Episode 288 - All Time Worst Picks

It's 2025 and we're back with our yearly tradition of discussing what we would do if we ran Hasbro. Secret Layers, Baulders Gate 3, and the finalization of the eOne sale. What a year it's been. Casting out lens, we look at the decisions we saw coming out of Hasbro and WotC and put together some notes and things we'd like to see them do better, things we'd change, things we'd improve. Even a few things we'd like to do away with. Join us on this rocky ride as we discuss what we would do in 2025 if we ran Hasbro.

It's 2025 and we're back with our yearly tradition of discussing what we would do if we ran Hasbro. Secret Layers, Baulders Gate 3, and the finalization of the eOne sale. What a year it's been. Casting out lens, we look at the decisions we saw coming out of Hasbro and WotC and put together some notes and things we'd like to see them do better, things we'd change, things we'd improve. Even a few things we'd like to do away with. Join us on this rocky ride as we discuss what we would do in 2025 if we ran Hasbro.

This week we look back at Magic in 2024 and discuss what we encouraging and what was discouraging. What could be improved and what worked. How did the set release cadence, Secret Lair drops, and handling of constructed impact the game. Effectively grading Magic in 2024 across several, easy to understand metrics with a side of "what happened at the LGS this year?!"

As with anything great, change is to be expected. Throughout 2024 we had discussed changes we wanted to make both in our community and with the podcast and after months of discussion we finally settled on the changes we wanted to see. In this short episode, we breakdown, point by point the updates we'll be making to the podcast in the coming year and also what to expect of us moving forward.

As our sixth year as a podcast draws to a close, we continue our process of self reflection and growth. This episode we look back at two picks each, and discuss what they represent to us: winners and losers alike, there's always a lesson to be learned.

As we begin our yearly look back and take inventory of our processes and lessons learned, we are starting out on a personal level. Have the means by which we engage with the game changed? And if so, how? How have we navigated the financial landscape this year? Casting a critical lense as our processes, lessons learned, and heuristics is an important part of holding ourselves accountable and grow. So join us as we take a look back at a wild year of Magic.

As we head into the holiday season, we take a look at strategies employed at the LGS level to ensure a successful transition into the new year. What factors are in play in 2024 Q4 that might impact not just what we are looking to sell, but also how we market it and sell it. Are we looking to bring in more foot traffic just to increase product exposure, do we want to focus on growing our customer base permanently, are we able to host events? Each years Q4 provides an interesting look into how an LGS works and this year is no different, so join us as we break down holiday strategies for 2024.

With the 2025 release schedule announced at Worlds in Las Vegas, alongside an accompanying article and series of mothership posts, we have a good idea of what Magic is going to look like in 2025 and beyond. What sets will we see, the marketing copy, Universes Beyond, and the idea that Magic will now be 50% external IP. What a year it's going to be, and what an announcement it was. https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/the-foundations-of-magics-next-era

We finally have the 2025 RCQ schedule and format information, answer a number of questions that we've had as players, LGS's, vendors, and the like. This week we break down the timing, format information, TOs, and hopeful future of the system. https://www.magic.gg/news/play-in-rcqs-earn-secret-lair-promos-and-qualify-for-pro-tour-3-in-2025

With a continuously shifting landscape, the removal of Pioneer as an RCQ format to Universes Beyond being standard legacy, LGS operations and MtG Finance on the whole have become rather difficult to manage. Anything can be reprinted at any time, so how do you handle an impending price crash on your foil Patrick Starfish while also worrying about the five Standard sets. So, this week we took at step back and began to discuss what it's like at the LGS level now. What are ways that people are insulating themselves from the whims of WotC and Hasbro profiteering. How can we, LGS's and financeers alike, survive and get ahead in the current environment that WotC has set in front of us.