Cube Engineers

We are back on the rails again with Season 2 of Cube Engineers! Most conversations around custom cards tout the benefits of the medium, but fail to adequately address the drawbacks of their implementation. In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Chris Taylor back again to examine the potential pitfalls of utilizing custom cards in a Cube, and whether or not these issues can be minimized. Along the...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT and Usman Assemble to discuss Earth’s Mightiest Magic Cards. Together, they discuss the set’s biggest standouts, misses, and build-around cards for Cube designers. Is Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes a triumph of game design, or did the design team Go Nuts when they pitched this one? Stay tuned to find out! Show Notes Usman’s New Website: Usmantherad.com! Usm...

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! What happens when a long-time Magic: The Gathering player becomes the lead designer for a Grand Strategy game? Awesome things! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Lino Claudius, Lead Designer for Victoria 3, to discuss how he and his team set and implement their design goals. Learn how professional game designers co...

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! Back for another shift? In this episode, TrainmasterGT and Usman return to help you navigate your third draft as a proud Cube designer at Oko Fazfae’s Pizza with a piping hot Secrets of Strixhaven review! We will prepare you to deal with an influx of students visiting our establishment from Strixhaven University. Learn...

We are back on the rails again with another episode of Cube Engineers! TrainmasterGT and Usman return to help you navigate your second draft as a proud Cube designer at Oko Fazfae’s Pizza. This time, we venture deep into the back rooms of the establishment to determine what is to be done with the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cards in the bulk bins. Can this set be salvaged to the benefit of Cub...

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! Usman and I wanted to record a podcast for you, to help you get settled in on your first Lorwyn Eclipsed Cube night! We actually Cubed with the set before you, we’re finishing up our last draft now as a matter of fact! So, we know it can be a bit overwhelming, but we’re here to tell you there’s nothing to worry about,...

IT’S ALL JOEVER NOW. For the final episode of the Cube Engineers Winter Arc, TrainmasterGT invites one of the most prolific Cube players of all time, Joe Anderson, to share his expertise regarding Vintage Cubes. Together, they trace the history and evolution of Vintage Cube, unpack how “powermaxxing” has shaped players' perceptions of these designs, and explore practical ways to maximize fun witho...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT and Usman Jamil reflect on the year 2025! They discuss the design and mechanics of the new sets, cover the coolest cards, and share what developments influenced their thoughts and feelings the most. Did any sets prove themselves to be a cut above the rest? Which sets are destined for the dustbins of history? Was 2025 even a good year for Magic? Stay tuned to find out...

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! In this episode, TrainmasterGT is once again joined by Usman Jamil to discuss their favorite cards in the Avatar: The Last Airbender Magic Set. Find out what cards are destined to save the world, and which cards have a lot to learn before they can save anyone… All Aboard! Show Notes The Pack One Slick Ones on Usman’s R...

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites back the always wonderful Usman Jamil to discuss the mechanics of the Avatar: The Last Airbender Magic: The Gathering set! Find out which mechanics translate best from screen to card, and how to implement Avatar themes into your Cube! Will this set quench our thirst for cool new m...

In this episode, Chris Taylor takes the Engineer’s seat for a new extended Sensei’s Divining Talks Segment! Chris is joined by TrainmasterGT, a first-year dental student, to deliver an important message about Focal Enamel Hypoplasia. What is this dental disorder, how does it impact patients, and how can it be treated? Stay tuned to find out more! Show Notes Turner’s Tooth: A Rare Case with Review...

We’re back on the rails again! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Greg Cortazzo (A.K.A. Dinrovahorror) to share his experiences hosting Cube events and discuss the differences between organizing small and large events. Greg is the founder of the Vertex Cube Event Series and a founding member of the new Shoebox Magic event. Learn valuable lessons about how to host Cube events, challenges for ev...

