Episodes

  • Andy and Anthony read and comment on the entirety of a recent article on the early history of Magic and it’s creator’s struggles with the game. The article, including quotes from an interview with Richard Garfield, explores his complex relationship to his creation. It explores his perspective on games, and why he values them. Since it’s first publication, Richard has struggled to re-create the experiences he found most valuable from the pre-publication version. Our hosts unpack the article, give their own perspective, and inevitably tie it back to their own Cube experience.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    The PDH Pod, Episode 100 The Creator Of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Knows Exactly Where It All Went Wrong, by Nick Zarzycki on Defector Six Man Zonk Yahtzee Radical Markets, by Eric A. Posner and Eric Glen Weyl Law of the Instrument Mindstorms, by Seymour Papert Keyforge Netrunner Orange (colour) Patrice O’Neal Hearthstone Shandalar, 1997 Computer Game Uber Cube Podcast Squares that Cube

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    1:54 - Overview of episode format

    4:57 - Read Through Begins

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. You can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box:

    Lucky Paper

    PO Box 4855

    Baltimore, MD 21211

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about novelty Cubes. Many Cubes are built around a novelty concept or design restriction. Novelty designs can be fun and light, but gimmicks can also pigeonhole cubes, making them feel unworthy of serious attention. Our hosts discuss their experience with novelty design, from its benefits to its challenging implications.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Anthony’s Turbo Cube Andy’s 100 Ornithopters Cube Andy’s Degenerate Micro Cube The Bolt Cube The Descent Into Avernus Anthony’s Defunct Monoblack Cube Gimmicks Novelties Dan Dan — Rhystic Studies Video Anthony’s Battle Box

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    3:45 - What is novelty in Cube design?

    8:38 - How does novelty impact draft vs gameplay? What about self-imposed restrictions?

    17:13 - The Monoblack Cube, The Turbo Cube, and first impressions of your themes “at common”

    29:08 - A Ward Sliver Detour

    35:54 - What can Dan Dan’s virality teach us about novel ways to play Magic?

    49:44 - Pack 1, Pick 1 from the 100 Ornithopters Cube

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. You can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box:

    Lucky Paper

    PO Box 4855

    Baltimore, MD 21211

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

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  • Andy and Anthony celebrate their 200th episode!! They look back at where they were and how they approached Magic when they started the podcast vs now. Andy reverse engineer’s his Cube list from the time and talks about how his tastes in Magic have changed. Anthony goes a little off the rails as they talk about how to still get the most enjoyment out of the game at a less involved level.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Infinite Jest On Food and Cooking Nose Dive, by Harold McGee xkcd: everything is applied math Andy’s Bun Magic cube List circa the beginning of the podcast Linguistic Relativity Benjamin Lee Whorf

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    7:44 - The Top 200 Most Powerful Cards for Vintage Cube

    13:05 - Episode Overview

    15:15 - Four Years of the Bun Magic Cube

    38:16 - Four Years of Anthony’s Relationship to Magic

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. You can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box:

    Lucky Paper

    PO Box 4855

    Baltimore, MD 21211

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about “tutors” in Cube and how cards that give you access to any card in your library impact the game. Historically, both of our hosts have tended to avoid them in most of their Cube designs, but the serve a unique function that could make them worth considering.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Intro 100 Ornithopters Neoclassical Cube Irregular Cube All Tutors on Scryfall The Cube Map

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    2:12 - Andy’s Salty Bad Beats

    8:20 - What is a tutor?

    11:10 - What tutors have Anthony and Andy been playing since the beginning and why?

    16:21 - Why have Anthony and Andy mostly avoided unconditional tutors in their Cube designs?

