Sam Black (@SamuelHBlack) / X

Sam Black

27.1K posts

Sam Black

@SamuelHBlack

Retired MTG pro and writer, now I play Magic. Host of Sam’s Table podcast. Coaching info in pinned tweet. Twitter DMs have gotten very hard to notice.

Madison, WI

samuelhblack.com/home

Joined February 2009

Pinned
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jan 25, 2020
Replying to @SamuelHBlack
I offer personalized coaching! DMs are open, and I’m happy to work with clients to figure out the right structure/methodology for their goals. Rates are $100/h for a private session or $75/h for a streaming session (same thing, but we broadcast it).
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jul 27, 2019
Wrote some quick thoughts on how I’m feeling about @MagicEsports during #MythicChampionshipIV
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jul 12, 2020
It’s really depressing that the pandemic was insufficient to trigger at least temporary UBI. So much attention to the spread is blamed on people not wearing masks or whatever, but the real issue is economic pressures that force people not to be safe.
Amy Maxmen, PhD
@amymaxmen
Jul 12, 2020
95% of positive tests in a San Francisco neighborhood were among Latinx individuals, even though they comprised 41% of the community. -91% of positives can't work from home -88% have household income <$50K/yr -86% have >3 person/home -55% asymptomatic when tested
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Oct 22, 2019
If you don’t think something in your Pioneer deck needs to be banned, you’re not trying hard enough. The victory condition at this point in the format is getting a card banned. If you don’t think your deck will do that’s build a new deck.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jul 27, 2019
Replying to @SamuelHBlack
Also, for the record, I believe strategically, WotC should always prioritize paper Magic over digital because I think Magic is the best paper game in the world. I honestly doubt it’s the best video game and it needs to focus on its strengths.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jun 26, 2019
Contracts signed and it’s official. I’ll be consulting for Magic R&D. Contracts include NDA, so no follow up questions. I’ll still be playing competitively and doing everything else I normally do.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
May 28, 2020
Morally speaking, I almost always side with rioters. I’m confused by the number of people who state as a fact the claim that riots aren’t an effective tool for leading to change. People have very little power. Most things they do don’t work. Riots seem more likely than most.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jun 30, 2024
Another example of how cEDH is played, and how it’s not like 1v1.
806K
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Jun 4, 2021
I have accepted a position with Cryptozoic as “Game Design Lead Developer” and will be moving to Orange County next month. I intend to continue all of my existing content work, though my streaming hours will be slightly reduced.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Oct 5, 2021
I preferred the years where it seemed like the strength of their organized play system was the untouchable advantage Magic had over other games.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
May 29, 2021
My free preview card from wotc for MH2, the card I designed during my first consultation contract with them, Moderation! Long story about my goals with this card on my stream, I'll likely write/tweet about it later.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Feb 2, 2020
I and the rest of the Magic community owe a lot to @kanister_mtg. His success inspired me to abandon secrecy and embrace working publicly, something I always wanted, but was afraid to do. This movement away from secrecy toward community is great for mtg. Love to see him win.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Mar 18, 2022
It continues to be really weird that skilled Arena limited players spend nothing and have fully stocked accounts with cards they never use and constructed players spend 100s or 1000s a year regardless of skill.
Sam Black
@SamuelHBlack
Sep 22, 2020
Hubris: every time wotc needs to ban cards in Standard, instead of thinking about how hard their job is, I wonder when they’ll hire me.