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Cube Engineers

TrainmasterGT

A podcast about Magic: The Gathering Cube, Game Design, and more by TrainmasterGT

cubeengineers.substack.com
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  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 22 min
  • English

Episodes 27

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  • S1 · E32
    Dec 16, 2025 · 1 hr 44 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 32: The Quenchiest Avatar: The Last Airbender Cube Review with Usman Jamil

    We are back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites back the always wonderful Usman Jamil to discuss the mechanics of the Avatar: The Last Airbender Magic: The Gathering set! Find out which mechanics translate best from screen to card, and how to implement Avatar themes into your Cube! Will this set quench our thirst for cool new mechanics, or will the set never rise from the ashes of shame and humiliation? Stay tuned to find out! Show Notes The Pack One Slick Ones on Usman’s Substack Standard Bant Airbending A Minecraft Episode with Andy Mangold Thomas Comes to Breakfast Cards Mentioned Waterbender Ascension Aang’s Iceberg Benevolent River Spirit Fire Nation Occupation Waterbender Restoration Foggy Swamp Visions Claim // Fame Unearth Helping Hand Kappa Cannoneer Murktide Regent The Boulder, Ready to Rumble Badgermole Cub Haru, Hidden Talent Darksteel Citadel Modern Horizons 2 Bridges Rampaging Ravine Restless Cottage Restless Vent Restless Anchorage Zuko, Exiled Prince Fire Nation Attacks Loyal Fire Sage Firebending Student Stoke the Flames Hired Claw Kytheon, Hero of Akros Snapcaster Mage Magma Jet Firedrinker Satyr Kellan, Planar Trailblazer Airbending Lesson The Shrine Cycle Aang, Swift Savior Spell Queller Divine Purge Appa, Steadfast Guardian Avatar’s Wrath Whirlwind Technique Cruel Ultimatum Doc Aurlock, Grizzled Genius Xolatoyac, the Smiling Flood Avatar Enthusiasts Drana, Liberator of Malakir Expedition Envoy Gideon, Ally of Zendikar United Front Great Divide Guide Loyal Fire Sage Wan Shi Tong, Librarian Unlucky Cabbage Merchant The Cabbage Merchant That’s Rough Buddy It’ll Quench Ya! Iroh’s Demonstration Thundering Rebuke Divide by Zero Professor of Symbology Poet’s Quill Gnarled Professor Academic Dispute First Day of Class Empty the Warrens Chatterstorm Skirk Prospector Enter the Avatar State Boomerang Basics Monastery Mentor Eyetwitch True Ancestry Fact or Fiction Think Twice Cram Session Study Break Ruinous Waterbending Shared Roots Field Trip Fear of Missing Teeth Igneous Inspiration Char Sparring Regimen Hulking Raptor Ulvenwald Entity Flametongue Kavu Ajani, Nacatl Pariah Guy in the Chair Bagel and Schmear Mai, Scornful Striker Zhao, the Moon Slayer Gran Gran Avatar’s Wrath Wandering Musicians Fire Nation Occupation Katara, Waterbending Master Strip Mine Venser, Shaper Savant Gifts Ungiven Do or Die Truth or Tale Special thanks to Usman for returning to do another set review! 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

  • Dec 2, 2025 · 30 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 31: Sensei's Divining Talks

    In this episode, Chris Taylor takes the Engineer’s seat for a new extended Sensei’s Divining Talks Segment! Chris is joined by TrainmasterGT, a first-year dental student, to deliver an important message about Focal Enamel Hypoplasia. What is this dental disorder, how does it impact patients, and how can it be treated? Stay tuned to find out more! Show Notes Turner’s Tooth: A Rare Case with Review of Literature (2021) Turner’s hypoplasia and non-vitality: A case report of sequelae in a permanent tooth (2010) Management of Turner’s Hypoplasia Using Resin Infiltration: A Case Report Cards Mentioned Pacifism (7th Edition) Pacifism (7th Edition Foil) Pacifism (Onslaught) Pacifism (Mirage) Recycle Special Thanks to Chris Taylor for hosting 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

  • Oct 21, 2025 · 48 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 30: Hosting Cube Events Large and Small with Dinrovahorror

    We’re back on the rails again! In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Greg Cortazzo (A.K.A. Dinrovahorror) to share his experiences hosting Cube events and discuss the differences between organizing small and large events. Greg is the founder of the Vertex Cube Event Series and a founding member of the new Shoebox Magic event. Learn valuable lessons about how to host Cube events, challenges for event organizers, and how to build the most fun Cube event possible! Additionally, the pair discusses the new Shoebox event, coming to Saint Paul, Minnesota, from March 13th-15th, 2026! All Aboard! Show Notes Shoebox Event Shoebox Badges Shoebox on Discord Dinrovahorror on Bluesky and Cube Cobra Vertex Cube Event Cali Cube Champs Capital Cube Champs Washington Cube Champs Boston Cube Party Cubes Mentioned Cascade Cube Tiny Leaders Cube Companion Cube Atomic Cube 100 Ornithopters Commander Cards, Regular Games Wheeler’s One Drops Value Vintage The Drownyard Cards Mentioned Maelstrom Nexus Original Dual Lands Chaos Orb Gimme Five! Heroes of the Realm Cards Ashnod’s Coupon Dinrova Horror Prophetic Prism Galewind Moose 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

