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Last Revised 5/31/98

Written by Christopher A. Warden (LordCrys)
and Robert Schwartz (Metamorph). Revised by Ryan Kahn (Shroomie).

This page is still in a state of flux due to the extensive updates needed to make it agree with the new features and problems of Apprentice 1.3.

Any questions not answered in this faq can be sent to apprentice@dragonstudios.com





About Apprentice:

How to Play Apprentice: Troubleshooting:

About Apprentice:

1-1
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Q: What is Apprentice32?
A: Apprentice is a 32-bit visual windows program that allows you to play Magic: The Gathering against another player over the internet. The environment appears as an overhead view of a table top, next to which is displayed a listing of the cards in your hand. The program contains a working database of every Magic card ever created as well as a means to keep track of all the information required to conduct a full game. With it, one could construct any deck type, limited only by one's imagination. That player could then connect across the internet via an IP connection with other users of Apprentice32 and play Magic.

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1-2
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Q: Who made Apprentice32?
A: Apprentice32 is currently being programmed and designed by Chris Warden and Ryan Kahn. Apprentice32 was first made by the combined efforts of Michael Allen, Derek Lee, and Christopher Warden. It is based on the original Apprentice which was partially designed by Chris Warden and programmed by Tan Thor Jen.

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1-3
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Q: How much does Apprentice32 cost?
A: At current, Apprentice is freeware, meaning it is free to whomever wishes to use or download it. However, DragonStar retains all rights to Apprentice, and the coding.

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1-4
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Q: Where can I get Apprentice32?
A: Apprentice32 version 1.3 is available at The Apprentice32 HomePage: http://www.dragonstudios.com/apprentice. The HomePage will always have the latest available version of Apprentice32 ready for downloading. The current version contains all cards printed up to and including the release of Exodus.

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1-5
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Q: What's new in Apprentice32 1.3?
A: To see what is in the newest version of Apprentice please refer to the features page.

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1-6
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Q: Do you still support earlier versions of Apprentice?
A: No, past versions of Apprentice may contain bugs or security problems. As such, we can NOT help with any problems you may have with any past versions of Apprentice32.

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1-7
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Q: What do I need to run Apprentice32?
A: Apprentice Requires either Microsoft Windows 3.x with Win32s upgrade or Windows 95/98. Internet play requires an internet account with slip/ppp capabilities and the Windows 95/98 Network Dialer or a 32-bit Trumpet Winsock. If your web dialer is currently not Trumpet Winsock, you can download Trumpet Winsock at http://www.trumpet.com/

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1-8
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Q: Where can I find other players?
A: There are several ways to find other players. The best way is an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel dedicated to Magic: The Gathering players on EFnet: #mtgleague or on Undernet: #MTG. For information on how to get on to IRC, go to http://www.planeswalker.com/irc

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 How to Play Apprentice:

2-1
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Q: How do I start a game of Apprentice32?
To play Apprentice via Internet, do as follows:

  1. Make a Magic: The Gathering deck using the Deck Editor in Apprentice. It is suggested that you make decks that conform to the various DCI sanctioned tournament types, since that's what most players use on the IRC channels.
  2. Find another player to connect to. The easiest way to do this is to go into the #mtgleague IRC channel on EFnet and ask for a game of the particular tournament face for which you have designed a deck (Standerd/Type II, for example).
  3. One player will be Host, the other the Caller. Decide this with your opponent before continuing.
  4. The Host must give the other player his/her IP address. The IP address can be obtained from the "Connect Via the Internet" dialog.
  5. In Apprentice, choose File and New Game (or clicking on the "New Game" shortcut button). Load the deck you want to use.
  6. In the Game Type window, select "Connect Via the Internet". Set your Starting Life to 20 and Starting Cards in Hand to zero. Click "Ok".
  7. A connect via the Internet Box should pop up.
  8. If you are the Host, select Waiting for Call, and hit Ok. Your computer will wait until the Caller connects. You can abort at any time by clicking Cancel.
  9. If you are the Caller, select Calling my Opponent At, click in the adjacent window box, and then type in the IP address of your opponent. Give your opponent enough time to be ready for your call, and then click "Ok". If you do not connect immediately, you probably did not wait long enough; try again.
  10. You should be connected now, and ready to play. Use the text window at the bottom of the screen to communicate with your opponent just as you would on IRC. To type a message to your opponent for the first time click on the white box at the bottom of the screen and type anything. Thank you for using Apprentice and enjoy!



