Kitchen Table Magic

In this episode, I’m speaking with Corey Csuhta, co-creator of the Magic community’s fastest and sleekest card lookup website, Scryfall. Corey, along with Chris Davis, Chuck Harmston, Greg MacWilliam, and Joseph Price are the merry band of Magicians that created this phenomenal new service. Full disclosure, I am not being paid to sing Scryfall’s praises. I just absolutely love how Scryfall works and if I were the Professor, I’d give them a solid A. Scryfall has the best advanced lookup of any card search out there, utilizing simple and powerful search syntax. It’s super speedy, loads quickly, incorporates high resolution card images, and has a growing list of new features. I really wanted to bring this wonderful new tool to more people. I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Corey Csuhta of Scryfall. Check out the fastest card search at Scryfall.com The Scryfall team is: Corey, Chris, Chuck, Greg, and Joseph. They’re all on twitter and you can find them at scryfall.com/contact Have an idea for a new feature? Found something broken? Give Corey and the guys feedback! They so excited to be contributing their talents to the Magic community. Scryfall is an amazing lookup tool, and if you would like support the site, please buy cards through their affiliate link by clicking on the card prices when you search for cards. You’ll be directed to TCG Player, Magic Card Market.eu, and even Card Hoarder for Magic Online cards. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Corey Csuhta of Scryfall! This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games: Be sure to watch their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought you by Card Kingdom: CardKingdom.com is a great place for shop for Magic: The Gathering singles, sealed product, pre-constructed decks, and gaming accessories. And if you’d like to support Kitchen Table Magic when shopping at Card Kingdom, please use the Kitchen Table Magic affiliate link when you shop, just go to cardkingdom.com/ktm I want to thank all of my Patreon supporters that help make this show possible. If you enjoy in depth interviews with people from the Magic: The Gathering community, please show your support at Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. The Season 2 finale is coming up and I have a very special Patreon Supporter gift that I’m planning, that every single one of my Patreon Supports will be getting. If you’re new to the show, Stay a while, and listen. Thanks for being here and thanks for being a part of the Magic community. There are plenty of interviews in Season 1 to enjoy. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James L, Markus, Alex, Trevor, Katelyn, Mark, Aaron M, Neil, James G, and Aaron C, for your generous support. Thank you all so much! Your support of Kitchen Table Magic allows me to share stories about the amazing people in the Magic: The Gathering with the world. Be sure to follow the Kitchen Table Magic on Twitter @KTMpodcast Like the show on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast And all episodes with show notes are at KitchenTableMagic.org. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher Radio, and MTGcast.com. Remember, if you are enjoying the show, please be sure to share KTM with a friend!

In this episode, I’m speaking with Eric Klug, the Magic community’s foremost alter artist. Eric paints amazing alters, in the style of classical art such as Hieronymus Bosch and Alphonse Mucha. Eric has also reproduced art in the style of Terese Nielsen’s Guru Lands, and has a wide range including popular motifs from Miyazaki to Marvel comics. Eric tells us how he got starting painting alters and what this art means to him. Eric also has a great love of Cubes and we talk a bit about it as well. Go say hi to Eric on Twitter @klug_alters https://twitter.com/klug_alters Go check out images of Eric’s art at https://www.facebook.com/klugalters And if you want to have Eric alter a card for you, be sure to email him: eaklug@gmail.com I hope you enjoy my interview with the multi-talented, Eric Klug! I want to take a moment thank all my newest Patreon Supporters: Neil, James G, and Aaron C. James and Aaron both shared with me that they started listening in the middle of Season 2 and that they’re now listening to Season 1. If you’re new to the show, please listen to Season 1. There are lots of interesting stories by your favorite ppl: Christine Sprankle, Wedge from the Mana Source, Brian Braun-Duin, Chris Pikula, Mark Rosewater, and Gerry Thompson, who if you didn’t know just won Pro Tour Amonkhet last week. Kitchen Table Magic is all about behind the scenes stories of our favorite people in the Magic community. So, if you enjoy a rare glimpse into these people’s lives, please consider supporting Kitchen Table Magic on Patreon. I’m so moved by the generous support of Neil, James and Aaron this past week. Thank you all so much. I’ll be sending out some cool stuff for you in the mail in the coming weeks. And remember, my Patreon Supporters at the $6 level get special gifts from my interviews. If you also would like to support the show, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. The Season 2 finale is coming up and I have a very special Patreon Supporter gift that I’m planning. It was funny, I had to buy out a “somewhat hard to find card” my local area, cuz you know me, good ol’ skeezy Sam, buyin’ out all those old cards for my Patreon Supporters. Anyhoos! I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James L, Markus, Alex, Trevor, Katelyn, Mark, Aaron M, Neil, James G, and Aaron C, for your generous support. Wow! My Patreon supports have grown to a pack of wolves, a gaggle of geese, a herd of elephants, a murder of crows, a gathering of mages, a baker’s dozen, whatever you want to call it. Your support of Kitchen Table Magic allows me to share stories about the amazing people in the Magic: The Gathering with the world. Thank you!

