Go here: http://http://goo.gl/forms/bn0Kl7bZOa Cross your fingers. #WinOneShippedToYourDoor!
Happy Holidays! :)
@Ricostravels
Hearthstone has made me a MUCH better Magic player
There is something in all competitive hobbies that I like to call the "glass ceiling". It's not the societal barriers to the highest accolades or positions that exist outside the gaming world, but it is a very real psychological barrier that says "I'll never reach their level, there is something others see that I just don't get". This was my approach to Magic for years (actual game time probably only a few months -- I travel), others understood the game at a level that no amount of reading, watching videos, or theory crafting could help me with.
Enter Hearthstone; Blizzard's answer to CCGs, following the "free to play" model, Hearthstone has set out to create an engaging card game that their website totes as "Deceptively simple. Insanely fun.". I think it does this and a lot more.
I have said, much to the scepticism or complete surprise of a few players, that Hearthstone has made me a MUCH better MTG player. I want to walk you through why.
---
If you talk to some of the best players in magic as I've been lucky to do, you get a real sense of the depth of their understanding of the game. There are unique deck archetypes, card dynamics, and a general synergy that new players try to understand, but at the core, they still don't "get it".
To back up a bit, let me walk you through a common approach I have to problems (in games and in life). I internally examine if the problem is important enough to me to get where I want to go. I look at the major vectors involved in the problem and how it's constructed. Finally, I boil the problem down to the core elements I need, break the pieces apart, and rebuild from the ground up. Magic the gathering, on the surface, seems like a deceptively easy problem to solve. There are game items (cards), rules of play, and there are always a series of objectives that you have to accomplish to achieve your desired goal; winning the game. Here lies the deception, and as a new player, you don't see it until you've been around the block to truly appreciate the depth of the card pool (I still can't see the bottom), and respect the raw value that you can only gain from worthwhile experience.
Let me run some numbers past you; The first iteration of MTG: Alpha, had a card pool of 295 cards, Beta had 302, currently there are over 13,000 unique cards in existence and 1,278 of those are legal in Standard. While so many of those cards are functional reprints of cards you veterans of the game have seen many times before, it's a new and daunting experience for us new kids on the block to see and appreciate each one.
Hearthstone has 465 playable cards. Based on MTG (there is no denying that), it has come to the forefront as a game that has greatly benefit from the balance issues, and many pitfalls that MTG has overcome over 20 years. In many ways Hearthstone has been given the evolutionary roadmap that MTG (As the only big kid on the block) has laid out over years of growth and experience.
---
I will never get the opportunity to play as some of you guys/gals did in the early stages of magic, when there was a reasonable limit to the number of cards and options you had at your disposal. I will likely never get the chance to see a COMPLETELY new archetype shape the future of card games. But Hearthstone, to me, is the closest I will ever get to that opportunity and really is analogous to a polished version of the Alpha and Beta days. It has given me the chance to witness raw card value, lines of play that are worth setting up, an appreciation for long and short game strategies. Importantly it does so with a sense of tangible achievement as I go along, in a casual and non-intimidating manner, in a manner that respects my time and finances.
This simplification of the "problem", in an accessible and well fleshed out presentation, comprised of short, feel good experiences, is arguably the best opportunity for players who don't have a veteran players to guide them through card games and lack personal experience. This brings me back to my original seemingly baffling sentiment; Hearthstone has given me an exponentially richer opportunity to not only improve my understanding of MTG but gaming as a whole. While experienced players may be quick to dismiss it as simple magic, or just not for them, I think it provides the critical fundamentals for new and established players to grow.
Give it a try! Add me to Battle.net: Ricostravels#1196, let me know what you think :)
Enter Hearthstone; Blizzard's answer to CCGs, following the "free to play" model, Hearthstone has set out to create an engaging card game that their website totes as "Deceptively simple. Insanely fun.". I think it does this and a lot more.
I have said, much to the scepticism or complete surprise of a few players, that Hearthstone has made me a MUCH better MTG player. I want to walk you through why.
