Patreon – Strictly Average – MTG

State of the Average #1

Jeremy Beardsley — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 13:59:53 +0000

Welcome to the first-ever State of the Average.

I am not going to commit to the frequency of these wonderfully named articles, because I am unsure how often they are needed. With the new year, and new content coming out of the site, I felt it was important to bring readers up to speed. I have been extremely busy with many projects, and sadly the content here on the site has suffered. I honestly thought that it didn’t really matter, until I logged back in to my StrictlyAverageMTG email and found about a dozen notes from people wondering where the articles went.

My original concept for this Blog/Site was to post information for users of the Pucatrade.com website; to help spread the positivity that I brought to the table while trading on the platform. But for a good amount of time last year, I wasn’t positive about the site. I tried to keep up hope, but really didn’t feel excited about Pucatrade. Your emails and DMs made me realize that readers come here for community and content, and not because of the health of a trading platform. (I will get back to Puca in a few).

Patron-only Discord Community

During my time away from cranking out content, my Patreon was thriving. The Discord chat that I offer as part of the Patron rewards became HUGE; the community is amazing. The group is a healthy community of traders, with our focus more on the community instead of what platform people buy/sell/trade on. We successfully held a killer Secret Santa internally, with multiple gifts over $150 sent. Last month, I mailed out an Ugin, The Spirit Dragon, Revised Taiga, and an Eternal Masters Mana Crypt to Patrons. I host contests, offers deals in my online store (see below), and other cool benefits for the members. I am in talks with a Gaming Store about providing even more giveaways for patrons and site readers. Chatting throughout the day with the StrictlyAverage family is one of my favorite pastimes.

Back to Pucatrade (as promised)

As of the first of the year my friend Jonathan Medina was named Director of Pucatrade. The original founders stepped down from their day-to-day decision-making roles. I am excited about Jonathan’s new role, and look forward to seeing him succeed in fixing what some consider a sinking ship. I will be writing more about this soon. For now I want to let the dust continue to settle from the New Year’s announcement by Mitch, one of the original team members, before I try to analyze the state of the Puca Economy.

Strictly Average Gaming

I am shifting the focus of this year’s content slightly. Contributors will post more varied articles, spanning other interesting topics in gaming in addition to MTG. I have a few friends working on some board game articles, and others on video game articles. The goal is to diversify our content to appeal to more readers. I know it’s hard to believe that there is any game other than Magic, but it’s true. Although I believe Magic IS the best game ever created, we all need to dabble in other things to remain balanced.

Pucaminute…erm… GeekyPodCast….erm…. ExoticMTG

One of my earliest and strongest supporters is Marcus (formerly known as PucaMinute and other catchy names). He is now focusing his efforts on his YouTube channel, where he opens some amazingly cool Sealed Product. Due to the fact that PucaMinute Podcast has been defunct for a few months I have removed the archives from the site. However, I am working to incorporate his great videos onto our site.

Strictly Average Podcast

Originally there were discussions of launching a podcast prior to the site. After numerous attempts to make this be a real thing, I had given up all hope. I honestly felt that there was only so much Magic content my average self could produce before people got bored. However, I am currently in talks with DaLairBear to collaborate, creating a cast about geeky stuff, with a slant towards our MTG careers.

The Store

I have been working very hard on building up my online store over at TCGPlayer. If you need cards, click that link and check the inventory. That is the easiest and most direct way to help the cause over here (outside of Patreon.) The store is doing well, and we have new product in almost 5 times a week. I am currently outlining methods for creating a BuyList here on the site. This will be coming in the near future. My wife has taken over the majority of the shipping and selling side of the business, allowing me to buy and grade more. We’ve actually made this her part-time job, so she can stay home with the kiddos. Although I keep investing in the store, I have arranged it so that for the past 6 months I have not had to touch the family finances for my MTG Habit.

MTG

I am still FNM Heroing each week, with a heavy focus on Modern. I have been finding much success with the 5c Humans Deck I wrote about a few weeks ago. I am currently acquiring cards for another deck I cannot wait to write about. Next week I will be covering my take on Mono Blue Turns. Yeah, I am sure you are thinking that it sounds super janky, and it is. But truth be told Search for Azcanta may very well be the most powerful MTG card printed in a while, and it’s a great way to assemble the pieces needed to play solitaire with yourself while your opponent is mesmerized by the sheer awesomeness that is your deck.

Anyhow, that’s all for now. I hope you all enjoy your RIX prerelease this weekend. I know I cannot wait to play MTG until 6 am, and deal with my rowdy home crew when I walk in the door with no sleep.

Yours Averagely,

Strictly

Jeremy Beardsley

Jeremy aka “Strictly Average” is an ‘average’ guy with ‘average’ plans. He is the creator and overboss of Strictly Average Gaming, which includes the Patreon group and StrictlyAverageMTG.com

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

Patron Giveaways, and new User Campaign

Jeremy Beardsley — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:37:00 +0000

Hello friends, below is a new post I made on the Patreon:

Howdy friends. Although I haven’t been updating the Patreon page with news, the community of Patrons has been stronger then ever. We have continued giving away SWEET prizes.

