Had an absolute blast :)
http://manadeprived.com/svu-fancast-3-doctor/
Don't forget to add me to twitter and enter the contest for a HEARTHSTONE BETA KEY
@Ricostravels
SVU CAST #3
STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND GO LISTEN TO THIS CAST! :)
Had an absolute blast :)
http://manadeprived.com/svu-fancast-3-doctor/
Don't forget to add me to twitter and enter the contest for a HEARTHSTONE BETA KEY
@Ricostravels
Had an absolute blast :)
http://manadeprived.com/svu-fancast-3-doctor/
Don't forget to add me to twitter and enter the contest for a HEARTHSTONE BETA KEY
@Ricostravels
Burninating
Taking this week off to tackle the last of my exams for a while!
In the mean time feel free to enjoy any of my past interviews and let me know what you think! Or even who you'd like to see on next!
EVAN ERWIN
HELENE BERGEOT
NATHAN HOLT
---
Always look forward to your feedback, I'll have a chance to guest on the SVU Cast soon so if you have any questions please feel free to contact @TheProxyGuy or @RobotLarge :)
@Ricostravels
---
In the mean time feel free to enjoy any of my past interviews and let me know what you think! Or even who you'd like to see on next!
EVAN ERWIN
HELENE BERGEOT
NATHAN HOLT
---
Always look forward to your feedback, I'll have a chance to guest on the SVU Cast soon so if you have any questions please feel free to contact @TheProxyGuy or @RobotLarge :)
@Ricostravels
The Magic Show's EVAN ERWIN! (@MisterOrange) on the GentlemenBurninatorSociety Hot Seat!!
Welcome to the Gentlemen Burninator Society's Hot Seat. I'm
stoked to have arguably the most enthusiatic player in Magic, Evan Erwin!!
RT: Welcome Evan, mind the fire...oh who am I kidding, it's
all fire..can I offer you a monocle?
EE:
I'll take one gladly, sir.
RT: Before we get started, I just wanted to say that in terms
of the enthusiasm you bring to the game you're second to none. I love the way
you analyze cards in the new sets and as a newer player it's been a integral
part of my development as a player! Thanks for keeping Magic fun, even when I'm
flying around the world and can't always play paper!
EE:
Thank you so much; I try to enthuse my joy for the game whenever I can. :)
RT: Where did you get your start in Magic?
EE: I began
playing at 15 when I discovered a loophole in the educational
system — due to changing schedules, if I took two summer
school classes I could jump over my entire Junior year. Being all
about the value (but didn't know how to exactly describe that at the time), I jumped
in.
I clearly
remember the day I first saw Magic that summer day — the
desk by the window, the bright sun and the glare on the cards. I was
introduced to the game, how it worked, and immediately fell in love with it.
Haven't been the same since.
RT: What has kept you playing Magic?
EE: The culture
and the beauty of the game. The culture of Magic is rich and diverse—it's full
of stereotypes, but what culture isn't? People get misconceptions all the time
of what a tournament player is, what a casual player is. And when you get to
the very tip top of the game, you realize that the people there are
all truly extraordinary—it takes a very, very smart person to simply play at
the Pro Tour, let alone win. What I was most happy to find is that
the guys at the top really are the "good guys." They want to have
fun, they want to help and encourage their friends, but in the end they want to
win and you have to respect that. But they're not cutthroat, they're not
vindictive, they're not destructive. And I spent years trying to
document that.
On the
other end is the incredible strides R&D continues to take with Magic. Just
when you think they're out of ideas, Innistrad shows up and blows everyone's
minds. The direction that Forsythe and Rosewater have taken Magic in the past ten
years or so is nothing short of remarkable. The growth in Magic is no accident,
and it starts with R&D (it continues of course with the hardworking
folks at WotC, but ya gotta start with a great product and grow outwards).
RT: How did you get started with Star City Games?
EE: I began
as most do – a reader. I left Magic from Exodus/Stronghold
through Darksteel, and came back to Magic the day Skullclamp was spoiled
(Aaron Forsythe still laughs that "Skullclamp was the card that brought
Evan Erwin to Magic" - I must agree the irony is delicious).
Sure enough, I was enthralled all over again. When I played from
Ice Age to Stronghold there were a few internet message boards,
the newsgroups, stuff like that. I made my own hand-coded MTG
fan page too, long lost to the internet archives.
But
when I came back, I quickly found that there were multiple
strategy sites with all kinds of content. I absorbed it as quickly
as I could, trying to find out who knew what they were talking about
and who I was skeptical of. It actually turned into my first article,
"Rebutting Kartin' Ken - The 10 Things You Need To Learn In MD5
Limited" (http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/8091-Rebutting-Kartin-Ken-The-10-Things-You-Need-To-Learn-In-MD5-Limited.html)
This
article showed me that I need to work on my writing but most importantly, that
the Magic community is absolutely fierce when it comes to content. We as a
community are a ruthless bunch when it comes to demanding the absolute best
from our content—every angle needs to be covered, every opportunity needs to be
explained. And because Magic is so big and so encompassing, if you miss a facet
you may miss a huge element of why something is important.
While it
took me far longer than a year, my extreme language in the article ostracized
me enough (the pushback being "Evan you're an idiot who doesn't know what
he's talking about") I didn’t write anything else for Magic for 15
months.
Long
story short, I began making the Magic Show, I did it for a long time (some
would argue I got pretty good at it), and eventually Pete Hoefling asked me if
I was interested in working in marketing for
StarCityGames.com. I said yes :)
I began
with just myself and a graphic designer in 2010. I believe a few
weeks ago I hired my 24th(?) employee now with a complete video
production department, three graphic designers, and so much more. It's a little
insane, the amount of growth SCG has had. It's been an incredibly challenging
and rewarding experience trying to hold on to the rocket :)
RT: What does the sense of community mean to you in Magic? Do
you have a local spot you'd like to shout out?
EE: To me Magic is more about the global community than one specific
spot. As I've been all over this wild world, it's always exciting and fun to
see how much joy Magic brings to so many, how similar our culture really is
despite geographic or linguistic lines. There will always be Timmies and
Johnnies and Spikes no matter where you are on this planet.
RT: Your videos are bursting with energy for the game, what
prompted you to start the Magic Show? Do you have any advice for aspiring
Youtube/Magic enthusiasts who might be thinking about broadcasting their own
show?
EE: Thanks much; I'm a man who has prided himself in seeing
trends and (ideally) capitalizing on them. In 2006, YouTube had just gotten
started and I was baffled as to why no one was on it — why weren't people
making videos?! Couldn't they see it's the future?! It was so obvious to me.
The Magic
Show is a nice example of not having to be the best, but being the first. As I
was the first, I both pioneered a lot of Magic video stuff you see today but I
also had the time to hone my craft. It took me at least a year before I thought
I had "made it" in any sense. And to this day I'm still incredibly
critical—I'm rarely if ever truly happy with my shows. I always find flaws,
something I could've written or performed better; a better point I should've
made. It can get maddening if you let it, so I try to watch them a few times
and then let go.
What I'd
suggest for those trying to make it is just do the work. Do the work and keep
doing it. Today there is a landscape of competition that didn't exist when I
was starting out—for good and bad. The good is you have a template of what
works; the bad is you have to stand out. Find out what you like to do, how you
like to communicate, and then make it happen. The easiest thing in the world to
do is not create content—and I assure you, if you'd rather not create it, it
won't create itself.
