Recross the Paths

Can you have too much of a good thing? This week, Spence says the answer is probably "no" if you're talking about the most powerful flower ever printed. Spence guides us through 100 Black Lotuses , a wildly powerful, unique spin on cubes with an abundance of one card. We discuss breaking singleton to provide more accessible answers, finding balance in an incredibly powerful environme...

This week, the legendary Nick Floyd teaches us how to Fish! Nick is the designer of Forgetful Fish (Dandân), Rock Paper Scissors , and a wealth of other rule-bending Magic variants. There's a lot to explore, so make sure to check out the design doc (linked below) for more ways to play. We discuss building toward what's interesting, balancing discovery and refinement, how Nick has made his...

This week, Brandon graciously connects with me all the way from Scotland. Brandon is a writer, cube designer, event organizer, Old School and Premodern aficionado, and an avid enjoyer of old-bordered cube across the globe. We discuss cube being a "net-zero" environment, the value of loving insistence when building community, why you should take your cube on vacation, and much more. Brand...

YOU FIGHT FOR HONOR, SOLDIER; FOR THE EMPIRE'S AND YOUR OWN! This week, Gabe guides us through Trenchfight , a white-leaning, de-desert-ed version of Weenies in the Desert where every card is 2 mana value or less. We discuss lessons learned from a cube that was doing a lot , the journey of totally transforming a cube, leaning into the community around you, and much more. Trenchfight on CubeCob...

This week Ryan Overturf and I wax poetic about all facets of cube design and enjoyment, ranging from Twoberts to Mundanity (a new project about everything not exciting in fantasy) to art philosophy. We discuss the joys and challenges of sharing your work, cube as a form of expression, how rest is part of the creative process, and much more. Listen to more of Ryan on 180 MtG : https://open.spotify....

This week, Trae is our spirit guide through Spirit Guide ! In this fascinating landless cube, every card can be exiled for one mana of its color. Welcome to the home of wild card draw, wilder plays, and enough probability to satisfy any statistician. We discuss the journey from a constructed format to a limited format, radical context shifts, how Ancestral Recall may not be good, and much more. Sp...

This week Max and Sakari share about their experiences in cube together. From designing a masters set, to curating surprise drafts, to hosting Motticon - a growing cube tournament in their home country of Finland - there's a lot to be encouraged by. We discuss pursuing a re -draftable environment, the value of working together, why you should include Park Map in your next cube project, and muc...

This week, Jay Dragon joins me to talk about game design through the lens of The Magpie's Cube , a whimsical sticker cube that gives players license to create. Jay is the Lead Game Designer at Steve Jackson Games and the Editorial Director at Possum Creek Games . We discuss the power and potential of stickers, the joy of unraveling Magic's grammar, outsmarting games (and being okay with be...

This week, Dan guides us through the wasteland of Mad Max Cube , a crushing desert environment that showcases the brutality of the Mad Max universe. There's precious little Blue, even less Green, and there's no deckbuilding! We discuss embracing your restrictions, drawing inspiration from possibly the worst format ever, how aesthetics shape design, and much more. Mad Max Cube on CubeCobra...

This week, Ana welcomes us to The Vintage Cube Retirement Home (aka the Boomer Cube), a resting place for those cards that just can't cut it in the most contemporary Vintage environments. We explore the value of having a thesis, balancing powerful cards in a powerless environment, the joy of every draft being different, and much more. The Vintage Cube Retirement Home on CubeCobra : https://cub...

This week, Adam takes us on the nickel tour of The Bargain Bin . This project explores the value of building on a budget and what happens when you aggressively break singleton. We discuss cleanliness over complexity, vulnerability around sharing your ideas, intentionality in design and feedback, how cube is like Shrek, and much more. The Bargain Bin on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/5...

You're reading that correctly, this is the original Desert Cube ! Andrew (Loxodon_Meyerarch) takes us on a tour of the rainless wasteland of Corince that inspired a whole subgenre of cube design. We discuss inspirations for this historic project, balancing flavor and gameplay, staying true to your own design goals, and much more. A copy of The Desert Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cu...