In this episode, I’m interviewing Jimmy Wong, actor, musician, YouTube personality and co-host of The Command Zone with Josh Lee Kwai. Every week, Jimmy and Josh share gameplay strategy, deck building tips, and set reviews for Magic: The Gathering. The Command Zone focuses primarily on the Commander format, also known as Elder Dragon Highlander, or EDH. Jimmy also co-starred in the hit YouTube series Video Game High School and is the co-host of another popular show, Feast of Fiction. I ask Jimmy about how he got started playing Magic and the other content that he creates. Go say hi to Jimmy on Twitter @jfwong Follow The Command Zone @CommandCast https://twitter.com/commandcast I’ll have links to Jimmy and Josh’s YouTube channel for the Command Zone in the show notes at KitchenTableMagic.org Jimmy and Josh do a great job making their videos and producing their content. They’ve been pillars of the community to help bring new players into Magic: The Gathering. I’m grateful for their contributions to our community. And if you’re someone who is new to MTG, I welcome you and I’m so happy you’re here. I hope you enjoy my interview with the talented Jimmy Wong! This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. The Kitchen Table Magic podcast has been all about the origins of the game and members of the community. And as a community, we’ve come a long way since the game first started. Apart from the Kitchen Table, the only other places in your local community to play Magic are at local game stores. That’s why places like Paragon City Games is so important for our community. At Paragon City Games, you’ll find a spacious and clean showroom with lots of elbow room for Magic events. You’ll find thoughtful accessories like Die Hard Metal Dice and hand crafted wooden deck boxes. You’ll find a huge supply of Legacy, Modern, and Standard staples, sealed product, and table top games. It’s places like Paragon City Games that allow local Magic communities to gather in. And if you can’t make it there in person, be sure to watch their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games They also have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. Thanks everyone for listening to this week’s show! I also want to welcome new listeners to Kitchen Table Magic. If you’re new to the show, drop me a line and say hi. And be sure to check out Season 1. I want to take a moment for a big thank you to Aaron for becoming our newest Patreon Supporter! Wow! Thank you Aaron your generosity in supporting Kitchen Table Magic. [I’ll be sending out a special gift for you, be sure to be on the lookout for the mail.] As I mentioned before, I have a very special Patreon Supports gift that I’m planning for the Season 2 finale. All my Patreon Supporters at the $6 level get special gifts from my interviews. If you also would like to support the show, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James, Markus, Alex, Trevor, Katelyn, Mark, and Aaron for your generous support. Your support of Kitchen Table Magic allows me to share stories about the amazing people in the Magic: The Gathering with the world. Thank you.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Frank Stanley, event organizer and Judge at Mox Boarding House in Bellevue Washington. Every week, Frank puts on multiple events at Mox Boarding House where a hundred or so regulars pack the tournament room. Frank cares deeply about the community and is always there to help Magic players experience the game at its best. Frank and I sat down last week for some after hours fun. We drank a few beers and discussed a wide range of topics with shout outs for the Seattle Magic Community. Special thanks for Rachel for making some delicious snacks for us. Special thanks to my best friend Phil for hosting us. You’ll find Frank in person at Mox Boarding House in Bellevue Washington, each week running events. You’ll also find Frank on Twitter @ItsThatFrankGuy. I’ll have links for the Gauntlet Charity event that’s being hosted at Mox on Sunday May 21st at http://www.thegauntlet2017.causevox.com/ I also take a moment to acknowledge everyone in the Seattle Magic community. Just like Frank said, you’ve there for us in so many ways. It’s shaped my life for the better and I’m truly grateful. I also want to thank the greater Magic community, for generously welcoming this humble little podcast into your lives. The messages I receive in emails, on Facebook and Twitter are so uplifting. Thanks so much everyone for joining in on our ridiculousness and thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy my interview with Frank Stanley! This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. The Kitchen Table Magic podcast has been all about the origins of the game and members of the community. And as a community, we’ve come a long way since the game first started. Apart from the Kitchen Table, the only other places in your local community to play Magic are at local game stores. That’s why places like Paragon City Games is so important for our community. At Paragon City Games, you’ll find a spacious and clean showroom with lots of elbow room for Magic events. You’ll find thoughtful accessories like Die Hard Metal Dice and hand crafted wooden deck boxes. You’ll find a huge supply of Legacy, Modern, and Standard staples, sealed product, and table top games. It’s places like Paragon City Games that allow local Magic communities to gather in. And if you can’t make it there in person, be sure to watch their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games They also have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. Thanks everyone for listening to this