Locations
It has been a joy to write the Art Heroes articles for Gathering Magic for several reasons, not the least of which was having a chance to work directly with the boss of Gathering Magic himself Adam Styborski. Adam and I have been tackling projects together in one capacity or another for almost two years. The more experience I accumulate working in other situations, the more grateful I am to know and work with Adam. I have a very short list of names (eight to be exact) that I will always respond to if they need something, day or night. Stybs is one of those names.
During a recent e-mail with Adam, I mentioned that I should write a Hero article about him and everything he does for this extraordinary community.
Challenge accepted.
Magic: The Gathering is a game filled with a diverse range of stories, art, and experiences. But the entire thing wouldn’t last a month without the incredible community that has grown up around it. Among the veterans I’ve been privileged to meet, I’ve noticed they ended up sticking around not just because of the game, but because of the people they share it with. Adam demonstrates a love for Magic few can match, conducts himself in a manner that we can all learn from, and gives generously to the community in time, effort, and dedication.
Adam Styborski is one of the people you end up sticking around for.
History
After college, Adam found himself unable to continue to play his game of choice, which, at the time, was World of Warcraft. Having just moved into the Washington DC area and looking to establish new social contacts for his gaming time, he found himself reintegrating into the MTG community. Ever the true causal player, Adam’s focus has always been on the experience of the game and people you share it with rather than on the technical aspects of the game.
As he became more involved with the game and the people who played it, Adam began writing articles for the website MTG Salvation. Those early articles got him noticed and taken onboard by Wizards of the Coast to write the Serious Fun column on Daily MTG. It didn’t stop there, as his work on Daily MTG earned the attention of Trick Jarrett, who hired Adam to start writing for Mana Nation (which is now Gathering Magic).
This was a significant step for Adam, now writing for a website he would one day be managing. But it also served as his introduction to the style of content management that makes Gathering Magic the envy of the creative world. Adam asked Trick what kind of content he wanted Styborski to write. Jarrett’s response was another question:
“What do you want to write?”
Covering topics that were interesting and inspiring to him, Adam continued to write for both Daily MTG and Gathering Magic. At one point later that year, he actually managed to write and coordinate content for a third website: Quiet Speculation. This level of commitment was mythic to say the least, but ultimately unsustainable. Shifting down to two websites and looking to simplify further, Styborski suddenly found himself with the opportunity to step into a much more involved role as content manager for Gathering Magic. With Trick being hired by Wizards of the Coast, Adam was able to formally interview for, and eventually become, the role in late 2011.
Our paths crossed one year later.
Fostering the Spirit of Creativity
Returning to Magic after an extended hiatus (the last set I had collected was Urza’s Legacy), I had been tinkering with graphic designs related to the game. I’ve been obsessed with knights since I can remember, and I had started assembling a collection of cards from my favorite tribe. I amassed a sizable amount of data as I hunted down each card, more than enough to create my first infographic.
The only problem was I had no one to show it to.
I’d been on Gathering Magic several times to read articles by MJ Scott, Bruce Richard, and Mike Linnemann, and I had always considered it a great place for creatives. I sent my infograph off, not expecting to hear anything but, “Good try; come back in a couple years,” but I was shocked to have Adam write me back with a, “Yes,” and wanting more! I couldn’t type fast enough as I responded that I would love to continue making infographics, asking what topic Adam wanted me to cover next. His answer:
“What topic do you want to cover next?”
I need to stop the narrative here.
I’ve been a professional graphic designer for over ten years, working in a variety of industries and capacities. I can safely say that this approach to content generation is essentially nonexistent in the “real” world. While there are levels of creative freedom to be found in various roles, what essentially amounts to carte blanche is, quite simply, a treasure.
Not only was Adam willing to let me run with whatever idea I wanted, but he was there to provide support for what amounted to a whim on my part. This entire approach is revolutionary to say the least, but it all hinges on one core concept:
Trust.
