Nexus Online Playgroup Thread!

[bobthefunny]

Well, with so many people squirreled away in our little batcaves, I imagine a number of us are trying to get games in where we can online. While I've played a few games with my local group, this is actually good time to meet up with others and see how other playgroups play.

If you're interested in playing some games online post what kind of games you are interested in, what your timezone/time preference is, and what your setup options are. If you see some people that match yours, try and set up a game.

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Casual
Typical Game Length: 1-2 hours
MLD? No.
Combo? Typically no.
Win methods: typically combat wins, so alt-wincons in spells/lifedrain.

Timezone: EST (GMT -5 w/ dst)
Time Preference: Evenings / around dinner time.

Setup: Cockatrice or Webcam + voice. Skype/Discord.
Cockatrice: bobthefunny
Discord: bobthefunny#1911

New Format! Please fill this line out:
|User|Type|Game Length|MLD|Combo|Timezone|Time Pref|Webcam|MTGO|Cockatrice|Discord|Skype|Untap|

Example:
|bobthefunny|Casual|1-2 hrs|N|N|GMT -4 (EDT)|7pm to midnight weekdays, some weekends|Y|-|Y|Y|Y|-|

Current Players:

User	Type	Game Length	MLD	Combo	Timezone	Time Pref	Webcam	MTGO	Cockatrice	Discord	Skype	Untap
MrMystery314	cEDH OR not cEDH	30 m - 1 hr	Y	Y	GMT -8 (PST)	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y
3drinks	Comp/Tuned	1-2 hrs	Y	Y	GMT -7 (PT)	Nights	-	Y	-	Y	-	-
WolfWhoWanders	Casual to tuned	-	eh	eh	GMT -6 (MST)	-	-	Y	-	-	-	-
OCPunisher	Casual to Tuned	1 hr	N	N	GMT - 5 (CST)	during the day weekdays, otherwise after 8pm any day	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-
bobthefunny	Casual	1-2 hrs	N	N	GMT -4 (EDT)	7pm to midnight weekdays, some weekends	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-
pokken	Comp/Tuned	1 hr	Y	Y	GMT -4 (EDT)	9pm to midnight weekdays, some weekends	soon	Y	-	soon	-	-
Cryogen	Casual to Tuned	-	-	-	GMT -4 (EDT)	Evenings after 830pm EST	Y	-	-	Y	-	-
materpillar	Casual	1-2 hrs	eh	eh	GMT -4 (EDT)	9:30pm or before noon	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-
Sinis	Casual	1.5 hrs	N	Eh	GMT -4 (EDT)	Weekend evenings	-	-	Y	Y	-	-
lyonhaert	Social	1-3hr	iffy	probably	GMT -4	after 8:30pm	Y	N	possibly	Y	N	possibly
Gwathnar	Everything	1-3hrs	Y	Y	GMT -3:30	8pm	Y	N	Y	Y	N	N
Henlock	Casual, Odd decks	90 min	Boros	janky	GMT -3	Midnight/early afternoon	-	-	Y	-	-	-
Dragonlover	Casual	-	-	-	GMT	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-
cjsaul0309	Casual	1-2 hrs	N	N	GMT	Varies but most days	-	-	y	y	-	-
Maluko	Casual	1-2 hrs	N	N	GMT +1	Before/After dinner	-	-	Y	-	-	-
JoeyB11223	Casual	1-2 hrs	N	N	GMT +1	5:30pm onward	exploring	-	exploring	exploring	exploring	-
rogerandover	Casual to Tuned	-	-	-	GMT +2	Time Pref	-	-	-	Y	-	-
DarrenHabib	Everything	1-2 hrs	Y	Y	GMT +12	Most days	-	Y	-	Y	-	-
DirkGently	75%	?	?	?	GMT +13	-	Y	-	maybe	-	-	-
Mimicvat	Casual to Tuned	-	-	-	GMT +13	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-
MeowZeDung	Casual to Tuned	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-

[DirkGently]

I'd potentially be interested. I'd have to set up my webcam. Hope it still works, it was pretty cheap. Not sure how good the resolution is, but I'm guessing most people on here are like me, and can identify most cards at a glance without needing to read every word of text.

