Hey, all

I've decided to rebuild my full set of 'The Dark', lost in a house fire about 10 years ago.
I had a ton of cards at the time, including 6 of the power nine, but this was my pride and joy, because it was the first set I really leaned into (other than revised, where I started, and for a 14 year old, legends was too pricey), and every card had come from a pack I'd purchased on my own - I was only missing Wormwood Treefolk, of all things, lol.

Obviously, the 'only from packs I opened' caveat is moot at this point in time, because they've quite surpassed the price of $2.99 I paid 'back in the day', lol...but I'm still nostalgic for the set.

So please, hit me up if I have anything you need, and you have Dark cards you're willing to spare. No trade is too small, and anything on my tradelist is up for grabs.

Thanks, be well, and stay amazing!

~S~

Greetings!

I lurk on the forums, but never post...until now!

Anyway, I'll start by saying that I'll probably disappoint you with my post. I don't have much to offer because you and I have the same goal, although I haven't actively tried to do anything about my goal for decades (although I did ask my wife to get me a complete set of The Dark for a birthday or anniversary several years ago already).

My story is that I started playing M:TG with Revised and immediately fell in love with Craw Wurm: that's my very first memory of the game. It wasn't too long after that when I discovered expansion sets and The Dark was out around that time. I bought so many packs and eventually made it a goal to complete the set. Eventually with enough packs, I did (I remember Leviathan being my final card I finally got to complete the set) and I was so excited. When I went to college, nobody was playing Magic, so I was disappointed in that. Eventually in 96/97 I met a dude who was interested in Magic and I ended up selling him my complete The Dark set (minus my Maze of Ith because I love that card) for a few hundred bucks and almost instantly regretted it. I sold the main thing I truly worked towards making "my own". 25 years later, I introduced my wife to M:TG and we play somewhat regularly with a few vintage decks I have and it makes for a great Saturday night. But I always miss my The Dark cards that I worked so hard to earn and complete as a high schooler.

One of my my favorite decks I put together back then was my The Dark-white deck, which was obviously mono-white made up of mostly The Dark cards. Didn't perform very well, but I loved the theme!

I even saved a few dozen wrappers from my The Dark packs that I opened, that's how much I loved this set (photo attached). And I begged my local comic shop back in the day to give me the empty box from the set once they sold out of their packs, and they did. I still have both.

Box image:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2yuTXTUTFEwB8eBY9

Packs image:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aQpm4ZXf5XhrwUgR9

I'm sharing with you to say that you are not alone in your nostalgia for The Dark. I wish I could help you out, but I still intend to complete the self myself one day. If you have duplicates of anything that I don't have and I have dupes of cards you are looking for, don't hesitate to let me know and we can maybe work something out. But for the most part, I hope you just appreciate that we're cut from the same cloth and enjoy the same feeling of reliving our different but similar pasts with this amazing game. Best of luck with restoring your set. I'll enjoy hearing about it on the forums once you succeed!

Thanks,
Craig

Not disappointed at all, Craig - always happy to meet a fellow enthusiast, especially when our stories are so similar.
My first awe at a card came in the form of Sengir Vampire, because I was a 14-year old 90's pseudo-goth with an obsession for the trope, but the raw art and theme of The Dark resonated with me on so many levels. I had a full size print of Elves of Deep Shadow (My favorite at the time) in my room, and currently have her on a playmat. I remember all too often my friends complaining that the set was midrange at best, but it never broke my love for it. I have 2 local game stores where I know the owners very well, and they're keeping an eye out for any Dark cards that cross their tills for me - share a list of your needs, and I'll grab anything extra I see.

But otherwise, yes, always up for a trade or exchange if we find mutually beneficial needs.
Thanks for commenting, and stay amazing!

~S~