week’s show. As Frank and I talked about in the interview, there’s gonna be some very interesting guests coming up on Season 2. And remember! Patreon Supporters at the $6 level get special gifts from my interviews. For the season finale, I’m going to be sending out a gift to each of my $6 Patreon Supporters. And trust, me, you’ll want the gift that I’m planning on sending out. Listeners, if you also would like to support the show, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James, Markus, Alex, Trevor, Katelyn, and Mark for your generous support. You are all awesome! Follow the show on Twitter @KTMpodcast Like the show on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagic And all episodes with show notes are at KitchenTableMagic.org. Subscribe to the show on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher Radio, and MTG cast.com

In this episode, I’m speaking with Brian Weissman, former Pro Player known for his creation of The Deck. The Deck focuses on an attrition plan to brutally control your opponent while swinging in with big creatures like Serra Angel, Juggernaut, and Juzam Djinn. Brian’s innovations in deck tech blossomed into what we now know as the “control” archetype and the concept we know as “card advantage”. For a while The Deck was unbeatable and evolved to combat new threats like Necropotence. Brian’s been playing EDH on Magic Online and he posts his videos with commentary on his YouTube channel. Brian also has a massive collection of Beta Power. So if you wanna see a handful of black bordered Moxen, head on over to KitchenTableMagic.org I sat down with Brain last fall, I hope you enjoy my interview with legendary Brian Weissman. This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. The Kitchen Table Magic podcast has been all about the origins of the game and members of the community. And as a community, we’ve come a long way since the game first started. Apart from the Kitchen Table, the only other places in your local community to play Magic are at local game stores. That’s why places like Paragon City Games is so important for our community. At Paragon City Games, you’ll find a spacious and clean showroom with lots of elbow room for Magic events. You’ll find thoughtful accessories like Die Hard Metal Dice and hand crafted wooden deck boxes. You’ll find a huge supply of Legacy, Modern, and Standard staples, sealed product, and table top games. It’s places like Paragon City Games that allow local Magic communities to gather in. And if you can’t make it there in person, be sure to watch their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games. They also have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. I want to take this moment to thank my newest Patreon Supporter, Mark! Mark, thank you so much for becoming a $6 supporter of Kitchen Table Magic. A foil Rusted Relic signed by Marshall Sutcliffe is in the mail. I literally ran down the street and chased down one of those USPS mail vans and handed it over myself. Listeners, if you also would like to support the show, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James, Markus, Alex, Trevor, Katelyn, and Mark for your generous support. You are all awesome!

In this episode, I’m speaking with Randy Buehler, Hall of Famer and former Vice President of Digital Gaming at Wizards of the Coast for Magic: The Gathering. Randy has made a significant impact on Magic, not only as a pro player, but also developing the game at R&D. Randy worked on Invasions and Odyssey, to name a few. Randy also has a long history on the commentary team. Though Randy recently retired from commentary, he still has an influential role in the community with Vintage Super League, Community Super League, and his streams on Twitch. Say hi to Randy on Twitter @RBuehler I’ve got a photo of my interview with Randy in his Magic filled basement. What an amazing collection. Watch Vintage Super League at Twitch.tv/randybuehler Randy has a Patreon page set up for Vintage Super league and now Team Draft Super League. I’ll have links in the show notes at KitchenTableMagic.org I sat down with Randy last fall, I hope you enjoy my interview with the one and only, Randy Buehler. This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. Randy Buehler talked about playing his first Magic tournament in a bee keepers warehouse. There were cases of honey and beside them, Magic singles. The Magic community has come a long way since then and in today’s world, you’ll find places like Paragon City Games. Instead of jars of honey, you’ll find Die Hard Metal Dice, hand crafted wooden deck boxes, Legacy, Modern and Standard staples, sealed product, and table top games. And instead of being in a warehouse, Paragon City Games has a spacious and clean showroom with lots of elbow room for Magic events. Also, be sure to check out their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games They also have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. Thanks everyone for listening to this week’s show. Randy Buehler finished up my 4 part series with the legendary Magic coverage team. Season 2 has been all about the origins of the community. And speaking of origins, I’d like to thank and acknowledge my first Twitter follower, Katelyn! Katelyn is my newest Patreon supporter and I want to thank you Katelyn. Your contribution means a lot to me. Okay listeners, consider supporting Kitchen Table Magic on Patreon. For just a few bucks a month you’ll get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. Head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James, Markus, Alex, Trevor, and Katelyn for your support. You are all so awesome!

