a playground of cardboard featuring fierce, board-based battles using some of magic's all-time coolest cards a midpower tempo/value environment, sporting a [strix 5n](https://redlib.reallyaweso.me/r/mtgcube/comments/c2wyta/the_strix_scale_shorthand_for_cube_power_level/) [changelog chat](https://discord.com/channels/263828508126609420/1173780623391981568) $\textcolor{pink}{\textsf{pink}}$ is silver border $\textcolor{violet}{\textsf{violet}}$ is custom in some way $\textcolor{orange}{\textsf{orange}}$ is duplicate ---- >>># ***rule zero*** <<< ---- fetches, shocks, surveils, and basics freely available in the land box there's [11 custom cards](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11e_yvfuSgw-799h-AQ4NF-BtQg6uCKg7) included - a re-imagining of the 'sword' cycle. all have the template of 2 to cast, 2 to equip, give +1/+1 and ward 1, and a choose one attack trigger actions targeting an existing ward (or similar effect) are allowed a rewind; it's protection, not a gotcha [[mesa chicken]] has first strike [[magical hacker]] can't hack planeswalkers [[more or less]] can't reduce a mana cost to less than 1 all other customs are simply retemplates for clarity and readability, and don't impact their function there's only one of each card, except some colorless shapeshifters curve is low at about 2 and a quarter average mv decks are (usually) 2 to 3 colors nearly every action costs mana. there's [exactly one known combo](https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/11340/) that offers an 'infinite', exponential, or one-turn win, and it costs 11 mana to go off fully (sage of hours + clockspinning) tricks and single-target removal usually cost 1-2mv. permission is soft at 2mv and hard at 3mv. curves cap out around 4-5mv synergies grow linearly and take mana to achieve. they're easy to find and combine. if you see it, it's supported major synergies include: ‣ spellslinger ‣ hero ‣ artifacts ‣ counters (eg +1/+1) ‣ typal ‣ flicker ‣ lifegain ‣ evasion ‣ recursion that's it - let's play! ---- >>># ***reference*** <<< ---- **pack drafting is most seamlessly integrated here on cubecobra.** so you can draft here and export your list for cockatrice directly - no need to use draftmancer! **note:** be sure to swap the placeholder 'sword of the animist' for any custom swords you draft **also:** remember your free prismatic vista! >>>## ***downloads***<<< >>>*[updated 2024-10-01]*<<< #### [portable cockatrice client](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RM-kqmi1zURpL-1jp1lFZLvdwlBGN9PP?usp=drive_link) *(includes images+set+darktheme)* [7-zip](https://7-zip.org/) a *way* better zipping utility than the built-in windows tool for opening the above download [list for draftmancer](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1r2bJM0zJHrmLXBfeFGr5C5H2Cj3aTGoP) *(for a pack draft, recommend doing it here on cubecobra)* >>>## ‣<<< the following two links are for updating an existing cockatrice install: [custom images](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nr6dRela5MxEkUAlMTGw3HxwiVNQh8my) *(for patching /data/pics/custom)* [custom set](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11uVJ9W2N1RPw5thMqyKdvqouEukUrGHD) *(for patching /data/customsets)* >>>## ‣<<< >>>## drafting methods:<<< >>> ⚠ *work in progress* ⚠ <<< can support up to 29 drafters using conventional 3x15 pack draft built to handle any draft format; err toward more cards seen and selected #### **pack draft, 4x12+5** #### *2-19 players, best in pods of 6-8* 4 packs of 12, with a bonus pack of 5 after each main pack, pick1trash4. this is the default/preferred draft here on cubecobra #### **minesweeper draft** #### *2-6 players, best at 4-6* take turns choosing face-up cards, then revealing adjacent (non-diagonal) cards. picks go clockwise and in 'snake' order (1-2-3-4-4-3-2-1...) til card count is reached. trash what's left, reset the board, then pass first pick to the left. each board should have the center and corners flipped, plus any up-down-left-right adjacent to those minesweeper sizes: 2p: 5x5, 8 rounds, 6 cards *(or housman/grid/solomon/glimpse)* 3p: 7x7, 6 rounds, 8 cards *(or housman/glimpse)* 4p: 9x9, 4 rounds, 12 cards *(or 7x7 8rounds 6cards, or 12x4+5/housman)* 5p: 9x9, 5 rounds, 10 cards *(or 4x12+5)* 6p: 9x9, 6 rounds, 8 cards *(or two 3p pods, or 4x12+5)* for 7p+, recommend breaking into smaller pods for drafting; 3-4p are ideal sizes. to avoid duplicates: open [the draft list](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1r2bJM0zJHrmLXBfeFGr5C5H2Cj3aTGoP) with spreadsheet software, shuffle rows, then split list among the pods. #### **housman** #### *2-4 players, best at 4* https://luckypaper.co/resources/formats/housman-draft/ #### **grid** #### *2-4 players* https://luckypaper.co/resources/formats/grid-draft/ #### **solomon** #### *2 players* https://luckypaper.co/resources/formats/solomon/ ---- >>># ***heritage***<<< ---- ultimate synergy contains dna from: **japahn's [elegant cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/elegant) *- primary influence*** ‣ *go check out japahn's writeup, as all goals from the elegant cube are mirrored here. i 'solve' variety a bit differently - where japahn uses a rotating 'occasional' section, i opt for a single big card pool* anthony's [regular cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/regular) john's [petty nobility](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/pettynobility) brad's [solely singleton cube](https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/list/drruler) andy's [bun magic cube](https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/andymangold) special shout-outs to: [lucky paper](https://luckypaper.co) [aegis gaming official](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxYydbRcA654r5W43zp1HQ) [salubrius snail](https://www.salubrioussnail.com) [riptide lab](https://riptidelab.com/), both jason and the community [chillmtg](https://www.youtube.com/@ChillMTGtv) [mtg cube talk](https://discord.gg/sf75mcyE5N) community [mtg cube brainstorming](https://discord.gg/rp4MK9HpDb) community cubecobra community *- via recommender, elo, and similar data* edhrec community *- via scryfall edhrec sorting, related cards, and similar data* maro