---
If you talk to some of the best players in magic as I've been lucky to do, you get a real sense of the depth of their understanding of the game. There are unique deck archetypes, card dynamics, and a general synergy that new players try to understand, but at the core, they still don't "get it".
To back up a bit, let me walk you through a common approach I have to problems (in games and in life). I internally examine if the problem is important enough to me to get where I want to go. I look at the major vectors involved in the problem and how it's constructed. Finally, I boil the problem down to the core elements I need, break the pieces apart, and rebuild from the ground up. Magic the gathering, on the surface, seems like a deceptively easy problem to solve. There are game items (cards), rules of play, and there are always a series of objectives that you have to accomplish to achieve your desired goal; winning the game. Here lies the deception, and as a new player, you don't see it until you've been around the block to truly appreciate the depth of the card pool (I still can't see the bottom), and respect the raw value that you can only gain from worthwhile experience.
Let me run some numbers past you; The first iteration of MTG: Alpha, had a card pool of 295 cards, Beta had 302, currently there are over 13,000 unique cards in existence and 1,278 of those are legal in Standard. While so many of those cards are functional reprints of cards you veterans of the game have seen many times before, it's a new and daunting experience for us new kids on the block to see and appreciate each one.
Hearthstone has 465 playable cards. Based on MTG (there is no denying that), it has come to the forefront as a game that has greatly benefit from the balance issues, and many pitfalls that MTG has overcome over 20 years. In many ways Hearthstone has been given the evolutionary roadmap that MTG (As the only big kid on the block) has laid out over years of growth and experience.
---
I will never get the opportunity to play as some of you guys/gals did in the early stages of magic, when there was a reasonable limit to the number of cards and options you had at your disposal. I will likely never get the chance to see a COMPLETELY new archetype shape the future of card games. But Hearthstone, to me, is the closest I will ever get to that opportunity and really is analogous to a polished version of the Alpha and Beta days. It has given me the chance to witness raw card value, lines of play that are worth setting up, an appreciation for long and short game strategies. Importantly it does so with a sense of tangible achievement as I go along, in a casual and non-intimidating manner, in a manner that respects my time and finances.
This simplification of the "problem", in an accessible and well fleshed out presentation, comprised of short, feel good experiences, is arguably the best opportunity for players who don't have a veteran players to guide them through card games and lack personal experience. This brings me back to my original seemingly baffling sentiment; Hearthstone has given me an exponentially richer opportunity to not only improve my understanding of MTG but gaming as a whole. While experienced players may be quick to dismiss it as simple magic, or just not for them, I think it provides the critical fundamentals for new and established players to grow.
Give it a try! Add me to Battle.net: Ricostravels#1196, let me know what you think :)
#FreeToPlayValue
#Lookatitwithfresheyes
#TWEETMEYOURTOKENSYOULUCKYFEW
@Ricostravels
KAPOW! They get it!
Hello again Burninites! As most of you know I'm studying hardcore for important exams for the next few weeks, but I thought I'd break my silence to get back to the roots of GBS to tell you about my newbie experience at a store along my travels!
I haven't played paper in over a year and very much consider myself a student of the game, studying interactions and always looking at ways to refine my routes of play (for the ultra-rare opportunity that I do get to a shop!). I managed to visit Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada this winter and got some MTG games in on the side!
Heavy Meta, the HMSVU Cast, and many others talk about community and player experiences, a lot. It's for good reason, they shape how and more importantly, why we play Magic.
Kapow Ltd, a medium sized shop in Alberta, to me, embodies all the qualities that I look for and keep me engaged in this obsession that is MTG and fostering a community.
.JPG)
<Note: I'm purely writing this to detail my experiences. This shop had no idea who I was, so in my option these guys got it without any prompting, and I think this bodes very well for new stores!>
---
Coming into a new card/hobby store for the first time can be intimidating, I always feel a bit like the new kid in school. Stores that are dark, dank, and underground don't help! I've been to quite a few stores throughout my travels, and the ones that project a bright, well laid out, and CLEAN atmosphere really strike me as shops that are not only interested in catering to the old crowd, but expanding their customer base to easily introduce people walking off the street to fun new experiences!