RT: I've been fortunate to travel all over the world for fun
and to study, do you have a favourite country you've travelled to? Anywhere
you'd like to visit? What if you could travel to any MTG plane, which would it
be?
EE: Amsterdam was the actual blade. Beautiful people, spoke
perfect english, amazing food, incredible sights. That place is fantastic.
As for
the plane? I'm not sure. I think I'm the kind of guy who would enjoy getting lost
in the streets of Ravnica.
RT: Is there anything you're specifically excited to
experience in Magic's future?
EE: Whatever sets come next — it really is Christmas for me four
times a year. The presents are all made from Santa's factory in Renton, WA ;)
RT: What do you think about the recent decision to downscale
MODO? What do you want to see improved?
EE: Man, I don't even know where to begin
with MTGO. I know and respect the guys at WotC who try their best to improve
the game as it stands, but I feel the issue may lie above their pay grade.
All I
would say is this — Hearthstone is a real threat to the dominance of Magic
Online. It took awhile, but competitors are here (HEX is right behind).
Hearthstone is an incredibly FUN experience to play, and that is 100% what MTGO
is not.
<Lightning Round -- We play red, you knew this was
coming>
RT: Favourite colour to play
EE: Green!
RT: Favourite card
EE: Cap'n Tickles! (Giant Solifuge)
RT: Favourite figure in Magic (Player and/or character)
EE: Elspeth is awesome.
RT: Favourite Set
EE: So many good ones! If I have to choose I'll say Ravnica: City
of Guilds
RT: Do you listen to MTG podcasts?
EE: Yes? :)
RT: Will JTMS ever see play in Modern again? When?
EE: Maybe. But it will be awhile. You'll need to imagine a world
where JTMS is 'fair'. (Hint: it took anincredibly unfair
card—Bloodbraid Elf—to make JTMS look fair)
<Grabs fire extinguisher>
RT: A lot of new players (including myself) see you as one of
the major figures in Magic videos on youtube, do you have any advice for them
as they start cracking packs for the first time?
EE: I appreciate that. If you're cracking packs for the first
time, just have fun. If you want to get better at the game, start playing in
events, find those better than you, figure out why they are better than you,
and repeat :)
RT: What do you think is the best way to introduce new
players to the game and help them get their start in the Magic community?
EE: The best start is Duels of the Planeswalkers, no question.
Wizards hit it out of the park so far they can't even find the ball. If only
there was a "Super Duels" or something that was basically Magic
Online: The Version We Always Had In Our Head That Never Realized…
RT: Do you have anyone you'd like to shout out?
EE: Sure – my amazing wife Ashley and my wonderful kids Annie,
Abby, Bryce, Maddie and Miles :)
RT: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
EE: I continue to be humbled by the incredible attention and
response I get to the things I do. If there is one constant it is that I have
always undervalued my reach. These days I try to be very cognizant of how I act
and what I say, while staying true to the points I have to make whether it's on
social media, the Magic Show, or beyond.
RT: Thanks again Evan, really looking forward to what you
have for us next!
EE: Thank you :)
---
#SendmeyourBurninatingDecklists
#ItsgettingcoldCureitwithfire
#BurninatorloveontheHMHoodies?
#ItsgettingcoldCureitwithfire
#BurninatorloveontheHMHoodies?
@Ricostravels
Helene Bergeot (@HeleneBergeot) on the GentlemenBurninatorSociety HOTseat!!!
Welcome to the Gentlemen Burninator Society's first WotC staff interview!! I'm very excited to
welcome the director of Organized Global Play from Wizards of the Coast, Helene Bergeot!!
---
RT: Welcome to the Hot Seat Helene, I'm really looking forward to asking questions from
someone as well travelled and closely related to MTG, thanks for stopping by!
HB: Thank you for inviting me!
RT: For those of you who don't know, Helene has been a big presence on twitter and is intimately
involved in running Magic's big events. My first exposure to Helene and feeling directly connected
to WotC's staff was through twitter and her accessibility at the incredibly Modern Masters event in
Las Vegas! I believe this was your first real life "exposure" to the guys from Heavy Meta too?
HB: Correct. Natasha (Lewis Harrington) and Heather (Dawn Lafferty) convinced me to stop by at the “podcast house” where many podcasters were staying during the Grand Prix; it was a great opportunity to meet many members of the Magic community I had interacted with only online so
far.
RT: Where did you get your start in Magic?
HB: I playtested Magic back in 1994 (I was at that time Games Brand Manager for Kenner
Parker, a subsidiary of Hasbro) and loved the game immediately. When Wizards of the Coast
opened their office in Paris a year later, I immediately applied.
RT: What fuels your interest in Magic? (Outside of work)
HB: The people! Magic is first of all a community and it gives me the opportunity to constantly
meet awesome people; it’s an amazing source of inspiration.
RT: What do you think of the growth that magic has experienced over the last few years? What
do you attribute that to?
HB: I believe it’s a combination of different factors; Duels of the Planeswalkers has brought lots
of new players into the game while the annual sets continue to get better and better. Additionally, over the past five years, stores have started to run events more regularly, creating these
incredible community hubs for Magic.
RT: What does the sense of community mean to you in Magic? Do you have a local spot? Is
there anything that WotC is planning to do to strengthen the community aspect of the game?
HB: There’s a strong sense of community and ownership in Magic that makes Magic much more than a game. I don’t really have a particular local spot—you can feel that sense of community
at many different levels, including online. With that said, I particularly enjoy Grand Prix events
because each one brings its share of amazing community-related stories.
As the sense of community and ownership is so important for Magic, it is critical for us to listen
to the players. Feedback is absolutely vital. Another priority is to make sure that Magic events
are welcoming to all and we’re constantly looking at ways to meet this goal - it is an on-going
process!
RT: You organize major magic tournaments all over the globe, what's it like traveling and seeing
different cultures all sharing the same interest in Magic?
HB: You touch on a very important point here, which is the global nature of Magic and its community. Every time I travel, I get the opportunity to better understand the specificities of that country as well as the expectations of the local players; I therefore make sure to not only attend large events but also spend some time in store visits. It’s a great way to keep a fresh perspective on how to provide the best possible experiences to all players.
RT: Do you have a favourite place you've travelled for magic? Anywhere you'd like to visit?
HB: Hard to tell as I’ve had the chance to visit lots of exciting places, but I would probably say
Moscow when we organized an Invitational event to launch the Russian edition of Magic.
My bucket list is still pretty long :)
RT: Is there anything you're specifically excited to experience in Magic's future?
HB: There are a lot of growth opportunities for Magic, specifically in Asia and Latin America;
creating events that will contribute to the expansion of local communities in these areas is an
extremely exciting prospect for me.
RT: What do you think regarding the future of MTG in paper vs its digital future?
HB: I strongly believe that the future of Magic is intimately tied to the strength of its community,
whether it is online or in-person.
<Lightning Round -- We play red, you knew this was coming>
RT: Favourite colour to play
HB: Red.
RT: Favourite card
HB: Splendid Genesis (I received one directly from Richard Garfield, and it’s therefore a very
special card to me)
RT: Favourite figure in Magic (Player and/or character)
HB: I’ll pass (I cannot play favourites here!)
