We've got some great news tonight out of Dean Ayala's weekly Q&A as far as the upcoming balance patch goes! We've been patiently waiting for Alec Dawson to follow up his original tweets with more information on the changes we can expect to target Mage, Paladin, Rogue, and Neutral cards, but Dean has let us thankfully let us rest this weekend.
We should be getting details on the balance patch on Monday or Tuesday next week. We're not sure if the patch will be arriving on the same day of the announcement since Alec said changes would be going out "early" next week, which seems to conflict with the same times Dean has provided, but we know we're happy to see anything that will swap up the meta.
Quote From Dean Ayala When will you reveal the new balance changes were gonna see next week?
Probably Monday or Tuesday.
Paladins and Mages, enjoy this weekend because although you'll still likely be strong, things are going to get changed up and you will, hopefully, see some less oppressive winrates. Rogues, we're still likely losers to you, but here's to hoping that we don't have to hear about it 40 times a game as you crush our board and faces.
Interestingly, we also got some great insight into why the upcoming patch is taking "so long this time around".
- They had previously expected to do a patch this upcoming week, even before the expansion released.
- Creating these patches are very taxing on some members of the team that make the patches.
- Dean thinks that mid-late this week would have been better timing to plan for.
- It takes the devs 3-5 days of gameplay to know if they need to make balance changes.
- Planning and releasing a patch on all platforms takes an additional 3-5 days.
- In the future, Dean thinks they might try to plan the first balance patch the following end of week if the expansion launches on a Tuesday.
Quote From Dean Ayala Is there any particular reason that the balance patch is taking so long this time around. Anything to do with mobile? Or maybe you just want to let people experience deck of lunacy because it is admittedly kinda fun to play.
Balance patches are pretty taxing on a bunch of individuals that make the patch. Next week was what we planned for even before the expansion released and the meta didn't feel like it was in a place where an emergency fix was necessary. (Source)
In retrospect, I think mid-late this week was probably a better timing to plan for. We usually know enough to make a choice after 3-5 days of gameplay. Planning and releasing a patch on all platforms takes another 3-5 days. (Source)
If we release on a Tuesday, I think next time we'll plan on having a patch release by end of week the following week. It gives us the weekend to mull options and check out data, make a choice and implement Monday, release later in the week. (Source)
What balance changes are you hoping to see in next week's patch?
Comments
A bit too long this time tbh.
You can't stay for 2 weeks with a clearly broken meta.
I think this time with all the huge changes to core and the new year, we could expect some imbalance and I'm not going to complain about it, even though I hate some of things just like everyone else.
well that is "enterprise business" for you... WHen you will do fix is planned ahead of time, and they don't change the plan unless there is a real force major...
I understand development cycle and scheduling is complicated, but really, looking at stats we're really in a degenerate situation, and it became clear after few days from release.
I'm sure they're doing their best rn, but this situation is not ok.
It is not about stats... it is about that releasing code is risky and not as easy as you think... even if making a fix takes 1 hour it will still take 1-2 weeks to release a patch, because most of the time is not spent fixing the cards, most of the times spent making a build, testing a build and releasing that build...
... and then have to repeat it on mobile, send it over to Apple and Google...
well it is not that much of repeat because HS is made in Unity so that gives you cross platform to a degree, but sending it to Apple and Google is a hassle, especially Apple (Google has fast track for big names like Blizzard, but Apple doesn't)
This isn't aimed at the development as such as I'm sure they are flat out, low on resources etc but this is far too slow. You've had this amazing expansion, filled with promise around a new core set and classic mode etc to entice players back and get people hyped for a new era of Hearthstone and its been ruined by two classes being, not just slightly OP, but completely and utterly dominating the whole game.
Can you imagine being a returning player and walking into this cluster **** right now? On top of the incredible balancing issues there are glaring game breaking bugs. Blizzard used to be a sure sign of quality but that was years ago now and this expansion is just the icing on the poor quality control cake.
Look at the line ups and bugs present in GM this weekend. It's not a good look.
Again I am not aiming this rant at the devs, they appear to put their heart into the game but Blizzard as a company are shadow of their forma selves and clearly are not allowing enough time for play testing or QA.
I watched GM, and I'm not really seeing any game breaking bugs to be honest. A few examples would be nice, maybe its the youtube drops bs that's still hanging in my mind so I missed it.
Penflinger - cost 2. Minion damage only.
Refreshing Spring water - refresh 1 mana crystal/spell drawn.
Deck of Lunacy - Cost 4.
Font of power - Cost 3.
Lady Liadrin - Copy spells cast on friendly MINIONS.
Jandice Barov - 2 random 4 cost minions.
Sword of the fallen - 1/3 => 2/2.
Only 6 changes happening though...
It'll likely be announced either a day before or on the day the patch comes out itself. Team5 probably didn't expect lunacy mage to take center stage so all their earlier balancing plans (if indeed they have one) are necessarily thrown out the window, meaning they have to redo their testing, which will explain why they haven't revealed anything yet. I'd say its monday, after grandmasters week 1 is done.
The timing is crucial, since grandmasters is still going on and even pros need time to practice to get their deck selection right, particularly since next week if Im not mistaken is last deck standing format.
But if the goal is to make changes so we see more new cards, I'd expect librams, stealth rogue, and the notoriously hated Pen Flinger to take a hit, aside from Deck of Lunacy itself. As much as the some in the community piles the hate on secret pally, watchposts, and 'draw your entire deck' rogue, its hard to deny that these are lists that largely uses the new cards, so its probably not in team5's radar for now.
You think they'll nerf Stealth Rogue when Watch Post Rogue is nearly five times as popular? That doesn't make any sense if the goal is to diversify the meta. Jandice and Octo-bot are the cards they've said they are looking at.
Stealth rogue is actually still viable, and is perhaps one of the few decks that doesn't really use any barrens cards. The probable hit to Pen Flinger may be enough to stop this, but I think once paladin gets nerfed and lunacy mage is gone, it'll make a comeback. We've seen team5 preemptively nerf cards before, so its just my prediction that they might look into cards like Self-Sharpening Sword at least.
I've not really read any posts saying that jandice and octobot would definitely be on the ropes for nerfs. It would surprise me if octobot is nerfed, given that its a fundamental card carrying the new rogue archetype, of which without we will definitely be seeing more weapon/stealth rogue.
Next week is still Conquest, then it changes to Specialist.
Blizzard loves doing balance patches on the weeks that Masters Tours happen so esports isn't the #1 thing on their mind, but ofc they can't make changes during the actual gameplay.
Thanks for clarifying. But I think team5 does try to avoid complicating the esports scenes whenever they can, but with how the scheduling works, its understandably unavoidable at times.