You're first time playing this game (the online version that this forum is dedicated to at least)? Here's how to get MTGO up and running:

ACCOUNT CREATION:

https://accounts.onlinegaming.wizards.com/accountsignup.aspx


DOWNLOAD OF THE GAME CLIENT (WINDOWS REQUIRED):

http://magic.wizards.com/en/content/download


OTHER BASIC INFO:

- You have to pay for the game; unless things have changed, a new account costs $10. have your paypal or credit card details ready
- A New Account comes with 5 tickets, several hundred cards (not worth alot though), and some points which you can use to get your feet wet in select tournaments

Magic Online New Account Starter Kit contents
http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2288

- Event Tickets are the currency of this game: you can't do much of anything without them (joining tournaments, buying cards, boosters, etc.)
- Each Event Ticket is roughly $1 (so you buy the game for $10 but get $5 in tickets back immediately, which is not too shabby)

* If i missed some of the basic stuff or some helpful people want to add their 2 cents' worth, go ahead and post
* If you have more questions, go ahead and post
* I'll try to update the top post so it reflects what the community adds to this
* Good luck, and welcome!


OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:

- The first time you buy a large amount of tickets, you may also get locked. It's a standard security measure to prevent credit card fraud. They will auto-unlock you after a couple days usually,
once they confirm you made a legitimate purchase

- New accounts come with 20 new player points which are a good way to get your feet wet with the tournament system, and maybe even score some cards / tickets in the process

- Free Cards bots (usually you can take cards once a month, or once a day, i forget exactly):

ClanTeamFree
_DojoTradeFree
MTGOTradersFreeBot
Academy_Quizbot
CardhoarderFreeBot

- Trading via d2jsp on MTGO has its perils. Only trade with ppl you trust or have a good rep. Trading with or for STOLEN TICKETS is something MTGO/Wizards has absolutely NO PATIENCE with, and rightly so.
Criminals use d2jsp to offload these stolen goods, and to avoid being embroiled in one of these scams, make sure you investigate anybody you might want to trade with, beforehand

This post was edited by SilverBaneling on Nov 25 2015 10:54pm

First time you buy a large amount of tickets, you may also get locked. It's a standard security measure to prevent credit card fraud. They will auto-unlock you after a couple days usually,
once they confirm you made a legitimate purchase

Bot chains that have a dedicated bot that gives out free cards for starters:

Cardhoarder
MTGO Academy
Dojotrade Bots

New accounts come with 20 new player points as well, and you can use these in a variety of ways to play the game for free and maybe even get some cards/tickets in the process

I read somewhere its now illigal to trade jsp - tixs? MTGO stated that. Could you add some comments to that how we stay safe and avoid getting our accounts locked?

Happy friday SilverBaneling.

Not right now, but you can get banned for selling stolen tixs or buying stolen tix.

Ok thank you.

Apparently they've eased up on the fg trading, but trading for/with stolen tickets is definitely bannable.

I'd be very careful who you trade with.

Open this pack to get started with your initial cards and tickets:

Magic Online New Account Starter Kit contents

http://wizards.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2288

Feel free to contact me if you have other questions about starting out