Recross the Paths

When in Loam... This week, Gwen guides us through the intricacies of Loam Cube and talks about his role as the founder and admin of CubeCobra. We unpack considering archetypes in a color-imbalanced environment, convincing players to try new cubes, the joys and challenges of passion projects, and more.

Gwen is dekkaru on Discord

Loam Cube on CubeCobra

CubeCobra on Bluesky

Opportunities to support Gwen's work on CubeCobra including the CubeCobra Patreon

Email the show at [email protected]

This conversation is a landing place for curious designers and players about the particulars of building and interpreting land-restricted draft environments - Desert Cubes! Bones brings his tremendous expertise on the format to help highlight numbers, design ideas, and high-level ideas to help guide you toward your own positive Desert experience.

The Desert Cube (Corince) by Loxodon_Meyerarch

Amonkar Desert by Bones

Devoid Cube by Isticle

Dragons of Winter's Night by ChillMTG

The Monopoly by UberBear

Midwinter by Deinonychus

Giver Cube by The Oinkinator

Loam Cube by dekkerglen

Desert Rose by strogie

Post-Apocalyptic Cube by dinrovahorror

The Labyrinth by Bones

The Fire Swamp by aibretty

Pulp Nouveau by Parker (landofmordor)

Pulp Nouveau - A Tribute to Drafting Basic Lands by Parker LaMascus

Want more primers along with ongoing interviews? Let me know by emailing the show at [email protected]

This week, Arlo, the famous (or infamous) gaytransmulldrifter, guides us through a wild ride of projects and philosophy. We discuss how boring Jace, the Mind Sculptor is, building things your friends enjoy, whether you can actually be good at cube design, and more.

⁠Arlo's Podcast⁠ on Soundcloud

Arlo on CubeCobra

Pushstart on CubeCobra

The $5 Fair 'Nuff Cube on CubeCobra

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This week, Rojja shows off the bespoke and eclectic Rusty Box o' Goblins (also called the Cash Box). We discuss moonshine-flavored cards, jam sessions, the dangerous idea that other people were right all along, and more.

Rusty Box o' Goblins on CubeCobra

Photos of the Box!

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I took things slow for the holidays this week, so enjoy a totally self-indulgent custom design retrospective with my friends Bones and Kyle. Bones and I have worked on several custom projects over the years and we burn some windshield time reminiscing on the good, the bad, and everything in between. Regular interviews will resume next week!

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Color pie? Where we're going, we don't need the color pie! Dan guides us through the Devoid Cube and the Colorshifted Cube, two projects that challenge notions of color in cube construction. We discuss color balance (or lack thereof), using cube size as a tool, embracing dangerously refreshing confusion, and more.

Dan on CubeCobra

Devoid Cube on CubeCobra

Colorshifted Cube on CubeCobra

Dan on Bluesky

Cube 'Starter Pack' on Bluesky

Dan is isticle on Discord

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As iron sharpens iron, so one drafter sharpens another! Matt coordinates weekly drafts for designers and players in preparation for CubeCon. We discuss the process of hosting a digital draft for play on Magic Online, evaluating novel environments, the value of consistent scheduling, and more. Matt is mattbelcher on Discord

Join the CubeCon Discord at the following link and be sure to request the Digital Drafter role: https://discord.gg/pMgPQHCMQj

Email the show at [email protected]

This week, Joe guides us through the Alternate Timeline, a curated world without the peculiarities of modern Magic. We discuss intentional exclusions, Lunchables, balancing feedback with goals, and more.

Joe on CubeCobra (Check out more 5 Alive projects here)

Alternate Timeline on CubeCobra

Joe is JoeDonkey on Discord

Email the show at [email protected]

Dive into the gold mine of Daniel's Reading Rainbow cube this week, an all-multicolor experience! We discuss building projects you care about, balancing an opportunity-rich environment, making your cube fun, and more.

Daniel on CubeCobra

Reading Rainbow on CubeCobra

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All aboard! Join TrainmasterGT as he leads us through the Highball 4K. We discuss capturing a nostalgic feeling, using (and not using) format barometers, trains, and more.

Highball 4K on the RiptideLab forums

Highball 4K on CubeCobra

TrainmasterGT on CubeCobra

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Attention campers! Neal guides us through the intricacies of his Micro Cube and the joy of bringing people together. We discuss the weight of decisions in small environments, embracing being a learner, drawing inspiration from the Duelist Kingdom arc of YuGiOh, and more.

Neal (baconeal) on CubeCobra

Neal's Micro Cube on CubeCobra

Neal is baconeal on Discord

Email the show at [email protected]

Catastrophe equals opportunity! Morgan explores the design and decisions behind Disaster Movie Cube. We talk card and spreadsheet aesthetics, balancing mechanics, playing what you love, and more.

Morgan (darthpinkhippo) on CubeCobra

Disaster Move Cube (CubeCon Edition) on CubeCobra

Morgan is DarthPinkHippo on Twitter

Connect with Morgan for more info about LGBTCube

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Here there be Dragons! Chill walks us through the frozen reaches of his beautiful Vorthos Desert cube. We unpack building a thematic world, managing overt complexity, being part of a welcoming community, and more.

Chill on CubeCobra

Dragons of Winter's Night on CubeCobra

Chill MTG on YouTube

Chill is ChillMTG on Discord

Email the show at [email protected]

Long live the king! Warren walks us through treacherous tri-color realms and the decisions that led to their creation. We discuss balancing a broad environment, strategies for playtesting, working with others, and more.

xoanon.net/cube - quick link for Warren's CubeCobra page

Melded Mardu Monarchy

The Bardu Cube

Tresserhorn Gardens

The Junk Cube

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Join us for a spell! Brett talks about his background in Scrabble, being bold to make changes, being the final arbiter of design for your cube, and more.

Brett (aibretty) on CubeCobra

Low Country Boil on CubeCobra

The Fire Swamp on CubeCobra

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Secret, Gift, or Competition? Henry unpacks the fascinating draft environment of Hanamikoji and its uses in Magic micro-projects. We also explore telling stories, participation vs. spectacle, and much more.

Henry (HenryClay1844) on CubeCobra

Hanamikoji Micro Cubes on CubeCobra

Henry is HenryClay1844 on Discord

Email the show at [email protected]

Not all those who wander are lost! Thomas discusses his road to CubeCon, the challenge and reward of building a set cube, judging cube events, and more.

Thomas (magesandmentors) on CubeCobra

Lord of the Rings Expanded on CubeCobra

Tavern Cube on CubeCobra

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Cher talks through finding stability in The Elysian Cube and empowering players to play what they want in The Citadel of Madness. We discuss building around themes, using lands effectively, and much more.

Cher on ⁠Twitter⁠ (@cherjtankian) Cher is @pizzagirl1 on Discord

Cher on CubeCobra

The Elysian Cube on CubeCobra

The Citadel of Madness on CubeCobra

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There's no Tempo like the present! Turner uses The Tempo Cube to discuss building for the gameplay you want, multi-level interaction, choosing 'sub-optimal' cards, and more.

Turner (grenrut) on CubeCobra

The Tempo Cube on CubeCobra

Turner is grenrut on Discord

Email the show at [email protected]

Let's get weird! In this episode, D.S.B discusses building for tension, small-form design, creating for yourself, and much more.

D.S.B is d.s.b on Discord!

D.S.B (dsbcubes) on CubeCobra

(Cubes marked "5A" are 5 Alive projects)

Email the show at [email protected]