The Risks and Rewards of Custom Rules in Cube

Andy and Anthony talk about custom rules in Cubes. Cube is a unique Magic space where designers truly have full control over the game and can change it however they like. Beyond just choosing the cards they include, designers change the game fundamental with plane-like effects. Our hosts discuss the very substantial risks of custom rules to accessibility and even fun for enfranchised players. They talk about some of the rules they’ve experienced that didn’t work so well, and the successful ones, which tend to create an experience built around the changes that get players to buy into the novel experience.

They end the episode with two pack 1, pick 1’s from two custom-rules Cubes and do their best to asses cards in two subtly, but importantly different environments. First up, Dragonm137’s Channel Cube where players can spend life to generate colorless mana, a la the card Channel. And secondly Crvnch’s Infinity Cube where players have access to free colorless mana without the high cost of life.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

• Cooking Issues
• Anthony’s Turbo Cube
• Degenerate Micro Cube
• Reading Rainbow
• The Cascade Cube
• Judge Chat IRC
• The Changeling Cube
• The Channel Cube
• The Infinity Cube

Timestamps:

0:00 - Dumpling Corner

3:14 - Introduction to Topic

6:24 - The inaccessibility of custom rules

11:35 - The comparative costs of different kinds of rules modifications

21:43 - Why it feels uniquely bad to lose to a custom rule

29:00 - Successful examples of Cubes with custom rules

42:34 - Some Custom Cube p1p1s

44:14 - Channel Cube p1p1

52:34 - Infinity Cube p1p1

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

• Andy’s “Bun Magic” Cube
• Anthony’s “Regular” Cube

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at [email protected]. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

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Musical production by DJ James Nasty.