Games

Lucky Paper Radio

Lucky Paper Radio is a podcast about Magic: the Gathering hosted by lifelong friends Andy Mangold and Anthony Mattox. Focused primarily on sandbox formats like Cube, which are free of banlists, rotation, and net decking, the show is about the best parts of Magic and how to get the most out of the game.

Latest Episodes:

In Praise of Lower Mana Curves Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony talk about mana curves in cubes. They talk about how it influences gameplay and the relationship between curve, speed, and the more difficult to pin down “power level”. They also talk about how they as cube designers think about the mana curve.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

3:19 Why are the Bun Magic and Regular Cube so low curving relative to the other cubes featured at Cube Con?

15:59 The distinction between absolute and relative power level

40:43 Just how different are the mana values in Bun Magic and other Cubes?

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Spike University Part Two with Justin Parnell Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

Andy, Anthony, and Justin continue last weeks discussion through the Cubes that will be featured in the imminent Cube Con of 2023 reviewing the second half of the cubes that will be featured on live and recorded coverage. They talk about their approaches to drafting each unique environment and what to expect.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

1:30 The Creatureless Cube

21:04 The Old Border Foil Cube

42:07 The Regular Cube

1:03:01 Emma’s Peasant Cube

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Spike University Part One with Justin Parnell Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

This is your last chance to pre-order a Cube Map Print for Cube Con! Pre-order now

Andy and Anthony are joined by Justin Parnell to talk about the Cubes that will be featured on coverage in Cube Con 2023. They go through the first half, cube by cube, and talk about what the Cube is, and how they’d approach drafting it, ending with a pack 1 pick one from every Cube.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Cube Con 2023 Cubes featured on Coverage:

Also discussed:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

6:00 - Announcement of Featured Cubes at Cube Con

13:02 - David McDarby’s Live the Dream Cube

37:15 - Andy Mangold’s Bun Magic Cube

54:54 - Andrew Jabs Modern Darlings Cube

1:15:50 - John Terrill and Cultic Cube’s Cartographia Cube

1:32:36 - Mike Kerby’s Creative Cube

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Bun Magic Cube Draft Primer Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony give a primer on drafting Andy’s Bun Magic Cube. They talk about how the environment compares to similar Cubes that play many of the most iconic, powerful cards in the game. They discuss key cards, strategies, and potential pitfalls players could fall into.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

4:46 - Overview of the Bun Magic Cube

12:29 - Comparing and Contrasting the Bun Magic Cube and the Magic Online Vintage Cube

17:21 - Comparing and Contrasting the Bun Magic Cube and Retail Limited

21:28 - The Mana Base of the Bun Magic Cube

39:40 - The Highest Picks in the Bun Magic Cube

46:40 - Some Contentious High Picks in the Bun Magic Cube

54:27 - Potential Traps in the Bun Magic Cube

1:00:49 - Cards that are often underrated in the Bun Magic Cube

1:05:07 - Cards that are often overrated in the Bun Magic Cube

1:09:14 - Pack 1, Pick 1 from the Bun Magic Cube

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Wilds of Eldraine Cube Community Set Review Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Andy, Anthony, and Parker review the results of the Cube community set review of Wilds of Eldraine. They discuss the top cards from the set. No surprise, adventure cards dominate. They also reflect on some of the potentially changing attitudes of the Cube community reflected in the differences between this, and past set reviews.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

5:27 - Overview of episode

9:06 - Breakdown of the popularity of the set’s mechanics

24:14 - 13. The Goose Mother

28:26 - 12. Faerie Dreamthief

31:46 - 11. Decadent Dragon // Expensive Taste

34:00 - 10. Restless Cottage

39:16 - 9. Embereth Veteran

43:53 - 8. Restless Vinestalk

47:59 - 7. Regal Bunnicorn

54:47 - 6. Virtue of Persistence // Lochthwain’s Scorn

57:23 - 5. Questing Druid // Seek the Beast

1:02:48 - 4. Elusive Otter // Grove’s Bounty

1:07:30 - 3. Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender

1:12:07 - 2. Mosswood Dreadknight // Dread Whispers

1:16:37 - 1. Cheeky House Mouse // Squeak By

Discussed in this episode:

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

The ABCs of Control Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony talk finally follow up on episode 6 and discuss control decks. They talk about what makes a control deck, what it takes to make them functional, and the different ways they look in different Cube environments.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

3:39 - Overview of topic

7:02 - What is a control deck?