My decks I have to play right now are mostly in the 75%, combat-focused realm. No intentional combos.

I haven't used cockatrice but could give it a shot. I do like moving paper around, though.

Time zones seem relevant. I'm in NZ, which is 4 hours behind the west coast and 7 hours behind east coast. Happy to stay up late, but I don't really do mornings.

[pokken]

I will clean this up tomorrow but I play mtgo 7/10 through cedh, feel free to add me, user pokken

I've got ephara, wanderer, feather, and opus thief and sushi hulk.

Should hopefully be set up for discord games next week.


Tuned to Competitive
Typical Game Length: 1 hour
MLD? If you win soon
Combo? Sure, but please don't consult/flash hulk in non-cedh
Win methods: Any

Timezone: EST (GMT -5 w/ dst)
Time Preference: 9pm to midnight weekdays, some weekends

Setup: MTGO or eventually discord webcam!

[Dragonlover]

Cockatrice+Discord. I've got all the decks in my signature built on there. They're all in the 5-7 range, probably closer to 5 in most cases, but there's generally enough synergy to keep up and I'm not that fussed if I end up accidentally outclassed.

Dragonlover

[3drinks]

Competitive-ish
Typical Game Length: 1-2 hours
MLD? I can.
Combo? Deck dependent.
Win methods: Deck dependent.
Times: Pacific-Standard. Graveyard schedule so don't expect to see me in the afternoon or past 930am. Just contact me here to check availability.
Setup: Magic Online only, plus Discord for chat. No cam. Currently only deck is an Experiment Kraj for 35tix, can build more to a pinpoint budget, with enough notice.

[Maluko]

Game style: casual, battlecruiser, power level below 7.
Typical Game Length: 1-2 hours.
Mass land destruction: only spells first printed from M15 onwards.
Combo? no infinite loops; other types of combos are discouraged.
Win methods: preferably with flashy and epic plays.
Times: GMT +01:00. I usually play before and/or after dinner.
Setup: Cockatrice only. I'm the oldest Commander player in the platform, and one of the few that hosts five-player games. See my signature for my most famous and played decks. And try to beat my The Ur-Dragon deck, if you can

[MeowZeDung]

I'd potentiality be interested in a webcam/Skype game, but I'm a tech ignoramus. Anyone mind posting a mini primer on bare essentials for cam/voice setup? Best apps? Where to get them? Best cam options? Mic? Etc. I'd have to go a budget route.

As far as play style and deck or win con types, I would match the other players preference. I just couldn't hang with budgets or cedh lists most likely.

Edit: I might just go the mtgo route with a basic mic for audio. I only hesitate because I prefer multiplayer and fear mtgo is largely 1v1.

[3drinks]

I'd potentiality be interested in a webcam/Skype game, but I'm a tech ignoramus. Anyone mind posting a mini primer on bare essentials for cam/voice setup? Best apps? Where to get them? Best cam options? Mic? Etc. I'd have to go a budget route.

As far as play style and deck or win con types, I would match the other players preference. I just couldn't hang with budgets or cedh lists most likely.

Edit: I might just go the mtgo route with a basic mic for audio. I only hesitate because I prefer multiplayer and fear mtgo is largely 1v1.

There's both 1v1 and multiplayer aplenty. No voice chat in client though.

[bobthefunny]

Cockatrice Game
@Dragonlover , What's your timezone? @Maluko, you, and I might be able to set something up. Since I'm EST, I imagine we'd need to start a bit earlier. If I do 5pm EST, it'll be 10pm GMT+1 for Maluko. How do these time ranges work for you guys? Anyone for a fourth for a Cockatrice game?


@DirkGently Thanks for the Timezone tip. Added it to OP, you're right that it is highly relevent.
You might be a bit far off from me. If I set up a game at 7:00pm here, you'd have to be available around noon. Though maybe we can still make something happen on a weekend? Probably won't have Maluko, you, and me in the same game though =p.
Actually, you two seem to be exactly 12 hours apart.


