we started just doing regular duels. Within a couple hours, I was doing great!

He then went on to give me a few ideas for decks to build on my own, and some good cards to start with for those decks. And with that, my wonderful MtG experience began! Hopefully this helped in some way!

[Xaol]

The way I learned how to play was on the mono white "Divine" part of the Divine vs. Demonic duel decks.

Basically, my friend told me the basics about reading a card. What the mana cost was, P/T, and then took the deck apart and broke it down by card types. He told me about creatures, artifacts, instants, etc. He then gave me the deck, and we did a few open handed duels to start. This was where keywords were explained. It was good to have those explained during the duel, because otherwise it would have just been a thousand other things to remember beforehand. He walked me through all the phases, and what my best options were; helped me play the deck. After a few of these, we started just doing regular duels. Within a couple hours, I was doing great!

He then went on to give me a few ideas for decks to build on my own, and some good cards to start with for those decks. And with that, my wonderful MtG experience began! Hopefully this helped in some way!

Awesome. Yeah, this helps a ton. I'll probably stick to a similar routine!

[Gorzo]

When I first started playing, I found these videos very helpful. Just ignore the dork factor of the guys hosting/teaching, the information they're giving is all the basics you need as a beginner as is pretty well explained.

I've also heard that the iPad game is a good way for new players to learn.

[Xaol]

When I first started playing, I found these videos very helpful. Just ignore the dork factor of the guys hosting/teaching, the information they're giving is all the basics you need as a beginner as is pretty well explained.

I've also heard that the iPad game is a good way for new players to learn.

Awesome. Never heard of those videos. I think I'll pull things from them, but not use them persay. I have DOTP 2013 for the iPad, I can give that a shot for sure. Pretty simplistic decks so it should be fine. Thanks!

[Birdbrain]

Also. After she learns the basics. Show her this

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mYuF3T7s7XY

[Xaol]

Also. After she learns the basics. Show her this

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mYuF3T7s7XY

Awesome, maybe a bit down the road

[Dudecore]

Get some money together and get Duels of the Planeswalkers whenever it comes out. It is
a wonderful tool for new players, does a fair bit of explanation.

The only problem is the difference between the cards they use, and the more popular cards that people actually run. You won't see many legacy {Fire Elemental} decks, but to have to explain exactly what {Kitchen Finks} is about can get difficult.

[Missingkirby34]

Keep her away from anything blue, when I first started it was major magic turn off, for the simple fact that I couldn't do anything.

[Wally]

Dual decks are usually very well balanced, and they usually interact well against each other.
Important keywords are usually explained on the cards or in the documentation included.

Having a mono colored or dual colored deck really shouldn't matter with these as most of the mana sources are self explanatory.

Phases are important. Explaining combat well is also really important.

The key thing is she is willing to learn. So take the time and explain it well.