They (pets) currently do not gain the "Mage Only" trait.  Mind Control is a bit expensive unless the creature has some enchantments on it (or a Pet marker).

We certainly can make a ruling so that Pets are an exception. However, we prefer to not make a change unless it is necessary, and we have a consensus amongst the players. Lets keep an eye on opinions coming in and revisit in a few weeks.  Thanks!

Hello all, we are working on an exact list of changes.  Here is just a quick summary of the major differences in the game between 1st and 2nd printing:

The second printing of Mage Wars® is the same game, but we did make a few key improvements.  None of these affect current players – so no one needs to feel like they missed out on anything!

•   The wood cubes are now the correct color on the box back and in the rules now.
•   Game box back has been updated with fresh text, and internal sides now have artwork.
•   The rules got a facelift – we start the players off in Apprentice Mode, making it easier to get started right away using Apprentice spellbooks.  And we included a new Mage section at the end of the rules which explains all of their abilities in detail.  We made space for these items by cutting out the Walkthrough which is available online in a better format – as a full video!  The text and codex also received some minor tweaking and clarifications, but the rules are the same.  These new rules are available for download online.
•   We made some small adjustments in the rules here and there - cleaning up wording on guarding, codex, etc. Anything we tweaked here is also now in the new FAQ.
•   Also, we put the cards in a new order – so that they are in the exact order players need them in to immediately build their apprentice spellbooks and get started!

These new quick start rules with apprentice mode, and the cards being in the exact order, should completely alleviate initial setup time for new players and we're really happy with that.

Ha!  You made me laugh out loud!  Okay, I'll be slower on the next one!  

Sorry!

This was a tough call. Here is the reasoning behind why you cannot Slam anyone if you do not Push them first:

The spell says to first Push them one zone. So you have to do that if possible. Its not optional.

So, the only reason why you would not Push them one zone is one of the following (and each of these reasons does not seem to warrant being slammed):

1)   You bash them into a wall with passage blocks trait (in which case they get a wall bashing, which is not the same thing as a knockdown to the floor slamming).
2)   You do not pay enough mana to Push them through a wall with the Passage Attacks trait (in which case they struggle against the push, resist it, and are not really pushed at all – therefore no slam).
3)   They reveal during the counterspell step that they are Unmovable (such as with a Force Hold) – and therefore they cannot really be picked up and slammed.
4)   They are unmovable form the very start - An Earth Elemental or Iron Golem is unmovable and it does not seem reasonable that they could be slammed (or even Dazed instead) if they cannot first be Pushed.

I think you could make a fair argument about #1, but we are still stuck with the other 3. So it seemed best to say "You have to move them at least one zone to have enough momentum to slam them."

Let us know what you think.

Yes, that is correct. And yes, it is a great way to get rid of something like Whirling Spirit!  Watch out for a 2 mana Mind Shield though!

Great catches Hid, thanks!

I will add these to the FAQ, probably tonight, along with a few other player suggestions, and re-post.

We have decided to update hindering, and here is the official rule right out of the FAQ:

The official rule: A creature cannot take a second move action (even if it has the Fast trait), if it is in a zone where it is currently hindered, or has already moved this round out of a zone while it was hindered.

Note the keyword "while" above. If a creature can teleport away, or gain flying, BEFORE it moves, then it is essentially unhindered and can move freely. We felt this was better for the game, possibly more fair and realistic, and allowed for interesting tactics.

Here is the rest of the FAQ entry:

A creature may be able to become unhindered before its first move action. For example, the Necropian Vampiress could gain Flying before she moves. If there are no flyers in her zone before she moves, then she could exit the zone unhindered. If she is unhindered in the new zone, she can move again as a second move action. The same would apply with a creature revealing an Eagle Wings before it takes its first move action.

Movement by teleporting ignores the Hindering restriction. If a creature teleports before it takes any move actions, it can become un-hindered if it teleports into a zone without any enemy objects that can hinder it.

We have to thank Drealin for this!  It was not in the FAQ, we discussed it and decided his answer was solid so we included it.