    18:48 - Tutors in the Neoclassical Cube

    37:24 - Tutors in 100 Ornithopters

    43:47 - Our hosts current advice on designing with tutors

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. You can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box:

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

    Lucky Paper
    PO Box 4855
    Baltimore, MD 21211

  • Andy, Anthony, and Parker review the results of our Cube community set survey for Outlaws of Thunder Junction. As with every set, we asked Cube designers which cards they’re excited about from Magic’s latest world of hats, and how confident they are in them remaining in their Cubes long-term.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Outlaws of Thunder Junction Cube Prospective Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Cube Prospective Usman’s Deep Dive on OTJ Magic: the Colonized — Parker’s Article on the OTJ World Builing Decisions MST3K

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    6:16 - Episode Overview

    21:51 - 10. Phantom Interference

    24:45 - 9. Aven Interrupter

    28:26 - 8. Nurturing Pixie

    32:06 - 7. Requisition Raid

    34:43 - 6. Three Steps Ahead

    38:44 - 5. Harvester of Misery

    46:24 - 4. Legion Extruder

    52:35 - 3. Bristly Bill, Spinesower

    57:53 - 2. Slickshot Showoff

    1:03:57 - 1. Forsaken Miner

    1:07:07 - Honorable Mention Tinybones

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony revisit designing a Cube starting with a single card as inspiration. Starting with Goblin Charbelcher, they each explore themes and mechanics that could make the card relevant in a Cube, and build off those to create rough Cube skeletons.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Episode 182: Emergent Cube Design by Example Our Teaser on YouTube UberCube Event Lucky Paper Cube Events Page

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    3:11 - Overview of episode

    4:37 - Meta show business, including the first edition of the Lucky Paper Mailbag

    11:57 - All about our focal card: Goblin Charbelcher

    16:11 - Anthony’s Charbelcher Journey

    31:14 - Andy’s Charbelcher Journey

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony are joined by Sam from Rhystic Studies to talk about his first Cube design project. Sam, who produces thoughtful, carefully written videos on Magic, has been interested in Cube design for years and has finally made the leap to create his own list. They talk about what motivates Sam’s design goals, how he’s approached the project, and what he’s looking forward to in his first experiences playing it.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    3:06 - Betrayal Corner and the Magic to Game Design Pipeline

    7:53 - Introduction to “Kitchen Table All Stars”, Sam’s new Cube

    11:46 - Why now and why Cube is Sam’s “end game” for Magic

    22:22 - Cube Design in the Liminal Space Between the First Complete List and the First Actual Draft

    30:23 - What Are Sam’s Goals for the First Draft

    44:34 - What are the other hallmark cards of Kitchen Table All Stars?

    51:38 - Identifying and Handling Power Outliers

    56:13 - Pack 1, Pick 1 from Sam’s Cube

    Discussed in this episode:

    Intro backing music “Lonesome Journey” by KeysOfMoonMusic Betrayal (Board Game) Pandemic (Board Game) Sam’s Cube, “Kitchen Table All Stars” Episode 191: Vibes-Forward Cube Design with Ryan Overturf Steve Stillman on Twitter Episode 182: Emergent Cube Design by Example 100 Ornithopters in a Trenchcoat Caleb Gannon’s Drafts of His Own Powered Synergy Cube on MTGO Sam’s Interview on Humans of Magic Hillary’s “Baby’s First Cube” DanDan Dear Gonti, Love Sophie by Rhystic Studies Understanding Sagas | How Magic Art Depicts In-World Histories by Rhystic Studies Red Deck Wins by Rhystic Studies Games Within Games | The Story of “Forgetful Fish” by Rhystic Studies

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Our Cube Prospective Surveys for Outlaws of Thunder Junction is now open! Let us know what you are testing in your cube from the latest set.

    Andy and Anthony talk about their first impressions of Outlaws of Thunder Junction and the cards their interested in for their own Cube lists. Anthony is not too impressed by the aesthetics of the set, but they manage to power through, talk about the mechanics and how they might be relevant to different Cube designers, and even a few individual cards that stand out.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Kristen Schaal is a Horse! Washington Cube Champs Cali Cube Champs Get tickets Join the Discord Uber Cube Event Boston Cube Party Cube Dungeon Con MagicCon Panel About Representation of Native Peoples, Thanks Brodie! The Holodeck Episode 129 on the State of the Game and Design for an “Eternal World” Good Morning Magic “The Problem with Kicker and How We Fixed It” Andy’s Monocolored Starter Decks An Ode to Scalable Threats, by Andy Emma Partlow’s tweet about the OTJ set symbols

    Timestamps:

