Collectible Card Game Headquarters

I'm in the process (the only thing missing that I know of are the card scans, which I'm currently downloading) of creating a 'master' torrent (likely to be hosted on MiniNova) with everything needed, as well as instructions, to be fully set up to play with Magic Workstation. I'd update it every time a new set of HQ scans 'comes in' with a new expansion, hopefully formatting it so that someone seeding the old torrent wouldn't have to redownload everything again to help seed the new torrent.

What I want to know from people who have been using MWS for a while (I'm just 're-getting' it for the first time in a long time) is if I'm missing anything. I have:

• Current MasterBase and Theme from here
• Official install file
• Official "gamepack" file (still don't really know what this actually does)
• "Pics" folder

Am I missing anything?

As far as the torrent goes, we have been recreating a new one from scratch because a lot has changed since the previous large torrent two years ago. The torrent is close to being finalized and will be released once the Planechase scans are available. It includes the latest up-to-date full and crop packages. It will not include any MWS specific files so your suggestion is definitely worthwhile but can end up being a lot smaller. Instead of creating a torrent for everything, you can create a torrent that includes the files necessary to install.
These would be:

• Official install file
• Official gamepack (allows Magic to be represented by MWS)
• Latest MasterBase
• Latest themes
• Latest pre-constructed decks
• Latest rules update
• Latest priceBase update

That would take care of everything but would need to be updated quarterly.

Nyth wrote:As far as the torrent goes, we have been recreating a new one from scratch because a lot has changed since the previous large torrent two years ago. The torrent is close to being finalized and will be released once the Planechase scans are available. It includes the latest up-to-date full and crop packages. It will not include any MWS specific files so your suggestion is definitely worthwhile but can end up being a lot smaller. Instead of creating a torrent for everything, you can create a torrent that includes the files necessary to install.
These would be:

• Official install file
• Official gamepack (allows Magic to be represented by MWS)
• Latest MasterBase
• Latest themes
• Latest pre-constructed decks
• Latest rules update
• Latest priceBase update

That would take care of everything but would need to be updated quarterly.

Okay, that still doesn't make sense. What do you mean by "allows Magic to be represented by MWS"?

And I think somewhere along the way I got the pre-constructed decks, but I don't know where, lol. But those tend to be far inferior to custom decks, so are they really necessary?

How do I include rules/priceBase updates?

The gamepack allows MWS to interpret the Magic MasterBase. It will show symbols for all the relevant mana costs and colours. You'll notice this by installing MWS for the first time and looking at the Sample Set that's included in it. It has not MTG related symbols and tries to show off the potential of MWS irrespective of Magic. The gamepack solves that.

MWS installs some of the older pre-constructed decks but naturally doesn't have the latest updates. Every set, one would need to add the 4 or 5 mwDeck files representing the PreCons or Intro Packs as they are now known. A full MWS install torrent would not be full without them. These mwDeck files can be found on this forum in the Magic Workstation section. The best trick would be to see what MWS installs on its own and then get the new expansion decks from the forum. They are not technically "necessary" but they will coincide with the set's release and I do know people who try to recreate the Intro Packs to introduce Magic to noobs. I used to buy the Intro Packs just for this purpose and initiating my girlfriend into each subsequent new set's mechanics and cards.

Rules updates and price update details can also be found in the MWS topic on this forum. These are updated by two different people sporadically throughout the year. Updating the help files with the rules updates is also important.

For a better idea on all of the above bits I've been talking about, check out this section of the forum: http://www.slightlymagic.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=28. The top five sections will answer all your questions.

I'm tracking down all the preconstructed decks now. I'm not going to include any price base thing because the Internet is always going to be a much better source for up-to-date price information.