OddballGreg - Aavak...?

Image nicked from the only place that provides even a vague explanation of who Aavak is. Specifically: https://www.youtube.com/user/Aavak/about

Do you feel the need to listen to an Welsh (Bohemian?) man with an oddly classy accent and voice play games and tell you about interesting things while he does so? If so, then like myself, you're probably going to start watching Aavak's video's... a little more than you probably should.

In a completely unexpected turn of events, I have yet another YouTuber that I simply cannot stop watching. Those of you who've been reading this blog for a fair length of time are probably aware of my preference for YouTube Commentators that don't spend their time screaming, making ridiculous noises, and preferably have something meaningful or witty to say. (I'm not saying the screaming isn't funny... but it does get a little old eventually. At least for myself.)

Naturally, I found Aavak by complete and utter accident, and promptly spent the past 4 or 5 days watching his videos between doing whatever else it is I do these days. Why? Because his voice is entrancing or something I guess. Seriously, check out the video below and tell me it's not the kind of voice you'd happily listen to.

Jokes aside, Aavak is a genuinely entertaining YouTuber who is, from what I gather, still relatively new to game, (excuse the pun), with only 36 000 subscribers. (At the time of writing, and including myself.) He, like some of the other YouTubers I enjoy watching like Scott Manley and Quill18, has a habit of making witty remarks about the various occurrences with good humor, while also trying to teach his viewers something as he goes along. (Or at least avoid having meaningless segments in his videos.) One of my favorite moments in his video's came from the above From The Depths series where he discussed the origins of the "Cwn Awnnwn" as he explained his choice of name for a ship.

Basically, he doesn't scream, he talks about interesting things, plays interesting and thoughtful games, and has a voice that simply makes you want to listen to him, even when he stutters or says the same thing again without realizing it. He's also Welsh... I think. Perhaps as a matter of his relative newness to the internet, there is nothing describing who he is or what he does as far I've seen so far. (Odds are something of the sort will crop up eventually.) Either way, he's either Welsh, or Bohemian as his YouTube banner dictates. Unless that's just a clever ploy to throw off anyone trying to figure out his true Welsh identity. In which case, bravo you wily dog you.

In any case, I highly suggest you check out his channel here, watch a few of his videos and just enjoy a genuinely enjoyable personality as he plays some games and talks about stuff. (I probably am as you're reading this. Especially if there's a new Cataclysm video out. That game is AWESOME.)

Do you agree that Aavak is actually a really fun guy to watch? Or maybe you have someone else you think I should check out and give a mention for. If so, do be sure to let me know down in the comments below, or via Facebook/Twitter. We here at TCSA love to hear your feedback. And of course, if you enjoy finding out about awesome stuff on the web and world then do please be sure to like the Official TCSA Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter using the associated buttons on the bar to the left to get all the latest posts as they're published. Also, do be sure to share posts you enjoyed with your friends as it helps us out a great deal. Regardless of what you do, I thank you for having taken the time to read this post; hope that you have/had an absolutely FANTASTIC day, and I will speak again soon.

Happy Holidays my friends.

OddballGreg - Magic The Gathering (Duels Of The Planeswalkers 2013)

In my ever present lack of mind, I managed to screenshot almost everything except the title screen. Triple points? (Teehee)

 Do you like Magic The Gathering, find shuffling tedious, or simply need something "new" *cough* to try out and do? If you said yes to any of these things, then you might find some enjoyment in Magic The Gathering: Duels Of The Planeswalkers 2013.

Those of you with significant mental acuity are likely already or about to ask: "2013? But isn't it almost 2015?". In which case you would be correct, I am perhaps somewhat late to the discussion in terms of this game. Although, that could be said for most games I've discussed considering this blog did only start in June. (Half a year now, goodness how the time flies.)