    0:00 - Introduction

    3:26 - Upcoming Cube Event Rundown

    9:17 - Andy and Anthony’s Broad Impressions of Outlaws of Thunder Junction

    25:27 - Mechanics from Outlaws of Thunder Junction

    26:10 - Outlaws

    28:19 - Committing a Crime

    36:01 - Spree

    44:29 - Mounts and Saddle

    48:08 - Plot

    51:12 - Unnamed mechanics and themes

    52:14 - Bun Magic Cube Additions

    52:55 - Slick Shot Showoff

    53:48 - Goldvein Hydra

    54:50 - Harvester of Misery

    56:22 - Andy’s long list of half-considered ‘maybes’ for the Bun Magic Cube

    57:04 - Regular Cube Additions

    57:41 - Trained Arynx

    58:32 - Demonic Ruckus

    59:15 - Bristly Bill, Spine Sower

    1:00:17 - 100 Ornithopters Additions

    1:02:24 - Lost Jitte

    1:04:43 - Trash the Town

    1:09:10 - Pitiless Carnage

    1:10:14 - Pest Control

    1:11:03 - Requisition Raid

    1:13:07 - Turbo Cube Additions

    1:13:28 - Magebane Lizard

    1:14:17 - Geralf, the Fleshwright

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Guests Tara, Jenn, and Haiyue join Andy and Anthony for a discussion on making play spaces that are more accountable and inclusive to help grow more diverse playgroups. Tara brings her perspective as a professional diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; Jenn, their experience organizing and judging events; and Haiyue what she’s learned managing the VML, and, from all of them, much much more.

    As Cube designers, our hosts and many of our listeners need to grow their communities as much as their Cube lists if they hope to play consistently. Our guests bring their broader perspective on why it’s so important to do that in an inclusive way and how to go about it.

    Discussed in this episode:

    Episode 130: Cube Community Building 5 Steps to Break Down Gender Barriers in MTG by guest Haiyue How To Organize Inclusive And Accessible Events by guest Tara with help from other contributors The View From Here by Katie G. Bates Playing with Power — Inclusivity in Magic Safe and Brave Spaces Don’t Work (and What You Can Do Instead) by Elise Ahenkorah The VML CubeCon Redlining in the United States Magic the Gathering Infraction Procedure Guide Set Boundaries Find Peace Book by Nedra Tawwab No Land Beyond Tara’s Website

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about Andy’s newest Cube experiment: a cube who’s only creatures are Ornithopters. Andy couldn’t help but entertain the idea of an all-ornithopter Cube in a humorous tweet, and a recent draft of it in the Cube Con discord inspired him to flesh out the idea even further.

    Our first playmat is currently available for pre-order! Illustrated by Andy and featuring gold, foiled details it expresses our love of the most punk rock Magic format.

    Pre-order a playmat here

    The show now has a dedicated PO box. Want to send us a letter? A drawing? I don’t know, maybe an Ornithopter you doodled on you want Andy to put in his Cube? Send it along to:

    Lucky Paper

    PO Box 4855

    Baltimore, MD 21211

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    McMurdo Station Antartica Our Previous Episode Discussing Art Star Trek: The Next Generation MtG Cube Talk Discord Server Carly Mazur’s About Page Can it be all Ornithopters? CubeCon Discord Server ChillMTG on YouTube

    Cubes Mentioned:

    100 Ornithopters

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    1:39 - Opening up the Plug Bag

    6:24 - Art Episode Follow Up

    20:02 - 100 Ornithopters Cube Introduction

    25:50 - Anthony’s First Impressions of 100 Ornithopters

    32:25 - The powerful strategies this cube supports

    41:33 - Known issues with the 100 Ornithopters Cube

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Our first, limited edition playmat is now available for pre-order. The playmat is designed and illustrated by Andy and custom printed to order. Orders will only be available for a limited time. Pre-order a mat here.