I’m speaking with Brian David-Marshall, official commentator and Pro Tour Historian of Magic: The Gathering. BDM started his career in comics. And eventually opened the famed game store Neutral Ground. BDM give us a rare glimpse into the early days of Magic, when it exploded in popularity back in 1994 and 1995. BDM tells us about coverage today and also an interesting tale two Enter The Battlefield movies. I caught up with BDM last year right before PAX 2016. It was such a treat to listen to him share about the history of Magic. The next time you’re at a tournament and there are side events, you now know who to thank. BDM! Go say hi to BDM on Twitter @Top8Games I’ll have links to a picture of that flyer for BDM’s early Magic tournament at Kitchen Table Magic.org And if you want to watch BDM cook, watch Kitchen Table Gaming on YouTube. Again, I’ll have link in the show notes. This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. We have the winner to our giveaway for a box of Modern Masters 2017. And our winner is…! Drum roll please! William Evans! Congratulations William, you are our lucky winner. I’ll be reaching out to you soon to ship you that box of Modern Masters 2017. Remember, our giveaway was brought to you by the awesome gamers at Paragon City Games. With their generous support, I’m able to do a giveaway on the show. A lot of my interview with Brian David-Marshall talked about the importance of having a space for the Magic community to play and gather in. And that is why Paragon City Games cares so much about creating a nice space for their community. They have a beautiful open showroom with plenty of space for weekly Magic events. Paragon City Games also streams their in store events weekly with Tuesday night Legacy at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games They also have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. Thanks everyone for listening to this week’s show. This was part 3 of my 4 part series with the legendary Magic coverage team. If you heard my episode with Marshall Sutcliffe, we spoke about Marshall’s favorite marinara sauce. When I sat down with BDM, he gave me the super secret recipe. If you want to hear it, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic and become a supporter. I want to thank all my Patreon Supporters: Brian, James, Markus, Alexander, and Trevor for your support. There are not many high quality Magic podcasts that dive into the backstory of the community’s most prominent members. If you appreciate me tracking down all these Magic A-listers for a lengthy interview, then you’ll certain appreciate supporting Kitchen Table Magic with $1, $3, or $6 a month at Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic. All my Patreon Supporters get access to extra audio content, behind the scenes show notes, and special gifts from my interviews. I still have available 4 signed cards by Marshall Sutcliffe from our crack a pack. A foil Rusted Relic, Reassembling Skeleton, Celestial Purge, and a foil Dred Drone. Head over to Patreon.com/Kitchen Table Magic today.

