The Mana Pool
Join Brian, Mike, Dirk and Chewie as they discuss all things Magic: The Gathering. Since there are plenty of tournament and strategy podcasts out there, we've decided to focus on the fun of the game in all its many forms, from Prereleases to multiplayer free-for-alls to whatever else we can come up with. Give us a listen!

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Syndication

Episode 115 - Worldwake Previews 2

Poor Dirk, falling in the well again. Oh well. No pun intended there, really.

 

So here we are again with the last round of Worldwake previews. There are some doozies in this one too. From Wurms that blow up the world to stupid turtles to elementals that make wolves to a crazy go nuts Upwelling guy, we cover it all. At least all of it that was up when we recorded. Enjoy the cards and the ridiculous number of pop culture references, which were flowing like...I dunno, something that flows a lot.

 

 

Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-115-worldwake-previews-2-t461.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

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Intro music - Diamond by Swift: http://www.swift-band.com

Direct download: Episode_115_-_Worldwake_Previews_2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:50pm EDT

Episode 114 - Worldwake Previews 1

It's the time again! Previews galore, this time for Worldwake! Mix around 30 parts preview cards with something like 5 parts Magic news, and you get this episode!

 

Show notes are for punks on episodes this straightforward, so that's enough of that.

 

 

Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-114-worldwake-previews-1-t459.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

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Intro music - Diamond by Swift: http://www.swift-band.com

Direct download: Episode_114_-_Worldwake_Previews_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:13pm EDT

Episode 113 - Multiplayer Mayhem Live

This is it. Years in the making. Epic in scope. The episode many have clamored for has finally become a reality. The time has come. The four hosts have once again gathered. And the number 113 will never...be...the same.


Okay, enough of all that. But really, ever since The Mana Pool #15 waaaaaaay back in March of '08, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response to our Multiplayer Mayhem episodes. And listeners have been requesting that we record an episode while playing for just as long. As I am writing this, Mike and I are actually trying to figure out why we shied away from it for so long. For some reason, we thought it would either be boring, confusing, hard to follow, or generally terrible without being able to see what was going on. But with Mike joining us for the first time in well over a year, and coming equipped with a laptop containing the appropriate recording software, there was no way we could pass up the opportunity. I grabbed my handy desktop mic and the rest, as they say, is playing in your ear. Mike thinks they're weird to say things like that, but who are we to question them?


So again, this is it. We bring you three action packed games of multiplayer mayhem in less than three hours. And that's including one good rules debate that actually spawned an alternate reality where the game kept going (that's the one you're currently in, by the way), and the Cardshark Member Promotions for January. But enough of that, we're going to let the show speak for itself, and that's not just because it's been long enough that we can't really remember anything else that happened. It's called building tension. Yeah. That sounds good.



Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-113-multiplayer-mayhem-live-t454.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

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Visit Cardshark! http://www.cardshark.com

Cardshark Member Promotions: http://www.cardshark.com/member_promotions.asp

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Intro music - Diamond by Swift: http://www.swift-band.com

Direct download: Episode_113_-_Multiplayer_Mayhem_Live.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:04pm EDT

Bonus Episode - Worldwake Spoilers

Through all the lag problems, special guests leaving early, and nauseous hosts, we bring you this momentous episode! Wizards of the Coast has included us in their pooled Worldwake preview cards, sending us 5 preview cards to go over on the show! They're not exclusive, but we're getting there! In an effort to make this even more special we grabbed Ben, who is Panahinuva on the forums and is easily our number one fan (that means Internet stalker), to join us for this extra bonus episode. Sadly, his future came calling and he had to tip out early, but at least he was able to hop on for a minute. But anyway! Sit back, listen to the previews, be amazed at the length of the show, and marvel at the joy that will be Worldwake!



Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/bonus-episode-worldwake-spoilers-t452.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/themanapool

Visit Cardshark! http://www.cardshark.com

Cardshark Member Promotions: http://www.cardshark.com/member_promotions.asp

Subscribe to our RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/themanapool

Direct download: Bonus_Episode_-_Worldwake_Spoilers.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:09am EDT

Episode 112 - Yeah I'll Keep

Hello again, and welcome to the Show Notes! This is Mike, here to give you a quick rundown of what we're up to.


Before you start playing a game, you need to have a solid idea of whether or not you can do well enough to win. Given some thought (and depending on how the deck is built), your opening hand should be able to give you a fair approximation of an answer. Whether or not to mulligan any potential opening hand is the first decision you make in every game, and has an enormous impact on how favorable your outcome can be.


In this episode, we apply our usual dorky methods to discuss and examine Mulligans as a strategic aspect of the game. On display are examples from some of our most notable favorite decks, giving everyone a great amount of insight into the way things work. Stay tuned to the end for a very special surprise guest!



Music for this episode is Diamond by Swift - Check them out at http://www.swift-band.com to find out how to get the remixed and remastered discography!



Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-112-yeah-i-ll-keep-t451.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

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Direct download: Episode_112_-_Yeah_Ill_Keep.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:13pm EDT

Episode 111 - Mechanical Flavor

Chewie here, bringing you what we think will become another one of those "classic" episodes of The Mana Pool. Thanks to Bill (Kurai_Seraphim) for hitting us with this idea. We're going to take a look at the various mechanics in Magic. Big deal, nothing classic about that, right? Wrong! We're looking at them from a flavor perspective! We take all this reminder text and try to make some sense out of it. Flying is easy. Protection is sort of easy. But what about madness? Cascade and storm? And let's not forget double strike (spoiler alert: that's just dual-wielding) and first strike (just a long stick). Why are deathtouch and wither similar? What about fading/vanishing and phasing? And just how much mucus is too much mucus? Give this episode a listen and find out!



Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-111-mechanical-flavor-t445.html

Check out our archive at http://themanapool.libsyn.com

Email us at themanapool@cardshark.com

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/themanapool

Visit Cardshark! http://www.cardshark.com

Cardshark Member Promotions: http://www.cardshark.com/member_promotions.asp

Subscribe to our RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/themanapool

Direct download: Episode_111_-_Mechanical_Flavor.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:57pm EDT