RT: Favourite Set
HB: Theros! I’ve been waiting for such a setting for ages (my first name is Greek, I’m a big fan of
mythology and took 5 years of Greek)
RT: Do you listen to MTG podcasts?
HB: Only very occasionally as it’s difficult to find the time
RT: Do you play any other games?
HB: Copy-paste of previous answer :)
<Grabs fire extinguisher>
RT: A number of new companies appear to be moving into the competitive card game market,
none of them at present have the depth of MTG but a lot of them incorporate a lot of interesting
new takes on the structure of the game. Are there any new angles you've seen with games like
Sol Forge and Hearthstone that you think MTG could adopt or do differently?
HB: My role being focused on Organized Play, I look at other games from a very specific angle; particularly, what makes events exciting and engaging for the players. It’s always very interesting to see how other games approach a given goal! Right now, we’re looking at ways to add more engaging elements to various levels of Magic events.
RT: What do you think is the best way to introduce new players to the game and help them get
started in the Magic community?
HB: As much as there are many ways to start playing Magic (with Duels of the Planeswalkers, with a friend, at a local gaming store), we’re focusing our efforts to make Friday Night Magic the best way to get introduced in the Magic community. I like to describe FNM as being the glue of the local communities :)
RT: My MTG community started in England but has since expanded across the globe through
my travels and with social media (Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook). The core thing I've seen
no matter where I've gone, is a shared interest in the game and the rich social experiences that
it creates. On that note I'd like to shout out the Heavy Meta Podcast and it's army of listeners
(#HMSVU) around the globe for fuelling my interest when I've been away from home!
RT: Do you have anyone you'd like to shout out?
HB: Yes, but the list is going to be long!
RT: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
HB: Just a quick reminder about how important it is for us to receive feedback about the events you attend. We’re all committed to constantly look at ways to improve Magic events, you’re in the best position to tell us how things are going!
RT: Thanks again Helene, your accessibility over social media has been fantastic, looking
forward to continuing our conversations!
HB: Thanks again for inviting me, I hope we’ll have the chance to meet in person eventually!
RT: :D
---
Stay tuned for more BIG players in the MTG community :)
#MTGConnections
#HMCommunity
#SVUgrowth
Shout out to the SVU podcast! If you haven't checked it out see the link above :)
ALSO, I am looking for submissions for your best BURNINATOR decks. Leave a comment or catch me on Twitter :D (There may be prizes involved)
welcome the director of Organized Global Play from Wizards of the Coast, Helene Bergeot!!
---
RT: Welcome to the Hot Seat Helene, I'm really looking forward to asking questions from
someone as well travelled and closely related to MTG, thanks for stopping by!
HB: Thank you for inviting me!
RT: For those of you who don't know, Helene has been a big presence on twitter and is intimately
involved in running Magic's big events. My first exposure to Helene and feeling directly connected
to WotC's staff was through twitter and her accessibility at the incredibly Modern Masters event in
Las Vegas! I believe this was your first real life "exposure" to the guys from Heavy Meta too?
HB: Correct. Natasha (Lewis Harrington) and Heather (Dawn Lafferty) convinced me to stop by at the “podcast house” where many podcasters were staying during the Grand Prix; it was a great opportunity to meet many members of the Magic community I had interacted with only online so
far.
RT: Where did you get your start in Magic?
HB: I playtested Magic back in 1994 (I was at that time Games Brand Manager for Kenner
Parker, a subsidiary of Hasbro) and loved the game immediately. When Wizards of the Coast
opened their office in Paris a year later, I immediately applied.
RT: What fuels your interest in Magic? (Outside of work)
HB: The people! Magic is first of all a community and it gives me the opportunity to constantly
meet awesome people; it’s an amazing source of inspiration.
RT: What do you think of the growth that magic has experienced over the last few years? What
do you attribute that to?
HB: I believe it’s a combination of different factors; Duels of the Planeswalkers has brought lots
of new players into the game while the annual sets continue to get better and better. Additionally, over the past five years, stores have started to run events more regularly, creating these
incredible community hubs for Magic.
RT: What does the sense of community mean to you in Magic? Do you have a local spot? Is
there anything that WotC is planning to do to strengthen the community aspect of the game?
HB: There’s a strong sense of community and ownership in Magic that makes Magic much more than a game. I don’t really have a particular local spot—you can feel that sense of community
at many different levels, including online. With that said, I particularly enjoy Grand Prix events
because each one brings its share of amazing community-related stories.
As the sense of community and ownership is so important for Magic, it is critical for us to listen
to the players. Feedback is absolutely vital. Another priority is to make sure that Magic events
are welcoming to all and we’re constantly looking at ways to meet this goal - it is an on-going
process!
RT: You organize major magic tournaments all over the globe, what's it like traveling and seeing
different cultures all sharing the same interest in Magic?
HB: You touch on a very important point here, which is the global nature of Magic and its community. Every time I travel, I get the opportunity to better understand the specificities of that country as well as the expectations of the local players; I therefore make sure to not only attend large events but also spend some time in store visits. It’s a great way to keep a fresh perspective on how to provide the best possible experiences to all players.
RT: Do you have a favourite place you've travelled for magic? Anywhere you'd like to visit?
HB: Hard to tell as I’ve had the chance to visit lots of exciting places, but I would probably say
Moscow when we organized an Invitational event to launch the Russian edition of Magic.
My bucket list is still pretty long :)
RT: Is there anything you're specifically excited to experience in Magic's future?
HB: There are a lot of growth opportunities for Magic, specifically in Asia and Latin America;
creating events that will contribute to the expansion of local communities in these areas is an
extremely exciting prospect for me.
RT: What do you think regarding the future of MTG in paper vs its digital future?
HB: I strongly believe that the future of Magic is intimately tied to the strength of its community,
whether it is online or in-person.
<Lightning Round -- We play red, you knew this was coming>
RT: Favourite colour to play
HB: Red.
RT: Favourite card
HB: Splendid Genesis (I received one directly from Richard Garfield, and it’s therefore a very
special card to me)
RT: Favourite figure in Magic (Player and/or character)
HB: I’ll pass (I cannot play favourites here!)
RT: Favourite Set
HB: Theros! I’ve been waiting for such a setting for ages (my first name is Greek, I’m a big fan of
mythology and took 5 years of Greek)
RT: Do you listen to MTG podcasts?
HB: Only very occasionally as it’s difficult to find the time
RT: Do you play any other games?
HB: Copy-paste of previous answer :)
<Grabs fire extinguisher>
RT: A number of new companies appear to be moving into the competitive card game market,
none of them at present have the depth of MTG but a lot of them incorporate a lot of interesting
new takes on the structure of the game. Are there any new angles you've seen with games like
Sol Forge and Hearthstone that you think MTG could adopt or do differently?
HB: My role being focused on Organized Play, I look at other games from a very specific angle; particularly, what makes events exciting and engaging for the players. It’s always very interesting to see how other games approach a given goal! Right now, we’re looking at ways to add more engaging elements to various levels of Magic events.
RT: What do you think is the best way to introduce new players to the game and help them get
started in the Magic community?
