Born from the fertile imagination of the community and the wake of last week’s 99 thoughts, the 100th episode of Embracing the Chaos features seven Top Ten lists (I thought of shooting for ten, but these are what came to mind), focusing on some random thoughts and reminiscing about some of the people and moments that have been significant in my many years in Magic. The lists with people on them are alphabetical because I’d really hate to try to rank them.

CARDS I’D CONSIDER BANNING (IN A VACCUUM)

Banning cards isn’t just a case of picking a card and handing it some walking papers. Considerations include other, similar cards and cascading effects on the format, like over-encouraging (or completely destroying) particular styles of play—though I certainly feel like there are types of strategies which aren’t good for the format. This list does not necessarily reflect anything the RC is currently talking about. This one is just me thinking out loud.

Cabal Coffers: Cards that produce significantly more mana than they cost, especially repeatable ones, are dangerous. Yes, they enable some of the wild plays we see in the format, but more often, they enable end-the-game-right-now plays. We can have haymakers without the Coffers.

Erayo, Soratami Ascendant: The one and only reason to play this card is to lock everyone else out of the game. It’s simply contrary to the format’s basic philosophy.

Gaea’s Cradle: See Cabal Coffers.

Hokori, Dust Drinker: A for real griefer General.

Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur: I’ve said that this is reasonable protection against draw-a-million-cards guy, but in practice, it has shown it’s more of another weapon for that guy, plus it keeps the other players out of the game.

Lightning Greaves: I would ban this card simply because I’m bored with it. Yes, it’s good. Yes, it turns your Commander into something even better (for zero mana).

March of the Machines: I would love to see this card get played in fun “When Machines Attack!” decks, but it’s way more often in “play Mycosynth Lattice, strip everyone’s lands” decks.

Shahrazad: Funny that I’d suggest getting rid of a card that truly Embraces the Chaos, but we have to do some logistical side-stepping with the rules with this card, and it simply creates situations that are ridiculous and full of the non-fun kind of mayhem.

Triumph of the Hordes: I’m not a fan of auto-win cards, and this is pretty close.

Winter Orb: It’s obviously a recurrent theme that I think lockdown strategies are bad for the format. Kismet is fine, since you just get to untap next time. Keeping stuff tapped down just means people are watching, not playing.

COMPLETELY RANDOM THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME

I retired from the US Air Force in 2004 after serving 20 years.

I did computer security for Dick Cheney when he was Secretary of Defense.

Muppeteer Kevin Clash, who created Elmo, was in my high school graduating class, and, in fact, voted “Most Likely to Succeed.”

I was a pretty serious weightlifter back in the 90s and could squat nearly 600 pounds.

Between dropping out of college and joining the military, I waited tables at a fancy Italian restaurant while attempting to make a go of it in music as a hard rock vocalist and keyboard player.

I was never a Level 1 Judge. Back then, your score on the rules test determined your level. I started at Level 2, made Level 3 in 1998, Level 4 in 2004, and Level 5 in 2005. I’ve now been L5 longer than anyone in history.

My father was Music Director at WKBR, a popular New England radio station, and earned 13 gold records for his work in promoting several artists and their songs. I remember one of them being The Hollies “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” He was a musician as well, and I was on hand when he sang the National Anthem at Fenway Park before a Red Sox/Blue Jays game (August 15, 1993). It was the only time I ever saw him nervous.

Gretchyn and I got married at a historic inn called Antrim 1844, which is just minutes south of the battleground at Gettysburg.

I’ve written two LARPs. The first was called “The Fudarus Gathering,” co-written with Peter Hentges for the Ars Magica system, involving 20 wizards descending on their headquarters to have their once-every-17-years competition. The second was non-system specific and written with a team from the Washington H.I. Gaming Society, set right after the death of Pope Gregory and the Schism in the Catholic Church. We ran the game in real time from 8 pm to midnight. The players were all Cardinals of Europe, locked in the Vatican and had to elect a Pope from among them—before the screaming crowds broke in and did away with them all.

At Gen Con 1993, back when the RPGA did convention games quite a bit differently (the Living campaigns were in their infancy) and DMs got rated by the players, I had some success running a module by Bruce Nesmith called “In the Flesh.” I DM’d 10 of the 13 possible slots at the con (which I don’t recommend to anyone). During my one and only trip into the dealer hall, I discovered Magic. You know the rest.

INTERESTING PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS

Ben Drago: Now the Vice President at GameHead after having just come from Cryptozoic, Ben is a former Level 3 Judge who has the distinction of having the shortest L3 interview ever (although I’ll concede that things were a little different ‘back in the day’). After about ten minutes, the panel kind of looked at each other and said “This guy is awesome” and promoted him.