In any case, my good friend Richard decided to grace me with a copy of this game so that I could play it with him from the other side of the world while he waits to become a part of Her Royal Majesty's Navy in UK. (At least, I hope that's how you refer to it. I'm going to defer to ignorance if I'm wrong.)

In any case, lets talk about the game. MTG: DOTP 2013 (Longest acronym of my life...) is the computerized version of the massively popular trading card game Magic The Gathering which you are guaranteed to have heard of if you know anyone that is just a little bit nerdier than average. DOTP is the 3rd of three such computerized version of the game, focusing on people who prefer to have computers do all the shuffleing/counting/mathing done for them, as well on those who would like to play Magic with distant friends or from the convenience of their homes. It's also pretty good for playing against the AI if you have no internet. (Though that could easily get old quickly.)

The flashy, card based menu makes no allusion to this game being anything more than you expect. But then, it does what it does pretty well.

DOTP is, for all intents and purposes, Magic The Gathering for computers and consoles. It is admittedly a hard thing to sell if you have little knowledge of the actual card game, though some reviewers have pointed out that, apart from having an experienced Magic player teach you, this is about one of the best ways you could learn to play. DOTP's AI can hold it's own, the tutorials are well explained and the Campaign does a great job of introducing you to new ideas, decks and tactics in a fun and only occasionally frustrating way.

Some basic statistics about your game habits or records, as well as a plain viewing of my childhood nickname.

 Perhaps the only original part of DOTP is what is called the "Planechase" mode, in which a normal game of Magic is played between up to 4 opponents, but with an added random element of a deck of Planes with their own effects and a die which allows the players to enjoy the benefits of the plane or cause it to change, often resulting in a frantic and different experience to the usual duels. I will point out again that this lack of originality is not a bad thing. Like Call Of Duty and Assassins Creed, things are made the same, because people enjoy it. Had this game been anything more or less than what it is, it would have been grossly criticized for having utterly dropped the ball and trying to be something it's not.

A rudimentary "deck builder" lets you change out a selection of cards from pre-defined decks and choices. It's fairly restricted compared to the real cards game, but it' is functional and approachable.

 That said, DOTP does what it does well, has leaderboards and online play, achievements, a fair length set of campaigns and challenges and a deck builder. More or less everything you could expect or want from it. Everything works very well give or take one or two interface issues, and the gameplay is solid, unabashed Magic. For anything more than that, you're going to have to step away from the computer and find your local hobby store that stocks Magic The Gathering cards and knows where it's players congregates. Is it worth your time? Yes. Despite it's occasional limitations, DOTP is definitely fun and enjoyable computerised version of Magic, and certainly worth a couple bucks considering the many hours you can sink into the game. (If Steam happens to put it on sale this Christmas, do yourself a favor and buy a couple copies for yourself and your friends. Head to head matches are always a giggle.)

In any case, that's all I can say on the game. Feel free to peruse the rest of the screenshots below as they tell their own story. Otherwise, if you think this game is good, or completely disagree and think I'm weird for playing a tabletop game on a computer, do be sure to let me know down in the comments below, or via Facebook/Twitter. We here at TCSA love to hear your feedback. And of course, if you enjoy finding out about awesome stuff on the web and world then do please be sure to like the Official TCSA Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter using the associated buttons on the bar to the left to get all the latest posts as they're published. Also, do be sure to share posts you enjoyed with your friends as it helps us out a great deal. Regardless of what you do, I thank you for having taken the time to read this post; hope that you have/had an absolutely FANTASTIC day, and I will speak again soon.

Happy gaming my friends.

My friend and I having a "two-headed giant" match versus the AI. While not an easy match, there are some fantastic cards that can completely turn the tide when used correctly as we soon found out.

The interface for starting new games is fairly simple and easy to figure out. No complaints here.

I think I speak for everyone that's played DOTP when I say: "F*** this encounter."

Came for the game, stayed because of the pretty pictures and the game. DOTP does a good job of showing off it's fantastic illustrations, very few of which were actually made for the game itself.