  • S1 · E29
    Aug 19, 2025 · 1 hr 51 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 29: A Master Class in Cube Design with Usman Jamil and Chris Taylor (Season 1 Finale)

    We’re back on the rails again with another exciting episode of Cube Engineers! In the season finale, TrainmasterGT invites back Usman Jamil and Chris Taylor to give a master class on Cube design! The trio discuss different Cube projects they have completed, and different lessons that can be applied from their designs. Learn about: * Making and using custom cards * Sizing and balancing your Cube * Writing Primers * Finding Ideas and Inspiration * Fixing and how to use Triomes * Basic Land Art Choices * Proxying * Nonsingleton * Microcubes * Setting Goals * And More! Special thanks to Usman and Chris for taking part in the finale, and to every other guest and viewer for being a part of this first season! Show Notes Cube Engineers Episode 3 The Dandy Cube (Full Cube) The Dandy Customs The Usman Cube The Death and Taxes Microcube The Campout Cube Snom Party Usman’s Article about Triomes Usman’s Spider-Man First Thoughts Derail (Rail War) 555-Jank Episode 1,243 of the Drive to Work Podcast Overanalyzing Avatar on YouTube The Sokka Video Essay Cards Noted Image Gallery Leeches Suncleanser Usher of the Fallen Staff of the Storyteller Esper Sentinel Icehide Golem Arcum’s Astrolabe Cranial Plating Nettlecyst Shrapnel Blast Galvanic Blast Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas Virus Bettle Blackmail Creepy Doll Dollhouse of Horrors Splitskin Doll Arabella, Abandoned Doll Twitching Doll Living Phone Stuffy Doll Cankerbloom Ancient Den Garruk Wildspeaker Ursine Monstrosity Death Greeter’s Champion Summon: Good King Mog XII Falcon Airship Sabin, Master Monk Summon: Brinhildr Spider-Punk Psychic Frog Psychatog Sphinx’s Revelation Helitrooper Cori-Steel Cutter Third-Path Iconoclast Gut, True-Soul Zealot Otharri, Suns' Glory Broadside Bombardiers Force of Will Force of Negation Swords to Plowshares Entomb Reanimate Atraxa, Grand Unifier Damnation Vaultborn Tyrant Necromancy Animate Dead Dance of the Dead Spitting Dilophosaurus Grim Bauble Dubious Delicacy Choco-comet Gwen Stacy Abbot of Keral Keep Descendant of Storms Zack Fair Summon: Yojimbo Marang River Regent Cecil, Dark Knight Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER Starting Town Tifa Lockheart Gau, Feral Youth Yuffie, Materia Hunter Thieving Skydiver Consult the Star Charts Stock Up Lazotep Quarry Heirloom Blade Lavaspur Boots Adakar Wastes The Landscapes Plains (New Capenna) Unsanctioned Basic Lands Serene Rememberance Thalia, Guardian of Thraben Wasteland Rishadin Port Wasteland Strangler Path to Exile Propaganda Tundra Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger Goblin Rabblemaster Chandra, Torch of Defiance The Flux Gaddock Teeg Forth Eorlingas! Glowrider Lightstall Inquisitor Judge’s Familliar Serra Avenger Tommik, Distinguished Advocate White Orchid Phantasm Flickerwisp Vryn Wingmare Restoration Angel Cataclysm Shattering Blow Keeper of the Lens Baleful Strix Thanks again for watching! —GT 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

  • Aug 12, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 28: A Minecraft Episode with Andy Mangold

    In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Andy Mangold to discuss a topic every Cube podcaster must grapple with at some point in their career: Minecraft! Arguably, the most elegant sandbox game of all time, Minecraft contains many great lessons for any designer. The question is: what can we learn and how can it be applied to Cube? Stay tuned to find out! All Aboard! Show Notes Luck Paper Radio Cube Engineers April Fools Episode Bdoubleo100 on YouTube PaulsoaresJr 100 Ornithopters Cube The Bun Magic Cube Dooby’s in Baltimore Cards Discussed Skirmish Rhino Edge Rover Jace, the Mind Sculptor Hazoret, the Fervent Ornithopter Dandân Oko, Thief of Crowns Questing Beast Fear of Lost Teeth Anticausal Vestige Pulling Teeth (Bella Note: I think TrainmasterGT, Future DDS, would have some better methods of accomplishing this…) Tooth Collector Pith Driller Restoration Specialist Brilliant Restoration Redress Fate Tooth and Nail Root Greevil Special thanks to Andy for being a guest on the show and Bella for doing the card links in the Show Notes! 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