The same could be said for the player bases that these stores cater to. I played my first tournament in years (Mono Red, you know it!!), flukishly won every match, and despite professing to be a beginner (which is entirely true) was met with friendly and encouraging players from all skill levels. You simply don't get that in an store that doesn't look after its player base by tending to the needs of veterans and newbies alike. Owners that get to know their customers and maintain the healthy and happy atmosphere in their stores share the benefits with their players!
Kapow Ltd. was great, not only in the shop chatting strategy and sussing out what I was interested in playing, but they also had a presence over email, on Twitter, and Facebook. The days of having a stagnant website were people only know where your store is located and your phone number are long behind us. Interacting, and engaging with players and potential customers is SO key for people passing through, and establishing the nature of your brand on the local scene. I connected with players in the shop, online, as well as with the store owners over email.
For me, Kapow Ltd. seemed genuinely interested in helping me connect with local players, and making it easy to access all formats of Magic (and really spurred my recent interest in EDH). This principle is so basic but I think can be so easily overlooked in established stores that don't look beyond their current player base.
---
I'm away from Alberta right now, but I can't wait to go back and play at Kapow Ltd.! There have only been a few shops that really spurred my excitement to play in their specific environment. If I had to boil it down to 3 principles it would be these: Approachability (friendliness/atmosphere), Accessibility (all playing abilities/genders/social backgrounds), and Connectivity (In store/Social media).
Shout out to Heavy Meta for establishing a similar presence over twitter, and big shout out to the Eh Team for inviting me to hang out while I was in the area (Definitely next time I'm in Calgary!!). Big thanks to Wallie and Nick of Kapow too :)
I haven't played paper in over a year and very much consider myself a student of the game, studying interactions and always looking at ways to refine my routes of play (for the ultra-rare opportunity that I do get to a shop!). I managed to visit Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada this winter and got some MTG games in on the side!
Heavy Meta, the HMSVU Cast, and many others talk about community and player experiences, a lot. It's for good reason, they shape how and more importantly, why we play Magic.
Kapow Ltd, a medium sized shop in Alberta, to me, embodies all the qualities that I look for and keep me engaged in this obsession that is MTG and fostering a community.
<Note: I'm purely writing this to detail my experiences. This shop had no idea who I was, so in my option these guys got it without any prompting, and I think this bodes very well for new stores!>
---
Coming into a new card/hobby store for the first time can be intimidating, I always feel a bit like the new kid in school. Stores that are dark, dank, and underground don't help! I've been to quite a few stores throughout my travels, and the ones that project a bright, well laid out, and CLEAN atmosphere really strike me as shops that are not only interested in catering to the old crowd, but expanding their customer base to easily introduce people walking off the street to fun new experiences!
The same could be said for the player bases that these stores cater to. I played my first tournament in years (Mono Red, you know it!!), flukishly won every match, and despite professing to be a beginner (which is entirely true) was met with friendly and encouraging players from all skill levels. You simply don't get that in an store that doesn't look after its player base by tending to the needs of veterans and newbies alike. Owners that get to know their customers and maintain the healthy and happy atmosphere in their stores share the benefits with their players!
Kapow Ltd. was great, not only in the shop chatting strategy and sussing out what I was interested in playing, but they also had a presence over email, on Twitter, and Facebook. The days of having a stagnant website were people only know where your store is located and your phone number are long behind us. Interacting, and engaging with players and potential customers is SO key for people passing through, and establishing the nature of your brand on the local scene. I connected with players in the shop, online, as well as with the store owners over email.
For me, Kapow Ltd. seemed genuinely interested in helping me connect with local players, and making it easy to access all formats of Magic (and really spurred my recent interest in EDH). This principle is so basic but I think can be so easily overlooked in established stores that don't look beyond their current player base.
