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.

<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!>

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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!!

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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

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#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. 

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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

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

Burninating

Taking this week off to tackle the last of my exams for a while!

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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

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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!!

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.

<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 :)

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#SendmeyourBurninatingDecklists
#ItsgettingcoldCureitwithfire
#BurninatorloveontheHMHoodies?

@Ricostravels