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View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk with Gabor about their Obscura Cube designed from the prompt “Legacy,” a very loaded term in the Cube space. Skipping past the obvious interpretation, Gabor chose to look to legacy board games for inspiration — games that permanently change across a series of play sessions. Starting with a nostalgic list of iconic cards, Gabor altered the Cube over the course of the weekend, swapping in cards from an second list with input from players. Drafters made choices about host the cube changed and also altered cards from their decks. At the end of the weekend, the cube was left more powerful and marked by each player. Discussed in this episode: Gabor’s Cube: “Legacy”C4AC ObscuraLegacy Board GamesOath, Board Game by Cole Wehrle“King Me”: A Defense of King-Making in Board Game Design, talk by Cole WehrleSisterhood of the Traveling CubeRoguelike CelebrationIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro1:29 - Legacy12:03 - The List17:16 - Goals22:10 - Predictions26:32 - Postgame and Top 828:43 - Mystery33:33 - Sharpies and Stickers42:48 - Trust

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy recaps his experience at the second annual Inland Northwest Cube Fest to Anthony. He talks through each of his four drafts at the event, recounting how he handled novel Cube environments and gameplay highlights. He talks about the overall experience of the event including the printed cube companion guides, hosting a draft of 100 Ornithopters, and other extra-curricular activities. Discussed in this episode: Inland Northwest Cube FestSliverhomeBridges Over Troubled WatersThe Second HandMiddle ChildDSB TokensThe Shepard CubeTake FiveIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro2:29 - Inland Northwest Cube Fest II7:15 - Bridges Over Troubled Water20:20 - Secondhand29:46 - 100 Ornithopters32:47 - Middle Child41:47 - The Shepard Cube52:47 - Magic is Hard53:25 - Extras

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Jane, and Anthony talk about Andy’s Obscura cube, prompted with the word ”feudal.” His attempted to capture the experience of feudalism in gameplay by putting the powerful cards in certain spots that would force players to build decks a certain way. Powerful, high devotion lords, as much as possible represented by sinister human creatures, motivate players into mono colored decks. Players have no option but to fill out their decks with individually weak, under-rate creatures. As a foil, players eschew the high devotion lords and unite the individually weak cards multi-color deck rewarded by domain payoffs. The talk about Andy’s design process. Then looking at the decks drafted at the event, they reflect on how successful these specific design goals were. Discussed in this episode: Andy’s Feudal Obscura CubeCabbages and KingsINW Cube FestThe Ball PitIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro4:12 - Feudal9:06 - Monocolored Decks12:28 - Flavor16:56 - Multicolor Decks24:30 - Scarecrows30:25 - Predictions37:17 - Metagame Breakdown46:49 - Changes51:53 - Manabases58:09 - Balance1:00:30 - Does any of this Matter

View all cards mentioned in this episode What makes a cube “balanced”? When a card or deck performs very differently in the hands of especially skilled players, are they using their greater knowledge of the game to exploit a balance issue that others can’t see? Or are they just having the predictable success you would expect from a more skilled player? Is the experience of strong players a better indicator of a cube’s balance because they use cards optimally? Or are they exploiting the cards in a way that, if balanced for, would negatively impact the play experience of the average player? We sure as hell don’t know, but you can listen to us try to figure it out for an hour if you want. Discussed in this episode: Episode 322 With Ryan Overturf100 OrnithoptersThe Fire SwampThe Red TerrorAnthony’s Obscura Cube Anti-WarRegular CubeMonocolored Starter DecksIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro3:30 - Balance14:56 - Fun19:45 - Expectations23:14 - 100 Ornithopters Balance28:10 - Metagame Development37:47 - Smash Ultimate49:33 - Starter Decks

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk with Brett about his Obscura Cube. Prompted with the phrase “Déjà vu” Brett explored some wild, logistically impossible ideas before settling on a cube filled to the brim with subtle repetitions. The feeling of things having happened before manifests in my ways from multiple copies of Accumulated Knowledge, Memory Lapses that create repeated moments, and repetitive single card engines. Discussed in this episode: Brett’s Déjà Vu CubeC4AC ObscuraThe Fire SwampLow Country BoilTake FiveIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro1:14 - Déjà vu11:46 - One Card Decks14:55 - Balancing20:50 - Hatebears26:02 - Defining Déjà vu29:44 - Callbacks34:44 - Postgame38:08 - Familiarity41:21 - Blue-White Blink45:25 - Blind Cubes47:53 - Tension49:32 - Moodboarding51:58 - Future Updates

