We really went all out for our 4 year show.  We've got discussions on beating children, Graveborn, panties, laughing thoctars, Horde updates, and the realization that Mike is actually the ruler of all things.  But I'm sure some of you already knew that, you're very clever.  That's why you listen to us!

Actually, we didn't exactly realize that this was our 4 year anniversary show until just before we started.  But luckily, we had chosen a topic that was very much suited for it!  This episode is a whole mess of Out of the Deck Box!  Each of us took one of our favorite decks (or one that listeners have asked about) and go over it.  We're talking casual multiplayer here, so expect a lot of nonsense and fun!

Brian shared his Shared Fate deck at a listener's request.  We are awesome.  Chewie showed off his Primalcrux deck, even though he still needs 2 more Primalcrux.  No seriously, we're pretty great.  Dirk hauled out the aptly named X-Deck because he really doesn't like us at all.  Actually Mike is the awesome one.  And Mike discussed his themeless Black/Red deck, probably because it's one of the few decks he has that still just doesn't have a central idea running through it.  Kneel before Mike!

Stupid thoctars...


Uncle Zod by memorypalace
Intro and Outro Music – Diamond by Swift – http://www.swift-band.com
Break Music – The Picard Song by DarkMateria

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On this episode of The Mana Pool, we're talking video games!  Reminiscing, really.  But because we're actually a Magic podcast, we're gonna try to bring it back to Magic as often as possible.  What could the different video game genres bring to Magic?  What about the various characters and worlds that video games have given us?  And the question that Brian used to pitch this idea to me: Would Solid Snake have shroud?  I liked it so much I made it the title of this episode!

After that, we attempted to knock out some of the listener emails that have been piling up over the last month.  Rules questions, congratulations on hitting 200 (oops), and assorted other topics come up for discussion, so don't miss it!  You never know, you might learn something.

Intro and Outro Music – Diamond by Swift – http://www.swift-band.com
Break Music – Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! Theme
Intro by Tosus - http://dergeek.com
Image by snatx - http://community.wizards.com/snatx/blog/2009/10/19/zendikar_custom_tokens

Be sure to check out all the great stuff on the website! – http://themanapool.com

Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-205-would-solid-snake-have-shroud-t734.html
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It's that time again, where we use Gatherer to find a group of unwitting creatures to beat the crap out of each other for our amusement.  I mean...to compete for fame and glory on the battlefield. And charity! Yeah, that's it. Look, what's the point of being able to summon up creatures from around the multiverse if you can't have a little fun with it?

But yes, starting with one of the lamest creatures in Magic and going from there, we have pitched battles between random creatures.  By pitched battles, of course I mean nerd arguments about who would win (and yet Batman vs. Captain America doesn't come up once...huh).  Eight enter, but only one will come away victorious!  Feel free to join in the nerd arguments on the forums or in the comments, of course.

After that, Brian gives us an in-depth rundown of a draft he did on MTGO that he thought was especially interesting.  And it was, so listen up.  You in the back there!  Pay attention!

Intro (and new Outro!) Music – Diamond by Swift – http://www.swift-band.com
Break Music - Killer Instinct Theme

Be sure to check out all the great stuff on the website! – http://themanapool.com

Forum thread for this episode: http://cardshark.freeforums.org/episode-204-hyper-instinct-turbo-third-strike-goty-ed-alpha-t732.html
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We're joined this week by Bill Bloodworth, who is Kurai_Seraphim on our forums.  Yes that's his real name.  I assure you he's not just an out of control LARPer.  He came down to hit a Sealed PTQ with Chewie and Brian, so we brought him on to tell us how it went and to join in the discussion.

Speaking of discussion, we had a lot of that on this episode.  Listeners send us emails all the time, and sometimes there's something in those emails that just need more attention than a quick email reading will give, so we file them away to discuss later.  Usually we don't actually get around to discussing them later because we're terrible people and miserably forgetful.

Mike made a list of these forgotten discussions and we tackled a few of them this episode.  Was putting Sol Ring in the Commander decks a good thing, or just a marketing ploy?  Should decks be played a certain way, or is it cool that some people play the same deck in a different way?  How might you attempt to control a difference in power levels in a multiplayer play group?  And finally, we take a look at Preordain, Ponder, and Brainstorm and the differences between them.

Intro (and new Outro!) Music – Diamond by Swift – http://www.swift-band.com
Break Music – Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Theme from Cheers) by Gary Portnoy - http://garyportnoy.com

Be sure to check out all the great stuff on the website! – http://themanapool.com

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