Magic needs to Work on Onboarding New players

Zac and Phil discuss the current challenges Magic: The Gathering faces in onboarding new players, particularly through the lens of its evolving game design and community engagement. They explore historical methods of teaching the game, the impact of Commander on gameplay, and the necessity of effective onboarding strategies to attract and retain new players. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community and personal interaction in the learning process, as well as the need for Wizards of the Coast to adapt their approach to better serve new players.

In this episode, Zac Clark shares his experiences from a recent Magic: The Gathering tournament, detailing his participation in both a side event and the main event. He discusses his deck choices, strategies, and matchups, providing insights into the gameplay and sideboarding decisions he made throughout the tournament. The conversation covers various matchups against different archetypes, including Goblins, Survival, and Burn decks, and highlights the importance of adapting strategies based on opponents' decks. Zach also reflects on the overall tournament experience and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats.

In this episode, Zac Clark shares his experiences from a recent Magic: The Gathering tournament, detailing his participation in both a side event and the main event. He discusses his deck choices, strategies, and matchups, providing insights into the gameplay and sideboarding decisions he made throughout the tournament. The conversation covers various matchups against different archetypes, including Goblins, Survival, and Burn decks, and highlights the importance of adapting strategies based on opponents' decks. Zach also reflects on the overall tournament experience and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats.

The conversation revolves around the experiences and insights gained from attending LobsterCon, a pre-modern magic event. The hosts discuss the nostalgic atmosphere, the strategies they employed, and the dynamics of gameplay that allowed for deeper engagement and learning. They reflect on the community aspect of the event, the joy of losing while still enjoying the game, and the importance of collaboration and experimentation in deck building. The discussion also touches on the speed of the format, personal growth through tournament experiences, and plans for future content related to pre-modern magic.

The conversation revolves around the experiences and insights gained from attending LobsterCon, a pre-modern magic event. The hosts discuss the nostalgic atmosphere, the strategies they employed, and the dynamics of gameplay that allowed for deeper engagement and learning. They reflect on the community aspect of the event, the joy of losing while still enjoying the game, and the importance of collaboration and experimentation in deck building. The discussion also touches on the speed of the format, personal growth through tournament experiences, and plans for future content related to pre-modern magic.

In this episode, Zac and Phil discuss the current state of the Magic: The Gathering Legacy format, focusing on the recent meta changes, deck strategies, and personal experiences in competitive play. They analyze various decks, including Dimir Reanimator, Cephalid Breakfast, and Beanstalk, while sharing insights on gameplay and the impact of recent bans. The conversation also touches on player perspectives regarding deck identity and the upcoming Lobster Con event, highlighting the excitement and strategies for pre-modern championships. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering, focusing on the Stasis deck and its components. They discuss the effectiveness of Black Vice, the importance of counter spells, and the strategic choices involved in deck building. The conversation also explores alternative cards, innovative interactions, and the challenges of effective removal. As they brainstorm creative deck ideas, they touch on the unique mechanics of Grindstone and Celestial Dawn, culminating in a lively discussion about the upcoming LobsterCon event.

In this episode, Zac and Phil discuss the current state of the Magic: The Gathering Legacy format, focusing on the recent meta changes, deck strategies, and personal experiences in competitive play. They analyze various decks, including Dimir Reanimator, Cephalid Breakfast, and Beanstalk, while sharing insights on gameplay and the impact of recent bans. The conversation also touches on player perspectives regarding deck identity and the upcoming Lobster Con event, highlighting the excitement and strategies for pre-modern championships. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering, focusing on the Stasis deck and its components. They discuss the effectiveness of Black Vice, the importance of counter spells, and the strategic choices involved in deck building. The conversation also explores alternative cards, innovative interactions, and the challenges of effective removal. As they brainstorm creative deck ideas, they touch on the unique mechanics of Grindstone and Celestial Dawn, culminating in a lively discussion about the upcoming LobsterCon event.

Zac & Phil delve into the card game Sorcery: The Contested Realm, discussing its unique features, gameplay mechanics, and the transition from traditional card games like Magic: The Gathering. They explore the appeal of Sorcery's hand-painted art, the strategic depth of its gameplay, and the growing organized play scene, highlighting the community's excitement for the game. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced in other formats and the potential for Sorcery to serve as a refreshing alternative.TakeawaysSorcery features all hand-painted art, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.The game is played on a four by five grid, combining elements of Magic and Warhammer.Players start with 20 life, similar to Magic: The Gathering.The gameplay mimics old school Magic, providing a nostalgic experience.Players can draw from two separate decks, mitigating mana screw issues.Sorcery releases one set a year, making it easier to keep up with the game.The game includes misprints in packs, adding a collectible aspect.Organized play is becoming a significant part of Sorcery's community.The game is free to play on Tabletop Simulator, increasing accessibility.The hosts express excitement about playing Sorcery at upcoming events.

Zac & Phil delve into the card game Sorcery: The Contested Realm, discussing its unique features, gameplay mechanics, and the transition from traditional card games like Magic: The Gathering. They explore the appeal of Sorcery's hand-painted art, the strategic depth of its gameplay, and the growing organized play scene, highlighting the community's excitement for the game. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced in other formats and the potential for Sorcery to serve as a refreshing alternative.TakeawaysSorcery features all hand-painted art, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.The game is played on a four by five grid, combining elements of Magic and Warhammer.Players start with 20 life, similar to Magic: The Gathering.The gameplay mimics old school Magic, providing a nostalgic experience.Players can draw from two separate decks, mitigating mana screw issues.Sorcery releases one set a year, making it easier to keep up with the game.The game includes misprints in packs, adding a collectible aspect.Organized play is becoming a significant part of Sorcery's community.The game is free to play on Tabletop Simulator, increasing accessibility.The hosts express excitement about playing Sorcery at upcoming events.

In this conversation, Sam Dams and Zac discuss the resurgence of the Infect deck in Magic: The Gathering, highlighting its recent upgrades, particularly the introduction of Legolas' Quick Reflexes. They explore the strategies and dynamics of the deck, the importance of timing and knowledge in gameplay, and the current meta shifts that favor Infect. The discussion emphasizes the deck's consistency and streamlined approach, encouraging players to revisit and experiment with Infect in competitive play.Infect is currently well-positioned due to players forgetting how to counter it.The deck has received significant upgrades, making it more competitive.Legolas' Quick Reflexes has transformed the way Infect can win games.Timing and knowledge of the meta are crucial for success with Infect.The deck's consistency has improved with streamlined card choices.Infect can effectively handle both aggro and combo matchups now.Players are often unfamiliar with the new cards in the deck.The removal spells in the meta have shifted, benefiting Infect.Infect can win quickly, often catching opponents off guard.The resurgence of Infect is a great opportunity for players to explore.Chapters00:00 The Resurgence of Infect03:10 Deck Upgrades and Strategies06:04 The Role of Legolas' Quick Reflexes09:02 Meta Shifts and Matchup Dynamics12:05 The Importance of Timing and Knowledge15:10 Consistency and Streamlining the Deck17:57 Final Thoughts and Future ProspectsSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTETwitch:Twitch.tv/durdlemagusEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilCheck out our song parodies on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/forceofphilFollow us on Twitter:Zac: @durdlemagusPhil: @ForceofPhil