Reno St.John, Rogue Radio Host
@renothevast.bsky.social
170 followers 410 following 1.1K posts
Networking for Magic and Pokemon TCGs. Homebrew variant formats, loves cubes. Collector and protector of alt-formats from yesterday and today. https://linktr.ee/renost.john Host of Innersleeves.bsky.social, Discord Rogue Radio; Wed’s 9:30p EST.
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renothevast.bsky.social
I’ve well-enough surpassed 100 people that have followed me! More than I had on the other site, and I’m having more fun!

Thanks for following! Quick #promosky to celebrate:

#MagictheGathering #MtG #EDH
#PendragonMtG #ArsenalMtG
#PokémonTCG
#TTRPG #D&D #MtA
#Vinyl #LP & #FortyFive
#Gamer
#Bi #Ally
renothevast.bsky.social
Real. I gave a friend’s kids a moving present of Pokemon cards. Each got a shadowless Bill trainer card.

The youngest one, 8, asked about slabbing it immediately. It’s only worth a dollar, but shadowless = worth.
Reposted by Reno St.John, Rogue Radio Host
kaijuseraphimvt.bsky.social
please. boost if you see this. share if you can. this guy is someone i care about deeply and he could really use the proof that this community is capable of positive change. it breaks my heart seeing him view himself as so alone. please? prove to him he's not alone? i know im begging. i dont care.
kaijuseraphimvt.bsky.social
Hey everyone! just wanted to say that someone i consider to be very dear to me, @liamthesnail.bsky.social is having some family issues and could use some financial aid to ease the burden. please help him, i care about him a lot
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Support liam_the_snail ❤️
Become a supporter of liam_the_snail today!
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renothevast.bsky.social
While this might not work well with a player that is set on helping a partner from the start and no intent to win themselves, I think it is a fascinating idea!

It lends itself to being some kind of PVE experience when each player has equal opportunity to play their decks and a shared deck.
renothevast.bsky.social
On the other hand, when I encounter this coupling phenomenon in the wild, I tell them to get a room & buff each other in private.

In free-for-all casual multiplayer, everyone needs to want to win and everyone else to lose in near-equal amounts. There is no format to fix a troll/spoiler/archbishop.
renothevast.bsky.social
I haven’t run across anything specifically for a four player match that has two players acting on a team from the start. I think you are in New Format territory to make that work.

Maybe a team format, where one player constructs support, but no win conditions, and their partner does the opposite.
renothevast.bsky.social
What is it that you liked about the format? Why do you feel it waned in popularity (I don’t know if it has, or by how much)?
renothevast.bsky.social
They’re gonna look great in my Rocco, Street chef deck one day.
renothevast.bsky.social
If they can discord, tonight is my “office hours” @innersleeves.bsky.social show. I’d love to hear from them directly in any way.

I’m not above being stamp and ink penpals if I need to get the pony express involved to hear more.
renothevast.bsky.social
Not to “um, actually”, but that’s a valid rule-zero to advocate for. This is what players do when prepping to play in an event with actual rules enforcement levels. It’s a good way to learn how to stop giving information or signals away.

It’s a required skill for casino poker, and useful in MtG.
renothevast.bsky.social
Offer to play Emperor, Star, Assassin, Kingdoms, 2HG, or similar game mode/format that forces objectives and strategies that can use this energy.

This behavior in free-for-all play wholly undermines the game from turn 1 for all players, and borders on toxic if it can’t be sublimated/extinguished.
renothevast.bsky.social
I build fun decks from bulk sifting.

#CloverMtG deck idea,
#PDH deck idea,
And a mono-green #Pendragon idea, possibly for their new Jumpstart project!

Which one should I/we work on live tonight during the @innersleeves.bsky.social show?
renothevast.bsky.social
Eventually, I’d like to have links to and copies of the assets to go with each format’s entry in the compendium.

Take your time on it. I think I’m in for a 2 year timeline on this project, with life, my other goals, and all the research that needs to happen in between.
renothevast.bsky.social
My high school physics teacher made an onslaught block bird deck.

He called it Flipping the Bird.
renothevast.bsky.social
Seems fully formed, tested and running well!

I love the idea of winning the match without needing to win games. Rewarding good gameplay is something that commmander and its variants struggle with.

Do you have any gameplay videos posted anywhere?
renothevast.bsky.social
I think I see several lines you could pursue.

I’d love to see anything you have put out about it so far. Do you have a discord or collaborators?
renothevast.bsky.social
He sure does, I love it! I have referenced it often, even before starting this project.

His data sheet is where every commander player should start for finding a fun variant game.

I’m going for a more encyclopedic and vast collection. Old and new, popular and obscure.
commanderVariants.pdf
drive.google.com
renothevast.bsky.social
NGL, pretty dope waking up to thirty notifications about formats and multiple ongoing discussions.

So, I’ll ask again, & please repost:

What small formats do you play?

Is there one you’ve only heard via rumor?

Are you building or maintaining something obscure?

I’m making a format compendium.
renothevast.bsky.social
@grubblethorn1.bsky.social is doing exactly this for Pendragon rn! Jump-start is a fantastic cube format for so many reasons.

I think this works especially well for commander formats that have an additional command zone card.
renothevast.bsky.social
Any chance I could get a link or contact on that other D&D cube, @sameerjoseph1.bsky.social ?
renothevast.bsky.social
Hot dog on a holiday?

The #PendragonMtG crew gettin’ silly.