Ben Rubin: As captured in the video for his Hall of Fame introduction, one of my early memories of Ben was his playing chess with someone while not looking at the board the entire game—and carrying on another conversation with someone else. Ben and I would frequently discuss philosophy and philosophers between matches. I can’t imagine too many smarter people in the world than Ben.

Chris Galvin: The former VP of Organized Play remains a friend today, now having moved on to Amazon. He oversaw some of the most significant changes in the history of high-level play of the game. Chris and I share a taste for quality booze, especially the single malts.

Deb Slater: A long-time member of the PT production crew, Deb is a woman of endless talents, to include being a radio and TV personality. She runs an amazing Facebook page called “Deb Slater’s eek!Harmony.”

Diana Johns: Before Witney Williams, before Renee Roub, both of whom are completely awesome, the PT event manager (the WotC person who actually put together the show) was this tour de force named Diana Johns. I always thought that Diana and I were cut from a similar cloth: a powerful idea of what we saw as a path forward coupled with a take no prisoners approach.

Gerry Rubin: No relation to Ben, Gerry runs Sitelines, who has for a long time been responsible for putting together many of the infrastructure pieces at the Pro Tour. When I say that people are what keep me coming back to events, Gerry is specifically one of the people.

Gordon Culp: Now a Director at Wizards of the Coast, Gordon was the first superstar scorekeeper at the Pro Tour. Imbued with a biting sense of humor and irony, sharing the stage with him was never dull.

Jon Becker: Jon (and others) will tell you that he’s “the member of Tongo Nation who didn’t cheat,” and although I’m happy to give him continuous grief over it, I know Jon is a stand-up guy, a great Magic mind, and a friend to the game.

Dr. Michelle Bush: Arguably the best female Magic player ever (although I could certainly argue for Melissa DeTora just as easily), Michelle brought a level of elegance, class, and glamour to the game that you can’t just reduce to being about gender.

Ted Knutson: I don’t think that Ted gets enough credit (outside a few people who know) when it comes to his efforts on this very website and promoting the game of Magic in general. I think there’s an argument for him (along with Brian David-Marshall) to be among the first non-PT players worth being in the Hall of Fame. A powerful individual, and a top flight human being, I will never forget his words to me when we met in person the first time after knowing each other online for about three years: “I thought you’d be bigger.”

GUYS I MISS AT THE PRO TOUR

Antonino De Rosa: I really have never met anyone who looks at life with the same sense of wonder and enjoyment as Nino. We laugh a lot less without him.

Bob Maher Jr. and Sr.: Bob Maher, in addition to being a fine Magic player, is a fine human being, and always good to talk to. Back in the day, his dad would come along as well. Being gentlemen of a similar age, Maher Senior and I would spend a few minutes chatting about “these kids” and the other issues of the day. The PT could use more of this kind of community aspect.

Charles Gindy: Contrary to popular belief, I do not hate Charles Gindy. He has a zest for the game and a kind of infectious zeal for life that we miss. I don’t regret the DQ, since it was in line with the rules, but I do kind of wish that it had been someone more sinister instead.

Gabe Walls: I know I’ve previously said that Gabe made my life ‘interesting,’ but what I miss is the fact that he’s a guy who will constantly keep you on your toes. With Gabe around, you can never mail in an explanation or be wishy-washy. It has to be right, and your argument has to be strong.

Gerard Fabiano: I’ve given several shout-outs in this column to GFabs, and he deserves every one.

Michael Sochon: Mike was a French player from the early days. I understand he fell on hard times after falling off the gravy train, and he had a certain attitude, but he was always the first guy to stop by and say hello, and one of the first PT players to make an effort to develop a positive relationship with judges.

Mike Turian: I can’t imagine a kinder, gentler soul than Mike Turian. His amazing play skill is second to his quality as a human being.

Osyp Lebedowicz: A one-man traveling carnival of constant fun and wickedly sharp insight. Don’t let his clownish nature fool you. Osyp is a keen observer of people and culture, and can easily make the list of top Magic writers ever.

Sigurd Eskeland: Sigurd was one of the first high-profile pros that I became friends with. A fierce competitor, but once competing was done, he was an interesting conversationalist. Glad to see he’s doing well with that other card game.

Stephan Valkyser: Stephan won the GP where I (and fellow future L5’s Gis Hoogendijk and Jaap Brouwer) made Level 3. A first rate player and lover of games of all stripes, Stephan also had an outrageous sense of humor.

FAVORITE ARTISTS

Arnie Swekel: A decade ago, I had the chance to have a long conversation with Arnie at an event. We seemed to have some similarities, like growing up in a working class neighborhood, and some philosophical stuff. I had hoped to see him at more shows over the years, but haven’t. Favorite piece: Coffin Puppets (to which I own the original).