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony recap their experience at Capitol Cube Championship in Washington D.C. They talk about the five different cube drafts they did between them and their overall experience at the event. Discussed in this episode: Team Fundraiser for Birds of Paradise100 Ornithopters Champion’s Draft Digital QualifierCapitol Cube ChampsThe Score by C. Thi NguyenThe Desert BirdUpkeep ZineTrinket CubeSynesthesia100 OrnithoptersInvasion to Kamigawa CubeIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro4:36 - Capitol Cube Champs4:52 - Andy’s Desert Bird Draft16:49 - Andy’s Desert Bird Games27:45 - Anthony’s Desert Bird Draft33:27 - Anthony’s Desert Bird Games37:36 - Alex Responds39:02 - Trinket Cube Draft49:09 - Synesthesia Draft53:28 - Synesthesia Games61:18 - Invastion to Kamigawa Draft69:51 - Invasion to Kamigawa Games

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk with Ollie about their Obscura Cube with the prompt “Dangerous.” Ollie’s interpretation of the prompt led them to build a desert cube where all lands cost life to generate colored mana. Limiting each player to 20 colored pips of mana over the course of a game reshapes the way player’s engage with their life total as a resource and creates a truly dangerous feeling sensation. Discussed in this episode: Ollie’s Dangerous CubeC4AC ObscuraHoopinIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro2:54 - Dangerous12:45 - Lifegain20:09 - Swamps32:40 - Flavor35:42 - Postgame37:02 - Coverage40:38 - Maintaining Dangerous45:21 - Feedback51:53 - New Cards

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy, Anthony, and Parker talk about how to draft cubes better by framing their thinking in terms of the scarcest resource in any give context. Flipping the perspective, they talk about how to leverage a diversity of themes as a cube designer. Discussed in this episode: Birds of Paradise FundraiserLevel Up Your Cube Drafting With Scarcity article by ParkerThe Self-Defeating Irony of Cube Conceits article by ParkerParker’s Articles on Cascade CascadeTurbo CubeTupelo Honey100 OrnithoptersSacred GeometryIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro5:15 - Turbo Cube16:11 - Tupelo Honey20:18 - Scarcity26:41 - Applying Scarcity to New Cubes34:24 - Scarcity for Designers41:29 - Metagame Degeneration56:57 - CASCADE CASCADE

View all cards mentioned in this episode Gabe joins Andy and Anthony talk about his Obscura cube, starting with the prompt “collapse”. Gabe chose to build on the theme in both aesthetic and mechanical ways. Pulling heavily from zendikar sets he set a tone of a world after the collapse of civilization. Mechanically he hoped to create gameplay that put players in committed positions that could easily crumble. In the first half, before the event, they talk about the design process and fears and expectations. In the second they reflect on how the cube played out. Discussed in this episode: Collapse Cube by GabeTupelo Honey CubeObscura VodsEtherium LandscapeIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro3:12 - Collapse7:17 - Risk / Reward14:05 - Balancing Vibes18:21 - Expectations23:09 - Postgame26:31 - Hatching Plans29:10 - Speed31:45 - Landcallers36:33 - Inferno Titan40:21 - Desert Cubes45:31 - Hindsight

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony are joined by Cube icon Ryan Overturf to talk about drafting and designing weird cubes. They talk about his experience at CubeConbroadening his experience into novel designs. They go more in depth into Ryan’s cube Stadium Stampede where all players start with a copy of Strixhaven Stadium in play. Discussed in this episode: Ryan’s Cubes on Cube CobraThe OnebertRyan’s Youtube180 MTG Podcast1UP CubeAquaone Powered CubeEpisode 238: Vintage Cube SucksObscuraStadium StampedeGrixis CubeEiganjo DriftDeath by 10 CutsBridges Over Troubled WaterIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro1:16 - Welcome Ryan Overturf8:29 - Weird Cubes14:11 - CubeCon26:02 - Stadium Stampede, Ryan's Strixhaven Stadium Cube31:40 - Uninteractible Permanents36:43 - Stampede Continued42:02 - Conceit Breaking56:50 - Trusting Cube Designers, or Not1:06:46 - Taking Weird Cubes Seriously

