Gentlemenburninatorsociety : December 2013

Welcome to the Gentlemen Burninator Society's Hot Seat. I'm stoked to have arguably the most enthusiatic player in Magic, Evan Erwin!!

Check out his work at http://www.youtube.com/user/mrorangeguy/videos

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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.

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)

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 :)

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The Magic Show's EVAN ERWIN! (@MisterOrange) on the GentlemenBurninatorSociety Hot Seat!!