---
I'm away from Alberta right now, but I can't wait to go back and play at Kapow Ltd.! There have only been a few shops that really spurred my excitement to play in their specific environment. If I had to boil it down to 3 principles it would be these: Approachability (friendliness/atmosphere), Accessibility (all playing abilities/genders/social backgrounds), and Connectivity (In store/Social media).
Shout out to Heavy Meta for establishing a similar presence over twitter, and big shout out to the Eh Team for inviting me to hang out while I was in the area (Definitely next time I'm in Calgary!!). Big thanks to Wallie and Nick of Kapow too :)
#BurnOnBurninators
#MakeTimeToHelpNewPlayers
#RETWEETTOBEENTEREDFORFREEGBSTECH!!
@Ricostravels
GBS card price bulletin!
I know this issue has been talked to death at this point, but in case it was worth 2 cents or more, here is my take.
---
---
I believe that WotC needs to look at the spikes in prices for Modern staples and directly respond. Not because more people need to be sustained in playing modern but because if they don't people WILL financially fatigue from how expensive this hobby is growing as a whole. There is a big difference in my mind between the player that has been in the game for +15 plus years and the newer guy (<5 years) who loves everything magic and wants to soak it all up (aka acquire cards to play older formats).
To give you a bit of a background, I played paintball for +15 years and that sport saw immense growth, in part driven by the cream of the crop winning with flashy and expensive paintball guns and newer players looking up to them. I was sponsored, all my paint was paid for, I shot a +2500 dollar paintball gun and this was all designed to drive sales of gear and paint that other players wanted to see. The sport grew immensely, but instead of companies expanding and lowering prices to feed the markets as more got in on the action (which is how normal increase in supply SHOULD work), the entering businesses fixed their prices, seeing what their competitors could get away with. In essence the companies saw what people could pay and each wanted more and more pieces of the same pie.
The key point to realize here is that both paintball and MTG products are "luxury" goods (in the economic sense). That is, they will thrive when people have the will and an abundance of funds to support them. With the recession, paintball had its teeth kicked in. The sport was at a financial breaking point, and scores of players abandoned the game. At first it wasn't the pros who were left out, but the guys under us who were being told the companies couldn't sponsor them anymore and subsequently, the artificial driving down of costs no longer existed for these players. Tournaments became smaller, prize pay outs went down too, and gradually the vectors (And companies) driving sales and hype for the game evaporated.
Paintball as a sport is still alive and well, but it's a shadow of the scene it was before. The flashy, expensive stuff is a fraction of what it was when I played, the bubble has already burst. Like so many others, I sold my gear and got out.
I'm writing this because I see STRONG parallels in the hobby we know and love. I'm not going to suggest that at 100 bucks a pop (Scalding Tarn), that I shouldn't just cash out my money cards and walk away from competitive non-standard decks (the extreme luxury items of MTG). There is a breaking point to the greed (Speculators and Retailers fixing prices or driving them up) of "suppliers", the difference in this case is that MTG (not looking at other card games for now) CAN correct some of this imbalance by printing enough of the in-demand cards to put more cards in people's hands and bring the costs down (there IS a limit to the cards that speculators can horde in a attempt to sell high).
I DO NOT understand why WotC is stuck in the mindset that if they feel they "tamper" too much in the market vectors, that they will break the system and strangle local stores. Magic is seeing enormous growth in terms of player popularity, but this WILL be a flash in the pan and not sustained growth if measures are not put in place to stabilize and retain these players.
I don't want to see the game crash as people cash in their staples and get up and leave.
---
Take a minute to think about what $100 buys you outside the game and then check that against the power that a single piece of cardboard can weigh in a game of magic.
I've been playing for less than 5 years and appreciating card prices to me don't have the feel good of "I've had these cards for ages and they're getting better with time", they have the "this paywall is growing and growing" feeling.
I'm sorry if this comes off as whining, that was not my intent, I want to see a healthy shape for this game and not just watch as history repeats itself. I'm writing this to you directly to fuel discussion and shed what I think is the insightful and underrepresented voice of the junior player (who I would put to you has as much stake in the future of the game as those who have been here for years and years).