I’m speaking with Rich Hagon, commentator and host of official Magic coverage. Rich has a background in performance art and broadcasting. Rich tells us about how he got started doing coverage, all the way back in the day for Pro Tour Kuala Lampur. Rich has grown as a commentator and also Magic coverage has grown into what we see today. I caught up with Rich last year right before PAX 2016 and the World Championships. I hope you enjoy this rare interview with the charming Rich Hagon! Much thanks to Rich for sitting down with me during his busy schedule of coverage to share with listeners his story. If you’re grinding to become an elite player, listen to Rich’s advice. There’s much to learn in the world of Magic. Go say hi to Rich on Twitter @MTGRich Rich is also streaming at Twitch.tv/MTGRich This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. The giveaway an entire box of Modern Masters 2017 is still going on. Head on over to the Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast for the giveaway post by Rafflecopter. Follow Paragon City Games on Twitter and Facebook to enter. It’s that simple. Extra entry points are awarded if you also follow Kitchen Table Magic on Twitter and Facebook. One lucky winner will receive a box of Modern Masters 2017. This giveaway for a box of Modern Masters 2017 ends on Sunday April 16th, so hurry while you can! Rich talked about finding a wide variety of Magic content online. Paragon City Games streams their in store events weekly with Tuesday night Legacy at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter for Paragon City Games They have great online reviews and that shows their commitment to excellent customer service for their player community. I hope everyone is enjoying Season 2. This is part 2 of my 4 part series with the coverage team. The last episode of KTM featured Marshall Sutcliffe where he opened boosters of Modern Masters 2015. My new Patreon Supporter Trevor is getting a signed All Sun’s Dawn! I want to thank you, Trevor for supporting the show at the $6 level. If you enjoy listening to a high quality podcast featuring a nice guy like me tracking down and interviewing your favorite MTG personalities then head over to Patreon.com/Kitchen Table Magic You know it’s not easy getting all those fancy people to sit down with me. I put in an immense amount of leg work to booking guests for the show. Please support Kitchen Table Magic with 1, 3, or 6 dollars a month on Patreon. Supporters at the $6 level get special gifts from my interviews. I still have available 4 signed cards by Marshall Sutcliffe from our crack a pack. A foil Rusted Relic, Reassembling Skeleton, Celestial Purge, and a foil Dred Drone. Head over to Patreon.com/Kitchen Table Magic I’ve spruced up the page with new graphics. Trust me, you’ll want to read the funny things I wrote there. And, all Patreon insiders get access to behind the scenes show notes for each interview I’ve done. I also make myself to supporters where you’ll be able to ask me questions and connect with me directly about the show. And exclusively for my Patreon supporters, Rich talked a bit more about Worlds 2016 that I did not put into this episode. It’s exclusively for Patreon supporters. Big thanks to my current Patreon Supporters, Brian, Markus, James, Alexander, and Trevor! Thanks to everyone for listening to this week’s show! Connect with me on social: I’m on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast and on Twitter @KTMpodcast The show is on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher Radio, and MTG cast.com.

Support the Magic Art Show Kickstarter project! It's produced by Vorthos Mike, Josh Krause of Original Magic Art, Rico Evangelho of Cardamajigs (@cardamajigs), and Brian Walters (@propsofprophecy). They plan to put on a full Magic: The Gathering art exhibit featuring original paintings, sculptures, drawings, concept art, and more at GP Vegas. It's going to feature the planes of Ravnica, Innistrad, Mirrodin, and Amonkhet. This is also the first event of what we hope to become a mainstay at Grand Prixs moving forward. Magic Art Show also aims to prevent original art from disappearing into the shadow. Let's keep Original Magic: The Gathering art in the light with this amazing exhibit. Check out the Kickstarter rewards at www.MagicArtShow.com and support the show with a few bucks. It's planning to be at GP Vegas June 14-18 2017 and they need your help.

In this episode, I’m hanging out with Marshall Sutcliffe, creator and host of Magic’s most popular podcast Limited Resources. Marshall is also the play-by-play commentator and host of premier Magic: The Gathering tournaments such as the Grand Prix, Pro Tour and the Magic World Championships. Marshall talks about his thoughts on the game and what he hopes to create in the future. Also! I brought a few packs for Marshall to crack open in true Limited Resources style. This is a fantastic episode, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Marshall Sutcliffe. To the content creators out there, remember what Marshall said, if you have an idea and you want to make something for the community, now is a great timing with the boom of Magic: The Gathering. You may find Marshall online at LRcast.com, on twitter @Marshall_LR. Limited Resources is also on YouTube, and, be on the lookout for Marshall’s new video content he’s working on. I’m excited for it to be released in the near future! This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. And courtesy of Paragon City Games, we’re doing another giveaway. We’re giving away an entire box of Modern Masters 2017! Entering is simple, head on over to the Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast for the giveaway post by Rafflecopter. Follow Paragon City Games on Twitter and Facebook to enter. It’s that simple. Extra entry points are awarded if you also follow Kitchen Table Magic on Twitter and Facebook. One lucky winner will receive a box of Modern Masters 2017. Marshall talked about the importance of being compassionate to each other in the community so that people will feel included to come out and play Magic. Paragon City Games works really hard to create that great kind of environment. That’s why they have stellar reviews