The Barash Files 004 — Building Skill vs. Building Community and Learning from Your Mistakes

View all cards mentioned in this episodeAndy, Anthony, and Zach talk about improving as a Magic player, building a community and how they try to balance the two. They talk about the challenges of fostering positive social standards and how that can conflict with trying to improve at a competitive game.Discussed in this episode:The Null HypothesisCheck us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.You can find the hosts’ Cubes on Cube Cobra:Andy’s “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony’s “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at [email protected] or our p.o. box:Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211If 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.Timestamps0:00 - Intro2:22 - Balancing Developing Skill as a Player with Building a Community9:17 - The Nuanced, Complex Social Dynamics of Playing Magic12:57 - The Factors that Contribute to a Playgroup’s Vibe27:20 - The Tension Between Improvement and Community32:54 - The Value of Shared Expectations in a Community40:45 - On “Take Backs” and Learning from Your Mistakes1:03:07 - Zach asks Andy and Anthony if they’re satisfied with their level of competitiveness1:06:42 - Sequencing speed round