Magic The Flavouring

The Mystical Archive cards, that act as the Strixhaven Showcase cards, add an interesting take on how spells are represented in a metaphysical context to the game. Being both abstract game pieces and the literal representation of how the spells of the Multiverse are recorded in The Biblioplex Library, they provide the guys a lot of in-world answers, but also give rise to a lot of questions as well...

Now that the entire card gallery for Strixhaven and Commander 2021 has been revealed the guys can finally move from the theoretical lore building to the physical cardboard. They talk through their favourite mechanics, art and flavour text, and also dig a little deeper into the nuances of the Silverquill and the lessons that can be learned from designing sets reflecting a relatable environment. Scr...

Strixhaven is almost here and the guys work through its surprisingly expansive lore. For a set taking place in one location, Strixhaven has found room to indulge in the details. The guys also run down the mechanical shake ups that seek to subvert expectations of what the colour pairs can do. Planeswalker's Guide to Strixhaven: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/planeswalker...

In preparation for Strixhaven the guys take a look at how MTG has represented the creative arts on the card board and which tropes have been utilized and ignored. Whether its actors, musicians, poets or dancers, it has always been interesting seeing what can be worked into a combat based game. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring , Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxinthe...

In their first deep dive into the individual stories of Magic's Web fiction back catalogue, the guys are exploring the 2015 Alison Luhrs  story, 'Family Values'. Teysa Karlov, weeks after running the Implicit Maze and drawing up the new Guildpact allies herself with Boros Champion Tajic, to take down The Obzedat and her oppressive Gradfather Karlov. Family Values by Alison Luhrs: ht...

Guilds! Magic players love nothing more than flying their guild flag and exploring the nuances of the colour pairs, both mechanically and flavourfully. And here to represent the Boros Legion is the one and only Kristen Gregory! The known authority in the MTG community of all things White/Red, she will be chatting with the guys about colour identity, EDH and her hopes for the future of the game. Mu...

Time Spiral Remastered it almost here and there is a lot of excitement and nostalgia surrounding the Old Frame treatments that are being applied, showcase style, to newer cards. But with the game nearing 3 decades into its journey, the card frame has evolved over time and the guys are taking this opportunity to look back at the highs and lows of frame design and the visual language of the game at...

Food and drink are key parts of world building that often get over looked, but are essential to rounding out a fantasy setting. And with the theoretically endless Planes of the Multiverse, there must be a rather long dinner table of options. With this in mind the guys have compiled a Multiverse Menu with canon food from different Planes and they discuss their picks for each course! The Multiverse...

The guy's talk through their thoughts on the new Secret Lair announcements, Black Is Magic and Secret Lair: Smitten. With both products being wildly different in approach have Secret Lairs reached the limit of what the can achieve creatively or are they just getting started? Designing Black Is Magic article: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/designing-black-is-magic-2021-0...

Kaldheim's web fiction marks a continuation of WOTC's renewed commitment to ongoing accessible MTG story and this time we have 10 episodes in the main and side story arcs. The guys talk through their praises and critiques of the main narrative and discuss how perhaps the core structuring of the games release is impacting the delivery of its story. MTG Story articles: https://magic.wizard...

Sagas make their return in Kaldheim, and with their third appearance they have solidified their place as one of the games most interesting card types. A versatile vehicle for story telling Sagas have a deep lineage despite their short time in the game and the guys talk through their form and function, as well as taking a closer look at some of their favourites. Saga Articles by Jay Annelli: Domina...

The guys talk about the Mechanics, Art, Flavour Text and Cycles of Kaldheim, and discuss if whether one of the most lore heavy sets we have had in recent Magic has been done justice by the text on the cards themselves! The guys also talk about the new Snow frames and whether a Throne or a Cup can be a Commander... Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface,...

Kaldheim is here, and it's looking like one of MTG's most exciting sets in years! The guys talk through the new Plane's rich world building and highlight what they think are the biggest design triumphs, as well as some of the issues with creating such a diverse and expansive setting. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxi...

Today the guys talk to one of their all time favourite MTG artists, Magali Villeneuve. They talk about her work in the game designing some of Magic's most iconic characters, re-designing some of its fan-favourite Planes and how fantasy should be a place where anyone can be a hero. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, Mag...

Magic: The Gathering Artist Alayna Danner joins the show to talk about her work. From starting off with an eclectic MTG portfolio Alayna has risen to be one of the go to artists for sweeping landscapes and promo art, as well as carving out some other interesting niches and art styles along the way.  The guys also talk with her about crazy art directions and the pressures of drawing cards destined...

Magic: The Gathering has had a rollercoaster of a year and the guys are going to try their best to separate the bad from the good. Talking about everything from the evolution of the game at a ground level to the narrative and aesthetic developments, no one can say that this year has been anything less than pivotal. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface,...

Commander Collection Green offered up EDH staple reprints with new flavour in what will presumably be the first of a cycle of 5 products. The guys, taking a break from the constant hype train, talk through their personal picks for what they would choose for the remaining Collections and what flavour they would like to see. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyM...

Today the guys once again work through some of Magic's most unnecessary questions and really let their obsessive fandom flags fly! Fair warning, there will be talk of risqué variety acts, Olympic Village "fraternising" and banned soft drink adverts! Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, Youtube: https://www.yout...

The latest Secret Lair super drop may just be the most diverse and divisive yet! With both art direction and card choices being pushed in all directions possible. The guys break down what they think. Also its our 50th episode! Thank you so much to all of our listeners and supporters who have helped us get this far. As a special treat witness Andy as he inadvertently starts his Ravnican stand up ca...

Commander Legends has not only given us new cards for established characters, but has also injected fresh characters into the lore. Some of these new Legends bolster on going narratives, others create whole new ones, and the guys are here to talk through their favourites!  Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio.  Twitter:  MTF- @MTFlavouring,  Andy- @AndyMannface,  Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon,  Youtube:  ...

Commander Legends has brought us many characters who despite having deep lore and a hold on the player base's imagination, have never previously had a creature card. Andy and Nathan go through their favourites of these Legends and talk about not only where they are from but also why it is important that they finally have a a card!  Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio.  Twitter:  MTF- @MTFlavouri...

After a year of waiting Commander Legends has arrived! The guys take a look at the different design elements and philosophies in the set and talk about the successes and potential pit falls surrounding printing cards directly into a casual format in this way.   Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio.  Twitter:  MTF- @MTFlavouring,  Andy- @AndyMannface,  Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon,  Youtube:   https://www....

Today the guys are joined by Keithulhu Cards, our guide through the world of 3D card altering! Over the past few years Keithulhu has been creating card alters that literally go beyond the confines of the MTG art we are used to seeing.  The guys also talk with Keithulhu about deck build philosophy in EDH and Commander cubes!  Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio.  Twitter:  MTF- @MTFlavouring,  Andy- @...

Nathan talks us through his EDH flavour deck tech based around one of the guys' favourite films, Studio Ghibli's 1997 fantasy epic Princess Mononoke! Marath takes the Commander role in this deck but all the major characters are represented, with some interesting narrative choices made to show character development and story structure.  Deck list: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/the-princ...

The guys talk through their thoughts and feelings about the returning Web Fiction episodes for Zendikar Rising. With a step back from the E-Book format introduced during War of the Spark and used through to Ikoria, what advantages do the Episodes present and what limitations are there? Also have we had enough of a pallet cleanser from familiar characters and settings?  Music by Michael Rawcliffe A...