Recross the Paths

This week I'm joined by Nick, a positive part of the New York cube community. Beyond dog talk, we discuss the benefits of escapism, cubing for mental health, as well as a Recross the Paths first - a live cube update! Nick on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/60f9818508b0a5103bac14d0 Red Cube Wins! on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/redwins Nick on Bsky: https://bsky.app...

This week, the incomparable Zach Barash and I joyfully meander through conversation on parenting, self-toppling carts, implicit promises, creative projects being icebergs, and much more. Zach on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/611d11c41821250566960dc8 Cascade Cube on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/cascadecube Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

What do you want out of a cube draft? In this episode, Sam talks through his experience as an avid retail limited player and how it relates to cube play and design. We discuss building toward open-endedness, power-forward design, the Twobert module, and much more. To hear more of Sam, check out his podcast, Rough Drafts! Rough Drafts (Sam's limited podcast): https://open.spotify.com/show/4OnYI...

This week, Parker of Lucky Paper walks us through Atavus, an accessibility-focused environment that asks (and answers) foundational questions. In this conversation we discuss curatorial triangulation, helping players navigate a cloud of probability, Braum's ice cream, not listening to feedback, and much more. Parker on CubeCobra: https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5d35b48796dd684d71e9fc2d Atavus...

We're having a ball! In this conversation, Jane unpacks her inaugural experiences with The Ball Pit, a desert cube where every card can be played face-down as Chromatic Sphere. Join us on this wild ride as we explore cultivating community, competitive improvisation, gravedigging for artists, and much more. The Ball Pit on CubeCobra A Firsthand Account of "The Ballpit Incident" Inland...

This week, Illuminous gives us an overview of the Chromatic Cube project, a mono-colored (and colorless) exploration of color-focused cubes. We discuss singleton breaks, striving for an ideal goal, building on cube clones, and more. Illuminous is @tobyknight2013 on Discord Illuminous on CubeCobra - https://cubecobra.com/user/view/62bd188b9ed2640f77bbdf3c The Red Cube on CubeCobra - https://cubecob...

A G.O.A.T. by any other name would still be a sweet draft! This week, Dave guides us through his synergy-driven peasant environment. We discuss designing for synergy in an increasingly powerful game, "the Box," inspiration for your own cube invitational, and more. Dave is dnolan08 on Discord Dave on CubeCobra https://www.cubecobra.com/user/view/5d8e33c43b499239566b7c91 The G.O.A.T. Peasa...

In this conversation, Alex and I talk about cube and not about cube. We explore Upkeep, Alex's zine about cube as an outlet for other creativity, community, and chaos. Buckle up and enjoy the ride through unintentional therapy, a probably-stolen binder, heartache about foil stamps, and much more. Alex on CubeCobra - https://cubecobra.com/user/view/5f1f15788b0b670fce74a752 Alatta - https://cube...

Enjoy a brief archival recording this week! Jake, Joe, Bones, and I talk about feedback on a quick car ride. Midwinter: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/midwinter World War of the Spark: https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/wwrav

"Garden as though you will live forever" - William Kent In this episode, Scott (the mind behind Upkeep New York and Cube for a Cause) shares his insight on The Garden, a context-shifting cube where players start with a Lotus Field in play. We discuss stretch goals, Type 1 cubes, the value of aesthetics in cube design, and much more. The Garden on CubeCobra Scott on CubeCobra C4AC - Cube...

May (also known as Myagic) unpacks finding the fun through May's Fae Cube! In this conversation we discuss aesthetics vs. gameplay, objective subjectivity, cube being like an ant farm, and much more. May on CubeCobra May's Fae Cube on CubeCobra May on BlueSky May is on the Uber Cube podcast! Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

On this episode, Danny guides us through the graveyard-focused Soskube: the Second Hand . We also explore Cogwork Librarian , a tool he developed for advanced cube-building queries and creation. We discuss building toward target gameplay goals, reinventing projects that have lost their spark, using resources to go from idea to table more quickly, and more. Dive into Cogwork Librarian at: https://c...

"Creature spells? Where we're going, we don't need Creature spells!" - Ollie, probably On this episode, Ollie guides us through The Creatureless Cube and - spoiler alert - there may be some creatures along the way. We discuss building with packages, cube as shared game design, serving your players, and more. The Creatureless Cube on CubeCobra Ollie on CubeCobra Ollie on BlueSky O...

Join us in the Junderdome! In this episode, Tyler - the tyrant of The Jund Cube - guides us through this accessibly harsh tri-color environment. We discuss curating for an ethos, pitfalls and opportunities of color-restricted environments, ease-of-brain, and more. The Jund Cube on CubeCobra Tyler on CubeCobra Tyler on BlueSky Tyler is tylerpug on Discord Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

Me: Can we draft Ikoria? Mike: We have Ikoria at Home. This week, Mike guides us through the 'big three' pillars of the Ikoria at Home cube - the iconic cycling archetype, kindred humans, and mutating monsters - and many of the design decisions that impact its ongoing curation. We discuss finding and building cohesion, balancing humility and intentionality, and more. Mike (BigTears) on Cub...

This week, Haiyue unpacks the art of casting for coverage and casting ultimatums! We discuss following an emotional cadence, building for greed, holding onto the reins of your own projects, and more. Oops! All Pips on CubeCobra Haiyue on Bluesky Haiyue on Twitter Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

"The modernity of yesterday is the tradition of today, and the modernity of today will be tradition tomorrow." - Jose Andres In this thoroughly Modern conversation, Jabs takes us through The Modern Darlings Cube, a nostalgic museum of pre-Magic Origins constructed Modern with some thoughtful twists. We discuss digging deep to support archetypes, testing special seeded packs, not being afraid to se...

This week, Anthony of Lucky Paper talks through several of the cube design tools he's helped craft as well as the joy of curating cubes and play groups. We explore building thoughtful processes, chains of eroding frustrations, and doing the best you currently can. All of the tools referenced are hosted on luckypaper.co Anthony on CubeCobra Anthony on Blusky Anthony's Shuffling Article is c...

Blink and you'll miss it! This week, Ian shows off the value and fun of the Bant Cube. We also talk about his ongoing interview project, Cuberviews. We explore building from cards you own, designing in ways you enjoy, learning from varied perspectives, and more. Find Cuberviews anywhere fine podcasts are hosted! Ian on CubeCobra The Bant Cube on CubeCobra Ian is ianbraverman on Discord and Red...

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 G...

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 Amon...

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 Email the show at recrosst...

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 ! Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

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! Email the show at recrossthepaths@gmail.com

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 Blue...