and a rapidly growing fan base. I’m grateful that Paragon City Games has decided to stand tall as a leader in their community. If you’re in Draper Utah, check them out. They have a beautiful retail space and amazing wooden deck boxes and Die Hard Metal dice. And speaking of those wooden deck boxes, I’m going to have to show them to you in a video soon. Many thanks to Paragon City Games for giving me the opportunity to do a giveaway. Remember to spread the love with a Like on Facebook and a follow on twitter. And be sure to check out their weekly stream at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames They are working hard to bring you Legacy and Modern action every week. Is everyone enjoying Season 2 so far? I’m really excited for all the amazingness that’s to come! Support Kitchen Table Magic on Patreon. Each episode, I bring you mythic rare interviews with your favorite people in the Magic community. I make high quality shows and if you appreciate quality, then support Kitchen Table Magic with 1, 3, or 6 dollars a month on Patreon. Supporters at the $6 level get special gifts from my interviews. I have in front of my 8 signed cards by Marshall from our crack a pack, that Marshall would have drafted. All Sun’s Dawn, Faerie Mechanist, a foil Rusted Relic, Reassembling Skeleton, Sign in Blood, Celestial Purge, Mana Leak, and a foil Dred Drone. Three of them are going to my Patreon supporters Brian, James, and Alexander. There are 5 more up for grabs to all new Patreon supporters at the $6 level. Head over to Patreon.com/Kitchen Table Magic I’ve spruced up the page with new graphics. Trust me, you’ll want to read the funny things I wrote there. And, all Patreon insiders get access to behind the scenes show notes for each interview I’ve done. I also make myself to supporters where you’ll be able to ask me questions and connect with me directly about the show. And for your 1 and 3 dollar supporters, Marshall Sutcliffe answered a sound check question about a super secret marinara sauce recipe from the legendary Brian David-Marshall himself. It’s exclusively for Patreon supporters. Big thanks to my current Patreon Supporters, Brian, Markus, James and Alexander.

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In this episode, I’m talking to Melissa Li, former creative writer and world builder for Magic: The Gathering. I caught up with Mel right before she left Seattle. Mel moved to LA and is now a Senior Narrative Writer at Riot Games. Mel talks about her creative process. New storylines are developed five to ten years ahead. So Mel can’t tell us what she worked on. But Mel did work on the single player campaign for Duels of the Planeswalkers. Also! Get on your Vorthos hats! We talk about some lore and the current storyline with the Eldrazi, Sorin, Nahiri, Innistrad and Nicol Bolas. Go say hi to Mel on twitter @SMelissaLi You can check out her blog, EtheriumSculptor.tumblr.com Mel has some great cosplay and she also makes some cool things like Aether ray guns and spinny thopter cakes. Special thanks to Zeze Photography for the photo of Mel’s Sarkhan cosplay. If you want to see them, I have links in the show notes at KitchenTableMagic.org Check out more of photos by Zeze Photography on Facebook.com/ZezePhotography I want to thanks and acknowledge Mel again for her work creating worlds for the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. I’m so excited to see her work in future sets. Also, best of luck at Riot Games. Hmmm…. I wonder what Riot is going to be doing with a creative narrative writer? Perhaps a new game? Perhaps an MMO in the League of Legends storyline? Anyhoos, I’m just excited for Amonkhet that’s about to be released. We’ll all find out soon just how much of a jerk Nicol Bolas really is. This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. Last week, Paragon City Games sent me Die Hard metal dice in Raw Steel Red for a giveaway. I asked you to comment on my Facebook giveaway post about what you think an up-and-coming game store like Paragon City Games should do to support the players and gaming community. Your responses are wonderful and I’d like to read a few of them on air. Paul wrote: I would love to see stores build strong relationships with other stores in the region for scheduling, referrals, and the like. Stores are part of our community and the stronger the relationship between stores the better it is for players. Robin write: I would have loved some classes on how to make a decent deck, especially how to build one with the cards I have rather than what cards to buy. James wrote: Be sure to employ a judge or organizer for your events who is friendly, flexible, and sensitive to the broad range of players you will attract. Choose someone you trust and will allow to have the freedom to make store decisions on the fly that serve your customer service needs. Adrian wrote: Have a series of local tourneys where the prizes are modern staples rather than packs or money. This should keep the hyper-competitive away and attract the more casual crowd. Jordan wrote: Ask players for input on the events they'd like to see. Hold events at various times throughout the week--not everyone has a schedule that accommodates early afternoon/early evening events. Many other listeners said that having a good atmosphere is important and also having private rooms to rent out. And now, for the winner, chosen at random is…. Kate! Kate wrote: Cater to the younger generation! I see young kids at my local shop all the time, and they get intimidated by the adults who are very serious or exclusionary. Maybe host game nights for 13 and Unders? Or have easy to play decks on hand so kids can learn to play with their parents or friends without memorizing tons of mechanics. Congratulations Kate, you are our lucky winner. I’ll be reaching out to send you the RPG set of Die Hard Metal dice in Raw Steel Red. Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts about how game stores can help build community. Many thanks to Paragon City Games for giving me the opportunity to do a giveaway. Remember, they are streaming every week at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Also, be sure to spread the love and give them a Like on their Facebook page.

