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File:DTK Spindown life counter.jpg|[[Dragonfury]] counters (''[[Dragons of Tarkir]]'') |
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Revision as of 06:38, 7 July 2015
A life counter is a device to keep track of life totals.
Types
Scrye counter
Scrye life counter
Scrye magazine sold a series of pewter life counters produced by Reaper Miniatures beginning in 1994. The counters were made in two pieces. The base was etched with the numbers 1-20 along the edge. A rotating piece with an indicator arrow was put on top, and featured artwork or miniature figure. These came in several colors and styles and could be painted by the owner just like similar miniatures. These counters were not official Magic products, but were very popular with players of the time.
Duelist counter
Duelist life counter
Sold by The Duelist since 1995, these sturdy, finely crafted pewter counters let you mark off lifes with brass- and silver-plated beads. They were avalaible in the 5 mana colors. The counter fit in a Magic deck box. [1]
Spindown life counter
Spindown life counter illustrating how numbers are sequentially next to each other, arrows do not appear on the counter itself.
A spindown life counter is a die that is designed for the express purpose of keeping track of life totals. Its sides are in a sequence such that adjacent numbers are next to each other, facilitating the change of life total and avoiding any complications with finding the desired life total. This is different from a standard 20-sided die, on which the numbers that are opposite of each other on the die add up to 21 (1 is opposite from 20, 2 is opposite from 19, and so on), as is traditional for dice in general.
The "20" on a spindown life counter is replaced with an expansion symbol (or in the case of core sets the appropriate number).
Spindown life counters are generally found in fat packs, and are made in the five Magic: The Gathering colors (white, blue, black, red, green) for each set. There was a gold-colored spindown life counter in the Alara Reborn fat pack as the set is gold based.
A five-piece set, containing one of each color, was sold as a standalone product (WOC06137, ISBN 0743002377). The symbol used was an icon of the Black Lotus.
Circle spinner
Circle spinner
Double Circle spinner on Ultra Pro Deck box
In Coldsnap [2] and the Ravnica block, Wizards chose to try a different approach. Instead of dice, a plastic life counter with a circle spinner that had numbers going from 1 to 30 was included in fat packs for the block. These life counters were not unlike those that were provided on Magic: The Gathering-branded Ultra Pro deck boxes.
Some odd-shaped circle spinners were provided for Ninth Edition (an angel) and Unhinged (an eight ball). [3]
Double-wheeled counter
Double-wheeled counter
Commander's Arsenal provides a doubled wheeled that goes up to 99 life.
Electronic life counter
Several apps are available to provide electronic life counters for mobile devices or Windows PC.
Gallery
Dragonfury counters (Dragons of Tarkir)
Magic Origins counters
References
- ↑ Magic Arcana (July 30, 2009). "Duelist Life Counters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (November 30, 2009). "Coldsnap Cube". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (December 10, 2012). "The Life Counters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.