MTGO Game
@3drinks, @pokken, @MeowZeDung - Seems like you three might have pref for MTGO? depending on your time preferences, you three might have something there. I sadly never invested in MTGO, so I'm out on that one.



@MeowZeDung - Webcam setup - So far I've tried webcam with Discord and Skype. You'll want some way to mount your webcam to be able to see your field of cards. I built a wooden support/frame out of spare pieces of wood I had in my basement. You'll want a decent webcam, probably a 1080 resolution, at 30fps. Not sure where you're at, but finding those is a bit tricky online here stateside - I think everyone who suddenly realized they'd need to WFH has bought them out. Looks like some are back up on Amazon now... but I don't know the quality of them. For a mic, I'm just using my standard PC headset.

frame

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My phone rests on top, roughly where that Sharpie line is.

Someone on Facebook shared me this video about making various phone holders out of cardboard, a paper cup, or a Magic FatPack box, for a streaming set up. I still recommend finding a way to pair your phone to your computer if you do, as you'll want to be able to see what other people are doing as well.

FaceBook video

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Instead, I'm using my phone as my webcam. I downloaded an app (DroidCam), which lets me broadcast my phone's video to my computer, where the other half of the app pretends it's a camera driver. From there, Discord and Skype then see it as a webcam, and it works decent.

You can see a game between @cryogen, @kaburi, and I here:

Note, Cryogen was hosting, and twitch did not record his mic on this set up, so any awkward silences are probably where he was talking.

[Dragonlover]

I'm on GMT, realistically only available Friday nights and over the weekend, but depending on timing might be able to squeeze a game in on a weeknight.

Dragonlover

[cryogen]

Additionally, Kristen Shepherd of Hipsters of the Coast did a really good article addressing playing paper Magic online. Check it out here: https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2020 ... ic-online/

[3drinks]

You know @bobthefunny, the market is at it's lowest it's ever been. No time like the present to jump in...👀👀

Man, that twitch video is pixelated AF. Couldn't imagine playing a game that way.

[cryogen]

You know bobthefunny, the market is at it's lowest it's ever been. No time like the present to jump in...👀👀

Man, that twitch video is pixelated AF. Couldn't imagine playing a game that way.

The actual video on discord wasn't nearly as bad. For some reason my video quality to twitch is worse on the weekend as opposed to weekdays. Playing again tomorrow night, so I'll test to see if my theory holds up.

[bobthefunny]

You know bobthefunny, the market is at it's lowest it's ever been. No time like the present to jump in...👀👀

Man, that twitch video is pixelated AF. Couldn't imagine playing a game that way.

Check your twitch settings as well, and what resolution twitch is streaming to you. It doesn't look too bad from my end, but I'll second what Cryo said - it was clearer on the call as well.

EDIT: Does this look any better to you?

screenshot

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Even looking back at this image, I can see that Cryo has Marisi, A Scourge of the Throne, and a Kinjali Sunwing, Seraph 6 has Bruna, Thasa, Sphere of Safety and some other stuff, and Kaburi has Rosheen Meanderer and that X spell enchantment... something unflourishing or something like that.

On Discord, it flips your cam for your view, but no one else sees it that way, which is why mine appears backwards in the screenshot, but you can see on stream that everyone else saw it fine.

[MeowZeDung]

There's both 1v1 and multiplayer aplenty. No voice chat in client though

Voice chat can go through skype or some such while game is played on MTGO though, correct?

[MeowZeDung]

@MeowZeDung - Webcam setup - So far I've tried webcam with Discord and Skype. You'll want some way to mount your webcam to be able to see your field of cards. I built a wooden support/frame out of spare pieces of wood I had in my basement. You'll want a decent webcam, probably a 1080 resolution, at 30fps. Not sure where you're at, but finding those is a bit tricky online here stateside - I think everyone who suddenly realized they'd need to WFH has bought them out. Looks like some are back up on Amazon now... but I don't know the quality of them. For a mic, I'm just using my standard PC headset.