June:

– 1,000 pucapoint prize to 1010101010100101

– 2 MPS Aether Vial Playmats from the SCG Tour to CNWeezard and WickedRick

– Remainder of patrons got a standard pack of their choice.

In May:

– Eclipse Sleeves – DalairBear

– Tarmogoyf – Pucaminute (Geekified Games) Podcast

For the July Drawing, I will be doing a pack of Eclipse sleeves, and a Masterpiece of the winners choice. I will give the winner a price range; they decide which Expedition/Invention/Invocation they want.

I am also adding a new user signup bonus for the next 5 weeks, through the September drawing (Sept 1). All new users participating at the $5 or higher tier will receive a booster pack from a standard-legal set of their choice. If the new user is a referral, the referring patron will also receive a pack (up to 3 packs).

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

Month of June – Patron Drawing.

Jeremy Beardsley — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 01:37:32 +0000

I held off the drawing for the month of June to see what would happen with the value of Hour of Devastation. News flash, it sucks. Pure and total Garbage! Because I actually like my patrons, and do not want to force them to suffer any more than I did when I cracked my terrible box of HOUR, I am gonna let the patrons decide what packs they want for themselves… If anyone doesnt let me know by the time I head to the shop tomorrow mid-day, they are gonna get Aether Revolt, because that is where the value is. I will be recording the pack openings this weekend, and sending out the cards.

Grand Prize for this drawing was 2 winners, and they are both getting the Aether Vial Masterpiece Playmat from the Charlotte SCG Open.

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

Patreon Refer a Friend Bonus

Jeremy Beardsley — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:31:22 +0000

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

March Patron Prizes

Jeremy Beardsley — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 00:24:16 +0000

After taking a poll of the Patreon Supporters I decided that for the month of March I would give everyone a prize. I decided to give out 3 packs of Modern Masters 2017 randomly to Patrons, and a pack of Aether Revolt to the remainder of the Patrons.

Here is the drawing of the names to determine who gets what packs.

And here are the pack openings.

Once again, thanks to my supporters. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to keep the lights on.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE STRICTLY AVERAGE MOVEMENT OR IF YOU WANT TO GET IN ON NEXT MONTHS DRAWING, FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT OUR PATREON

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

Strictly’s Back… Back again..

Jeremy Beardsley — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 15:04:08 +0000

Heyoooo friends and fans just wanted to take a brief moment to let you know that I am still here, and still committed to bringing you some awesome and fun content. The past few weeks/months have been extremely draining and stressful in my real life and put me in a crazy place when it came to creating content for you. For my lack of content, I apologize to you all immensely.

I also want to take a moment to thank my partners in the Patreon who all stuck with me for the Month of March. They are committed to making this project work and have all kept up the support. In order to thank them, I have changed the structure of the Patreon Prizes for the month of March, and am giving everyone something. All of my Patrons are entered into winning one of 3 packs of MM17, and the remaining Patrons from March are Receiving a pack of Aether Revolt. I will be posting the drawing later today. I have also added some unlisted benefits to the Patrons that are shared with them in our private Patreon packs, which includes facilitating major card sales on their behalf (allowing them to earn near TCG Mid pricing) and help to acquire hard to find staples for them.

Here are some of the upcoming articles you can expect to see on the site:

Strictly Learns Modern + Decknology Esper Death Shadow
Standard: Delerium Isn’t Dead Decknology
Legacy: Mana Less Dredge Decknology
Modern Masters 2017 Draft: Losing with the Best Deck in the Pod
Strictly Theory: Additional Factors When Considering Financial Value
Strictly Story Time: An Amazing Tale of My 1st Large Event (Last May, but the story is still worth it)
If you have any topics you would like to see covered, send a note through the Contact Us Page.

-Strictly

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE STRICTLY AVERAGE MOVEMENT, FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT OUR PATREON

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com

Announcement: Patreon Goal Achieved and a Partnership

Jeremy Beardsley — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 16:30:30 +0000

I just wanted to take a brief break from my Saturday morning activities to share some exciting news.

Announcement 1

My unofficial Patreon goal of $100 for the month of February has been met. This means that for this month’s giveaway, we will be increasing the top prize immensely. Not only does the premium winner get to win a Mini Battle-Box, but that lucky Patron is also going to receive a beautiful handmade deck box made from a wonder artist and friend of the site, Spencer Baumgarten. Because my Patreon Partners are the best around, I am also going to send the second place winner 3 packs of cards of their choice (Any Standard Legal set, or Conspiracy 2.)

There are still 3 days left, anyone that signs up to commit for the Month of February will receive an entry to our Patron giveaway, where we will give 1k Puca Points, 10 MTGO Tickets, or a card valued at $10. Everyone who signs up for $5 or more, will receive an entry into a drawing of a sweet Battle-Box and Deck Box.

Announcement 2

Our friends over at PucaMinute Podcast have been supporting us since the beginning and we are proud to announce that we will be hosting their content on our site in a mutually beneficial partnership. These guys are doing great things for the pucatrade community, and have recording 95 episodes so far. For today’s announcement, I am embedding their big announcement from this week, but we are working the logistics of the partnership, so stay tuned for more information.

Jeremy Beardsley

https://strictlyaveragemtg.com