Every time we sit down to a game of Magic, there is a tremendous amount of trust going on. You are trusting the person across the table bought a legal deck, won’t try to cheat you, and will behave him or herself within reason. On a deeper level, though, you are also opening up, sometimes to a complete stranger, that you play a collectible card game. For some of us, that’s not an easy thing to do, and it takes a lot of trust to participate in a public act of “geekdom” without fear of retribution. Trust is a skill that carries through every part of the game, from the first moment after pairings are posted all the way up to the final handshake and the follow-up conversation.
By allowing others to pursue their passions, Adam is displaying a high level of trust on a daily basis, and in doing so, he gives others permission to do the same. It all helps build a wonderful sense of community that has become the home away from home for so many.
A Titan of our Time
I can’t even count the number of conversations I’ve shared with Styborski that began with, “Hey, are you still awake?”
Working shoulder-to-shoulder on projects for Gathering Magic and eventually Wizards of the Coast, I came to know the side of Adam that few are able to see. It’s easy to say wonderful things and promise the world, but it’s another level entirely to deliver. In all the time Adam and I have spent in the trenches, he’s never been anything but himself. And it’s not because he managed to keep the mask of some persona in place through superhuman effort, though he certainly is made of stern materials. The fact of the matter is the mask never slipped because there is no mask. Adam is very much about the idea that what you see is what you get.
Honesty.
One would think when playing a game based in a world of imagination that honesty would take a back seat. Strangely, it’s even more important. The thing about fantasy is that it all needs an anchor in reality. Just as a shadow needs a light source, we need a proper anchor before setting off into Never Never Land.
Honesty takes a lot of different forms in the game of Magic. Speaking concretely, there is the list of dos and don’ts in order to ensure an honest game. Beyond that, though, is the core concept of the game as an experience. Adam is a standard bearer for the “casual” audience of the game, or the experience-centric approach.
Coming into a naturally competitive game with this mindset is, to me, the pinnacle of honesty—to play for the “win,” yet be paradoxically focused on the quality of the interaction itself. It requires a level of honesty with yourself about what you really want from your cards, your game, and your partner (it seems wrong to call the other player an opponent in this regard). You have to be yourself.
I Know a Guy
I’ve had some life-changing experiences in the two years I’ve been involved with Gathering Magic. One of those pinnacle moments occurred when I found out my content was going to be used by Wizards of the Coast during live coverage for the Pro Tour. It still makes my head spin to think that I found my content being picked up by the company that made the games that inspired me a kid. It was a full-circle experience, one that I cherish always. The only reason I’ve been able to participate on the highest level is because of Adam. I can make cool stuff, but that stuff needs a messenger—and a medium.
Moving between many creative and social circles the world over, Adam is a prolific social hub for the community. It’s hard to appreciate from the outside, but there are a lot of moving parts that power the Magic community. Without someone to make the connection, there isn’t much chance of things happening at all. This level of connectedness is exactly what was able to elevate my work to a Pro Tour level.
It goes beyond utility though, as people connect through Adam because he is admired and respected as an integral part of our community. When I introduce myself to another Magic player as a creative professional, I always refer to myself as content creator for Gathering Magic. This isn’t hunting for name recognition, though that certainly is a benefit. This is because, above all other categories I could put myself in, I’m most proud to be one of Adam’s people. When you are lucky enough to know someone as amazing as Adam Styborski, you tell everyone you can.
I’m Not Alone
I’m one writer on a site that boasts fifteen staff who post every week and almost thirty other contributors. We all have these stories, and so do all the people Adam’s worked with at Daily MTG, Wizards, and far beyond. These are the stories told by friends, stories that start and end with a smile.
This is what I mean when I say Adam Styborski is one of the people you end up sticking around for.
When Gathering Magic is included in the history books, I feel that it will be known for having been an unrestrictive platform for creative minds. This is the kind of environment that is host to entire generations of artists and influential minds. This is that level of special. But it all needs someone at the helm, someone to give it direction without greed, personal agenda, or attachment. Thankfully, we have just the man for the job: friend, family man, Content Manager, Manager of Digital Marketing, writer, podcaster, Magic player . . .
Hero.
Terribly boring write-up indeed.
A big “thank you” goes out to Erin Campbell, who was generous enough to let me reference her interview podcast with Adam in “The Deck Tease #41 – Hail to the Chief.”