HB: As much as there are many ways to start playing Magic (with Duels of the Planeswalkers, with a friend, at a local gaming store), we’re focusing our efforts to make Friday Night Magic the best way to get introduced in the Magic community. I like to describe FNM as being the glue of the local communities :)
RT: My MTG community started in England but has since expanded across the globe through
my travels and with social media (Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook). The core thing I've seen
no matter where I've gone, is a shared interest in the game and the rich social experiences that
it creates. On that note I'd like to shout out the Heavy Meta Podcast and it's army of listeners
(#HMSVU) around the globe for fuelling my interest when I've been away from home!
RT: Do you have anyone you'd like to shout out?
HB: Yes, but the list is going to be long!
RT: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
HB: Just a quick reminder about how important it is for us to receive feedback about the events you attend. We’re all committed to constantly look at ways to improve Magic events, you’re in the best position to tell us how things are going!
RT: Thanks again Helene, your accessibility over social media has been fantastic, looking
forward to continuing our conversations!
HB: Thanks again for inviting me, I hope we’ll have the chance to meet in person eventually!
RT: :D
---
Stay tuned for more BIG players in the MTG community :)
#MTGConnections
#HMCommunity
#SVUgrowth
Shout out to the SVU podcast! If you haven't checked it out see the link above :)
ALSO, I am looking for submissions for your best BURNINATOR decks. Leave a comment or catch me on Twitter :D (There may be prizes involved)
@Ricostravels
Burninating through Blizzcon 2013
Sorry for the delay burninites, life got in the way of
blogging last week. I won’t get into details but ever feel like you’ve played 4
GPs in the span of 5 days? That’s pretty much what I was dealing with last
week! I hope you enjoyed the Nathan Holt feature interview the week before; it
was great to connect with one of the big figures in our game! Community is
important in our world of MTG and it’s great to see how accessible some people
can be! I have a few new interesting people on deck but I want to space them
out a bit so you don’t get tired of one format of blog entry or another (let me
know what you think!)
I wrote an article a few weeks ago about a game called
Hearthstone that Blizzard entertainment is in the process of Beta testing. I
was extremely fortunate to get a beta key and have had a chance to play it. I
also spent last weekend virtually-attending Blizzcon 2013, the major Blizzard
gaming conference. I have some thoughts.
---
First thing, right off the bat this game is a heck of a lot
of fun to play. I was up and running instantly (Mac and PC). The tutorials are
short and sweet and get the message across. As an MTG player, initially it felt
a bit simplified, you get an additional mana every turn (to 10), you can only
mulligan once (And you don’t pay a card penalty for it), the turns are fast and
so are the games, oh…and no one can play cards on your turn! But you know what?
There’s a hidden complexity that is just waiting to be tapped. Oh..and it
didn’t cost me a cent. Zip, zero, nadda. (Contrast that with the cost of a
playset of the powerful cards in paper MTG, and the cost of Parallels to run
windows on my Mac for modo).
At Blizzcon, I got a very interesting perspective from the developers;
they wanted the games short and sweet. Not just so it could be tackled by the
majority Youtube generation, but because at the end of the day, they want you
to enjoy the interaction with your opponents cards, no matter if you win or
lose. This is something that I think Blizzard does very well, if I play and get
destroyed, I can just play again, it’s another 10 minutes of my time and I get
matched against a new player. No biggie. If I win however, I’m rewarded with
icons, achievements, more cards, and currency to build my own cards. It’s a
didn’t-win/win situation. They want every turn to be a puzzle, and that in of
itself is the fun of the game, not just winning.
Perhaps the most pivotal or controversial element for fans
of collectable card games is the lack of trading. I can’t and will never be
able to trade my cards for your cards. I really, REALLY, like this idea. In my
mind this keeps Epic cards epic (Card rarity is actually representative of what
you’ll see in the game), and it keeps the cost of the game down. You now have
to be out of your mind to drop hundreds of dollars on cards, with low low
chances of opening the Epic or Legendary cards you might be after. I have made
no secret of my distain for card hoarders who compromise the health of the game
for their own interests (Flipping cards on Modo is a bit different but I’m generally
referring to paper card availability).
---
Blizzcon was great for several reasons; I got to see
Hearthstone played as well as listen to commentary for how the game was
designed inside and out. I watched the first ever tournament, which was fast
paced and absolutely thrilling and all in all the atmosphere was fantastic. Something
that really struck me was the huge emphasis Blizzard put on having every
element of the game received in a positive and fun light.
As it stands, MTG has the upper hand in the depth of the
game and in my opinion replayability. But Blizzard is roaring onto the
battlefield with a product that is flashier, more accessible, and has an
enormous 24hr player base right out of the game. I absolutely cannot see WotC
not taking notice. I’m excited for the future of both games :D
BTW, if anyone has any extra Beta Keys for hearthstone, I’d
really like to give one away to my followers…I’m working on it!!
#FortheAlliance
#BlizzconwasAWESOME
#HearthstoneBurninating
@Ricostravels
Nathan Holt (@WalkThePlanes) on the GentlemenBurninatorSociety HOTseat!!!
Welcome to the Gentlemen Burninator Society's inaugural interview. I'm SO stoked to have my first planeswalker on the blog, Nathan Holt!!
Check out his work at http://www.youtube.com/
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RT: Welcome Nathan, mind the fire...no really your cape is smoking a bit there..
NH: That's normal. It's to create a smoke-shield that will confuse beasts that might otherwise attack us. I understand if it makes you uncomfortable.
RT: I just wanted to start by saying, I really enjoy your work! Your contribution to sharing the Magic community and keeping magic approachable for all skill levels has been awesome. You're actually one of the more accessible MTG figures I've come across on Twitter too, so thank you for that (@WalkThePlanes).
NH: You're welcome! That's music to my ears!
RT: Where did you get your start in Magic?
NH: When 3rd Edition came out way back in 1994 and I was a wee lad, my friend Tom introduced me to the game. I was obsessed with both collectible cards and fantasy tales, so I was quite taken by the game.
RT: What fuels your interest in Magic?
NH: It's a great way to socialize. I love structured activities with my friends, and Magic is a great way to bring friends together in that way.
RT: How much do you get to play now with your schedule? Do you play in paper, online, and/or consoles? My first experience was with DotP 2012.
NH: I play a few nights a week with my friends. Almost always paper. I play a little bit of MTGO. DotP is also great.
RT: What does the sense of community mean to you in Magic? Do you have a local spot?
NH: It means everything. WTP started as a kind of love letter from me to the community. The community has always supported us wonderfully. My main local spot is my brother's coffee table in South Philly. But Top Deck Games and Redcap's Corner are also great local game stores that I play at from time to time.
RT: Your videos are shot from all over the globe, what's it like traveling and seeing different cultures all sharing the same interest in Magic?
NH: It's a testament to how great the game and community are that there are players from all over the world attending are converging on the convention centers that host the Magic tournaments that we shoot at. The international representation demands a kind of respect from hobbyists everywhere. Magic is legit.
RT: Do you have a favourite place (Plane/Country) you've travelled to? Anywhere you'd like to visit?
NH: I hated Mirrodin. Zendikar was a blast until the Eldrazi ruined all the fun. Amsterdam is a phenomenal city. I'd love to go Japan and/or Kamigawa.
RT: Is there anything you're specifically excited to experience in Magic's future?
NH: The integration of more women into organized play. It's going to happen.
RT: Where did you get your start producing videos?
NH: I'm an actor/writer, so I've been involved in various video projects for years going back to the 6th grade with my buddies in the backyard.
