Cube Feelbads: Breaking Zero-Sum Fun in Magic

Our Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Cube survey is open! Please take a few minutes to let us know what you’re testing in your cube from the new set. Andy and Anthony talk about the ‘feelbad’ moments in Magic and the cards that are more likely to create them. This seemingly narrow topic turns out to be one of the most critical and easy to take for granted aspects of Cube design: how do we make it fun? They pick out some of the most likely cards they play that can lead to negative experiences, why those experiences create the emotional responses they do, and where that risk is worthwhile. Our listener submitted pack 1, pick 1 this week comes from Nick’s Noob Cube , a Cube designed to be approachable for new players including uncommons and doubled up commons. Nick created the amazing MTG Multiverse project, cataloging cards from the planes of Magic. Invaluable to designers building set themed cubes. Timestamps: 0:00 — Official Cube banlist update 4:18 — Listener submitted pack 1, pick 1 10:20 — What is a "feelbad" 12:51 — Cards people think have feelbad potential in Andy's Bun Magic Cube 15:06 — Is Magic a Zero Fun game? 19:09 — Cards Andy himself thinks are feelbads in his Bun Magic Cube 27…