#CashMoney
@Ricostravels
The HOT SEAT with David Caplan Canadian Pro Player and @Ricostravels Burninator Inspiration!
Welcome to the Gentlemen Burninator Society's first PRO player interview!! I'm very excited to welcome Canadian Pro Player, David Caplan!!
---
RT: Welcome to the Hot Seat David, I gotta say as THE player who sparked my interest in Red and showed me how to burn to the face it's immensely gratifying to get to interview you!
DC: Thanks so much for having me!
RT: For those of you who don't know: David's Red Deck Wins list from Worlds 2011 was the first time I got to see mono red in action. I was also the first time I'd seen a Canadian Pro player and also my first year of playing MTG. David went top 4 in that tournament and when I put his list together it was the first time I'd ever won at my local store, and I finished in the top 8. What a rush! So thanks for being an ambassador for Canadian magic and my inspiration for playing red!
DC: Canadian professional magic went through a very long lull, and I can’t get enough of hearing that we are making a splash again and inspiring players.
RT: Where/When did you get your start in Magic?
DC: I started playing magic in 1998 when I was 10 years old. It moved from the schoolyard to summer camp, where I played non-stop with a close friend. I took a little bit of a break when I was younger, but have been playing some sort of Magic pretty consistently since then. I started playing competitively about 3 or 4 years ago, after devoting the majority of my time to eternal formats.
RT: What fuels your interest in Magic? Do you play any other games?
DC: I love problem solving and the logical discussions that from playing the game. The number of people with different opinions, playstyles, and though processes make it so that there is always something you can learn from others to help your game.
I play quite a few other games. I have a big board game collection, and like playing them with friends. I also play some PC games, right now just MTGO and a bit of League of Legends. I also have had some fun recently casually playing other CCGs like Cardfight and Kaijudo.
RT: What do you think of the state of Canadian Magic?
DC: I think it is at the best it has ever been, which makes me immensely proud. We have a huge player base, a steady stream of pro players who are successfully at the highest level of the game, the largest PTQs in the entire world, and an awesome magic community. As I mentioned earlier, Canadian professional Magic took a pretty long hiatus where either didn’t have players consistently qualified for Pro Tours, or they weren’t finishing well at the Pro Tours they were attending. I feel like now not only do we have a group of players who qualify for almost every Pro Tour, but the players who have started qualifying are now finishing better and staying on Tour.
RT: What does the sense of community mean to you in Magic? Do you have a local spot?
DC: When I play locally, I normally play at Hairy Tarantula North in Toronto. Community in magic probably means something different to me than it does to many others who play the game. I have moved around a lot through my Magic career and had the pleasure of being a part of many local Magic-playing communities. While many people would first think of their local store, their city, and the magic players they play with, my “community” doesn’t really have to do with geography. My community is the group of players I talk to, play with, test with, theorize with, and it’s global. While it started with Canadians from all around the country, now our little community has grown to include people from all over the world. Community in any incarnation is the reason I play Magic. The encouragement, knowledge transfer, and of course, the amazing times I have had playing the game, could have never occurred without these incredible people and the connection that this game forges.
RT: You get to play at magic tournaments all over the globe, what's it like traveling and seeing different cultures all sharing the same interest in Magic?
DC: It’s pretty incredible to have Magic-playing friends from all corners of the globe, and be able to travel with them to so many different places. It is interesting that you mention culture, Magic is kind of its own culture. While we may be of different nationalities or ethnicities, the cultural backbone of Magic ties us together in an incredible way. To be able to instantly connect and make friends wherever you travel is such an incredible gift.
RT: Do you have a favourite place you've travelled to play magic? Anywhere you'd like to visit?
DC: Annecy, France is my favorite place I’ve travelled to play magic (It is the location of the Bazaar of Moxen). The town is absolutely gorgeous, and I’ve had a blast every time I’ve gone.
RT: Is there anything you're specifically excited to experience in Magic's future?