We’re back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! In the season finale, TrainmasterGT invites back Usman Jamil and Chris Taylor to give a master class on Cube design! The trio discuss different Cube projects they have completed, and different lessons that can be applied from their designs. Learn about: * Making and using custom cards * Sizing and balancing your Cube *...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Andy Mangold to discuss a topic every Cube podcaster must grapple with at some point in their career: Minecraft! Arguably, the most elegant sandbox game of all time, Minecraft contains many great lessons for any designer. The question is: what can we learn and how can it be applied to Cube? Stay tuned to find out! All Aboard! Show Notes Luck Paper Radio Cube...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites the legendary Dom Harvey to discuss the intersection between fun cards for Cube and Constructed. Learn the anatomy of successful designs for the two formats, and how Cube designers can gain inspiration for their own environments by examining various constructed formats. All Aboard! Show Notes Dominaria’s Judgement Podcast All About Amulet Titan The Companion...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Usman and Bella to discuss changes to Highball 4K, Unstable Cubicorns, and the all-new Jerry Gauntlet. Follow all of the latest changes to Highball 4K and the continuing evolution of Unstable Cubicorns. Also, learn about an all-new tool for teaching new players Magic: the Jerry Gauntlet! All Aboard! Show Notes Highball 4K Cube on Cubecobra and Riptidelab Unst...

Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the podcast Cube Engineers. In this episode, TrainmasterGT once again invites Usman Jamil to discuss the coolest new cards in Edge of Eternities for Cube! Which cards will last the whole five-year mission, and which cards are wearing a red shirt? Stay tuned to find out! All Aboard! Show Notes Highball 4K Cube on Riptidelab and Cubecobra The origi...

It’s time for a new mini-series! In this episode, TrainmasterGT assembles the Avengers to help update his Cube, Highball 4K. Usman Jamil, GayTransMulldrifter, and Parker LaMascus help TrainmasterGT take a look under the hood of his Cube to fix a series of perceived issues. Learn different approaches to updating a Cube, setting and implementing goals, and how to reconcile evolving priorities. All A...

In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Senior Writer and Insyaa Region Lead Developer, Hoia, to discuss the Anbennar mod for Europa Universalis IV! Anbennar is one of the most immersive fantasy worldbuilding projects of all time, manifesting itself as a comprehensive total conversion mod for a popular grand strategy game! Hoia and TrainmasterGT go on a tour of the world of Anbennar, discussing eac...

It’s time for the first Cube Engineers Bonus Episode! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites his sister Bella to discuss possible updates to the Unstable Cubicorns battle box. They explore a variety of cards, both new and old, that could match the tone and power level of this low-complexity battle box. Learn how to manage player feedback, address balancing concerns, and keep complexity manageable....

In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites lead developer Mac to discuss the After the End mod for Crusader Kings III! Journey to the 27th Century to explore a neo-feudalistic future of the Americas. Become a patrician in New York, a cowboy on the Great Plains, an administrator in the Empire of Brazil, or even a true Minnesota Viking! Discover cool characters, epic empires, and exotic cultures in a fa...

In this episode, Usman Jamil returns to discuss the new Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set with TrainmasterGT. What cards are hot? What cards are not? Where is Cecil? Also in this episode: Undertale, Massachussets, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chocobos. Oh so many Chocobos. All Aboard! Show Notes Hej Hej from Sweden: Cube Engineers Episode 18 The Thom Heartmann Program The Japanese Sakoku The Pack O...

It’s time for the moment you’ve been waiting for! In this episode of Cube Engineers, the results of the “A Good Omen” contest are finally revealed! 25 contestants entered cards to compete for an epic prize: a full set of cards with the Omen mechanic, a foil Roiling Dragonstorm, and a signed foil copy of Skirmish Rhino! TrainmasterGT is joined by two guest-hosts: Chris Taylor of Riptidelab fame and...

Hej hej! In this episode, TrainmasterGT discusses his experiences playing at a Final Fantasy prerelease event at Alphaspel/Alphabar in Stockholm, Sweden. Find out what is different about playing Magic in Sweden compared to the United States, and how Magic exists as a global phenomenon through interviews with Swedish Magic Players! Grab your Fika, it’s going to be a wild ride! Thanks again to every...

An Usman episode? That isn’t about a new set!? Impossible! But not today! In this episode, TrainmasterGT and Usman Jamil discuss their history of writing articles about Cube and how their approaches have evolved over time. Learn how Usman and Trainmaster have worked to keep their writings fresh and relevant in the ever-changing world of Cube Design. All Aboard! Show Notes The Cube is Bigger than Y...