11:03 - What are the different types of control decks? “Draw, Go” vs. “Tap Out” Control

22:30 - Control decks that don’t fit the “Draw, Go” / “Tap Out” dichotomy, with a diversionary conversation about tempo

26:48 - The advantages and challenges of drafting control

33:15 - Do control decks have to be blue?

40:02 - How to draft a control deck

45:50 - What do control decks look like in our own cubes?

1:11:24 - Are there types of control decks not covered by our spread of different cubes?

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Wilds of Eldraine First Impressions, Mechanics, and Personal Cube Additions Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony talk about their first impressions of Wilds of Eldraine. Fresh off the new set’s prerelease they talk about the mechanics, both returning and brand new, and what they offer Cube designers. Then they dive into the specific cards each of them is giving a try in their Cubes.

View all cards mentioned in the episode →

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps

0:00 - Intro

2:49 - Housekeeping

5:10 - Initial Impression of Wilds of Eldraine

8:51 - Mechanics Overview

14:05 - Roles

24:11 - Bargain

27:49 - Celebration

30:07 - Adventures

35:43 - Unnamed themes and “mechanics”

39:42 - Regular Cube Additions

43:31 - Intrepid Trufflesnout

44:00 - Threadbind Clique

45:01 - Quick Study

46:28 - Bitter Chill

48:41 - Cooped Up

50:35 - The Witch’s Vanity

51:09 - The Restless Lands

52:16 - Graceful Takedown

55:07 - Bun Magic Cube Additions

56:45 - Werefox Bodyguard

59:26 - Sleep-Cursed Faerie

1:00:49 - Raging Battle Mouse

1:02:48 - Loamcrafter Faun

1:03:22 - The Huntsman's Redemption

1:05:20 - The many adventure cards on the cusp of inclusion

1:11:20 - Restless Vinestalk

1:13:32 - Virtue of Persistence // Locthwain Scorn

1:17:08 - Mosswood Dreadknight // Dread Whispers

1:20:10 - Turbo Cube Additions

1:20:48 - Collector’s Vault

1:21:30 - Syr Ginger, Meal Ender

1:23:09 - Back for Seconds

1:23:57 - Three Bowls of Porridge

1:26:06 - Closing Thoughts

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Draft Matters Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony talk about mechanics and cards that interact with drafting. Coming just from the two conspiracy sets this small, unique set of cards change based on when they’re drafted or let players take additional actions during the draft. They focus in particular on Cogwork Librarian that’s a perfect draft twist that finds its way into many cubes.

⁠View all cards mentioned in the episode →⁠

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:48 Irregular Cube Rotisserie Update

7:10 What is a “draft matters” card?

10:56 Deep dive on Cogwork Librarian

27:10 Leovold’s Operative

28:37 Agent of Acquisitions

30:39 Archdemon of Paliano

32:47 Canal Dredger

36:05 Lore Seeker

40:38 Deal Broker

45:40 Cards that Activate Cards Outside your Deck

49:51 Pick Number Matters Cards

53:25 Interactive Draft Cards

56:35 Conclusions on Draft Matters Cards

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

State of the Game 2023 Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony talk about Mark Rosewater, Magic’s lead designer’s, yearly article on the game’s state of design for 2023. They reflect on the past year’s sets and how Mark’s internal design perspective lines up with their own experience.

View all cards mentioned in the episode →

Discussed in this episode:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

4:16 - Movie Corner

7:30 - Andy and Anthony’s Current Method of Engaging with the Game

14:19 - Recapping the themes from last year’s State of Design

26:01 - The year of Nostalgia

34:53 - The value of story and worldbuilding

42:56 - Unfinity and why people can taste artistic integrity (or lack thereof)

53:25 - Universes Beyond

1:01:25 - The One Ring

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

Admiring and Analyzing Aquaone’s Powered Cube Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

Andy and Anthony’s plan for this week’s episode fell through, so instead they’re sharing the audio from a stream in which they discussed Aquaone’s legendary Powered Cube with the designer himself.

Discussed in this episode:

Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.

You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:

If want us to do a pack 1, pick 1 from your cube submit it on our website. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co. You can also find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord.

If you’d like to show your support for the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.

Musical production by DJ James Nasty.

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