Cube Engineers

Cube Engineers Episode 39: Achieving Design Goals in Victoria 3 featuring Lead Designer Lino Claudius

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! What happens when a long-time Magic: The Gathering player becomes the lead designer for a Grand Strategy game? Awesome things! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Lino Claudius, Lead Designer for Victoria 3, to discuss how he and his team set and implement their design goals. Learn how professional game designers conceptualize and realize design goals to create an awesome experience for players through the lens of the all-new The Great Wave expansion pack! All Aboard! Show Notes Victoria 3 on Steam [https://store.steampowered.com/app/529340/Victoria_3/] The Great Wave Expansion [https://store.steampowered.com/app/4314650/Victoria_3_The_Great_Wave__Expansion/] and Volume 3 Expansion Pass [https://store.steampowered.com/app/4314630/Victoria_3_Volume_3/] on Steam Victoria 3 Official Discord Server [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbW5QcnFPeGRlTlI3T0ltSS1CQU1ncWlaRllTd3xBQ3Jtc0trSVJEWFlDcWIwd21wNEotektmUU1PRnhPX0RsZE1vVXlLTXdmbWk4cDJZMGFIRGZNMGFiNXBFTXNYLWZTQXlqdkNQOU5CaE1ReUstc0ZzaF9IWGNER3RtTkprMUFUTk43UE5udHpKWjFZZkN6ZUVmOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscord.gg%2Fvictoriagamepdx] Victoria 3 on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Victoria3Official] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/victoria.paradoxinteractive.com] MTG Cube Talk Discord [https://discord.gg/5KXGC8Nj7h] Cards Mentioned Sherman’s March Disclaimer This episode was not sponsored by Paradox Interactive. Special thanks to Lino for being the guest for the episode, and to Troy and Pelly for working with me to set up the interview! Thanks for reading Cube Engineers! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support the podcast! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cubeengineers.substack.com [https://cubeengineers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Cube Engineers Episode 38: Secrets of Strixhaven Cube Review!

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers!Back for another shift? In this episode, TrainmasterGT and Usman return to help you navigate your third draft as a proud Cube designer at Oko Fazfae’s Pizza with a piping hot Secrets of Strixhaven review! We will prepare you to deal with an influx of students visiting our establishment from Strixhaven University. Learn which cards can be your Cube’s new opus, which cards to avoid in any increment, and how to keep those dang iPad Kid Frat Boys from further damaging The Dawning Archaic. All Aboard! Show Notes Usman’s Substack [https://usmantherad.substack.com/] The Pack One Slick Ones Podcast [https://usmantherad.substack.com/podcast] MTG Cube Talk Discord [https://discord.gg/5KXGC8Nj7h] Cards Mentioned Triceraton Commander The Dawning Archaic Abundant Harvest Enduring Curiosity Skycoach Conductor Restoration Angel Seal of Cleansing Mulldrifter Emeritus of Ideation Elite Interceptor Monastery Mentor Emeritus of Conflict Lightning Bolt Sea Gate Stormcaller Mercurial Spelldancer Snapcaster Mage Counterspell Grapeshot Arclight Phoenix Waterfront Bouncer Crystal Shard Inferno Titan Emeritus of Abundance Vastlands Scavenger Baneslayer Angel Mulldrifter Erode Swords to Plowshares Path to Exile Solitude Intermediate Chirography fetchlands, painlands Boulder Dash Boomerang Basics This Town Ain’t Big Enough Ceaseless Conflict Sunfall Thundertrap Trainer Thraben Inspector Flametongue Kavu Anoint with Affliction Death in the Family Plateau Tidehollow Sculler Sheoldred, the Apocalypse Traumatic Critique Galazeth Prismari Morlun, Devourer of Spiders Choco-Comet Kavu Titan Grizzly Bears North Wind Avatar Prismari Command Electrolyze Flashback Recoup Pithing Needle Flow State Prismari Charm Witherbloom Charm Silverquill Charm Quandrix Charm Lorehold Charm Quench It’ll Quench Ya! Abrupt Decay Broadside Bombardiers Feed the Clan Lava Spike Maestros Charm Riveteers Charm Helping Hand Unearth Young Pyromancer Ambitious Augmenter Experiment One Pelt Collector Pawpatch Recruit Remand Foot Chopper Grief Abigale (hybrid) Guide of Souls Qarsi Revenant Kheru Goldkeeper Wing It Salvation Swan Call a Surprise Witness Informed Inkwright Sedgemoor Witch Lingering Souls Alpine Watchdog Monstrous Rage Berserk Royal Treatment Enter the Avatar State Firebolt Channeled Dragonfire Galvanic Discharge Unholy Heat Sear Lightning Strike Snuff Out Stirring Hopesinger Clarion Spirit Cori-Steel Cutter Heartfire Hero Tormented Hero The Ooze The Wandering Emperor Bonesplitter Reckless Charge Wild Ride Vivi Ornitier Street Wraith Patrician’s Scorn Kinetic Ooze Ranger-Captain of Eos Disenchant Reclamation Sage Ainok Survivalist Foundation Breaker Crumble Grim Bauble Virtue of Persistence Sword of Fire and Ice Doom Whisperer Lorien Revealed Boon of the Wish Giver Reach through Mists Pest Control This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cubeengineers.substack.com [https://cubeengineers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Cube Engineers Episode 37: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cube Review!

