At its core, Magic: The Gathering is a game about interacting with other people. At a micro level, it’s a game about trading spells with opponents; on a grander scale, Magic invites us to play together, share experiences, and form communities. It’s a game about…well, gathering.
But it’s much harder for us to gather together in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We can’t gather at local game stores for Friday Night Magic or at conventions around the world. Players in cities with stay-at-home mandates can’t gather friends for a Commander game or a draft. We’re even feeling the effects here at Card Kingdom and will be modifying operations to keep our employees and community safe.
We may not be able to ship Magic cards as quickly as we normally could, but we want to do our part to support our community, especially the creators we know who lost work due to COVID-19. We’ve launched a new talk show on our Twitch channel called Magic is Gathering, where we can share stories from our community and provide some needed levity during this difficult time.
Good Luck High Five
Our first guests on the show were Meghan Wolff and Maria Bartholdi of Good Luck High Five. Meghan and Maria have been making the Magic community laugh since 2012, and we’re honored to sponsor their work.
In addition to producing their podcast and YouTube videos, Maria and Meghan also cover tournaments for Magic Esports. When this spring’s professional-level events were cancelled due to COVID-19, the duo had to adjust their financial plans for the year.
“I was trying to mentally prepare myself to accept the news, because I could see the train coming down the tracks,” Maria said. “But when you get the news that such a big chunk of your salary has completely evaporated… You just can’t prepare yourself for that.”
Watch the full episode and hear Good Luck High Five’s story below.
Help Support Creators
If you’re wondering how you can help support Good Luck High Five and other impacted creators, here are a few tips:
Become a Patron. Many of our favorite Magic content creators connect with their supporters on crowdfunding platforms like Patreon, where they offer special perks for donors. Join Good Luck High Five’s community here.
Buy their merch. Some creators also sell swag via their websites. Good Luck High Five offers branded T-shirts, playmats, and magnetic poetry!
Share their content. Times are tough, and we know that not everyone can offer monetary support to their favorite creators right now. You can also show support by recommending Good Luck High Five to a friend or by sharing their content on social media. Word of mouth goes a long way!
You can find all Good Luck High Five’s content — including podcasts, videos, and streams — on their website, GoodLuckHighFive.com.
Gather with Us
You can watch all 7 episodes of Magic is Gathering on our YouTube channel now!
Episode 2: Tappy Toe Claws
Episode 3: Andrea Radeck
Episode 4: Dylan Jupp
Episode 5: Jorel Miller
Episode 6: LSV
Episode 7: Mike Turian
If you’d like to catch more Card Kingdom content, be sure to follow us on Twitch and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch with your Magic community. We look forward to gathering with you again.