In this episode, I’m Shaun Penrod, creator and host of MTG Pro Tutor. Shaun is dedicated to distilling down all the best tips from the pros and sharing them with the community with a goal of sending 1000 players to the Pro Tour. Shaun has over 180 episodes where he interviews elite Magic players like Patrick Chapin, Jon Finkle, Conley Woods, Paul Rietzl, Ari Lax, Michael Majors, pascal Maynard, Reid Duke, and the list goes on and on. Shaun shares his favorite tips for getting better at Magic and cultivating a mindset for success, both in life and in MTG. Show notes for each of Shaun’s interviews are at mtgprotutor.com Shaun and MTG Pro Tutor is also on Facebook and Twitter. I’ll have all the links at Kitchen Table Magic.org. This episode of Kitchen Table Magic is brought to you by Paragon City Games. They care deeply about contributing to the Magic community. They’re streaming Legacy every Tuesday night at Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames They’ve been awarding travel vouchers worth hundreds of dollars to whoever wins their Grand Prix Trails for the upcoming GP Vegas. They also have a recording studio in their game store so that creators can make videos or a podcast. No jokes! It’s furnished with over $3000 worth of equipment. Paragon City Games also wanted me to share some Die Hard metal die cast dice with you. So, courtesy of Paragon City Games, I’m giving away a set of them to you, the listener. We’re giving away the RPG Set of Die Hard Metal dice in Sinister Chrome, a dark gray with Red numbers. They look amazing and I have some photos at Kitchen Table Magic.org. To enter the giveaway, tell me what you think up-and-coming game stores like Paragon City Games should do to support their local Magic players. Send me your thoughts, short or long, just let me know. I’ll read a few of them on air next time and announce the winner. I have a giveaway post on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagic where you can enter by commenting with your ideas. Also! Remember to Like Paragon City Games on Facebook and support their stream on Twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames with a follow. We’ll be choosing an entry at random. This giveaway ends Friday March 24th at noon Pacific Standard time. I want to thank my new Patreon Supporter Alexander! Wow! Thanks so much for your support Alexander. You’re also getting a bag of those Magical Fish Crackers! Up until this point, I feel like I’m just casting out to the ocean that is the internet. I have no idea who’s hearing me. But I know that Kitchen Table Magic fills up a space in the Magic community. My guests and I are brining you never before told stories. Memories from the past. Meaningful insight. And a connectedness through the medium of this audio show. I put my heart every week into Kitchen Table Magic. So it means the world to me when after I’ve been speaking into my microphone that something comes back to me. In the form of a message, an email, a tweet, and your support through Patreon. I’m quite sentimental, and I care about creating something real and tangible for the Magic community. I want to thank all of our Patreon supporters: Brian, Markus, James, and Alexander! And if you’re listening, and you think you can spare 25 cents a week, head on over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic, and click “Become a Patron”. Thanks to everyone for tuning in to this week’s show! I’m always here to chat and answer your questions. Email me: sam@kitchentablemagic.org I’m on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast and on Twitter @KTMpodcast That’s where you’ll find me photoshopping random things. The show is on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and MTG cast.com.