    Andy and Anthony talk about “ART!” loosely as it relates to Magic: The Gathering. They talk about the role of creative work in the game, the nuances of art and illustration, how the approach to illustration has changed over the history of the game, and even the present and future of large language model generated images.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    ART THOUGHTZ: How to Make an Art. “The Game” Garden Path Sentences Google’s new artificial intelligence can’t understand these sentences. Can you? Rhystic Studies: “my next video is about that painting you hate” Klimt Mannerist Painting Algomancy Midjourney Tweening The Arts and Crafts Movement Carly Mazur’s Portfolio Marina Abramovich Cube Map Print The Room Movie Poster Impressionism Episode 42: Cube, Art School, & Critical Discourse Tromploi Claude Monet Édouard Manet Jackson Pollock Piet Mondrian Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill Minecraft Robert Hodgin: Meander WotC statement saying they won’t use AI Sturgeon’s Law Apophysis Make my hot dog hotter Edward Muybridge: The Horse in Motion The Slo Mo Guys on Youtube Trashfuture: Big Tesco Back Tattoo ft. Tom O’Mahony Well There’s Your Problem: The Death of Hyperloop

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction and Garden Path Sentence Corner

    5:24 - Overview of episode

    7:57 - Why is there art in Magic?

    10:22 - Are the illustrations in Magic even “Art”?

    28:56 - What do we think about Carly Mazur’s Faithless Looting?

    34:44 - The Invention of the Camera and the Beginning of Modern Art

    46:34 - On AI Generated Art

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony are joined by Ryan Overturf, sharing his Cube design wisdom. Starting with Ryan’s articles on power outliers and letting fun drive Cube design, they talk about their approach to Cube design and how they let play experience, vibes, and taste inform their processes.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Ryan on Star City Games Power Level Outliers And How To Handle Them In Magic Cubes Magic Cube Design: Make The Fun Thing The Good Thing Andrew Elenbogen’s Tweet on Magic Data Pony by Orville Peck Cascade Cube The Turbo Cube The r/spikes spoiler thread for Treasure Cruise @RyanOverdrive on Twitter

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    3:51 - What is a power level outlier?

    18:40 - Exciting cards to draft and the right vs. the wrong power outliers

    28:54 - How power level outliers might make the game more egalitarian

    33:05 - Making mopey threats appealing with the power of nostalgia

    35:46 - Power level outlier’s contributions to a player’s ability to make a comeback

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy, Anthony, and Parker review the results of the Murders at Karlov Manor Cube Community Survey and discuss the top cards, tested by the most Cube designers. They dig into some trends, patterns, and surprises in the cards people are giving a chance in their environments.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Usman’s Card-by-card MKM Review MKM Community Survey Results Characters of the Board Game Clue John Mulaney All about Clue on Stuff You Should Know Episode 186: Murders at Karlov Manor First Impressions Episode 187: Personal Cube Additions Look up Past Lucky Paper Survey Submissions

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction and Clue Talk

    7:10 - Overview of Set Review Format

    9:26 - Carnage Interpreter from Ravnica: Clue Edition

    14:15 - Unshakable Tail from Murders at Karlov Manor Commander

    17:26 - Murders at Karlov Manor in Broad Stokes

    19:18 - 9. Cryptic Coat

    25:15 - 8. Aftermath Analyst

    27:42 - 7. Deduce

    30:21 - 6. Escape Tunnel

    33:24 - 5. Snarling Gorehound

    35:10 - 4. Surveil Lands

    39:08 - 3. Sharp-Eyed Rookie

    44:05 - 2. Novice Inspector

    46:41 - 1. Demand Answers

    Cubes mentioned:

    Pulp Nouveau

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about layers of interaction in Cube design. Some cards interact with particular effects. Other cards are, in turn, resistant to those responses. Inevitably other cards get around those resistances. Our hosts talk about how they approach these orders of interaction.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    GeoGuessr Wingspan Splendor Episode 31 on Density of “Bread and Butter” Effects Episode 101 on Density of Disruption Episode 111 on The Texture of Removal Episode 127 on Density of Threats Who’s the Beatdown The Dollop

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    1:57 - What does it mean to ‘interact’ in Magic

    6:38 - What sorts of mechanics limit ‘interactivity’?

    8:37 - Andy’s concept of orders or tiers of interaction

    38:27 - What densities and types of second-order interaction to Andy and Anthony include in their primary cubes?

