Bored
adjective
feeling unhappy because something is not interesting or because you have nothing to do
Card
adjective
a person regarded as odd or amusing
The Bored Card began as an idea that came to me while stuck at home during lockdown. As a paper Magic player, I quickly learned that the pandemic’s most devastating impact was that I no longer had anyone to play Magic: The Gathering with. In person anyway. As a fan of the Pauper format, I had built the popular The Pauper Cube. But without the ability to meet with others to draft it sat untouched on my shelf collecting dust.
One day, I decided to get creative.
It was around this time when the concept of “Jumpstart”—a two-player Magic: The Gathering format where each player combines two 20-card decks to make a 40-card deck—had just been released. I loved the idea and the concept of it.
As a way curb the boredom, I took the idea of Jumpstart and applied it to The Pauper Cube, aiming to capture the fun of playing limited using the pool from The Pauper Cube without needing several other people present to draft. The result was a unique format which I then posted online. In response to feedback, I decided to create a website as a home for the information about the Pauper Jumpstart Cube, which outlined all the details for things such as the contents of each pack, a place to download the art cards I made for each pack, the updates that coincided with updates to The Pauper Cube, and so on. The aim was to give others who owned the Pauper Cube the tools to dust it off and transform into something new.
The work was satisfying, but when the project was completed, the boredom returned. It was then I decided to pursue another one of my passions. Writing. Specifically comedic, satirical writing. I began posting what many called onion-style, articles based on Magic: The Gathering on the website I had created for the Pauper Jumpstart Cube.
Then I wrote. And wrote some more.
As the pandemic faded so did the return of responsibility and the time to continue writing articles for pauperjumpstart.com dwindled. About a year later, I was faced with whether to spend the time and money to keep the website and work I’d done. While I loved my Jumpstart project, it was the writing that I truly had grown fond of. Rather than continue working on the same website, I closed pauperjumpstart.com and decided to create The Bored Card, an homage to time I kept myself occupied indoors.
While life has continued, I endeavor to find the time to keep writing articles, making funny pictures, and producing content. This publication is a labor of love. It’s my creative outlet. It’s the result of one person who—despite all the various requirements of adult life: being a father, a husband, an employee, among others—understands the need to nurture one’s passions.
Above all. I love making people laugh.
That’s what I aim to do here.
I’ve decided that I’ll keep doing it until I can’t.
The Bored Card