and the design team at wotc ---- >>># ***design notes***<<< ---- as a product, i intend to build this cube card-for-card irl (proxied) as a ready-to-play, easily maintainable cornerstone of my broader game library these goals drive my design process: **accessible** - be intuitive for newbies **varied** - feel fresh for veterans every session **big** - support any size playgroup **consistent** - decks come together readily **destructible** - can be used for most any game style with any set of cards selected **ergonomic** - easy to maintain, store, and play **fun** - promote player agency, empower creativity, and encourage active play patterns >>>## ‣<<< for **accessibility**, i accomplish this by keeping things simple. this design aesthetic is desirable for all players, as it helps respect player time, focus the decision space, and promote active gameplay. but it's especially important for newbies, to reduce complexity and comprehension fatigue 1. hand revealing (and thus targeted discard) doesn't exist, to avoid time spent reading and tracking cards 2. cards are selected with careful consideration to their textual, mechanical, and tracking complexity 3. deck searching is minimized - the only common sources are fetchlands, and all other tutors are similarly type-restricted 4. minesweeper, solomon, and other face-up drafting methods ensure most card reading is done all at the same time during draft, and players have a rough idea of what each other have available the entire way through. this helps new players especially by introducing them to cards openly, and allowing for table talk to help get new players up to speed >>>## ‣<<< for **variance** and **bigness**, well, they're the same thing, and support each other inherently >>># ‣<<< for **consistency**, i address it a few ways: ‣ cards are chosen with strategic overlap in mind ‣ card costs are low ‣ color fixing is abundant ‣ majority of cards are single-pipped, colorless, or hybrid. in contrast, golds are signature signposts and/or key value engines, and (almost) exclusively 2-color ‣ all color pairs and triads are mechanically compatible at a meaningful level ‣ core effects are redundantly offered, to ensure coverage is high and decks get what they nee ‣ 'every part of the buffalo' is used. the typeline is relevant. the statline is relevant. and the explicit synergies play off of these omnipresent features. as the density of relevant effects is higher on each card, so to the chance of the next card offered to overlap, and the higher chance any two cards are directly related to each other >>>## ‣<<< **destructibility** is maintained through: ‣ all the efforts that support consistency ‣ ratios of cards and effects are crafted such that any truly random slice of of cards should net enough of any effect ‣ no card is singularly essential for a set of cards to meaningful come together >>>## ‣<<< **ergonomics** are important to ensure long term success of the project: ‣ tokens are handled using reusable erasable blank cards, so as to minimize the number of game pieces required ‣ counters likewise are handled using reusable erasable blank cards ‣ when finished, cards simply need shuffling into the cube to reset for the next session, no collation or organization necessary ‣ as the cube is built around overlapping synergies instead of distinct archetypes, new cards can be readily added without drastically impacting the textures of the environment >>>## ‣<<< >>> ⚠ *work in progress* ⚠ <<< **fun** is a nebulous term, but there's known ways to create the conditions for it to occur. i aim to lend a sense of engagement with every game action. i want players to put their own spin on things, combining cards in creative new ways. they should feel in control of their game experience, both in draft and in match. ingame, the tempo is energetic and the vibe is active, with scrappy battles that both demand (and provide the tools to make) creative tactics i take a multi-pronged approach: ‣ snowballing and single-card power swings are kept to a minimum. protection and indestructibility are rare, and almost always temporary ‣ threats are mid in strength (especially at higher mana values), while removal is plentiful and mono-colored. managing advantage on the board is the primary method of interacting with your opponent and building a win, but respecting board wipes and other punishing answers is important ‣ tricks and single-target removal usually cost 1-2mv. permission is soft at 2mv and hard at 3mv. curves cap out around 4-5mv ‣ the hand is fairly sacred, but net-positive draw is somewhat rare. value is instead gained in more flavorful and interactive ways, such as recursion, selection, modality, mana dumps, repeatable abilities, and tricks. most interaction is done from the hand ‣ color pie is respected with regard to restrictions and flavors. this provides familiarity, 'regularcy', and thus predictability with regard to card analysis in a highly random environment. as a side effect, it reinforces a sense of resonance by evoking the notions of each color's identity through the mechanics themselves ‣ mechanics are redundantly supported, and overlap between archetypes is high, so decks should feel cohesive. mana costs are ratioed to align with anticipated deck needs. the law of large numbers puts in a great deal of work, ensuring a fairly even coverage of important categories of cards despite the large size. dud drafts should be rare and the result of the performance of the player ‣ on the 'small to large' spectrum, this aims for fairly neutral, in that sources of permanents and removal of permanents are roughly balanced, with a slight edge to sources ‣ emphasis on 'yes, and' cards that do as many things in as few words as possible. increased card flexibility maximizes deckbuilding creativity while also maximizing in-game playability ‣ minimize obstacles. each a turn should provide options of play, so nothing feels like you 'got stuck' and the player has agency in the flow of the match ‣ seed joy by placing a quirky mechanic here and a nostalgic hit there, as a nod to seasoned players and a preview to new folk. these cards combine in creative - and often unexpected - ways, lending a sense of discovery and creation for the player