    Cubes Mentioned:

    Degenerate Micro Cube The Neoclassical Cube Bun Magic Cube Regular Cube Uber Bear’s Artifact Cube

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Well, it’s my (Andy’s) final week of writing the show notes as punishment for losing a bet against Anthony. But that’s ok, because writing these particular notes is a privilege, as we are joined by special guest Emma Partlow on this episode! We’be been trying to get Emma on the show for a long time and I’m really glad we were finally able to make it happen. We use her Peasant Cube as a jumping off point to discuss playing Magic with rarity and budget restrictions, what traits describe the platonic ideal of an uncommon, how to navigate the endless sea of card variants spewing out of Wizards of the Coast these days, and the value of accessibility of all kinds.

    My take on Thraben Inspector from last week, which you all have been ruthlessly dragging me for, did not come up. I presume she didn’t hear it and none of you better tell her!!! If you tell her I’m going to be so mad at you.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    @emmadpartlow on Twitter The Herald’s Horn Playing with Power Episode on Inclusivity Emma’s Peasant Cube Eric Klug’s Peasant Cube Emma’s Budget Version of Her Peasant Cube The 2023 Year in Review Dandan MTG cares more about collectability than accessibility - and it’s making the TCG worse by Emma Partlow The Neoclassical Cube The Black Mage (Final Fanasty) Ogre Battle Tactics Tactics Ogre: Reborn on the Switch A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Emma’s Linktree

    Timestamps

    0:00 - Introduction

    5:17 - How did Emma get introduced to Magic

    8:17 - When did Emma discover the joy of Cube?

    11:53 - Emma’s roots in rarity and budget restrictions

    17:41 - Downshifts and rarity restricted Cube design

    26:33 - What is the most uncommony uncommon card?

    30:57 - On Emma’s inclusion of controversially powerful cards in her peasant Cube

    37:52 - Emma’s local Cube playgroup

    45:34 - Does Emma think of herself as a casual or competitive player?

    47:05 - How does Emma prioritize accessibility vs. bling in her card variant selection for her cube?

    52:33 - Potpurri

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Well folks, it happened. I lost the bet on air last week about whether or not Wizards would include a physical, punch-out reminder for “suspected” creatures in the pre-release kit for Murders at Karlov Manor, so here I am writing the notes. I still think it’s weird that they literally include a counter for a mechanic that they explicitly designed to NOT include a physical counter, but I forgot the precedence set by Exert in Amonket, so that’s on me.

    This week is part two of our marathon, pre-Andy’s-vacation, recording session. We’re discussing additions from Murders at Karlov Manor and Ravnica: Clue Edition to our four relevant personal Cube projects. Tune in to find out what beloved Cube card Andy believes has jumped the shark, which two cards are clearing the high bar of the Degenerate Micro Cube, what Anthony is going to do with all of the amazing new options for the Turbo Cube, and what happens when you have two cost reduction mechanics with different stipulations in our new segment “Judge Bones”.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Set Surveys: Andy’s Cube Coaching Session with Brian Coval, a.k.a Bosh n’ Roll Lucky Paper Radio Episode 181: Gold Cards and You

    Timestamps:

    0:00 - Introduction

    4:35 - Additions to the Bun Magic Cube

    10:50 - Honorable Mention: Tenth District Hero

    12:19 - Honorable Mention: Deduce

    14:07 - Honorable Mention: Drag the Canal

    15:33 - Honorable Mention: Trostani, Three Whispers

    17:48 - Honorable Mention: Necropsy

    19:21 - Honorable Mention: Warleader’s Call

    20:50 - The Surveil Lands

    30:01 - Fugitive Codebreaker

    33:59 - No More Lies

    36:26 - Additions to the Regular Cube

    38:10 - Curious Inquiry

    40:07 - Push // Pull

    42:28 - Cease // Desist

    45:04 - The Surveil Lands (Again)

    46:38 - No Ravnica: Clue Edition Cards for the Regular Cube?

