Advice?

[chaos butterfly]

What I have is most of the METW (Limited Edition), METD and MEDM sets.

What I'd like to have is at least one of each card from the later sets and to complete the first three sets.

Can anyone advise me the best way to achieve this? Is it possible to find people who would trade commons from later sets for METW/METD/MEDM  commons? Would it be more economical to try and buy a complete set of cards, or to try to trade for common cards first, and maybe later try to fill in the rares?

While I probably have enough spare rare/uncommon cards to complete the collection of the three sets I already have, I'm reluctant to part with extra non-unique cards. And it doesn't seem like many people trade MECCG cards, or am I looking in the wrong places?

I went to the Trade Cards Online site and found a couple of potential trading partners, but I don't understand Chris's site. Am I supposed to submit a list of cards, or do I have to have a website to be linked if I want to list myself there?

Thanks for any advice you can give...

[Leon]

To be posted on Chris site you can send him a list of wants and haves like you can see over there or a link to your own site. I would advice to trade for rares and buy some sets or packets if you find them for a decent price. Ebay and sale sites on Chris site are an idea. Most traders over there will be willing to send you more commons and uncommons from other sets if you ask for it in addition to trading or buying cards. Most people have plenty of those so it will not be too hard to get them. In the Netherlands the best place for lots of cards in Wim Heemskerk or his site www.gwaihir.net.

If you come to some tournament I would advice you to mail the other participants up front and ask if they have some spare commons from later sets. I have more than enough cards to give you some and trade some rares and that counts for most people.

Basically, trade or buy to get rares and ask people nicely for commons/uncommons.

[Wacho]

You don't have to put up a list on Chris's site if you don't want to.  Just contact the people who have cards you want to trade and suggest a trade.  Also, as Leon said, you can get extra commons and uncommons for free.  Most collectors have more than they need and would be willing to throw a few in during a trade.

[Gwaihir]

You don't have to put up a list on Chris's site if you don't want to.  Just contact the people who have cards you want to trade and suggest a trade.

Of course, but why wouldn't you? The system works best if everyone does put up a list, publicly showing he / she's interested and in what. It works the old school way: you e-mail Chris.

Also, as Leon said, you can get extra commons and uncommons for free.  Most collectors have more than they need and would be willing to throw a few in during a trade.

Yeah, don't "negotiate" for those in trades, just attach a list at some point saying "if you'd happen to have any of these to throw in, I'd be grateful".

Spending funds on commons before getting the rares is not economical in the long run. It just gets you a larger number of cards faster initially, which can be practical if you want to play. It's the rares that make up the value.

If, as you indicate, you don't have all that many rares to trade with, it could be advised to trade only for the sets you already have most of, and to simply buy the remainder a set at a time as complete sets. It's not very much the "collectible card game way", but full sets sure tend to be best bang for your buck these days.

[Leon]

If you really want to save money buy a French Lidless Eye set instead of an English. That was what I did so I can play with those cards without spending too much money. Also White Hand sets and Against the Shadow (perhaps without R1s) are quite affordable. As to the Balrog: just dream you find it cheap some day, because they pay ridiculous prices on ebay these days.