<Lightning Round -- We play red, you knew this was coming>
RT: Favourite colour to play
NH: Lately, it's red!
RT: Favourite card
NH: Ambush Viper.
RT: Favourite figure in Magic (Player and/or character)
NH: Luis Scott-Vargas.
RT: Favourite Set
NH: Theros!
RT: Do you listen to MTG podcasts?
NH: Yes.
RT: Any plans to produce an MTG movie?
NH: .....stay tuned....
<Grabs fire extinguisher>
RT: A lot of new players will see you as one of the first Magic figures in the WotC videos, do you have any advice for them?
NH: Always try to have fun, don't get upset about bad luck, do what you can to help your opponent have fun.
RT: What do you think is the best way to introduce new players to the game and help them get started in the Magic community?
NH: Play with a friend. Play slowly. Don't try to learn all the rules at once. Duels of the Planeswalkers is terrific. It doesn't give a crap if you mess up the rules or if you wanna take 10 minutes on your turn.
RT: My Magic community started in England but has since expanded across the globe through my travels and with social media (Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook). The core thing I've seen no matter where I've gone, is a shared interest in the game and the rich social experiences that it creates. On that note I'd like to shout out the Heavy Meta Podcast and it's army of listeners (#HMSVU) around the globe for fuelling my interest when I've been away from home!
RT: Do you have anyone you'd like to shout out?
NH: Jay Roselius aka Emilio Airhorn. He makes all the sweet electro-music for the show and he's a super fun guy to play silly games of multiplayer Magic with.
RT: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
NH: I encourage everyone reading this to aid me in my quest to defeat Mark Rosewater and overthrow Wizards of the Coast!
RT: Thanks again Nathan, really looking forward to what you have for us next!
NH: *disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a single Storm Crow*
---
Absolutely thrilled to have Nathan on!
@Ricostravels
Wait for it!!! Wait for it!!!
Nothing for the next 2 weeks guys, I'm a one man operation and sometimes life (in this case EXAMS) gets in the way. I have some exciting projects on the go that I can't wait to share :)
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---
Bear with me here, it'll be worth it!!
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Bear with me here, it'll be worth it!!
@Ricostravels
Burninated!!
So red is the colour of power, energy, passion, and impulsiveness...and yes..in a complete turn around from last week (sorry @Mattystudios) I bought my Mono Red "all in" deck. It got me thinking a bit...why does Red just resonate with me?
Mono red is often criticized as the deck you play if you hate game interaction whether it be playing against the other person (and not just playing your deck), or the short length of the matches (you live or die by the speed of your deck and its ability to deliver). Some have even criticized it as a deck that takes "no skill to play", you know what? Fair point. Anyone can pick up a Red deck and get with the game-plan, but if you want to consistently win, you're going to need more than burn and fast creatures.
---
I like Red because it lets me do what I want to do in magic, avoid drawing due to time, follow a specific set of objectives and plays, and win. There is no other deck that I know of that fits these goals better than Mono Red.
I like making critical decisions where I can see the IMMEDIATE effect of my actions and plays. Every play counts in the ticking time bomb that is; can I beat you before that turn 5 play comes down and I need to settle for burn and hope you haven't got lifegain in your card sleeve(s).
As a new player, I would go so far to say it's been critical for my development and understanding of the game, to see how the mechanics of different decks play out, against my predetermined, but lightning fast approach. The clearer your plays are to me and how your deck works, the clearer my lines of play. Red is a learning tool for new players and a challenge for experienced players to master. It's also one of those decks that logically makes sense. The 4 of's make for familiar grips and the opportunity for important experience and repetition. Remember, I'm not a player with years or experience, or even a great deal of experience in the last year. Odds are in every single game I'm playing, I'm trying to catch up to your experience level.
My first experience deckbuilding and playing competitively was with UW Control (might as well have been called UW Deeeenied -- There's a new society name in there somewhere!) and I learned so little about other decks and my own, that it changed what was initially an adrenaline rush to a dragged out inevitability. I may have stopped you every step of the way for the first 5 turns, but after that the game stalled and so did the interest of both players.
Red, is the rush I look for when slinging cardboard. Red gives me the biggest opportunity to evaluate situations, put you under extreme pressure, learn, re-evaluate, and of course BURNINATE.
---
Huge dip in views last week! Not sure what's up but maybe I need to rekindle the flame here...I've been in discussion with @theproxyguy about producing some @Ricostravels/GentlemenBurninatorSociety tokens (might mail those around the world if people are interested in snapping a pic of them playing with it). I'm also hoping to put together a custom playmat so I can spread the word a bit when I finally get back to land and sling cardboard with some of you but not without some time and energy to put a solid design together.
I REALLY appreciate this support with re-tweets and to my dedicated readers, thank you, you're awesome and I've really enjoyed sharing discussions on some of the topics that come up!! I am ALWAYS interested in your views on issues that come up and particularly on where in the world you're reading from :D
#burinateatanycost
#prefereablycheapandefficientthough
#studentofthegame
Shout out! @EatenByBeebles
@Ricostravels
Mono red is often criticized as the deck you play if you hate game interaction whether it be playing against the other person (and not just playing your deck), or the short length of the matches (you live or die by the speed of your deck and its ability to deliver). Some have even criticized it as a deck that takes "no skill to play", you know what? Fair point. Anyone can pick up a Red deck and get with the game-plan, but if you want to consistently win, you're going to need more than burn and fast creatures.
---
I like Red because it lets me do what I want to do in magic, avoid drawing due to time, follow a specific set of objectives and plays, and win. There is no other deck that I know of that fits these goals better than Mono Red.
I like making critical decisions where I can see the IMMEDIATE effect of my actions and plays. Every play counts in the ticking time bomb that is; can I beat you before that turn 5 play comes down and I need to settle for burn and hope you haven't got lifegain in your card sleeve(s).
As a new player, I would go so far to say it's been critical for my development and understanding of the game, to see how the mechanics of different decks play out, against my predetermined, but lightning fast approach. The clearer your plays are to me and how your deck works, the clearer my lines of play. Red is a learning tool for new players and a challenge for experienced players to master. It's also one of those decks that logically makes sense. The 4 of's make for familiar grips and the opportunity for important experience and repetition. Remember, I'm not a player with years or experience, or even a great deal of experience in the last year. Odds are in every single game I'm playing, I'm trying to catch up to your experience level.
My first experience deckbuilding and playing competitively was with UW Control (might as well have been called UW Deeeenied -- There's a new society name in there somewhere!) and I learned so little about other decks and my own, that it changed what was initially an adrenaline rush to a dragged out inevitability. I may have stopped you every step of the way for the first 5 turns, but after that the game stalled and so did the interest of both players.
Red, is the rush I look for when slinging cardboard. Red gives me the biggest opportunity to evaluate situations, put you under extreme pressure, learn, re-evaluate, and of course BURNINATE.
---
Huge dip in views last week! Not sure what's up but maybe I need to rekindle the flame here...I've been in discussion with @theproxyguy about producing some @Ricostravels/GentlemenBurninatorSociety tokens (might mail those around the world if people are interested in snapping a pic of them playing with it). I'm also hoping to put together a custom playmat so I can spread the word a bit when I finally get back to land and sling cardboard with some of you but not without some time and energy to put a solid design together.
