Image credit: Amy Vorpahl

Amy Vorpahl is an actress and writer who's worked with various comedy troupes, notably including Dropout. She's also an avid player of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Her work as a Dungeon Master is hard to rival, and her games are nothing short of legendary. We got the opportunity to interview Amy for Community Corner. Therein, we got her take on the general state of Magic, its crossovers with D&D, and her experience in the professional field as a Magic player. Here's what she had to say!

Interview With Amy Vorpahl

What was your earliest experience playing Magic? What decks did you and your first opponent use?

I first played MTG about 15 years ago using duel decks with a friend. We'd make dinner and bust out those same decks each time and trade off who played which deck. It was really fun, and I was intrigued, but I don't think either of us knew that that was just the tip of the iceberg. During lockdown, though, I started playing Commander with my pod, and we'd all tweak our decks to specifically target each other's decks. It was so fun to add one card that would be game-breaking if you were able to draw it. I had a partner Commander deck with ReyhanReyhan and ThrasiosThrasios, and I got it to a really powerful spot. The funny thing was, if I played anyone outside of the pod, my deck didn't do so well--I realized I had built everything so specifically that it couldn't survive in the wild!

You’ve been involved with a few different Commander-centric shows, including Game Knights. What is one surprising factoid you know from your involvement there that most people wouldn’t expect?

I've been fortunate enough to play on Game Knights for their [Adventures in the] Forgotten Realms episode and Live at Gen Con for their Bloomburrow Bash! I don't know if this will surprise anyone, but the number of people involved blew me away. And every single person, from the gaffers to the post-production editors to the directors and players, was an expert and a fan of MTG. There were a couple of times I wanted to make a move, and, because I'm much less of an expert, three people would huddle together to discuss the mechanics and the best way I should phrase what I'm doing to make the most cinematic play. Command Zone is made up of theatre kids, so they're always looking to put on a good show. It all felt similar to wrestling. The live show, especially. We had a whole day of rehearsals that included choreography and the best way to wave a flag!

You’ve worked with a plethora of people who play Magic within your professional acting field. Have you gotten to play much with them, and who among them stood out most formidably in-game?

You don't want to be at a table with Becca Scott or Alex Ward. I mean, you definitely do, but not if you also want to win. The knowledge those two have about the entire meta of the game is wild. And they will take you down with a big old smile on their face like it was nothing.

Among Dropout’s fan base, you are well-known for breaking into boisterous laughter during Breaking News. What, in your opinion, was your funniest Magic-based experience?

When I played an Edge of Eternities draft on Try Guys with Bosco and Irene, I was partnered with Irene. First of all, both of those drag queens are hilarious, and second, we got into this rhythm where I was just protecting her lobster at all costs. I was barely playing my own creatures because I was just trying to keep her lobster alive. Saying it back right now, it doesn't sound that funny, but that's what you get with MTG. You're playing a game, and then you get all connected to creatures and characters and story, and suddenly a lobsterlobster matters more than anything, and you'd give up your firstborn to protect it.

Speaking as a game designer, what is something you’d want in Magic that could improve the game to make it even more fun?

Gosh, there are so many amazing new mechanics coming out all the time. But as a TTRPG enthusiast, I wonder if there could be a narrative legacy version, where not only wins and losses matter, but what happens in the game matters, too, over the course of multiple games with multiple decks. Don't ask me more than that--that's as far as I got.

How well do you feel Magic’s D&D crossover sets have done to get either side’s fanbases to engage with the other?

I think in the past few years, the crossover sets have done a great job to get each other playing both games. Many of my creator friends who used to always make D&D content are now playing Magic and creating more content for MTG! I think when you look at it, both games offer unique mechanics that make it equally social and satisfyingly crunchy. We all just want to have fun, and if you're like me, you know exactly who you are when you're playing games.

Finally, what lessons have you learned from Magic: The Gathering that you’ve applied to your robust professional life?

Wanting to win is a good thing. I like playing with people who want to win. But also, watching a game play out between a bunch of people who want to win is really cool, and the outcome is less important than the hours it took to get there. Also, a story is everywhere, and all it takes is caring about something. As a DM, I'm constantly reminded that it's our human nature to attach meaning to things, so even in a MTG game, narrative appears, and boy, does that make everything more fun!

Conclusion

A huge thank-you to Amy Vorpahl for allowing us to conduct this wonderful and enlightening interview with her! I certainly got a lot of insight into the inner workings of that awesome sanctum of televised Commander play, among other things.

And now, I'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers! What is your current favorite Commander gameplay series on YouTube or Twitch? Furthermore, who else would you like us to interview in the future? Sound off in the comments below!

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