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2-2
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Q: How do I found out my or my opponent IP address?
A: Apprentice 1.3 now provides the IP address for the user. Simply select "New Game" and then "Connect Via the Internet." Your IP Address will be at the bottom of the window.

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2-3
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Q: How do I make a deck in Apprentice32?
A: In Apprentice, Choose File, Deck Editor (or click on the Deck Editor shortcut key).
All cards from Alpha to the most current set are listed alphabetically. You can search for a card by typing in the first few letters of the card name. Highlight the card you wish to add to your deck, and click ADD. Click ADD multiple times to add more than 1 of that card to a deck. Click DELETE if you add that card too many times. To add a card to your sideboard, highlight the card, and hit the SBOARD button. It works like ADD, but adds it to the Sideboard. You can delete cards from your sideboard the same way that you delete them from your deck. To view a card in the listing, left-click on it to highlight it and then right-click on it to display its attributes. There are also several ways to filter the list of cards: filter by card type (color, land and artifact), expansion set (Alpha, Beta, etc.), name, text, flavor text, etc. Click "Apply Filter" to utilize your filter settings. If you change your mind in the middle of filtering you may hit "Stop." Don't forget to change your filters back and click Apply Filter again to restore the card listing to full size. Hit the SAVE AS button when you are finished constructing your deck, and name it. Then close the deck editor by clicking on the X in the top right-hand corner.

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2-4
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Q: How do we decide who goes first?
A: There is a "Flip a Coin" option in Apprentice32 which players normally use to determine who will go first. Have someone call it: Heads or Tails. Click Game and Choose Flip a Coin (or Ctrl-F). If the player called it correctly, they choose who goes first. (This is the DCI sanctioned "Play/Draw rule.") Note that Apprentice defaults the game turn to whoever is Caller. If Apprentice thinks it is your turn and it is not, you must give the turn to your opponent. Select Game and click on "It is Opponent's Turn".

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2-5
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Q: How do I read my or my opponent's cards?
A: Leaving the mouse pointer over a card for a brief moment will reveal a yellow text box containing the card's text. You can also right-click on a card and select View to see a larger display of the card's attributes. This function also works in the Deck Editor.

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2-6
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Q: How do I Tap, Attack with, Bury, or add a Counter to a card?
A: Right-click on a card. There are many options available. You can even right-click on your opponent's cards; this will give you a menu of things you can do to your opponent's cards. If you select Take Control of Card, the card is then considered to be yours, and right-clicking on it again will give you the normal display options. There are also a few shortcuts. Double-clicking on a card will either tap or untap it. Click-dragging a card will move it across the table top or from zone to zone; for example, if you drop the card onto your library, graveyard, or out-of-the-game icon, Apprentice will move your card to the appropriate zone. The same applies to your hand.

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2-7
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Q: Can I turn the annoying beeps off?
A: Yes. Select "Options" and click on "Preferences." Various options are provided in this area to modify or silence the beeps feature(as well as many other features).

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2-8
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Q: Can I change my name from Player1/2?
A: Yes. Click on Options and choose Set Name. Type in the name you wish to use and hit Ok. If you are member of the Planeswalker League, it is highly recommended that you set your name to be your Planeswalker nickname.

