Nathan Cansell Podcasts

All Will Be One has been both a return to and an expansion on some of MTG's most iconic settings, themes and aesthetics, and there are enough flavour beats for a dozen episodes. So through all the Oli and Phyresis, what stood out to Andy and Nathan? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxi…

MTG story is charging full steam ahead through the Phyrexian invasion of the Multiverse. With a diverse spread of stories and perspectives to face, Andy and Nathan are going to tackle them head on in their own Vorthos Strike Force! Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, Youtube:…

More magic was released in 2022 than ever before and along side it was potentially more story and lore too! So how have Andy and Nathan found the past year, and how does it set up the future of the game? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/cha…

Taking a mini-beak from the horrifying war against Phyrexia, the guys dive into the whimsy filled card pool of Jumpstart 2022 and pour over the flavour offered by the new Legendary Creatures. Is Andy an MTG hypocrite and will someone please get Nathen some gosh-dang flavour text! Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- …

Magic's first throw back set has a tricky job of balancing flavour that feels old school, whilst still exciting new players and serving the game 30 years after these themes were last explored. Andy and Nathan take a look at what flavour jumps out to them and also examine what different experiences this set provides each of them. Content Warning: Al…

The Side Stories for The Brothers War web fiction are anything but, and are in fact an integral part of MTG's current narrative. The guys comb through these tales of Planeswalkers planning a Multiversal defence against the Phyrexians in a set of stories that feature both some of the best, and an example of maybe the worst, that magic fiction has to…

It's time to revisit one of the most pivotal moments in Magic lore history, and to witness how MTG handles web fiction for its first "Throwback Set". Andy and Nathan review Miguel Lopez's run of five Episodes charting the Past events of The Brothers War and the aftermath of the Multiverse's most bloody conflict. Story Articles: https://magic.wizard…

Taking a break from the endless spoiler season, the guys kick back, crack a cold one and watch the footy. But even in this most traditional of pass times, Andy and Nathan can't help but bring it back to magic... Content Warning: Alcohol Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, You…

Dominaria United takes us back to Magic's original Plane and so we have another chance to revel in some high fantasy. What cards have captured the guy's imaginations and are Vorthos' ever happy with the balance of flavour? (Apparently not...) Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoo…

We are now well into the depths of the current Phyrexian narrative arch, with a return to Dominaria to ease us into a year of all the body horror/sci-fantasy/Time Warping nonsense that often accompanies the Phyrexians. The guys cast their new mechanical eyes over the Story for Dominaria United and the events that will forever change some of the cha…

With the exciting continuation of the current Phyrexian story Arch on the horizon in the form of Dominaria United, and also the boundary pushing silliness of Unfinity also soon to be released, there is still a lot of hype to be had in this relatively long break from the perpetual spoiler season. So what is getting Andy and Nathan most excited and (…

Double Masters 2022 is here and whilst it may be shaping up to be one of MTG's most expensive sets ever, much like it's predecessor it is packed with flavour! Andy looks at the new flavour in this reprint set and also talks about the balance between in-world and meta references. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @…

With Double Masters 2022 around the corner, there are seemingly some exciting reprints from past Commander products being given another chance to capture players imaginations. But with an ever changing attitude from WOTC as to how to use ancillary sets in terms of exploring new lore, what Commander exclusive characters deserve new cards and stories…

With Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate, we now have a 2nd whole set in Magic dedicated to the world of DnD. And with Baldur's Gate having a slightly different tone to AFR, Andy looks at what themes, mechanical choices, and broader narrative approaches he would like to see carried on into Magic's mainline sets and story. Music by Michael R…

Andy is flying solo this week and will give his fate up to the whims of the Scryfall Random Card button to once again test the theory that every card in magic has significant flavour to offer! https://scryfall.com/ Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, Nathan- @TheFoxintheMoon, Youtube: https://www.yout…

New Capenna has finally been fully spoiled which means it's time for Andy to go through the most flavourful cards in the set, and this time he is joined by the Godfather of EDH, Sheldon Menery! Which cards have proven themselves worthy to join The family, and which are going to sleep with the fishes...? Sheldon's Links: https://linktr.ee/SheldonMen…

The Streets Of New Capenna web fiction is fully out and as well as exploring a brand new Plane with a deep history, we are given some narratively impactful developments for the current Phyrexian story arc. Joining Andy once again is Michelle Rapp to talk families, Planeswalkers and the future of the story... Michelle's socials: @kilnfiendpotter htt…