In this episode, I’m talking to veteran pro player David Ochoa. Last spring, David appeared in his 100th Grand Prix. David is one of the best players in the game, and play tests with Luis Scot Vargas, Paul Cheon, Josh Utter-Leyton, and Matt Nass. David writes for Channel Fireball and tweets about food, especially breads and toasts. He also shares some tips on how to get better at Magic. Remember what David said, to get better, find a group of players, they’ll help you get better. And for newer players, find a great place to play Magic. Having fun in a nurturing environment will make all the difference. I want to thank Amie Bailey and Gerry Thompson for encouraging David to be a guest on the show. I met a lot of great people at GP Portland last summer in 2016. If you want to hear about how a GP is put on, listen to my interview with Tim Shields, Season 2 Episode 201. At that GP, I was also able to meet Cedric Phillips, Brian Braun-Duin, Christine Sprankle, and JC Tao in person, all of which have shared their stories on Kitchen Table Magic. I want to take a quick moment to tell you about my friend Brian and the Magic players at Paragon City Games in Draper Utah. Paragon City Games is an up and coming game store and they’re hosting giveaways every week on Twitch. They’re giving away lots of cool things, including Die Hard Metal Dice, which are die cast in Zinc and then electroplated with other metals. Todd makes them with care and craftsmanship. And because Paragon City Games really cares about building a community of Magic players locally in the Salt Lake City Area, they’re doing many things to give back to the player community. First, they’re streaming Tuesday night Legacy at 7 pm Mountain, which is 9pm Easter and 6pm Pacific at https://www.twitch.tv/ParagonCityGames Second, with the recent changes to Grand Prix Trails no longer being held at local game stores, Paragon City Games have decided to award travel vouchers to players at win GPTs at their events. That is a really awesome way for them to go the extra mile for the last few GPT events available to players in their local community. Please check out Paragon City Games’ Twitch stream every Tuesday night for giveaways. It’s an easy way to win some great stuff and watch Legacy. Links will be in the show notes at Kitchen Table Magic.org. I want to thank my new Patreon Supporter James! I surprised him the other night by showing up in person to deliver a bag of those Magic Fish Crackers Brad Rutherford and I were munching on in our deck tech of Abzan Company episode 205. A lot goes into making Kitchen Table Magic, I want to bring you stores from iconic figures in the MTG community that have never been told. I want you to know that every dollar you give through Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic goes into making the show by paying for server costs, audio editing software, and equipment. And, if we meet our goals, I’m committed to rewarding my Patreon supporters with memorable gifts. I want to thank all of our Patreon supporters: Brian, Markus and James! Thanks to everyone for tuning in to this week’s show! I’m always here to chat and answer your questions. Email me: sam@kitchentablemagic.org I’m on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast and on Twitter @KTMpodcast That’s where you’ll find me photoshopping random things. The show is on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and MTG cast.com. And one more very important announcement! I want to congratulate MTGCast.com on their 11th birthday! If you don’t know MTGCast.com is an amazing service that brings together a ton of Magic podcasts for listeners. I’m so grateful to be a part of MTG Cast and I want to thank MTGCast for allowing me to share Kitchen Table Magic with everyone. Also, big thanks to the admins for their hard work maintaining the site and answering my stupid questions about how to post things.

In this episode, I’m talking to platinum pro Jiachen Tao. JC won Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch with a modern Blue Red Eldrazi deck. And since then, JC has gone on compete in the 2016 World Championships, where he placed 7th. JC shares with us how to get better at Magic, and what’s it’s like facing off against all those scary elite pros. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jiachen Tao. If you want to become a pro, dedicate time to get the practice in, and take note of your mistakes. And by making friends with people in the community you’ll gain access to better players that can help you improve. I also want to congratulate JC and Jess, as they’re expecting a baby soon. Congratulations to the both of you! If you run into JC at a tournament and he looks extra sleepy, you’ll know why. If you’re interested in hearing more about the highest levels of Magic competition, listen to my interview with 2016 World Champion Brian Braun-Duin, Season 1, Episode 15. A year ago I sold 3 Tarmogoys, a Karn Liberated and an extra playset of Snapcaster Mages to fund basic audio equipment and server costs for Kitchen Table Magic. After 9 months, my funds have run dry. A lot goes into making Kitchen Table Magic, and I need your help. If you love the show and want me to keep going, you can show me that Kitchen Table Magic is worth it to you by heading over to Patreon.com/KitchenTableMagic to become a supporter. Just a few bucks a month can keep Kitchen Table Magic going. A big high five to my Patreon supporter, Brian and Markus. Thanks to everyone for tuning in to this week’s show! I’m always here to chat and answer your questions. Email me: sam@kitchentablemagic.org I’m on Facebook.com/KitchenTableMagicPodcast and on Twitter @KTMpodcast That’s where you’ll find me photoshopping random things. The show is on iTunes, Google Play, Soundcloud, Sitcher, and MTG cast.com.