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk with Dan, best known for creating the Devoid Cube, about his cube for Cube for a Cause: Obscura. Starting with the prompt “cavalier” Dan dove into the world of knights and found himself with a cube pulling heavily from the plane of Eldraine. Discussed in this episode: Dan’s Cavalier CubeDan’s Cubes on Cube CobraDuel Decks: Knights vs. DragonsKing CharlesIkoria at HomeArena Planar CubeMidwinterDragons of Winters NightIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro3:42 - Cavalier7:53 - Eldraine at Home12:45 - Flavor v. Mechanics13:56 - Goals and Apprehensions22:00 - Aesthetic Breaks26:57 - Planar Cube29:16 - Postgame / Selling the Cube38:48 - The Other Prompts41:42 - Resonance48:05 - Lessons50:40 - Bulk Sorting

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about expensive cards in Cube — how high mana value cards fit into their cube designs. They talk about specific expensive cards they love, break down some specific roles they see the cards playing, and how variety makes cubes more fun. Discussed in this episode: Status and Culture by W. David MarxThe Score by C. Thi NguyenIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro5:20 - High Mana Value Cards13:25 - Pseudo Expensive Cards22:00 - Baneslayers36:35 - Interaction40:14 - Texture43:02 - Board Wipes44:31 - Other Threats49:54 - Lessons

View all cards mentioned in this episode In the first installment of Obscura cube design discussions, Andy and Anthony are joined by Ollie to talk about Anthony’s cube designed around the prompt “anti-war”. Moving past the literal interpretation of a cube without war, Anthony chose to make his cube all about presenting the profound horrors of war. The cube features cards that aesthetically or mechanically express brutality, hopelessness, greed, and resource extraction. In the first half, recorded before the event, they talk about their hopes and expectations for the cube. In the second, post-event half they reflect on how well the design met its goals. Discussed in this episode: Anthony’s Anti-War Obscura Cube ListPacifism CubeC4AC ObscuraThe Fire SwampYayoi KusamaIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro5:42 - Anti-War10:15 - Power Outliers and Balance19:38 - Feedback29:00 - Postgame30:25 - Edits35:08 - Titan of Industry39:41 - Things Happening42:19 - Reflections

View all cards mentioned in this episode Andy and Anthony talk about recent trends in Cube design. After looking through the revealed Cube lists for the recent Cube for a Cause: Obscura our hosts noticed a few design features popping up again and again. They talk about them in the broader, evolving context of the Cube design community discussing if they reflect bigger trends. In particular, reflect on “art cards” — cards included for purely aesthetic reasons, desert cubes, cubes with no or minimal deckbuilding, and a casual approach to singleton breaks. Discussed in this episode: The ScoreTake FiveTurbo Cube100 OrnithoptersThe Amonkar DesertLoxodon Mierarchs Desert CubeThe Giver CubeThe Ball PitGoblin GameResplendentObscura Cube Lists: Legacy by GaborMonument by JaneFeudal by AndySynesthesia by LincolnOmelas by Zach BarashCavalier by Dan SchneiderGenesis by MaggieRitual by ParkerCollapse by GabeDangerous by OllieTelemetry by GwenRedemption by John ClaraSublimate by MaxWorship by ScottPeriodic by JakeAntiwar by Anthony MattoxDeja Vu by BrettIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro1:12 - Recent Cube Design Trends8:18 - Art Cards16:36 - Asystematic Singleton Breaks30:05 - Desert Cubes39:44 - Minimal Deckbuilding Cubes47:48 - No Deckbuild Logistics54:17 - Other Trends

View all cards mentioned in this episode Sometimes a card design just sings — all of the individual elements come together to make an elegant, resonant game piece. In this episode Andy and Anthony talk about this concept through the lens of Andy’s cube Sacred Geometry as he considers committing even harder to the bit. Discussed in this episode: Feudal Cube Auction on EbaySacred GeometryHellraiserRegular CubeVirtually French CubeIf you’d like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen. Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay. You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra: Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box: Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211 Musical production by DJ James Nasty. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro4:07 - Sacred Geometry Ruminations8:52 - Slots11:42 - Tokens13:07 - Fixing15:29 - Card Naming Thesaurus20:13 - Power Deltas23:30 - Oracle Text29:47 - Artifacts40:14 - Artifact Ramp43:14 - Resonance Problems48:44 - Mindslaver50:31 - Conclusions