I REALLY appreciate this support with re-tweets and to my dedicated readers, thank you, you're awesome and I've really enjoyed sharing discussions on some of the topics that come up!! I am ALWAYS interested in your views on issues that come up and particularly on where in the world you're reading from :D
#burinateatanycost
#prefereablycheapandefficientthough
#studentofthegame
Shout out! @EatenByBeebles
@Ricostravels
Not a bad problem to have
So watching Pro Tour Theros in Dublin, and being on the other side of the world, and being a couple of months still away from home (and the opportunity to play paper). It hit me, I have no REAL idea what I'm going to get to play when I get back to Canada. I have a dilemma that maybe you can help me with. (Note: Thanks to @Mattystudios for keeping me from compulsively buying every card I want to play on a whim).
---
If you look carefully at one of my previous articles, specifically my top 10 cards, you'll see that every colour of the pie is represented. I have the shell for UW control, I have some of the cards for RDW, I have some of the pieces for Green aggro, I have the shock lands to support almost every significant colour combination...and...I don't own any of the high yield planeswalkers.
Before I sound like every other player who is moaning about card prices and availability...I want to show you the other side of the coin. Right now, the field is so diverse, so rich in archetypes and flavour, that it almost doesn't matter which direction I go in. So I'm reasonably (@MattyStudios might disagree) content to hold back and wait for the time being. Paper speculators be damned, the more diverse the field, the greater the spread of demand and the more affordable the cards may become over time.
For someone in my position (not being able to physically play paper for a few more months) it means that it's less necessary to snatch up the cards I forecast are going to be in demand (For Instance: if I hadn't called Thundermaw Hellkite early, I never could have played UWR Tempo). When the meta moves forward and IF (big if) it remains so diverse the greater spread of desirable cards, SHOULD keep the demand for specific cards more under control. To me, and perhaps to WotC, when the field remains competitive and diverse we all win. More people can afford to play (and win) with different decks, and each deck has to prepare for the larger field of options, opponents, and strategies. Simply put, the greater the field diversity, the greater the chance that skilled play wins out over raw card power, while maintaining the lowest barrier to entry possible.
---
I'm not a card speculator in the true nature of the term, I'm not looking to flip cards for profit. I try to forecast prices so I can actually play the game with the pieces that should be available to everyone. While rarity is great for making limited play special and truly giving you that "wow" feeling when you see a card hit the board, it really REALLY ruins the chance to play with all the cards in a set. When cards reach that level that they really only acquired with loads of money (And that money scales directly to rarity and power in standard), instead of merit (re: any MMO) or chance (such as boosters), it's only the richest (wo)man who wins at the expense of the greater field.
#WhatdeckshouldIplay
#Abolishmythic
#PTTHS
@Ricostravels
---
If you look carefully at one of my previous articles, specifically my top 10 cards, you'll see that every colour of the pie is represented. I have the shell for UW control, I have some of the cards for RDW, I have some of the pieces for Green aggro, I have the shock lands to support almost every significant colour combination...and...I don't own any of the high yield planeswalkers.
Before I sound like every other player who is moaning about card prices and availability...I want to show you the other side of the coin. Right now, the field is so diverse, so rich in archetypes and flavour, that it almost doesn't matter which direction I go in. So I'm reasonably (@MattyStudios might disagree) content to hold back and wait for the time being. Paper speculators be damned, the more diverse the field, the greater the spread of demand and the more affordable the cards may become over time.
For someone in my position (not being able to physically play paper for a few more months) it means that it's less necessary to snatch up the cards I forecast are going to be in demand (For Instance: if I hadn't called Thundermaw Hellkite early, I never could have played UWR Tempo). When the meta moves forward and IF (big if) it remains so diverse the greater spread of desirable cards, SHOULD keep the demand for specific cards more under control. To me, and perhaps to WotC, when the field remains competitive and diverse we all win. More people can afford to play (and win) with different decks, and each deck has to prepare for the larger field of options, opponents, and strategies. Simply put, the greater the field diversity, the greater the chance that skilled play wins out over raw card power, while maintaining the lowest barrier to entry possible.
---
I'm not a card speculator in the true nature of the term, I'm not looking to flip cards for profit. I try to forecast prices so I can actually play the game with the pieces that should be available to everyone. While rarity is great for making limited play special and truly giving you that "wow" feeling when you see a card hit the board, it really REALLY ruins the chance to play with all the cards in a set. When cards reach that level that they really only acquired with loads of money (And that money scales directly to rarity and power in standard), instead of merit (re: any MMO) or chance (such as boosters), it's only the richest (wo)man who wins at the expense of the greater field.
#WhatdeckshouldIplay
#Abolishmythic
#PTTHS
@Ricostravels
One month in
This is perhaps the easiest choice of topics in the long and illustrious lifespan of this blog. We're one month in, over 750 views, and the icing on the cake, I got derfed.
I'm not about to sit on my backend and revel in this glorious moment (I might take a min or two ;) ) by myself, so a BIG thank you to everyone reading this and especially to the retweeters among the HMSVU!
---
How about some cool stats?
Since this blog started a month ago, the number one referral method is through twitter, so every single retweet and favourite really counts! Right now the overall count is over 500 views with most of them from Twitter, Manadeprived, and a few other random sites. I've tried my best to share the link without being spammy and to always to post it when it's relevant to the material at hand.
My Hearthstone article is the most viewed by a significant margin, behind it are how much is too much article and my top 10 cards. I always want to keep my posts interesting and unique so it'd be interesting to hear what you like the most.
Most of you reading are from America, followed by Canada and then the rest of the world. I have viewers from: UK, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, Australia, Germany, France, and the Caribbean...and I'm sure the IPs are being mixed up a bit with NZ and Portugal not appearing! I LOVE the global viewership guys and gals!
Twitter has been amazing for sharing your stories as well! It's been awesome to follow along on your MTG experiences from Asia, Europe, the US, and the South Pacific! Twitter so much more than just sharing what you had for lunch, and it's incredible how it's been a such a tool for networking and growth. Heavy Meta is built on a foundation of personalities and chemistry and is distributed far a wide by mutual interests and the viral nature of Twitter sharing.
---
Where do we go from here? I want to continue to produce short, interesting stories and perspectives that you can enjoy or at the very least give you food for thought. If there was anything I would like to increase..it might be my approachability, whether it be on Twitter or just in people responding to my posts, I really do savour the interaction over these mediums. What do you think? Let me know :)
Finally, I want to thank @Derfington for taking the time to do a picture of me in his unique and always eye catching art-style. It's something I've wanted so badly for so long, and I know these things take time and energy. Thank you!
I remain in awe of how fast this Heavy Meta machine continues to roll forward.
@Ricostravels
I'm not about to sit on my backend and revel in this glorious moment (I might take a min or two ;) ) by myself, so a BIG thank you to everyone reading this and especially to the retweeters among the HMSVU!
---
How about some cool stats?
Since this blog started a month ago, the number one referral method is through twitter, so every single retweet and favourite really counts! Right now the overall count is over 500 views with most of them from Twitter, Manadeprived, and a few other random sites. I've tried my best to share the link without being spammy and to always to post it when it's relevant to the material at hand.
My Hearthstone article is the most viewed by a significant margin, behind it are how much is too much article and my top 10 cards. I always want to keep my posts interesting and unique so it'd be interesting to hear what you like the most.