We are back on the rails again with another episode of Cube Engineers!TrainmasterGT and Usman return to help you navigate your second draft as a proud Cube designer at Oko Fazfae’s Pizza. This time, we venture deep into the back rooms of the establishment to determine what is to be done with the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cards in the bulk bins. Can this set be salvaged to the benefit of Cube designers? Does the card file contain anything that might be of interest to people who don’t like Ninja Turtles? The answer might surprise you!All Aboard! Show Notes Usman’s Substack [https://usmantherad.substack.com/] Video Essay about the history and artistry of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMDp9T_4bDs] Epic Rap Battles of History: Ninjas Vs. Artists [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HZ5V9rT96M] 2004-5 NHL Lockout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004%E2%80%9305_NHL_lockout] Derrick Green Sepultura Interview [https://youtu.be/TQMZ-a7Dun4?si=6m4Dh7Eqx7VC7uiE&t=1175] Reddit Thread about White One Drops [https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgcube/comments/1ra0abd/the_best_savannah_lion_in_2026/] The Ball Pit Cube [https://cubecobra.com/cube/about/ballpit?view=primer] Casey Jones [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Jones] and his Commemorative Stamp [https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/about-us-stamps-modern-period-1940-present-commemorative-issues-1950-1959-1950-1951-2] Highball 4K Cube [https://www.cubecobra.com/cube/about/Highball4K?view=primer] Price Chopper [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_Chopper_(Northeastern_United_States)] Time Stamps and Major Cards 1:41: Episode Begins 21:06: Prehistoric Pet [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/22/prehistoric-pet] 33:33: Sneak Cards [https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28Raphael%2C+the+Nightwatcher%29+or+%28Dark+Shredder+and+Leo%29+or+Leonardo%2C+leader+in+blue&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name] 54:40: Ravenous Robots [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/106/ravenous-robots] 1:01:55: Splinter and Leo, Father and Son [https://scryfall.com/card/tmc/103/splinter-&-leo-father-&-son] 1:07:32: Casey Jones, Jury-Rig Justicar [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/87/casey-jones-jury-rig-justiciar] 1:14:50: Raph and Leo, Sibling Rivals [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/166/raph-&-leo-sibling-rivals] 1:22:29: Death in the Family [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/61/death-in-the-family] 1:26:11: The Ooze [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/177/the-ooze] 1:34:01: North Wind Avatar [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/162/north-wind-avatar] 1:41:36: Triceraton Commander [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/25/triceraton-commander] 1:52:14: Finale 1:54:43 Outro and Post Credits Scene (Foot Elite in Battle Box [https://scryfall.com/card/tmt/146/foot-elite]) Cards Discussed Electric Seaweed Eliminate (M21) [https://scryfall.com/card/m21/97/eliminate] Prehistoric Pet Raphael, the Nightwatcher Dark Leo and Shredder Leonardo, Leader in Blue Kytheon, Hero of Akros Descendant of Storms Karakas Mox Amber Flowering of the White Tree Ravenous Robots Young Pyromancer Myr Battlesphere Nettlecyst Chromatic Sphere Signal Pest Splinter and Leo, Father and Son Orcish Bowmasters United Front Blade Splicer April O’Neil, Kunoichi Trainee Casey Jones, Jury-Rig Justicar Raph and Leo, Sibling Rivals Combat Celebrant Fear of Missing Out Bebop and Rocksteady Tokka and Rahzar, Terrible Twos Eidolon of the Great Revel Sulfuric Vortex Death in the Family Anoint with Affliction The Ooze Tormod’s Crypt Ghost Vacuum North Wind Avatar Burning Wish Cunning Wish Living Wish Baloth Prime Generous Ent Wilderness Reclamation Swords to Plowshares Vivi Ornitier Expressive Iteration Inzerva, Master of Insights Abrade Triceraton Commander Lorehold, the Historian Foot Elite Foot Chopper Special thanks to Usman Jamil for co-hosting and editing this episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cubeengineers.substack.com [https://cubeengineers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Cube Engineers Episode 36: Lorwyn Eclipsed Cube Review!