    48:38 - Additions to the Degenerate Micro Cube

    49:03 - Pick Your Poison

    50:43 - Doorkeeper Thrull

    51:51 - Additions to the Turbo Cube

    53:03 - Cerebral Confiscation

    54:11 - Forensic Gadgeteer

    56:29 - Torch the Witness

    58:04 - Demand Answers

    58:51 - Crime Novelist

    1:00:15 - Vengeful Tracker

    1:00:37 - Andy’s Potential Turbo Cube Inclusions

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony discuss the mechanics of Murders at Karlov Manor, along with satellite sets, and their first impressions of the set for Cube.
    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠
    Discussed in this episode:

    Set Surveys:
    Murders at Karlov Manor Mechanics Mothership Article
    A new Returning Mechanic, but Tweaked, @luckypapermtg on Twitter
    Boonta Vista

    Timestamps
    0:00 - Introduction
    3:37 - Ward, Cloak, and Disguise
    17:41 - Suspect
    21:29 - Collect Evidence
    26:16 - Cases
    33:20 - Returning mechanic: Investigate
    34:37 - Informal mechanics and emergent themes of MKM
    40:41 - Ravnica: Clue Edition first impressions
    44:32 - The prevalence of “can’t be countered” effects in this set
    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.
    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube
    Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.
    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.
    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about Anthony’s experimental Battle Box where players start at three life, can cast spells without paying their mana cost, and start the game with two Lightning Bolts on the stack. They talk about rapid prototyping and challenges in game design. The novel design didn’t initially play as hoped, and they brainstorm ideas to make it work.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    Hedron Rockworks on YouTube Topaz D20 We Are Already Dead, Anthony’s Experimental Battle Box 1 Life Cubes, Lucky Paper Radio Episode 23 Pai Gow Slay the Spire

    Cubes mentioned:

    We Are Already Dead- Keldan’s Bolt Cube Jeskai Control Battle Box

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about updates to Anthony’s Turbo Cube and how changing a few cards can impact the way a cube feels. In this environment, all spells and activated abilities cost generic mana less. They cut some of the most potent win conditions including Teferi's Tutelage, and added a handful of cards to bolster black discard focused strategies.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    0:00 - Introduction

    4:09 - Small (but actually big) changes to the win conditions in the Turbo Cube

    16:50 - Do the colors have identities in the Turbo Cube?

    20:18 - The problem with black in the Turbo Cube

    28:03 - Tournament report from the first draft of the new discard package

    39:40 - Ideas for improving the archetype after the first playtest

    54:12 - How will Anthony evaluate success or failure of this archetype moving forward?

    58:34 - Tidebinder Corner

    Discussed in this episode:

    MAGfest Lucky Paper Radio on YouTube

    Cubes Mentioned:

    Turbo Cube

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

  • Andy and Anthony talk about cubing on a budget. Between cards, sleeves, and other needs, putting a cube together is not without costs, but the format has some unique attributes that can still make it approachable on a budget.

    But first, they talk for a long time about Tetris.

    ⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

    Discussed in this episode:

    After 34 Years, Someone Finally Beat Tetris Tetris Just Got Beaten Again Fosbury Flop Four Minute Mile Radiolab: Stochasticity Lucky Paper Radio on How to Build a Cube from Your Collection Scryfall BCW Cardboard Longboxes Potomac Distribution

    Cubes Mentioned:

    Amonkar Desert Cube Eiganjo Drift

    Timestamps:

    0:00 - Introduction

    1:41 - Tetris Talk

    25:53 - Introduction to Playing Cube on a Budget

    35:49 - Tip 1: Play with the cards you have

    40:11 - Tip 2: Most cards are not that expensive. Really!

    42:02 - Tip 3: Be aware of the secondary market and pick up cards at the right time, if you can.

    44:42 - Tip 4: Consider rarity restricted cubes, but be aware rarity and price are only mildly correlated!

    48:26 - Tip 5: Use proxies

    50:49 - Tip 6: Use BCW cardboard longboxes bought in bulk

    54:39 - The biggest barrier to budget cubing: sleeves

    1:03:46 - Tip 7: Get your playgroup to chip in cards

    1:04:39 - Tip 8: Save and sell/buylist cards to subsidize bigger purchases

    1:07:58 - Remember the most important thing: drafting a cube is FREE if you’re not the cube owner

    Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

    You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

    Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

    If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

    If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

    Musical production by DJ James Nasty.