General Cube Engineers: A Podcast about Cube!

TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Hello everyone! I just started a new Podcast about Game Design, Cube, and other cool topics. I have two episodes out right now, inclduing one with guest host Usman Jamil!

Episode 1: Amonkhet Reborn

In the first episode of Cube Engineers, I discuss the history and rebirth of Amonkhet, from both a game design and lore perspective. I cover how Amonkhet came to be, the real-world influences inspiring the set, and how the Plane has evolved over time.

Episode 2: Aetherdrift Cube Review with Usman Jamil

In this episode, I am joined by special guest Usman Jamil to discuss Aetherdrift: the latest Magic: the Gathering set and its potential impact on the Cube format. We also discuss cards from the set we are excited about in various contexts.

The show is available in the following places at this time:
Substack
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

There is also an RSS link for those who have a different platform of choice!

Thanks for listening!
–GT
 
alvoi

alvoi

I have listened the first episode on my walk to the university this morning and I loved it! I like the fact that you are talking about whatever thing you like, and not only about Cube or about Magic, also the bits of geopolitics and game design are wonderful! Tomorrow I will listen to the second one ;)
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

alvoi said:
I have listened the first episode on my walk to the university this morning and I loved it! I like the fact that you are talking about whatever thing you like, and not only about Cube or about Magic, also the bits of geopolitics and game design are wonderful! Tomorrow I will listen to the second one ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the discussion of Egyptian history and politics and how they relate to Amonkhet!

Episode 2 is a bit more of a normal "Cube Podcast" episode, but I think there are quite a few fun moments.

Pro Tip: Make sure to listen to Episode 2 all the way to the end, there's a little segment after the outro music!
 
Onderzeeboot

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Awesome content! Loved Chris’s takes too. I do think it’s interesting you count reminder text when looking at the number of lines on a card to determine card complexity. Keywords are, after all, a tool explicitly used to provide shortcuts to players, thereby increasing the grokability of a card at first glance. Though I imagine one’s point of view on this issue hinges on the level of experience of your players. If you don’t recognize every keyword, you do actually need to read all of that reminder text. My playgroup has a lot of experienced gamers, but Chris said his playgroup has a lot of experienced board gamers that don’t necessarily have a deep background in Magic, so I can imagine we have different views on this particular issue out of necessity :)
 
Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor

Contributor
My playgroup is actually really deep into magic, with 3 judges, multiple other cube designers, and Dom occasionally!

I still don't really expect them to know what Training is off the top of their heads. Like sure I don't put in the reminder text on evergreen stuff unless it makes the card look better (look sometimes the card box actually looks empty and I can't come up with good flavor text)

In general, I try and prepare for the worst case. Plus any mechanic I make (Coalesce for eg) needs reminder text 100% of the time, I'm not banking on someone figuring out what the mechanic does by asking mid pack or hoping they see another card with the mechanic in the draft.
 
Onderzeeboot

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Chris Taylor said:
In general, I try and prepare for the worst case. Plus any mechanic I make (Coalesce for eg) needs reminder text 100% of the time, I'm not banking on someone figuring out what the mechanic does by asking mid pack or hoping they see another card with the mechanic in the draft.
Click to expand...
While that is true, you don't see a card only once during a draft night. When you draft a card with, say, coalesce for the first time, you will have to read it, obviously. But once you shuffle up your deck, you have already looked at it a couple of times, and by the time you first draw it during a game, there's a good chance you know what the mechanic does just by scanning the keyword.
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Episode 4 of Cube Engineers is now live!

Episode 4: Lessons Learned from Conversations with Cubers featuring Kade Goforth

In this episode, I invite the host of the Recross the Paths Podcast, Kade Goforth, to discuss his experiences conversing with Cube designers. Learn the origins of Recross the Paths and how to get more out of your conversations with Cubers! I think everyone would benefit from listening to this episode!
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Episode 6 of Cube Engineers is now live!

Episode 6: Heritage Cubes: Cube as a Legacy Board Game with Onderzeeboot

In this episode, I journey to the Netherlands to meet with the legendary Cube designer @Onderzeeboot and discuss one of the coolest Cubes around: Heritage! Heritage: a Sticker Cube combines classic Magic gameplay with elements from Legacy board games like Risk: Legacy and Gloomhaven. Learn all about how Heritage was designed, and how to build your own Legacy Cubes at home!

This is the Cube I have been most excited to talk about on the show thus far, and I am excited that Onder has allowed me to share it with you all!
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Episode 8 of Cube Engineers is now live!

Episode 8: Tarkir, Sabrina Carpenter, and the Reservoir

In this episode, I scrambles to create an episode after having to push back the first part of the Tarkir: Dragonstorm podcast by a week. Will I be able to create a decent episode in time? Maybe, but only with a little help from his friends!

Special thanks to:
@Jason Waddell
@Onderzeeboot
@Chris Taylor
@safra
Uberbear
The other hosts of The Pack One Slick Ones Podcast, Arlo, Jessie, Jane, and Usman
Andy Mangold
Anthony ‘Skirmish Rhino’ Mattox
Judge Bones
Shep
Kade Goforth
Markiplier
Rocco Dupris
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Episode 9 of Cube Engineers is now live!

Episode 9: Dragonback Tarkir Dragonstorm Cube Review with Usman Jamil Part 1

In this episode, I am once again joined by Usman Jamil for the official kickoff of Tarkir Month to discuss Tarkir: Dragonstorm! In the first of this two-part review, we take a “dragonback” approach to analyzing the set, looking at all of the themes and mechanics. Which mechanics will soar like dragons, and which will be doomed to become dragon’s prey? Stay tuned to find out!
 
TrainmasterGT

TrainmasterGT

Episode 10 of Cube Engineers is now live!

Episode 10: How to Build Constructed-Like Cubes with Judge Bones

Cube Engineers is back on track with the third episode of Tarkir Month! Today, I invite the always awesome Judge Bones to discuss building Cubes that mirror the play patterns of Constructed formats. We discuss what it means to make a “constructed-like Cube”, and how to build one! By analyzing our Highball 4K and Museum of Modern Cubes, Bones and I showcase strategies to create Cubes mirroring your favorite constructed formats! Learn how to choose a format to emulate, an era to draw inspiration from, and how to port constructed decks as limited archetypes. If you can dream it, you can construct it!

Special thanks to @Onderzeeboot for providing the cold open for this episode!

All aboard!
 
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