  • Aug 5, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 27: Better Card Designs for Cube and Constructed with Dom Harvey

    In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites the legendary Dom Harvey to discuss the intersection between fun cards for Cube and Constructed. Learn the anatomy of successful designs for the two formats, and how Cube designers can gain inspiration for their own environments by examining various constructed formats. All Aboard! Show Notes Dominaria’s Judgement Podcast All About Amulet Titan The Companion Cube The Regular Cube Cards Discussed Ravnica Bouncelands Cryptic Spires Summon: Yojimbo Dark Confidant Greater Gargadon Ritual Chamber // Unholy Annex Oko, Thief of Crowns Teferi, Hero of Dominaria Hardened Scales Winding Constrictor Pyromancer Ascension Up the Beanstalk Solitude Fury Overlord of the Hauntwoods Ride’s End Conclave Mentor Panharmonicon (Bella Note: 10/10 excellent wedding venue) Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion Icetill Explorer Ramunap Excavator Crucible of Worlds Strip Mine (Bella Note: a card for the certified Minecraft gamer) Oracle of Mul Daya Trained Armodon Krenko, Baron of Tin-Street Jan Jansen, Chaos Crafter Faithless Looting Thought Scour Jeskai Ascendancy Silumgar’s Scorn Dispelling Exhale Quench (Bella Note: There’s nothinggggg quenchier… IT’SSSSS THE QUENCHIEST!!!) Roiling Dragonstorm Chart a Course Kavaron Harrier Plasma Bolt Torch the Tower Magma Spray Flame-Blessed Bolt Hatching Plans Consider Opt Cloud, Midgar Mercenary Stoneforge Mystic Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER (Bella Note: I need their hair care routine asap) Blood Artist Vivi Ornitier (Train Note: you’ll love himb. Bella Note: I LOVE HIMB 🤩) Agatha's Soul Cauldron Twinmaw Stormbrood Marang River Regent Broadside Bombardiers Forth Eorlingas! Minsc and Boo, Timeless Heroes Gut, True Soul Zealot Scavenging Ooze Restore Ursine Monstrosity Tarmogoyf Glarb, Calamity’s Augur Special thanks to Dom for being a guest on the show and Bella for adding the links in the show notes! 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

  • Jul 29, 2025 · 51 min

    Cube Engineers Episode 26: Cube Clinics Triple Header: Highball 4K #2, Unstable Cubicorns, and the Jerry Gauntlet

    In this episode, TrainmasterGT invites Usman and Bella to discuss changes to Highball 4K, Unstable Cubicorns, and the all-new Jerry Gauntlet. Follow all of the latest changes to Highball 4K and the continuing evolution of Unstable Cubicorns. Also, learn about an all-new tool for teaching new players Magic: the Jerry Gauntlet! All Aboard! Show Notes Highball 4K Cube on Cubecobra and Riptidelab Unstable Cubicorns on Cubecobra and Riptidelab The Jerry Gauntlet: Final Adventure The Jerry Gauntlet: Flash of Ferocity Usman’s Substack The Pack One Slick Ones Episode 3: Starter Cubes! Theseus (Parker’s 384 Legacy Cube) Cards Discussed Boon Satyr Reaper of the Wilds Siege Rhino Courser of Kruphix Elspeth, Sun’s Champion Thoughtseize Dig Through Time Treasure Cruise Monastery Swiftspear Dark Confidant Tarmogoyf Adeline, Resplendent Cathar Leonin Lightscribe Monastery Mentor Ajani, Nacatl Pariah Esika’s Chariot Borrowed Time Stormchaser’s Talent Triton Wavebreaker Archmage’s Charm Cryptic Command Mystic Confluence Censor Mana Leak Dispelling Exhale Stubborn Denial Spell Pierce Dragonlord Atarka Fable of the Mirror-Breaker Murktide Regent The Elder Dragon War Elspeth Conquers Death (I love the art on this 🤩) Ensoul Artifact Tasigur, the Golden Fang Collected Company Marang River Regent Memory Deluge Fact or Fiction Memory Deluge Promo Unstable Cubicorn Changes Devkarin Dissident Deadeye Tormenter Slate Street Ruffian Lifecreed Duo (Bella & Train) Patrick Star Lightning Bolt Minecart Daredevil Spore Crawler Friendly Teddy ☹️ Owlbear 🙂 Colossal Dreadmaw Mosswood Dreadknight Smitten Swordmaster Thanks to Usman and Bella for being guests on this episode, and thanks to Bella for her contributions to the show notes! 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

Showing 21–27 of 27 episodes