There are so many good streams out there that it’s hard to know how to budget your time. Similarly, there are so many good streamers out there that I didn’t even bother budgeting them. This installment could easily have contained stellar streamers such as Michael Jacob, but I used him in another installment, and I regret nothing. The truth is that despite there being a finite number of Magic players who do a very good job streaming on Twitch, I still had a very easy time finding three for you whom I am absolutely certain you will love. In fact, if you don’t love this installment, I’ll eat the ketchupy, tattered remains of EDT’s hat.

Twitch streams can be entertaining or informative, but the best are always both. Last time (very early in this segment’s run), I brought you the first batch of streamers you should be following. I feel that these gentlemens’ inclusion in the second installment may give the appearance that they are somehow relegated to a second-tier status. I want to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. I endorse these streamers categorically, and I hope you’ll agree that they’re all excellent value. Without further preamble, I humbly present “Who to Follow – Stream Team, Part 2.”

Luis Scott-Vargas

Where You Know Him From: ChannelFireball, crushing it

Current Title: Game Designer

Social Media:

Twitter

Twitch

ChannelFireball Archive

StarCityGames Archives

YouTube

Let’s save ourselves some embarrassment, and I won’t pretend I think you don’t know who LSV is if you don’t pretend you thought I didn’t think you knew who LSV was. But this isn’t “Who to Know,” it’s “Who to Follow,” and there is a somewhat decent chance that even though you know who LSV is, you’re not necessarily following him. That’s what is known as a “misplay.”

If you’re following LSV on Twitter, you’re notified every time he decides it’s time to stream. This is useful information if you want to watch one of the true masters of the game try out a new deck or take down a Booster Draft. He is also a buddy and lets everyone know when others are about to stream.

I shouldn’t have to make too much of a case for LSV honestly. He’s better at this game than all of us are. This is a friendly reminder that if you’re just walking around saying, “Of course I know who LSV is,” but not following him, you’re wrong, and it’s time to get right.

Kenji Egashira

Where You Know Him From: Twitch

Current Title: Gamer

Social Media:

Twitter

Twitch

Facebook

Google+

ManaDeprived Archives

If you pay attention to these sorts of things, you’re already aware that Kenji was elected to the Community Cup Team for 2013. A popular streamer to say the last, Kenji grinds Magic Online like it’s his job, but one that he doesn’t hate because it’s the same thing day in and day out and Debra keeps drinking his Snapples out of the fridge even though I wrote my name on the bottle and I see that empty bottle in your trash can, Debra; I know that was mine, and no one else buys melonberry cocktail! Rather, it’s a job he enjoys because, at the end of the day, it’s a children’s card game, and it’s supposed to be a good time.

You know what else is a good time? Watching this dude stream is. I would compare him to Travis Woo because he’s so entertaining, but that wouldn’t really do his unique style of streaming justice, and you’d probably think I was just saying that because they’re both Asian. Follow the guy—you will be glad you did. You’ll soon develop a Pavalovian response to seeing . . . 

 . . . but instead of salivating on yourself, you’ll look around for someone to high-five. That’s how pumped you’re going to be.

Kenji is a solid player, his stream is instructive, he belongs on the Community Cup, and I whole-heartedly endorse following him.

If he starts to take his shirt off when he streams, remember who brought up Travis Woo first.

While we’re on about the Community Cup, take a bit to familiarize yourself with your champions. If they win, you’ll receive a Sliver Queen and Rakdos Cackler on Magic Online if you’re into that sort of thing.

Scott MacCallum

Where You Know Him From: Being mistaken for a Canadian pro wrestler

Current Title: The Eh Team cohost, streamer

Social Media:

Twitter

Twitch

The Eh Team Archives

LegitMTG Archives

Scotty Mac is so legit that he is the official streamer for Legit.com, which is still a website (I just checked). One of Jon Medina’s cohosts on The Eh Team—“Mac Attack,” as I’m not legally compelled not to call him—has been writing on Legit and streaming videos there for quite some time. It may be my own personal bias showing, but I find his stream engaging, and I think he’s someone you will want on your short list if your time to watch people stream is limited.

That’s how you know it’s on. You know what else is on? Karaoke.

Seriously, I have seen Magic players do karaoke maybe three times, and each time, it was in Canada. I don’t know what it is about having socialized health care and events at Face to Face Games that makes people want to sing “She Bangs,” but there you have it. In fact, I’d like to compare watching Scotty Mac stream to watching people sing karaoke. You know it’s not the real thing, but if everyone is having that much fun, how can it be wrong?

Based on the response to my trolling everyone during the WtF podcasts installments, a lot of you know and love The Eh Team. Well, Scotty’s stream is like the best parts of The Eh Team but with the added bonus of a lesson about Magic. You may even get him to sing.

That does it for me this week. Follow these guys on Twitter, watch their streams, and watch your game improve. Some of these weren’t the toughest cases to make, but I hope you appreciated the friendly reminder and maybe even learned a thing or two. As always, I’m the ranger to your borderlands, and this was Who to Follow.