We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! Usman and I wanted to record a podcast for you, to help you get settled in on your first Lorwyn Eclipsed Cube night! We actually Cubed with the set before you, we’re finishing up our last draft now as a matter of fact! So, we know it can be a bit overwhelming, but we’re here to tell you there’s nothing to worry about, and there are indeed some cool cards in this set. You’ll do fine! So, let’s just focus on getting you through your first draft, okay? The Cube Engineers Podcast is not responsible for damage to property or person. Upon discovering that damage or death has occurred, a missing person report will be filed within 90 days, or as soon as any and all evidence of wrongdoing has been converted into a 3/3 Green Elk creature. All Aboard! Show Notes Usman’s Substack, [http://usmantherad.substack.com] home of the Pack One Slick Ones Podcast [https://usmantherad.substack.com/podcast] Usman’s Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/usmantherad.bsky.social] Blue Öyster Cult [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_%C3%96yster_Cult] Chapters 7:00 - Vivid [https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3Avivid] 8:22 - Blight [https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3Ablight+%28set%3AECL+or+set%3AECC%29&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name] 21:19 - Moonshadow [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/110/moonshadow] 32:25 - Wistfulness [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/252/wistfulness] and the other Evoke Elementals [https://scryfall.com/search?q=set%3Aecl+o%3Aevoke&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name] 45:37 - Abundant Countryside [https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/22/abundant-countryside] 55:04 - Ajani, Outland Chaperone [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/4/ajani-outland-chaperone] 1:02:31 - The Reaper, King No More [https://scryfall.com/card/ecc/4/the-reaper-king-no-more] 1:08:55 - Wanderbrine Trapper [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/42/wanderbrine-trapper] 1:21:27 - Figure of Fable [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/224/figure-of-fable] 1:28:18 - Glamer Gifter [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/49/glamer-gifter] 1:31:42 - Oko, Lorwyn Liege [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/287/oko-lorwyn-liege-oko-shadowmoor-scion] 1:41:45 - Sapling Nursery [https://scryfall.com/card/ecl/328/sapling-nursery] 1:51:30 - Cube Testing and Inclusions Cards Mentioned Bloom Tender Bad River Scuzzback Scrounger Vivid lands Scarscale Ritual Sear Moonshadow Stalactite Stalker Fallen Shinobi Psychic Frog Wild Mongrel Noose Constrictor Wistfulness Grim Bauble Virtue of Persistence Cruel Ultimatum Obliterating Bolt Hieroglyphic Illumination Fact or Fiction Field of the Dead Thespian’s Stage Dark Depths Monastery Mentor Helping Hand Abundant Countryside Ancient Ziggurat Gwen Stacy Flame of Anor Thalia, Guardian of Thraben Dark Confidant (Bob) Headliner Scarlett Crib Swap Realmwalker Ajani, Outland Chaperone Liliana of the Veil Liliana, the Last Hope Grist, the Hunger Tide Nissa, Voice of Zendikar Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast Chandra, Acolyte of Flame Saheeli, Sublime Artisan SOLDIER Military Program Wedding Announcement Adeline, Resplendant Cathar Cosmogrand Zenith Enduring Inn Flickerwisp Monastery Mentor Ranger Captain of Eos Skyclave Apparition Suki, Corageous Rescuer Abandoned Air Temple: The Reaper, King No More Necroskitter Skinrender Gran-Gran Wanderbrine Rootcutters Barrenton Cragtreads (Crackheads) Tibor and Lumia Gideon’s Lawkeeper Law-Rune Enforcer Goldmeadow Harrier Zurgo Bellstriker Lightstall Inquisitor: Figure of Fable Figure of Destiny Warden of the First Tree Ascendant Spirit Frodo, Sauron’s Bane Ajani, Nacatl Pariah Evolved Sleeper Kellan, Planar Trailblazer Glamer Gifter Circuitous Route Sygg, Wanderbrine Wisdom Oko, Lorwyn Liege Majestic Metamorphosis Mu Yanling Sky Dancer: Sapling Nursery Sigil of the Empty Throne Reach of Branches Rhys, the Evermore Kinscaer Sentry Kinbinding Flitterwing Nuisance Glen Elendra Whatever Loch Mare Disrupter of Currents Bitterbloom Bearer Twilight Diviner Iron-Shield Elf Dawnhand Dissident Hexing Squelcher Formidable Speaker Bristlebane Battler Eirdu Tam, Mindful First-Year Abigale Personify Thirst for Identity Unwelcome Sprite Auntie’s Sentence Requiting Hex Chomping Changeling Midnight Tilling Mutable Explorer Eclipsed Kithkin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cubeengineers.substack.com [https://cubeengineers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Cube Engineers Episode 35: Maximizing Fun in Vintage Cube with Joe Anderson

IT’S ALL JOEVER NOW. For the final episode of the Cube Engineers Winter Arc, TrainmasterGT invites one of the most prolific Cube players of all time, Joe Anderson, to share his expertise regarding Vintage Cubes. Together, they trace the history and evolution of Vintage Cube, unpack how “powermaxxing” has shaped players' perceptions of these designs, and explore practical ways to maximize fun without sacrificing depth or replayability. Along the way, Joe offers advice on customizing a Vintage Cube, so it feels unique and tuned to one’s personal tastes. By the end, you’ll be ready to bring a Vintage Cube to your table that not only plays great, but feels unmistakably yours. All Aboard! Show Notes Cali Cube Champs [https://linktr.ee/CaliCubeChamps] Joe’s Week in Magic Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/4ve4hqnBdKEWWs4EnpFG37] The Anarchy Cube [https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/joescube] Aquaone’s Vintage Cube [https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/aquaone] The MTG Cube Talk Discord [https://discord.gg/UgNFVNEPPF] Cards Mentioned Cogwork Librarian Gaea’s Skyfolk White Knight Rite of Flame Manamorphose Dark Ritual Lightning Bolt Opposition Murktide Regent Abhorrent Occulus Three Steps Ahead Timetwister High Tide Fastbond HullbreacherMinsc and Boo, Timeless Heroes Elspeth Tirel Goblin Guide Kavaron Harrier Nadu, Winged Wisdom Ketramose, the New Dawn Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd Overlord of the Balemurk Ghost Vacuum Nihil Spellbomb Mirage Mirror Time Vault Dark Depths Channel Emrakul, the Aeons Torn Noble Heirarch Sol Ring Comet, Stellar Pup White-Plume Adventurer Forth Eorlingas! Otharri, Sun’s Glory Tendrils of Agony Smokestack Teferi, Hero of Dominaria Upheval Generous Plunderer Gau, Feral Youth Abbot of Keral Keep Ajani Vengant Lightning Helix Sentinel of the Nameless City Dryad of the Ilysian Grove Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle Field of the Dead Knight of the Reliquary Thespian’s Stage Tinker Zurgo Bellstriker Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Ignoble Heirarch Professor Oak’s HintPot of Greed Innovate Mind Goblin Seething Song Stormscale Scion Thassa’s Oracle Lightning Strike Evolving Wilds Scalding Tarn Llanowar Elves Elvish Mystic Joraga Treespeaker Lore Seeker Thought Seize Tarmogoyf Grist, the Hunger Tide Doom Blade Mana Crypt Black Lotus Time Walk Contract from Below Ancestral Recall Cogwork Librarian Time Spiral Brain Freeze Price of Progress Invasion of Ikoria Goblin Sharpshooter Special thanks to Joe Anderson for appearing as a guest on this episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cubeengineers.substack.com [https://cubeengineers.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]