Michelle Rapp joins the show to talk about their favourite MTG web fiction story The Flood by Alison Luhrs. Ixalan is one of the most tightly realised story arcs in Magic story and this article delves deep into the History of the games most prominent character Jace Beleren. The Flood by Alison Luhrs: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/ma…

Matt from TOTALmtg joins the show to talk about his favourite colour Blue, and how the colours philosophies influences his approach to the game, even when playing other colours. Also Andy and Matt chat about WOTC's various approaches to basing sets on existing IP's and genre tropes. TOTALmtg's links: https://linktr.ee/TOTALmtg Music by Michael Rawc…

Adam The Gathering joins the show to talk about his favourite Tribe in magic and also the role Arena can play in delivering magic flavour to the online community. Andy also looks at what surnames have tribal applications and what the rest of the year has in store for players who don't consider themselves Vorthos'. Adam's Links: https://linktr.ee/Ad…

So much has changed in Magic: The Gathering since January 9th 2020, as has this podcast and Andy and Nathan's relationship to the game. So, with the show reaching 100 episodes and Nathan about to take a break from the game, where do the guys stand with the game now? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface,…

Sagas once more prove themselves to be an incredibly versatile game piece for storytelling and game play and in a set so boldly challenging every aspect of Magic's design they stand out yet again. So which sagas are Andy and Nathan diving into and where can they go from here? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @And…

Magic: The Gathering's latest set, Kamigawa Neon Dynasty has a lot of flavour to pack in to one outing. From giving lip service to 1200 years of the Planes history, to exploring new concepts and even doing the heavy lifting for the games overarching narrative, there is a hell of a lot of flavour to pull from, and the guys are going to do their best…

Akemi Dawn Bowman steps up to tackle Magic's latest narrative and delivers us some of the most refreshing and exciting episodes yet. With a genre switch coupled with a sort-of return plane, is there too much to pack in to these stories, or has mtg narrative finally hit the balance between progressing the endless card push, and telling compelling ta…

Before they dive into the cyberpunk world of Kamigawa Neon Dynasty, Andy and Nathan take a look back at one of Magic's most divisive blocks and explore the flavour highs and lows of original Kamigawa. What flavour beats have aged well since 2004 and what aspects have dropped out of favour when designing sets? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitt…

Every Vorthos has a favourite character from the MTG Story that they feel has gotten a raw deal on their physical creature card. Whether the design feels underpowered or outdated, or maybe the character as you see them is given stats that make no sense, there is always hope for a second or third printing. The guys talk about some of their flavour w…

The guys continue their look at Magic: The Gathering in 2021, moving on to more specific comparisons and thematic trends. What visual and narrative beats carried across the sets and which ones fell flat? Also they look to 2022 and the Neon lit future of the game... Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @AndyMannface, …

Has it only been 12 months!? With some of the highest turn around of product, some of the most ambitious main line sets ever printed, and new spins on the game from flavour to function coming with every new preview, 2021 has been a lot! The guys go step by step and break down every release this year (mostly) and look at the the past 52 weeks of the…

K. Arsenault Rivera completes the second half of their ten episode run for Innistrad's web fiction, this time inviting us to the Vampire Wedding of the Century. How does this extra breathing room given to one author, something not afforded to writers since before the return to web fiction, affect the narrative and what new insights can we gain to s…

The guests are arriving and the wine (it is wine right?) is flowing and the Wedding Day is finally here. But does the set do the happy couple justice? The guys run through their flavour picks and highlights from the set. But any wedding wouldn't be complete without a couple of hiccups on the road to happiness... Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Tw…

We return to the MTG Book Club with the first Midnight Hunt side Story Tangles by Seanan McGuire. Tangles gives us a perfect opportunity to see Planeswalkers both old and new meet for the first time and also gives us insight to some of the quieter little details of the multiverse. 'Tangles' by Seanan McGuire Story Article: https://magic.wizards.com…

The October Secret Lair Super Drop is here and it represents potentially some of the most solid concepts ever released in the series. Both with high amounts of flavour and a well crafted balance of experimentation and function, has WOTC finally hit their stride in making this still controversial product a thing for everyone? Scryfall Card Gallery: …

MTG web fiction is hanging on in there and sees us returning to Innistrad. Continuing the trend of avoiding Planewide destruction as a narrative device, does Midnight Hunt's narrative still manage to get us excited over this well traversed Plane and how does having a writer invested in the game itself impact the story? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Au…