Most of you reading are from America, followed by Canada and then the rest of the world. I have viewers from: UK, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, Australia, Germany, France, and the Caribbean...and I'm sure the IPs are being mixed up a bit with NZ and Portugal not appearing! I LOVE the global viewership guys and gals!
Twitter has been amazing for sharing your stories as well! It's been awesome to follow along on your MTG experiences from Asia, Europe, the US, and the South Pacific! Twitter so much more than just sharing what you had for lunch, and it's incredible how it's been a such a tool for networking and growth. Heavy Meta is built on a foundation of personalities and chemistry and is distributed far a wide by mutual interests and the viral nature of Twitter sharing.
---
Where do we go from here? I want to continue to produce short, interesting stories and perspectives that you can enjoy or at the very least give you food for thought. If there was anything I would like to increase..it might be my approachability, whether it be on Twitter or just in people responding to my posts, I really do savour the interaction over these mediums. What do you think? Let me know :)
Finally, I want to thank @Derfington for taking the time to do a picture of me in his unique and always eye catching art-style. It's something I've wanted so badly for so long, and I know these things take time and energy. Thank you!
I remain in awe of how fast this Heavy Meta machine continues to roll forward.
@Ricostravels
Top 10 cards I can't wait to play with
As some of you may know, or have figured out from my cryptic twitter handle, I travel (What does Rico do...He travels - Kevy)
I love travelling, but it keeps me from playing MTG a lot of the time (like right now where my closest card shop is a 1 hour flight away or a 24 hour swim). To make a long story short, I haven't got a chance to play with paper cards since the 2013 winter holiday season and I won't until 2014.
So without further or do, here are the top 10 cards I can't wait to play with in no particular order!
---
1) Scavenging Ooze - Can't wait to play with this card, the om nom nom ability looks sick, finding a way to get your ooze through seems to be the biggest problem but luckily that's what removal is for..it also feeds the ooze! Supposed to be less powerful with Theros but I won't know the difference :)
2) Deathrite Shaman - I've never had a chance to play with this guy, but I can see him fitting into a Std Rock deck or fueling my Modern BR burn deck into the later game. Not completely sold on either but I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin regardless.
3) Dark Confidant - Modern BR burn, loading up on twice as many cards (or more) per turn sounds burntastic to me! More an investment piece in case I can pony up to play Modern Jund!
4) Lightning Bolt - It's THE burn spell, I'm in no way new to this one but it's fun to have so many options. #gentlemenburninatorsociety
5) Firedrinker Satyr - This is my noob card. When it came out I called it "garbage" because I frankly couldn't see past its downside. Excited to take this for a spin and discover what this card is really made of.
6) Sphinx's Revelation - I had this sucker in my Std UWR Tempo deck but never needed to cast him (note: UWR Tempo might as well have been Red and blue and white deck wins -- perhaps my fav deck ever).
7) Thoughtseize - A lot of hype around this one. If I can ever afford to pick them up, I'm interested to give them a go. Feeds the ooze? Nom.
8) Shocklands - Knowing your 3 colour deck is sorted by turn 2 is a great feeling.
9) Dreadbore - Planeswalkers are going to pile up in standard so killing them for BR is fine with me. At this stage I don't really like planeswalkers, they complicate the game (make it very expensive) and the more recent changes kinda kill the flavour, I'm also still new so simple is better.
10) Jace, Memory Adept - This is the only standard legal planeswalker I own. I could never get him to mill someone to death, but with all these Sphinx's revelation decks, you could see it happening and being a key piece in the mirror match.
---
That's all for me this week, I'm pretty excited to get to actually play this game again. The amount of time I spend reading up on playing MTG so I can finally play like I know what I'm doing, when I do physically get to play with my paper cards, is absolutely bonkers. I've ordered a pile of cards from FacetoFacegames, and I can't wait to get my HeavyMeta shirt when I get home in December #EarlyHolidayPresents
Until then, DotP 2014 will have to do!
@Ricostravels -- Thank you for every Retweet and Favourite! Which cards are you looking forward to playing with?
I love travelling, but it keeps me from playing MTG a lot of the time (like right now where my closest card shop is a 1 hour flight away or a 24 hour swim). To make a long story short, I haven't got a chance to play with paper cards since the 2013 winter holiday season and I won't until 2014.
So without further or do, here are the top 10 cards I can't wait to play with in no particular order!
---
1) Scavenging Ooze - Can't wait to play with this card, the om nom nom ability looks sick, finding a way to get your ooze through seems to be the biggest problem but luckily that's what removal is for..it also feeds the ooze! Supposed to be less powerful with Theros but I won't know the difference :)
2) Deathrite Shaman - I've never had a chance to play with this guy, but I can see him fitting into a Std Rock deck or fueling my Modern BR burn deck into the later game. Not completely sold on either but I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin regardless.
3) Dark Confidant - Modern BR burn, loading up on twice as many cards (or more) per turn sounds burntastic to me! More an investment piece in case I can pony up to play Modern Jund!
4) Lightning Bolt - It's THE burn spell, I'm in no way new to this one but it's fun to have so many options. #gentlemenburninatorsociety
5) Firedrinker Satyr - This is my noob card. When it came out I called it "garbage" because I frankly couldn't see past its downside. Excited to take this for a spin and discover what this card is really made of.
6) Sphinx's Revelation - I had this sucker in my Std UWR Tempo deck but never needed to cast him (note: UWR Tempo might as well have been Red and blue and white deck wins -- perhaps my fav deck ever).
7) Thoughtseize - A lot of hype around this one. If I can ever afford to pick them up, I'm interested to give them a go. Feeds the ooze? Nom.
8) Shocklands - Knowing your 3 colour deck is sorted by turn 2 is a great feeling.
9) Dreadbore - Planeswalkers are going to pile up in standard so killing them for BR is fine with me. At this stage I don't really like planeswalkers, they complicate the game (make it very expensive) and the more recent changes kinda kill the flavour, I'm also still new so simple is better.
10) Jace, Memory Adept - This is the only standard legal planeswalker I own. I could never get him to mill someone to death, but with all these Sphinx's revelation decks, you could see it happening and being a key piece in the mirror match.
---
That's all for me this week, I'm pretty excited to get to actually play this game again. The amount of time I spend reading up on playing MTG so I can finally play like I know what I'm doing, when I do physically get to play with my paper cards, is absolutely bonkers. I've ordered a pile of cards from FacetoFacegames, and I can't wait to get my HeavyMeta shirt when I get home in December #EarlyHolidayPresents
Until then, DotP 2014 will have to do!
@Ricostravels -- Thank you for every Retweet and Favourite! Which cards are you looking forward to playing with?
How much is too much?
Magic is fun, magic is physically accessible, magic can be competitive. Magic is expensive.
As a new player, it took me a full 1.5 matches on my very first day playing to get a feel for the difference between a deck fuelled with flavour and a deck fuelled with power (and by power I mean money). It makes sense, it's supply and demand, cards that are more powerful are more in demand. Cards that are more in demand can be sold at a higher price. Winning is fun, magic can be a money pit if you like fun. I like fun.
As a new player, it took me a full 1.5 matches on my very first day playing to get a feel for the difference between a deck fuelled with flavour and a deck fuelled with power (and by power I mean money). It makes sense, it's supply and demand, cards that are more powerful are more in demand. Cards that are more in demand can be sold at a higher price. Winning is fun, magic can be a money pit if you like fun. I like fun.