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2-9
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Q: How do I look into my or my opponent's Library?
A: In Apprentice32, only your opponent can show you his or her library. To show your opponent your library, Select "Show" and the "My Library" option. To view your own library go to View and the My Library option. Careful: your opponent will see you looking in your library. Only do so during a game if a spell or ability allows it. If a card allows you to see a certain number of cards on the top of your library, select "View", then "Top Cards of My Library". Type in the number of cards you wish to see.

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2-10
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Q: How can I tell how many cards are in my or my opponent's library?
A: Let your mouse pointer sit over your library for a moment to see how many cards are left in your library. For your opponent, go to "View" and choose "Game Status." It will tell you how many cards are left in both players' libraries.

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2-11
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Q: How can I give my opponent control of my card?
A: Right-click on a card and choose "Switch Controller". That card will now be under your opponent's control. To take control of your opponent's card, right-click on a card and choose "Take Control of Card."

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2-12
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Q: How do I randomly discard or randomly show a card from my hand?
A: Click on "Action" and choose "Bury Random Card from Hand" once for each card you would like to randomly discard. Click on "Show" and choose "Random Card from Hand" to show your opponent a random card.

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2-13
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Q: How do I "Millstone" my library?
A: Click-drag on your library (book icon) over to your graveyard (cross icon). This will drop the top card of your library into your graveyard. To see either players' graveyards, select "View" and then the appropriate graveyard. This method can also be applied to the remove from game area.

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2-14
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Q: How do I use cards like Soldevi Digger or Mangara's Tome?
A: If the card is in hand or on the table, hold down shift and drag the card to your library icon. If the card is in graveyard or library, use the appropriate "View" function to find the card, and right click on the card. There will be a menu listing of options for the card. For Soldevi Digger, choose "Send to Bottom of Library." For Mangara's Tome, you must bring the card into play face down. Hold down the Shift key down while dragging the card from your hand to the tabletop.

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2-15
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Q: How do I make a Token Creature?
A: Select "Action", then "Create a Card." A window will appear in which you can set the created card's attributes. Click "Ok" when done. The card will be moved into your hand. With this function you can make Token Creatures, bring cards into the game via Ring of Ma'Ruf, or create a card for use as a convenient place to keep track of your mana pool via counters in case you intend to perform complex actions.

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2-16
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Q: How do I use several cards at the same time?
A: By dragging the mouse on the main view screen, you can draw a rectangle around one or more cards. When you release the mouse, these cards will be highlighted in red. If you right-click on any of these selected cards and perform a menu function, Apprentice will perform the selected operation on ALL of the highlighted cards. This is very convenient for when you wish to attack with a large number of creatures, tap all of your land, etc.

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2-17
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Q: What other nifty game functions are there?
A: Holding down the Control key while dragging a card from your hand to the tabletop will bring that card into play tapped. Holding down the Shift key while drag-dropping a card onto your library will put that card onto the bottom of your library. Holding down Shift while drag-droping a card from your library to the tabletop will put that card on the table face-down. Shift-clicking on the "Increment" or "Decrement" life buttons brings up a window in which you can specify exactly how much life to gain or lose. Shift-double-clicking on your library brings up a window in which you can specify how many cards you wish to draw. Other similar functionalities are supported; experiment to see.

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2-18
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Q: How do I play another game without Disconnecting?
A: Go to File and New Game (or click the New Game shortcut key). If you wish to change decks do so (it is polite to inform your opponent if you wish to do so) by loading a different deck. Click "Ok". Apprentice will display to both players that you are requesting a new game. Your opponent follows the same procedure to join that new game.

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2-19
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Q: How do I sideboard when playing a new game?
A: When in the "New Game" window, click the "Sideboard" button. Highlight a card in your deck, and highlight a card in the sideboard window. Click the "Trade" button, and they will be switched. Repeat this as often as you like. Note that at the beginning of every new game, your deck is always restored to its original condition, and if you wish to sideboard you must do so again.