Kev Walker: There are many tales of hanging out with Kev Walker (which may involve pubs) that I can’t tell on a family website. Kev is the Hemingway of Magic artists. Favorite piece: Ovinomancer (which I bought the original of for my ex-wife).

rk Post: Randy has shown himself to be a great friend to the Judge Program over the years and is always an interesting guy to spend time with. Favorite piece: Mind Funeral (although I wonder how he got Heath Ledger to sit for Voice of All).

Rob Alexander: Rob and I had long conversations about art and philosophy over meals during US Nationals in Kansas City a few years ago. One of the reasons I’d love to be infinitely wealthy is to be able to support the efforts of guys like Rob (and everyone on this list, really). Favorite piece: Oboro, Palace in the Clouds.

Ron Spears: Another great friend to the program, always taking extra time to do stuff for the judges, and excellent guest to have at your show. Favorite piece: I own the Tribal Unity original, but there’s something really compelling about Spy Network.

Ron Spencer: There’s something I love about the raw aggression of his art. Favorite piece: Damnation.

Ruth Thompson: I loved her art before I ever saw it on a Magic card and have owned a number of prints of her epic work. I’m sorry she only did nine cards. Favorite piece: Justice.

Steve Argyle: I just met Steve at GP Dallas this year, and he was fun to hang out with. I love his work, especially with the Angels. Favorite piece: Slave of Bolas.

Susan Van Camp: She was the first artist I ever met at an event (Spiel in Essen, Germany), and she was good enough to sign (complete with “Good Luck!”) my four Hymns to Tourach. Question I always wanted to ask her: “Is that Steven Tyler on Veldrane of Sengir?” Favorite piece: The aforementioned Hymn to Tourach.

Terese Nielsen: I’m quite fond of Terese and absolutely love her work. She has an appreciation for the female form unrivaled by other Magic artists—Bassandra and Elvish Ranger are clear examples. Favorite piece: Sixth Edition Stream of Life.

Tom Baxa: A good man, a fine conversationalist, and excellent artist. I find all his stuff quite evocative and moody. Favorite piece: Rotlung Reanimator (also own the original).

MEMORIES OF MOMENTS

Standing in the streets of Berlin at midnight after the last day of the European Championships with computers in hand and PTQ Top 8 competitors in tow after having gotten thrown out of the hall because it was closing and trying to figure out where we were going to play the rest of the T8 (we eventually found a cramped room at the hotel).

Having to hand-stamp cards for the draft portion of that European Championship, since whoever was responsible for having it done had forgotten.

Head Judging the PTQ on Saturday at my first Pro Tour, and the PTQ lasting literally until Sunday (we finished the T8 right before noon).

Being woefully unaware of how unprepared I was for my first Level 3 interview. Carl Crook and Mischa Donders, both L4s at the time, demonstrated to me the folly of my ways. Fortunately, I later figured things out.

While making a ruling at a Pro Tour, getting (incorrectly) quoted to myself. “Yeah, but that Sheldon guy said it works this way…”

Getting hugged by Antonino De Rosa immediately after he won US Nationals. Seriously, I thought I was going to disappear.

Getting introduced to the game Werewolf (the party game, not the RPG) in San Diego by Richard Garfield.

Back when we were still on ESPN, having to do both table judging and match coverage for The Sideboard because ESPN didn’t want the extra person on stage. Glad that didn’t last too long, and they figured out how to get the coverage person back.

While table judging an important feature match between two French players at GP Amsterdam (the second one, iirc), getting asked to translate French into English for one of them because he couldn’t understand what the other was saying.

Sitting at the table when Kai said “Gotterdamerung.”

FORMATIVE MOMENTS IN THE FORMAT

Realizing that Biorhythm needed to be the first banned card.

Getting my casual Virginia group to play this wacky format I brought from Alaska.

Deciding that format would be a little more accessible if you could have more than one-of basic lands.

At PT Atlanta, Gis Hoogendijk and I playing some 1v1 and realizing how obscene Panoptic Mirror was. It got banned the minute I got home.

Writing a Feature Friday article here on SCG describing the format, complete with a contest to build a Lord of Tresserhorn deck.

Handing Scott Larabee that Lord of Tresserhorn deck, starting the cascade of the format into the WotC community.

Gavin Duggan coming to me with the idea of a Rules Committee and a website.

Expanding the RC to include Toby Elliott, Kevin Desprez, and Scott Larabee.

Finding out there was going to be a Commander product. First card I knew about was a version of Stranglehold.

The Commander Panel at GenCon just a few weeks ago. I think we’ll look back on it somewhere down the road as a watermark moment, when we put our stamp on the format’s guiding philosophies.

Some two years after Pete Hoefling asked me to come back to SCG, Embracing the Chaos is still going strong. Here’s looking forward to the next hundred episodes and beyond.