DC: I can’t wait for Vintage to be released on Magic Online. Very few people get to play that format, and it will be incredible to see it start being played again. Vintage can teach players things in a way dissimilar to many other formats, and playing it a lot gives you a very different perspective on how the game is played in general.
RT: How did you get started with Manadeprived?
DC: Qualifying for Worlds 2011 through the Magic Online Championships left me desperately looking for people to work with for the event. As a strictly eternal player up until that point, I didn’t have the connections to other qualified players in the country. I contacted Kar Yom Tom and he put me in touch with Alexander Hayne and a few other Canadians in a similar position. Our first Pro Tour working together we took a Top 4 slot, our second, Alex miraculously outdid our first coming home with the trophy. It has been a truly amazing experience.
<Lightning Round -- We play red, you knew this was coming>
RT: Favourite colour to play
DC: Blue
RT: Favourite card
DC: Nimble Mongoose
RT: Favourite figure in Magic (Player and/or character)
DC: Squee
RT: Favourite Set
DC: Ravnica
RT: Do you listen to MTG podcasts?
DC: No
RT: Do you play any other games?
DC: Yes: board games, video games, card games
<Grabs fire extinguisher>
RT: A lot of new players will see you as one of Canada's top players in the game, do you have any advice for them? Also, anything for aspiring players thinking about going pro?
DC: I think my advice for both groups is the same, ask questions. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone, but I know that the best response I’ve gotten is when I watch a lot and ask a few questions. This is also how I really appreciate being asked questions, it makes me feel like the person is doing their own work to try to figure out why you are thinking the way you are, the first step in improving your own thought process through the game. The more perspectives and the more intelligent questions you ask the more insight you can glean into how others think about the game, enhancing your understanding of it. This applies from the most basic concepts to the most advanced. Also, I can’t stress enough the importance of personal relationships with people who are helping you, if they are invested in your success then they will provide you with the best information they can, and help you work through your differences of opinions. I am a strong believer that you can’t go to a website and learn about something as complex as say tempo from an article. It is something you need to see, experience, and fundamentally understand, which I don`t think an article can provide.
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? What do you think of the state of Magic online in terms of player growth?
DC: The best way to get a new player into the game is for sure to be walked through by an experienced player. In my experience, it is best to be taught in pairs, as it is often difficult for a seasoned magic player to remember everything to tell them without enough questions and discussions from those who are learning. I think Magic Online is a blight in terms of player grown, the software is so dated and users have so many issues with it that it makes it one of the worst tools to use to teach someone or to start someone playing Magic. As far as introducing players to competitive play the software is far more effective as they already know the basic game mechanics and only need to worry about the software issues while playing, instead of focusing on both.
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?
DC: A huge shout out to the members of my Magic communities, I appreciate everything each of you has done for me, and I hope I will continue to return your favors.
RT: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
DC: Look out for Team Manadeprived at the next Pro Tour, the team is constantly evolving and you should be excited to see what comes next!
RT: Thanks again David, really looking forward to seeing you represent Canada and best of luck!
DC: Thank you so much, it was a pleasure.
RT: :D
---
#SoWorthTheWait
#FinallyGetToPlayPaperAgain
#BriefInterviewToKeepYourFireStoked
@Ricostravels
Burninator Updates!
Burninites!
I have been getting several questions about when you can expect the next GBS entry! The short of it is I'm not entirely sure! I have some of the biggest exams of my career coming up and I need to devote all my time to it. Fear not! I have some interviews and ideas in the pipeline but I can't guarantee when or if they'll be out in the next 8 weeks.
---
After appearing on the SVU Cast and having some immensely satisfying interviews in 2013 I feel as if it wouldn't be fair to GBS or to you to be putting out half-hearted content so I'm going on a brief hiatus until I can a) catch up on podcasts to keep my finger on the pulse of MTG b) have enough time to devote to putting my full energy into the articles I put out!
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Hopefully everyone understands and with any luck I'll still try to be active on Twitter during my breaks :)
#keepBURNINATING
@Ricostravels
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