Pardon the double post, but I wanted to say thanks for this, and also comment that the frame is simple and cool. Are you using dog treats as tokens? LOL!

[bobthefunny]

@MeowZeDung - Webcam setup - So far I've tried webcam with Discord and Skype. You'll want some way to mount your webcam to be able to see your field of cards. I built a wooden support/frame out of spare pieces of wood I had in my basement. You'll want a decent webcam, probably a 1080 resolution, at 30fps. Not sure where you're at, but finding those is a bit tricky online here stateside - I think everyone who suddenly realized they'd need to WFH has bought them out. Looks like some are back up on Amazon now... but I don't know the quality of them. For a mic, I'm just using my standard PC headset.

Pardon the double post, but I wanted to say thanks for this, and also comment that the frame is simple and cool. Are you using dog treats as tokens? LOL!

Thanks! And yeah, While testing out my mat and how it would look on screen, I was trying a simple goldfish with a Roon deck, and I didn't have my dice or anything with me... but I did have some dog treats for my puppy... so those became impromtu tokens. On the stream I actually used some blank card stock I got off Amazon a long time ago from when I tried making my own board game.

The cardstock is also helpful if copying something, or stealing something from someone, as you can make a quick doodle of what it is. Paper/postits are probably just as good though.

I'm on GMT, realistically only available Friday nights and over the weekend, but depending on timing might be able to squeeze a game in on a weeknight.

Dragonlover

So, I'm EST, which is GMT -5 (-4 with dst), you're GMT, and @Maluko is GMT+1.
so, roughly 5pm / 9pm / 10pm set up. Weekends are pretty nice for me, and would let me move that up a bit as well, maybe 2/6/8?
All we need is a fourth, and we might have a game!

[Mimicvat]

Timezone: NZ (+13), Keen to play during the day roughly 8AM to 8PM in the +13.

Game types; I'll play anything as long as we're all on the same page. I love jank trash, tuned decks and could give cEDH a go but probably bad at it. Probably more keen on the jank end though

Setup: Cockatrice + discord

I'm not sure how other people do cockatrice, but my group ignores the phases and stuff on the left side and pretty much uses it as a virtual table

Edit: In response to the below post, not interested in playing via phases and other mtgo style clunkiness. If you don't trust me to play properly don't play with me.

[Maluko]

@bobthefunny what's your name on Cockatrice? Mine is Maluko I'm usually there every night around 21:30 (Western European Time (WET)) hosting games. You can also search me by name. Unfortunately I can't use Discord

I'm not sure how other people do cockatrice, but my group ignores the phases and stuff on the left side and pretty much uses it as a virtual table

I'm a bit of a control freak over trying to keep the game well organized. I've played in Cockatrice for far too long to know how easily things are either mistracked or miscommunicated. Some examples are weather Gods are creatures or not, how many counters creatures actually have (because some players insist in just changing their P/T), and changing control of things. If your group can play well without using phases (especially if you use Discord), that's fine. But when playing with strangers, I advice everyone to use phases.

[cryogen]

Figure I'll add myself to the list.

Looking for non cEDH games (5-7 range)
Paper Magic over Discord, exploring other group call methods as well
Eastern Standard Time (-5)
Cryogen#2627 on Discord
Evenings after 830pm EST

[JoeyB11223]

I've never played online before but it is something I'd be interested in.

Could install and get to grips with cockatrice or play via webcam* on whatever software folks use with physical cards.

As for classifying myself copying from opening post...

Casual
Typical Game Length: 1-2 hours
MLD? No.
Combo? Never intentionally, if two cards in the deck happen to cause some sort of loop I'd likely avoid playing them at that moment.
Win methods: Hitting face 99.9% of the time, one deck plays ToH so a big enough X might do it, but generally I always focus on combat and tend to play in my own turn.

Timezone: BST (GMT +1)
Time Preference: Most days from around 5:30pm onward, can play late Friday/Saturday (up to say 2am my time). If I can communicate via typing after 10pm ish, I could play late on weekdays also at the moment.