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Magic is a collectable, tradable, card game. Meaning you buy randomized packs of cards and revel in the almost mythical reputation the "cracking" packs of cards hold. What will you get? It's the power lottery; $3 in might net you $50 out!
I stopped buying packs of cards when I realized that I liked winning more than gambling (I don't like gambling). I think this is something that most players will go through relatively early in their card-slinging lives. That's not to say I don't like opening packs, I just won't go out of my way to buy them with the veiled hope of pulling the one card in 250 with a high rarity reducing the odds further. I tried an intro pack, a thematic deck designed to get me up and running. After playing a Tier 1 deck, I realized the discrepancy between the haves, the have nots, and the price tag that goes with winning.
I found myself watching the SCG event last night cheering for Mono Red, why? "It's such a cheap deck", "takes no skill to play", blah blah (you're wrong on both fronts but that's for another article). I liked the idea of a deck priced at under $200 kicking the crap out of cards that run $40 a piece. I still do. Lowering the cost ceiling of standard is something I can only dream of. Winning because you're a better player, and not because your budget is bigger, is another pipe dream.
And then it hit me, when Mono Red wins, the value goes up. Mono Red has the potential to also break the bank. *Ugh*
---
Magic is not chess. Not everyone is entitled to the same pieces when they sit down to play. Variety and the ensuing complexity make MTG fascinating to me. I WANT to play with big powerful cards, because they're big and powerful, AND go along nicely with the winning game plan.
People in Magic talk about "power creep" and if you cite my earlier logic, I completely agree. This game is going to "power creep" me and my wallet right out of the game.
@Ricostravels
Hearthstone is the elephant in the room MTGO isn't talking about
MTGO, it's time for a reality check. There's an elephant, it's not in the room JUST yet, but its time to talk about it. Hearthstone is going to shake things up.
Hearthstone, is Blizzard's answer to MTG and without any paper basis, it's looking to take over the TCG world. But it's not a TCG...it's a CCG. That's right, at the time of launch there will be no trading, just "in game purchases" in the form of packs. As WoW has proven though, auction houses supporting 12 million people is perhaps not outside of Blizzard's grasp (D3 not withstanding).
But without getting too far into the nitty gritty, let's see what we're dealing with here.
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To the horde of WoW/D3/SC2 fans, Hearthstone is about to introduce the millions of them to card games and it's going to be easy to get started, simple to play, instantly have a massive player base, and be incredibly profitable. This is the company that smashed video game records and arguably was one of the most influential elements of mainstreaming geek-culture to date. This is first REAL challenge the MTGO program has ever seen.
MTGO is clunky, it's ugly, it can take hours to set up and run (I'm a Mac user, you don't want to know what I went through) it hasn't been forced to change before because it hasn't had to, it's been the only kid on the block.
If I have a shiny, clean, interface that instantly connects me to other users, I don't need to go through that hassle. Now I'm already in the system, I love MTG and I've crossed the hurdles but I'm also part of the community that's almost brand spanking new. This is where things get interesting.
My forecast for the impending Hearthstone release, a mix of sun a cloud:
Blizzard will single handedly cause the biggest surge of interest in card games in years. New players, who have for years been on the fringe of playing cards will be immersed in the mechanics and strategies that make MTG awesome. But they'll be introduced to the beginner friendly Hearthstone and gradually discover its underlying intricacies. Some of those players are going to break into paper MTG "horah!" and some of those are going to TRY to play MTG online...
..and WotC is going to lose them right out of the gates. MTGO for many new players isn't intuitive, it isn't easy to follow along, and there is no one there to offer you help (Orcs? Are you kidding me..). If you haven't got the drive to play MTG with all the "conveniences" of playing online, you're not sticking around.
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I think WotC has a real opportunity here, but they're going to be playing catch up the entire time (odd for a game that's been around 20 years). The Duels of the Planeswaker series of games are fantastic, they're made for new players, and they're what hooked my attention in the first place. WotC needs to accept that the MTGO "client" that they've been flogging for so long, is going the way of the dodo and that DotP is the future. But it's not one or the other. For WotC to thrive online, as it has immense potential to do, it needs to merge a few things:
- The interface and intuitive design of DotP, over several platforms
- The events and trade options of MTGO
- Incorporate the wider (paper) player base, like they're starting to do with Planeswalker Points
- The social elements (arguably the soul) of playing a card game
Paper is never going to go away, but digital is the future if WotC wants to continue to control the direction of its own market. Blizzard are getting a major head start, it's up to WotC to go with the flow or keep fighting against the current.
@Ricostravels
Hearthstone, is Blizzard's answer to MTG and without any paper basis, it's looking to take over the TCG world. But it's not a TCG...it's a CCG. That's right, at the time of launch there will be no trading, just "in game purchases" in the form of packs. As WoW has proven though, auction houses supporting 12 million people is perhaps not outside of Blizzard's grasp (D3 not withstanding).
But without getting too far into the nitty gritty, let's see what we're dealing with here.
---
To the horde of WoW/D3/SC2 fans, Hearthstone is about to introduce the millions of them to card games and it's going to be easy to get started, simple to play, instantly have a massive player base, and be incredibly profitable. This is the company that smashed video game records and arguably was one of the most influential elements of mainstreaming geek-culture to date. This is first REAL challenge the MTGO program has ever seen.
MTGO is clunky, it's ugly, it can take hours to set up and run (I'm a Mac user, you don't want to know what I went through) it hasn't been forced to change before because it hasn't had to, it's been the only kid on the block.
If I have a shiny, clean, interface that instantly connects me to other users, I don't need to go through that hassle. Now I'm already in the system, I love MTG and I've crossed the hurdles but I'm also part of the community that's almost brand spanking new. This is where things get interesting.
My forecast for the impending Hearthstone release, a mix of sun a cloud:
Blizzard will single handedly cause the biggest surge of interest in card games in years. New players, who have for years been on the fringe of playing cards will be immersed in the mechanics and strategies that make MTG awesome. But they'll be introduced to the beginner friendly Hearthstone and gradually discover its underlying intricacies. Some of those players are going to break into paper MTG "horah!" and some of those are going to TRY to play MTG online...
..and WotC is going to lose them right out of the gates. MTGO for many new players isn't intuitive, it isn't easy to follow along, and there is no one there to offer you help (Orcs? Are you kidding me..). If you haven't got the drive to play MTG with all the "conveniences" of playing online, you're not sticking around.
---
I think WotC has a real opportunity here, but they're going to be playing catch up the entire time (odd for a game that's been around 20 years). The Duels of the Planeswaker series of games are fantastic, they're made for new players, and they're what hooked my attention in the first place. WotC needs to accept that the MTGO "client" that they've been flogging for so long, is going the way of the dodo and that DotP is the future. But it's not one or the other. For WotC to thrive online, as it has immense potential to do, it needs to merge a few things:
- The interface and intuitive design of DotP, over several platforms
- The events and trade options of MTGO
- Incorporate the wider (paper) player base, like they're starting to do with Planeswalker Points
- The social elements (arguably the soul) of playing a card game
Paper is never going to go away, but digital is the future if WotC wants to continue to control the direction of its own market. Blizzard are getting a major head start, it's up to WotC to go with the flow or keep fighting against the current.
@Ricostravels
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