Great Designer Search 2 - Essay 01: Introduce Yourself

Introduce yourself and explain why you are a good fit for this internship.

My name is Josh Liller. I’m 29 and have been playing Magic since 2003. I started playing in tournaments in 2005 and became a Rules Advisor in 2007 and a tournament organizer in 2009, but still play casual decks as well. After my previously local gaming store closed in 2005, I organized a group that has played weekly casual MTG at bookstores and for awhile at a Burger King. My current local gaming store owner often turns to me for rules questions, ideas, and opinions on the game and new sets. When the Invitational was still around the local joke was the card based on me would have the flavor text “Josh, I have a question…” I often find myself explaining why certain rules or cards work the way they do. The two columns I read with the most regularity are Making Magic and Latest Developments. I keep a file of homebrew Magic cards I’ve designed over the years and am fond of top down design. Despite not playing during Magic's first decade of existence I have familiarized myself over the years with the older cards.

Besides Magic, I have also played several tabletop miniatures games like Warhammer and Warmachine and numerous RTS computer games, especially Starcraft. When I’m not gaming, I’m usually geocaching, kayaking, playing or watching football, reading, or occasionally solving Sudoku. I’ve also done some fantasy worldbuilding as the groundwork for novel writing. I try to do things as often as possible that use my brain.

I worked at a public library for 6 ½ years, mostly in the reference department. I have spent the last 4 ½ years working as a production assistant for a direct mail company. For about a year I volunteered with a mountain biking club doing trail design and maintenance. All of these have required me to solve problems with limited resources.

I have a passion for Magic The Gathering and designing the cards would be a dream job. This passion combined with the skills I have gained from my hobbies and work experience make me a great candidate.