Innistrad Midnight Hunt has a diverse spread of flavour, from call backs to previous sets, to brand new spins on Horror tropes. The Guys pick their top 5 flavour beats from the set (and maybe a couple of glaring flavour misses) and break down which cards exemplify this most spooky of Planes. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavou…

The guys look at the mechanics of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and if they properly convey the horror Planes themes. They also dive into how magic design as a whole has changed from each previous trip to Innistrad and highlight some areas were maybe design could be pushed even further... Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, An…

We return once more to Magic's most terrifying Plane and this time there are festivals to be had and hunts to begin...But with returns to fan favourite Planes being something of a tricky business in the past what has been kept fresh in Innistrad and what has been left to rot? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @And…

This year's Magic Showcase detailed some of what we can expect from 2022 and a little bit beyond, and to say it will pull MTG's narrative in all directions is an understatement. What do the guys think of this brave new world for Magic and is this a future Vorthos can get on board with? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, …

The guys return to their kitchen table waffle roots and have a meaningless conversation about which card found in niche creature types is the best. They also discover interesting facts about synergies across types and how many of each one has been printed across MTG's history. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: MTF- @MTFlavouring, Andy- @An…

Today the guys test their theory, that every Magic: The Gathering card tells a story, by heading to Scryfall and hitting the Random Card button. Whatever card gets pulled up is sure to have a ton of flavour to tell... Thank you to Scryfall for all the amazing work they do, it really is the best online database for MTG. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Au…

Jumpstart: Historic Horizons introduces brand new, digital only cards to Magic: The Gathering and not only has this created discourse around the divergent gameplay, it also has implications that stretch into the game's narrative and flavour. How much of a change will this be to Vorthos players, and will this trend continue? Music by Michael Rawclif…

Adventures In the Forgotten Realms is a set so full of flavour that you could easily do a break down on each card, but for the sake of time the guys are going to stick to their top 5 flavour picks each! Which cards represent the set as a whole best and what exciting new artists have joined the MTG roster? Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitter: …

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms has a mammoth task in bringing in over 4 decades of DnD lore to MTG, and only one set to do it in. So rather than try (and fail) to recount all that story, the guys are going to look at the mechanics and flavour signifiers in the set to see how well these two worlds coexist. Music by Michael Rawcliffe Audio. Twitt…

Adventures In The Forgotten Realms takes the core set release spot this year and whilst it's not strictly a core set itself, it does fill the role those sets played, just maybe in it's own way. So how does a set, that at first glance looks incredibly dense, appeal to new players and teach people about two vast fantasy worlds? Mark Rosewater D&D-esi…

This years Secret Lair Summer Super Drop once again shows the diversity possible with the product, including themed collections of cardboard from the whimsical to the deeply human. The product line also takes another big step forwards in supporting the mainline card sets as well and shows how other IP's can be all at once part of MTG and separate f…

One of Magic's favourite Planes, Tarkir, also played host to one of its most ambitious story lines. With 3 colour clans, Dragons and time travel, there was a lot of scope for big set pieces in Tarkir's story. Today the guys talk through the 2015 Kelly Digges story Khanfall, and join the Ancient Khans at their most desperate and dire hour... Khanfal…

As the game shows signs of evolving more and more, and the world reaches for that glimmer of normality outside of lockdown, we take stock of our relationship to this hobby and think about what Magic means to us. Do we still engage with the game the way we did when we first shuffled up or do these little cardboard squares now hold a different signif…

Modern Horizons 2 is being called, by some, potentially the greatest Magic: The Gathering set of all time, and with such a breadth of mechanical and narrative flavour, it may well be. But between shaking up multiple formats, the references to old lore, and the support for fan favourite tribes and playstyles, is there a trend towards the community j…

EDH is often called the most creative format in mtg, but like all magic formats some cards rise through the ranks to become ubiquitous "staples". But with such a diverse card pool in the recent game and more cards entering the format with fresh new flavour, is there now room to build effective, powerful decks without relying on the usual suite of c…

New Secret Lairs means new flavour and "Culture Shocks" gives us a fresh full set of Shock lands on non-Ravnica settings, with new flavour text to boot! The guys run through the flavour on the cards as well as suggest even more new locations for these iconic dual lands. Hipsters Of The Coast Secret Lair Article by David McCoy: https://www.hipsterso…

The students of Strixhaven have barely handed in their midterms yet and two new mtg sets have had pre-previews. Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Modern Horizons 2 are both looking to try new things and add new flavour to magic, and in preparation for their arrival the guys have a few initial thoughts and predictions... Music by Michael Rawcli…