Slippery Blogle

A blog dedicated to Magic: The Gathering

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Beginning My Magic: The Gathering Limited Journey

If you haven't seen my previous posts, I mention several times that I have been playing Magic: The Gathering for about six years now. While my engagement with his has ebbed and flowed, depending on where I am at in life, I've done my best to stay connected one way or another.

My journey began with limited. In the summer of 2018, I worked as a camp counselor at a sleepaway camp. Several other staff members played and decided to host a small Dominaria draft. I had just learned the basics of Magic but was so eager to continue learning, so I decided to attend! I won a game, which was both exciting and surprising.

After that, I attended the Draft Weekend for War of the Spark and several FNMs drafting that same set, yet I never really resonated with the Limited format.

After devoting the majority of my time to Commander, I've been craving something new yet accessible. My goal was to find a 1v1 format that could challenge me to think about the game in new ways but also be mindful of my expenses; I'm a graduate student and cannot justify spending hundreds on even more cards.

Naturally, Limited, and especially draft, came to me! While I do attend the Pre-release event for most new sets, I do so in a casual manner to have fun with friends and open some new cards. That being said, I really, REALLY, enjoyed Duskmourn and could see myself interacting with it more.

Here are the following goals I have outlined for myself:

1. Interact with more Limited format content. I specified some podcasts and media I was already familiar with but would like to challenge myself to find even more. If you know of any, please don't hesitate to recommend!

2. Track my data. The website 17Lands came up when I was searching for ways to interact with Limited data. When I get home from work/class today, I will download the tool and begin tracking my games. It may also benefit me to keep track outside of that via spreadsheets or other document software.

3. Share my findings, thoughts, and feelings. I want to do a weekly update on my data here on the blog, as I feel it will allow others to see how a beginner to the Limited format grows and changes over time. These updates may just contain data from my games via 17Lands, card evaluations, or simply just my thoughts and feelings.

4. Have fun. It is important to me that I have an underlying mindset that this is a journey and especially one I am just beginning. There will be triumphs and tribulations, but at the end of the day, I am playing Magic. And I love Magic.

I am not an expert. In the grand scheme of things, I know little to nothing about the game, but it is so complex, interesting, and evolving that I hope to one day become one.

Thank you, as usual, and I hope you have a super rest of your day.

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Playing Magic while busy

A (hopefully quick) guide to engaging with Magic: The Gathering when you live a busy life.

Magic has been a central part of my life for the past six(ish) years, and of course, will continue to be for the rest of it. Bi-weekly commander nights, countless hours of Arena, and general tinkering around with deck lists and cards have been part of my usual schedule.

My schedule has become increasingly busy this fall. I started my master's program in late August and have felt the encroaching deadlines, readings, and meetings approach...quickly. Knowing that I would have limited time to play and engage with Magic had been on the horizon for me but never fully hit me until the assignments started rolling in.

With that said, here are some ways I can still engage with Magic, while still being present to the people important in my life, being on top of readings/assignments, and taking care of my body.

1. Podcasts. My commute to work/class every day is a 20-minute drive followed by a 15-minute walk across campus to my office, so listening to music/audiobooks/podcasts is a great way to fill that time! Many of the Magic-related podcasts I listen to regularly are ones I have found recently. There are podcasts for every part of the game, from high-level gameplay tips to lore. Here are some of my favorites: Lords of Limited, MTGGoldfish Podcast, The Magic Story Podcast, and Drive to Work with Mark Rosewater.

2. Blogging. I started this blog to give myself an outlet for all of the Magic-related thoughts in my head. It's been wonderful to just take a small chunk out of my day and write. If you have the resources and accessibility, I recommend just sitting and writing for 10 minutes during your day! It will help clear your head and begin a wonderful creative portfolio for you!

3. Scheduling time. I found that, in the past, I never set aside designated time for different parts of my personal time outside of work. While it is easy to meet up with friends and have time with loved ones, choosing what I did during my personal time was never planned out. With all of the commitments I now have, it is important that I schedule my time each week to stay on track. I now set aside two hours each weekend (and an hour on one weeknight if I can) that is dedicated to Magic; I don't engage with anything else. This may be watching gameplay videos, working on decks, or organizing my cards. Try setting aside designated time for yourself!

4. Attending events. Scheduled events that require registration are a way I found to keep myself engaged with Magic. Since these require a registration, I can set aside time in advance and look forward to attending! These events are usually Friday Night Magic, pre-releases, or special events my Local Game Store has planned (such as a spooky Halloween-time Duskmourn sealed event!) If you can budget both time and money, I have found these to be a great way to interact with the game, meet new people, and plan in advance.

These are strategies that have worked for me (so far). I realize that not everyone is close to a Local Game Store, has access to technology, and has a commute where a full podcast can be listened too. I am open to hearing what you all do if you find yourself both busy and craving some Magic!

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Duskmourn: Lavish or Lackluster?

We are now in October of 2024 and the latest set of Magic: The Gathering has been out for several weeks now.

Is this set lavish or lackluster?

When considering what I value in a set, I look for the flavor, art, state of limited, and interest in singles.

Flavor: Does it live up to the "House of Horror" aspect? Personally, I think it does. While hardcore horror fans may not immediately consider it to be in the upper echelon, it certainly does convey a sense of dread and spookiness within the realm of Magic: The Gathering. I appreciate the nod to pop culture such as "Unwanted Remake" and "Chainsaw".

Art: To be completely honest, I am never disappointed in the art of MTG sets. The different styles the artists employ and the variety of those commissioned always blows me away! Don't forget, many of the artists have their own social media pages and websites. If you enjoy the art on a particular card, consider exploring more of the artist's work! (When I find out how to hyperlink in Tumblr, I will add some pages in!)

State of Limited: Let me be clear: I am in no way a proficient limited player. I do find; however, it is a format that challenges and pushes me to think more critically about the game and how to improve as a player. Drafting Duskmourn on Arena has been a blast. I feel that I have had to chance to play the outlined archetypes but also feel that you are not locked into drafting them. Manifest Dread works well in many different color pairings, and not just the advertised Blue-Green archetype. If you do want more information, from those much more skilled, then check out: Lords of Limited, Limited Resources, and Limited Level Ups. (Youtube, Spotify, social media, etc.)

Interest in Singles: This is one of the largest ways I evaluate a set's lavish or lackluster rating. I currently don't have a lot of time to engage in multiple constructed formats, so I mainly play Commander once a week with my close group of friends. That being said, there are definitely cards that I have already purchased for some decks. I have a copy of each overlord card: Overlords of the Mistmoors, Floodpits, and Balemurk are in my Raffine deck. Overlord of the Boilerbilges is in my Ishai/Jeska deck, and Overlord of the Hauntwoods is in my Four Color Enchantress deck. If I can find more ways to incorporate others into my decks, you bet I will.

Overall, I think this set is lavish! I am very impressed with the design, implementation, and playability. Stay tuned for more posts, and thank you so much for reading!