webhausSpencer's Ante
My friend Spencer plays in a lot of old-school Magic events.
If you ever get the chance to attend one, you might find yourself playing what some consider the greatest Magic: The Gathering format of all time: Alpha to Alliances Ante (AAA).
This format leans into the game as Richard Garfield originally designed it—no sleeves, and, most notably, playing for ante. If you’re unfamiliar, that means each player flips the top card of their deck at the start, and the winner of the game keeps their opponent’s card.
It’s something most people avoid because it can feel pretty rough to lose a card that way. But in AAA, that risk is part of the appeal. In fact, it’s often expected that the loser will alter the card afterward—something Spencer has done more than once.
At one event, he found himself playing against DFB, the organizer of the legendary LobsterCon.
I was genuinely honored when he asked me to alter some iconic old-school cards for someone I’d only known as a fan.
