Magic: The Gathering Jumpstart Cube Constructor
An intelligent deck construction system that automatically builds themed Magic: The Gathering Jumpstart cubes with perfect theme coherence and balanced gameplay from any card pool. This project features automated theme extraction, balanced color distribution, and comprehensive performance analysis.
Key bits of fun:
- Theme Extraction: Automatically discovers themes from card pools using advanced keyword analysis
- Specialized Scoring Integration: Purpose-built scorers for different strategies (Equipment, Tribal, Control, Aggro) that understand specific gameplay patterns
- Auto-Download System: Zero-setup experience with automatic MTG data management and caching
Technical Implementation:
- Technologies: Python, Pandas, Jupyter, Machine Learning, Data Analysis
- Architecture: Modular 5-phase construction algorithm with constraint management
- Output: Comprehensive analysis including performance metrics, improvement suggestions, and exportable data
This was an experiment in “vibe coding” that solved a real problem I had at the time - the end result came out better than expected. The system can build themed cubes from any card pool without manually defining themes, while maintaining high theme coherence and balanced gameplay.
Repository: github.com/vanonselenp/magic-jumpstart Live Example: Pauper Jumpstart Cube
Related Reading:
- Jumpstart Cube Catastrophication - Deep dive into the design problem
- Chaos Cards and Claude - Building with AI assistance
Table Mountain HEMA Website
Created an affordable website for a HEMA club using Jekyll and GitHub Pages, focusing on cost-effective hosting and maintenance. I have now handed this over to the club and they have been running with it ever since.
Technologies: Jekyll, GitHub, Ruby
URL: Table Mountain HEMA
Currently Iterating On
Horizon’s Edge
A tactical wargame built in Godot exploring floating islands locked in conflict. What started as a simple board game prototype evolved into a digital game with procedural island generation, sophisticated combat systems, and height-based tactical gameplay.
Current Features:
- Isometric hex-based grid with procedural island generation using Wave Function Collapse
- Real-time tactical combat with specialized unit abilities (blink mechanics, ranged attacks)
- Dynamic road networks with 3D models and rotation
- Playable prototypes for both board game and digital versions
Technologies: Godot, GDScript, Procedural Generation, Game Design
Related Reading:
- Sky Islands - Initial game design concept
- From Boardgame to Digital - Why I ended up building both versions
- Road to Combat Paved with Blink - Combat system development
- The Boring Path to Shipping with AI - Spec-driven development approach
- From AI Skeptic to Constant Collaborator - How AI-assisted development enabled this project
Technical Skills Showcase
Based on my 14+ years of experience as a Staff Engineer and technical leader, I’ve developed deep expertise across the full technology stack:
Programming Languages & Frameworks
- Primary Languages: TypeScript, Python, Java, C#
- Backend Development: Node.js, serverless architectures, microservices
- Frontend Technologies: React, modern web development, responsive design
- Data Processing: Python (Pandas, NumPy), data analysis and visualization
Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps
- AWS Ecosystem: Lambda, CloudFormation, serverless framework, cloud architecture
- Infrastructure as Code: Infrastructure automation and deployment
- Development Practices: CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, deployment strategies
- Performance Optimization: System performance tuning, scalability planning
Engineering Practices & Leadership
- Testing Methodologies: Test-Driven Development (TDD), Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)
- Software Architecture: Scalable system design, API architecture, microservices patterns
- Team Leadership: Technical mentoring, code review practices, engineering culture
- Quality Assurance: “Shift Left” approach, early quality integration
Databases & Data Management
- Database Design: Relational and NoSQL database architecture
- Data Analysis: Business intelligence, performance metrics, data-driven decisions
- API Development: RESTful services, GraphQL, integration patterns
Specialized Expertise
- Developer Experience: Tooling optimization, development workflow improvement
- Business Integration: Technical strategy alignment with business objectives
- Problem Solving: Complex system debugging, root cause analysis
- Communication: Technical documentation, stakeholder management
- AI-Assisted Development: Spec-driven development, AI collaboration workflows, prompt engineering for code generation
Interested in collaborating on a project or learning more about my work? Get in touch!