Actually, from what Ive been told the games (Red & Green) were first made available at a pre-release event on 21 Dec 1995 but were not officially released until February 27, 1996
No, you can only cast the front side of a transforming card this way
As well as that ability, the card can quest for three lore and has a solid five willpower - making it not a bad card by any measurement
A bold claim, I know, but lets take a moment to compare Deep Gnome Terramancer to most of whites other mana ramp spells: You dont need to be behind your opponents in land count to trigger this ability There arent any extra mana costs you have to pay for this mana ramp effect (and unlike treasure generators, this ramp is also more permanent) Deep Gnome Terramancer only costs 2 mana, putting it on par with the rate found on many of greens best ramp spells Like Natures Lore and Three Visits, you can fetch nonbasic Plains cards like Jetmirs Garden The condition for this cards effect happens all the time in Commander, and can be found on cards in most decks of any power level your opponents are playing even precons
Here is a poll we ran when it was first rolled out, and I would say it holds up