*I don't actually have a webcam/mic, only headphones. I've heard you can make an android phone function in this way, or at least act as one of them? Anyone able to offer advice there?

[Treamayne]

New Format! Please fill this line out:
Treamayne|Casual/Variant (Tribal, RS, etc.)|1-3hrs|MLD:N|Combo:FTW>Turn 6|Timezone:US Eastern|Variable - Usually after 0130Z(GMT)|Webcam:N|MTGO:Y|Cockatrice:N|Discord:N|Skype:N|Untap:N|

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Example:
|bobthefunny|Casual|1-2 hrs|N|N|GMT -4 (EDT)|7pm to midnight weekdays, some weekends|Y|-|Y|Y|Y|-|

I sadly never invested in MTGO, so I'm out on that one.

My clan (CasualandCommander) has thousands of cards to give away to upstanding forumites that want to try MTGO for minimal investment. You can talk to @WolfWhoWanders if you want more data on how that played out (I took him through trades for an evening, giving him cards from trade categories - Generals, Cycles₁, Staples₂, Commons, Uncommons, and Rare/Mythics). That offer is open to others, as well. Just shoot me a PM and we can arrange a time to meet up and I can hopefully answer questions about the client while the trade is happening.

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1 - I make a binder of common and uncommon cycles that are a basic backbone of budget deckbuilding: Signets, keyrunes, vivid lands, etc.
2 - It's a binder so you can take your pick of "staple" type non-land/non-mana-rock utility: StP, Sol Ring, Cultivate, Counterspell, etc.

Wolf probably remembers better, but after all was done I think it was about 600-700 cards donated to his account.

I'm unsure if an account is free now or not (used to be $10), but I can get you enough of a basic collection for a few decks so that you can at least try the interface and play some games to decide if it is worth any more of your time or money.

That said, My Clan is fairly destitute now, as people floated away since the WotC forums turned into that blog-based monstrosity, then died. So, if there are forumites that are interested in joining a clan (which at least allows clan chat for everyone to type on one channel that isn't a "game" or "game room") we can use that as a way to launch games, since you will automatically see status (online or off) for everyone in the clan. With enough people there is often at least one or two online.

[materpillar]

Casual
Typical Game Length: 1-2 hours
MLD? Eh. I can tolerate it if you instantly win with it not just using it to gain an advantage IE Avacyn Angel of Hope
Combo? Fine as long as you're not aggressively tutoring and it can be stopped by Swords to Plowshares.
Win methods: All my decks win differently, they're all more midrange though.

Timezone: Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-4)
Time Preference: 9:30pm or before noon.

Setup: Cockatrice/mtgo + Skype/Discord. I don't own a webcam.

[3drinks]

There's both 1v1 and multiplayer aplenty. No voice chat in client though

Voice chat can go through skype or some such while game is played on MTGO though, correct?

💯 correct.

You know bobthefunny, the market is at it's lowest it's ever been. No time like the present to jump in...👀👀

Man, that twitch video is pixelated AF. Couldn't imagine playing a game that way.

The actual video on discord wasn't nearly as bad. For some reason my video quality to twitch is worse on the weekend as opposed to weekdays. Playing again tomorrow night, so I'll test to see if my theory holds up.

Probably a deprioritization issue, I'd imagine.

[MrMystery314]

Anything goes as long as we agree beforehand, but I strongly prefer either cEDH or "anything besides cEDH"; if you are dogmatically against particular legal cards or play styles, hopefully it isn't an issue. If somehow during the game your opposition to something like that comes up and it wasn't brought up before, that's rude.
Typical game length: 30 minutes to 1 hour if things run smoothly, longer if the game gets very convoluted. Please play quickly.
MLD? Sure
Combo? Sure
Win methods: I generally play combo, the consistency of which will strongly vary with the deck, and I'm fine with people doing whatever they want to do to win as long as they don't complain about what other people are doing. We're here to play MTG, not campaign for absolute morality.
Timezone: PST (GMT-8)
Find me on Untap with the same username as here; I'm old fashioned and stick to typing in the in-game chat