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2-20
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Q: How do I play a Sealed Deck game?
A: The easiest way to play Sealed Deck is to follow this procedure. Find an opponent who wishes to play Sealed Deck with you, and decide on the format (Mirage sealed, two Visions boosters, 5 extra basic lands, for example.) Select File, Sealed Deck Generator. Use the pull-down menus and the "Add" buttons to create the list of starters and boosters you wish to generate. Set the "Card Minimum" box to zero. This will put your entire deck in the sideboard. Click "Generate." If you are generating a lot of packs, this may take a few moments. Click "Save As" and save your deck. Then use the Deck Editor to view your Sealed Deck and use the "Delete" and "Add" buttons to move the appropriate cards into the main deck. Then save the deck again. Once you have done this, you are ready to play with your opponent. You can already have connected with your opponent via Apprentice before following this procedure, or you can do it beforehand. In either event, the Sealed Deck is saved, so you can load it and use it as many times as you want.

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2-21
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Q: How do I disconnect after I am done?
A: Select "Communications" and then "Disconnect."

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2-22
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Q: How do I reconnect a game that was interrupted?
A: If a game is interrupted due to one person losing his internet connection, or you chose to disconnect and then reconnect later, click on the "Lightbulb" button which should appear on the menu bar. Apprentice will then attempt to reconnect your game with your opponent. Note: your opponent must also use this feature in order to re-establish the connection! If successful, the game can be continued as normal.

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TroubleShooting:

3-1
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Q: I'm getting an "ParseAppr" Error.
A: This bug is found in one or two situations in past versions, the most common being a mishap in the coding that causes decks over 70+ cards in size to cause this error. Try trimming your deck down to 70 cards, then try again. We are unaware if this bug still exists in version 1.3. If you are using version 1.3 and experiance this please file a bug report on the bug report page.

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3-2
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Q: I'm getting a "Not enough memory" Error.
A: Despite what the error suggests, this is not a problem with the amount of RAM you have. The error should really say "Not enough Graphics Memory". All video cards have a certain amount of memory set aside for drawing the graphics. If you do happen to get this error, we suggest you get a new video card.

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3-3
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Q: I'm getting an "Access Violation" Error.
A: This is one of the most common problems in Apprentice32, and it is quite fixable. Access Violation errors are commonly caused by Windows 3.x users, but also happen to Windows 95/98 users. The error is caused by not having a 32-bit Dialup program. If you use Trumpet Winsock, you MUST use a 32-bit version, preferably version 3.0c or later. If you use The 95 dialup adapter, check the properties of your connection icon and make sure it is set for 32-bit connections. Trumpet Winsock is available at http://www.trumpet.com/

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3-4
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Q: I'm getting a "Winsock operation would block" error.
A: This is another common error caused by an older incompatible version of Trumpet Winsock. You MUST use 32-bit Trumpet Winsock Version 3.0c or later. It is at http://www.trumpet.com/

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3-5
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Q: I'm getting an "Index out of Bounds" Error.
A: This error occasionally crops up if you have been running Apprentice for a long time, or if you attempt to perform several functions at once (like trying to draw a card while Apprentice is trying to shuffle). If you can't recover your game, you'll just have to quit the program and run it again. If you encounter a such a bug PLEASE report it on the bugs page.

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3-6
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Q: What other known bugs are in Apprentice32?
A: The card database in older version of Apprentice(pre-1.3) exibits a bug with certain Windows 3.1 users. When the player starts Apprentice they will get an error and although Apprentice will load they will not be able to view cards in any way. This has been fixed in version 1.3.

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Thank you for using this page, we hope it was helpful.
Please feel free to email us with corrections, or additions to the FAQ.
 Apprentice32, Copyright © 1997 DragonStar Inc.
The latest version of this FAQ can be found at http://www.dragonstudios.com/apprentice/


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Apprentice32 and Graphics Copyright 1998 Dragonstar Software
Dragonstar

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Visitors as of 5-16-1996.