Card Collection

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I always loved hoarding cards. Others had Pokémon—I switched to French keyboard just to type that acute accent—while I started with Neopets then moved on to Magic: the Gathering. (Lifelong customer of Wizards of the Coast.) For a long time, I have used cards as analogies for various systems, especially ones with emergent mechanics.

Last year, while playing Slay the Spire, I had the realization that even individuals can be modeled as decks. For some reason, this sparked a bunch of insights that eventually let me find God (Praise Lord Christ!) after years away from my faith. It was a revelatory experience, one that came on the tail of much personal upheaval and spiritual transformation.

Some people in my rough theological camp think of Magic and roleplaying games as promoting Satanic witchcraft or Gnostic sorcery. I cannot say I do not see the dark power in these systems. Yet, I also intend on fully enjoying the freedom of a believer (see 1 Corinthians), especially when the popular perception of games in the past few years is something I think everyone can celebrate. I know that I am not the only person who has had incredible breakthroughs from playing games and seeing something special about systems.

Dark mode background for blog titled Sunrise Oath. Abstract landscape in light expressive white brushstrokes.

(While I was trying to design backgrounds for this blog, eventually settling on solid black, Bing Image Creator produced some art that I could not ignore. After writing a first post, I now am back to post a second right on the tail of it, just to show off this piece.)

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