In this week's cube we're truly spoiled for choice! John guides us through Choose Your Own Adventure , a low-powered synergy cube without Forests in the land box. Will you dig into Burning Vengeance, a different key card, or will you attempt to embrace the green outliers? We explore designing from a web of connections, taking feedback from friends, giving drafters opportunities for ego inv...

This week, Heather guides us through HeatherCube , a competitively-focused environment that celebrates 2015 Magic vibes. HeatherCube was featured at Shoebox and was selected by the top 8 contenders to be the final cube of the main event. We discuss 'quest' cards, fun vs. technical perfection, the value of data and stories, and much more. HeatherCube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube...

This week, Kyle (aka vacalicious on Reddit) showcases the "Share Your X" series on Reddit, an annual event-turned-resource he hosts where designers discuss their cube inclusions. We also talk about how his personal cube evolved from the childhood ' Box '. We explore cards you cast right before you lose, how design decisions have consequences, being willing to simply try new thing...

In this conversation, Daisy guides us through the Early 2010s Nostalgia Cube . We unpack how Daisy uses timeline restrictions to foster creativity and we explore design of several of her time capsule projects. We discuss carving your cube from marble, creative uses for double-sided proxies, that rules can be good actually, and much more. Daisy on CubeCobra : https://cubecobra.com/user/view/7360e0e...

In this conversation, the incomparable aqua gives us a tour of aquaone powered , a heavily-customized powered cube that travels to cube events all over the country. There's a wealth of ideas to unpack as aqua gives us a peek into curating a not-quite-power-maxed environment that cultivates novel experiences. We discuss supporting artists and agents through alters, signatures, and proofs, the v...

In this conversation, Nate (who likes frogs) guides us through Glory Tag Tournament XIV , a Nostalgia project that aims to bring a bygone era to new groups of players. This project helped reinvigorate Nate's enjoyment of MtG and there's a wealth of inspiration for other designers draw from it. We discuss the value of storytelling, encouraging table talk, not letting the past design your cu...

This week, Ben Weitz , Senior Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast, offers a masterful overview of his Monored Cube. Ben shares insight from his wealth of experience as a professional player and as a part of Magic's Play Design team and the Council of Colors. We discuss targeting your ideal play experience in design, making the fun thing the good thing, why Red just might be the best color fo...

"I rather think that archives exist to keep things safe - but not secret." - Kevin Young This week, Andrew takes us deep into The Archive , a charming showcase cube that includes at least three cards from (almost) every standard-release set since Magic's release. We discuss finding joy in the process of creating, using design packages to create cohesion, balancing the breadth of Magi...

"Cube is a community thing." This week, Yolo shares about his eponymous cube, yoloswagb0i's yoloswagcube, as well as the value of building and being part of a local cube group. We explore saying "yes" to more things, building community through consistency, drafting decks you're excited to play, and much more. yoloswagb0i’s yoloswagcube on CubeCobra : https://cubecobra.c...

In this week's conversation, Maggie guides us through Twilight A.K.A The Cube Version of The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack , where we embrace nostalgia through sight, sound... and sometimes smell. This vibes-focused project aims to capture the feelings of a bygone era through card selection, aesthetics, and interactive speed. We explore how fundamentals are a foundation for freedom, the v...

All roads lead to cube! In this conversation, Gabor shares about the intersection of gaming, community, and organizing for causes larger than the game. We discuss the Etherium Landscape (a rich, technical Esper desert cube), the accessibility and infectiousness of 5-Alive, Gabor's work in organizing and coordination for a charity event, and much more. ​Gabor on CubeCobra : https://cubecobra.com/us...

Mirror mirror on the wall, which cards do I want two of this draft? This week, water the weeds guides us through The Hall of Mirrors , a delightful cube where you get to duplicate two cards before games. We discuss championing deck identity beyond archetypes, accessibility options with aesthetic benefits, cube at the intersection of self-expression and empathy, and much more. water the weeds on Cu...

Members of the community share what they're most thankful for this year in their cube journey. Thank you so much for your contributions! Recross the Paths will be taking a break during the month of December. More cube-shaped conversations to come in the new year! Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com