Anthony Alongi
@aalongi.bsky.social
Public servant, husband and father, author…Magic: the Gathering players may remember articles I used to write for Wizards. Love connecting w nerds.
Hobbes, that’s at least 80 good Lego sets.
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Hobbes, that’s at least 80 good Lego sets.
I agree the names are great and your work looks terrific! I’ve noticed issues with consistency/quality for some time now which messes up my water calculations and often sets me back 30+ min on a given mini. After seeing it over and over I am phasing them out over time in favor of other brands.
November 13, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I agree the names are great and your work looks terrific! I’ve noticed issues with consistency/quality for some time now which messes up my water calculations and often sets me back 30+ min on a given mini. After seeing it over and over I am phasing them out over time in favor of other brands.
Hobbes, you gotta believe him, he’s been feeling like an entrepreneur for decades and look how happy HE is!
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Hobbes, you gotta believe him, he’s been feeling like an entrepreneur for decades and look how happy HE is!
Sternly concerned posts addressed to their own constituents?
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Sternly concerned posts addressed to their own constituents?
I appreciate and admire the relationship he had with several of you. All respect.
November 9, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I appreciate and admire the relationship he had with several of you. All respect.
Hard not to, I agree. I think of him virtually every time I play. I wish more people at Wizards still did. (And I know some of them still very much do, and loved him. I’m not denying they exist. Just want more of them making decisions.)
November 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Hard not to, I agree. I think of him virtually every time I play. I wish more people at Wizards still did. (And I know some of them still very much do, and loved him. I’m not denying they exist. Just want more of them making decisions.)
Thanks for pointing this out. I know a lot of people are saying “what’s the big deal”. The big deal is that the handoff to a corporation has degraded the format’s player/driven roots, and I miss my friend Sheldon, who would have stopped this in his tracks if he were here today, and they know it.
November 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Thanks for pointing this out. I know a lot of people are saying “what’s the big deal”. The big deal is that the handoff to a corporation has degraded the format’s player/driven roots, and I miss my friend Sheldon, who would have stopped this in his tracks if he were here today, and they know it.
You may write whatever narrative suits you. Past trends suggest the vast majority of Magic players gravitate toward the same options. Outliers (and of course you may be one, nothing personal) are intellectually interesting but not the point of my reply. Peace.
November 8, 2025 at 4:58 PM
You may write whatever narrative suits you. Past trends suggest the vast majority of Magic players gravitate toward the same options. Outliers (and of course you may be one, nothing personal) are intellectually interesting but not the point of my reply. Peace.
This logic, innocent enough in its own, leads to the same thirteen hybrid cards going in every deck that can play them. It reduces creativity. Ironically, Mark Rosewater, who smartly and famously once said that restrictions breed creativity, leads the charge against this format-defining restriction.
November 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This logic, innocent enough in its own, leads to the same thirteen hybrid cards going in every deck that can play them. It reduces creativity. Ironically, Mark Rosewater, who smartly and famously once said that restrictions breed creativity, leads the charge against this format-defining restriction.
Exactly. What is more likely to happen with “freeing” hybrid mana is that the same dozen hybrid cards will show up in all the same decks. No one will be putting Crag Puca into their mono-blue drake deck. It’ll be Manamorphose, etc. over and over.
October 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Exactly. What is more likely to happen with “freeing” hybrid mana is that the same dozen hybrid cards will show up in all the same decks. No one will be putting Crag Puca into their mono-blue drake deck. It’ll be Manamorphose, etc. over and over.
I’d be WAY more excited by this model of UB. Not only does it allow for better quality treatment of UB - it shows more thoughtful approach to Magic’s long term future.
It’s like the foiling issue, which they (maybe) have finally resolved. Long term over short term.
It’s like the foiling issue, which they (maybe) have finally resolved. Long term over short term.
October 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I’d be WAY more excited by this model of UB. Not only does it allow for better quality treatment of UB - it shows more thoughtful approach to Magic’s long term future.
It’s like the foiling issue, which they (maybe) have finally resolved. Long term over short term.
It’s like the foiling issue, which they (maybe) have finally resolved. Long term over short term.
While I think a “Within” variant would be hard to design and describe, it’s a natural reaction to what’s happening. Even my LotR and Dr who decks keep their content separate from the rest. And most Spider-Man cards are impossible for me to integrate in a satisfying way. So kudos for the idea.
October 6, 2025 at 9:58 PM
While I think a “Within” variant would be hard to design and describe, it’s a natural reaction to what’s happening. Even my LotR and Dr who decks keep their content separate from the rest. And most Spider-Man cards are impossible for me to integrate in a satisfying way. So kudos for the idea.
NO Brian not like that
September 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
NO Brian not like that
I still have my unstable cube ready to roll.
August 28, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I still have my unstable cube ready to roll.
While this is a less cynical exercise than the prior one, my comments on methodology stand. You could acquire more engagement by doing “poll-offs” and other methods that would give everyone time to discuss and consider all sets. Think of the traffic you could drive! It’s still waiting for you.
August 28, 2025 at 4:44 AM
While this is a less cynical exercise than the prior one, my comments on methodology stand. You could acquire more engagement by doing “poll-offs” and other methods that would give everyone time to discuss and consider all sets. Think of the traffic you could drive! It’s still waiting for you.
And in fact, had you done this more methodically, you could have INCREASED engagement. Gotten lots of clicks and dialogue over several weeks. And possibly done something people would love for you to revisit each year.
Quality takes more effort but is worth it. Peace.
Quality takes more effort but is worth it. Peace.
August 26, 2025 at 3:40 AM
And in fact, had you done this more methodically, you could have INCREASED engagement. Gotten lots of clicks and dialogue over several weeks. And possibly done something people would love for you to revisit each year.
Quality takes more effort but is worth it. Peace.
Quality takes more effort but is worth it. Peace.
Friends, I trust you’re getting the engagement you clearly wanted out of what comes off as a cynical exercise, the design of which does not appear to meet typical polling standards (or your own historical content standards).
The community has experts in polling and survey design, if you need them.
The community has experts in polling and survey design, if you need them.
August 26, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Friends, I trust you’re getting the engagement you clearly wanted out of what comes off as a cynical exercise, the design of which does not appear to meet typical polling standards (or your own historical content standards).
The community has experts in polling and survey design, if you need them.
The community has experts in polling and survey design, if you need them.
May also be able make 8/31 work at certain times.
August 16, 2025 at 4:01 AM
May also be able make 8/31 work at certain times.
Monday 9/1 is Labor Day on the US. Bennie do you have that off - might be a good way to compromise with our European friends. :)
August 16, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Monday 9/1 is Labor Day on the US. Bennie do you have that off - might be a good way to compromise with our European friends. :)
Shivam. You’re a natural. Fucking stream already.
August 7, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Shivam. You’re a natural. Fucking stream already.
They’ll still do it. There just won’t be a memo.
August 5, 2025 at 10:53 PM
They’ll still do it. There just won’t be a memo.