There's No Heal Like Overheal - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread

Void Tear - I agree with cursedparrot, this needs to have a hard(er) cap. I think it would be much better at 6 or 7 mana the way that he suggests wording it, with a maximum of a 4 damage. 8 mana to practically guarantee a fully healed hero and a board clear is insane, and I can run two copies of it in my deck.

Ayla, Overeager Healer - This is interesting, but I don't know how good it would be. As it stands, it's a very situational removal tool that gets held back by being able to hit your minions. I feel that it would whiff 99% of the time, and the times where it hits often come with you losing minions/tempo on the board at the same time. I think the idea is interesting, but the execution is not perfect.

Northshire Steward - So Sen'jin Shieldmasta truly is dead, huh?

I think this would be a really solid option, but honestly I think it might be TOO good, as in TOO frustrating to get rid of. I might be wrong about that though, I'm not overly confident that it's just absurdly broken.

Undercity Acolyte - This really ins a cool card, I think you did well riding the line with the cost and effect since like you said, it could kill itself with the hero power. Not too consistent, but in the right situation it's perfect. Well done.

Scarlet Bishop - This is more of a question with the way that this effect is worded - is the "you" referenced in the Overheal clause meaning the Overheal that has been applied to only your hero this turn? Or is it for anything that has been Overhealed by your CARDS this turn? It's hard to make a distinction given that none of these cards have been printed yet, but regardless;

I like it, it does it's job nicely, pretty efficient at 2 mana so it doesn't feel impossible to cast; good.

Embodiment of Light - This feels perfect for a card like this; if Overheal had been a keyword from the beginning, I'm certain a card like this would already have existed. The only thing that gives me a little bit of hesitation is both Divine Shield and Lifesteal, because that seems like it's almost pushed too hard. 

Observer of Ancients - This feels really powerful. If Overheal were a "Spellburst" type effect that triggered one time, I feel like this card would be balanced; but as is, a repeatable "board clear" (because most of the time, this is going to clear the board if done repeatedly) is insane for such a "low*" requirement. If you play the new priest location on an earlier turn, you can activate it's Overheal immediately on turn 5, which isn't necessarily broken in and of itself, but it's really good if you can do it over multiple turns. I may be overreacting to this, but I think the numbers definitely need some tweaking to have a shot at being balanced.

Redeem in the Light - This feels nice, not too strong, not too weak; I could definitely see this being printed in the inevitable return of sidequests.

Lightborn Surveyor - This card brings back up the issue I had with Demon's card, where it boils down to how Overheal works. Does the "amount YOU overheal" include JUST the Overhealing done to Face? If so, this card is not great. If it's Overhealing ALL targets included, then this seems possibly TOO good. I'd nerf the health a little bit, as having a decent board survive to turn three with the new priest location still up would be insanely good, a super big body to come down on just turn 3.

First off, welcome back. 

Zealous Pacifist - This card feels like it just missed out on something. It has Undead synergy, yes; The can't attack line makes me think of Silence Priest, but then you lose the Overheal ability from it. Overall, it might just be enough to have a taunt-y undead that keeps growing, and for that it's good.

Twilight's Balance - I think that this one is my favorite of your cards. Priest isn't necessarily tied to buffing attack but they are known for buffing minion health and a lot of the time that ends up being in some way tied to buffing attack too, like inner fire. This card also uses buffing the minions' health to buffing their attack, and on the right board, it can be very effective. A cheap way to apply a board-wide buff to your minions, this is solid.

Apostle of the Night - I like that this goes along with the worgen theme of swapping attack and health each turn, and how that also plays into some turns making it easier to buff your next turn's attack by overhealing it, etc. I don't know if a 2/4 for 3 mana that gets more attack sometimes is really that good by itself, but it's very flavorful and does have some scaling. Nice.

Fergus the Redeemer - This seems a little convoluted, but it's probably a little better than just straight up saying "Overheal: Resurrect a random friendly minion". I think it's probably fine at the end of the day, but I admit that I'm saying this only because I failed to think of a way to break it off the top of my head.

This wording is extremely confusing. Is the "Health they were Overhealed for." supposed to count all Health that you have been Overhealed for the entire game? Is it only the health that they have been Overhealed for since the weapon has been out? Either way, I don't think this is broken by any means; unlike something like Ice Block for mage, for instance, you don't become immune after; I just think it's really wonky, and probably wouldn't be printed just to avoid the headache.

Edit: As BasilAnguis pointed out, there's no counterplay since it's a battlecry effect. My previous comments about it not being broken might still stand if it was a passive effect on the weapon that would remove 1 durability when activated; but I still don't think it's a "Better Ice Block;" Most of the reason people play that card is for the immunity.

Fergus: http://chrisrahnart.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-is-piece-i-did-for-world-of.html

Apostle: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lLqae

Twilight's Balance: https://www.deviantart.com/gwhitehall/art/Inner-Will-278086787

Void Tear - I actually think this may be a little ok powerwise when compared with Tidal Wave. Deals less damage with just one cast, and it's not really a board wipe as you'll quickly go to full health from just the initial cast or 1 re-cast. Problem is not many people will like a "go to full health" spell in any form it comes.

Ayla, Overeager Healer - This to me seems a bit OP. Priest can (at least in wild) easily play control without playing for board. This is essentially a 6 mana twisting nether that also gives you a 5/4 body. Only issue is the enemy minions not being damaged.

I don't really like either of your cards, but of the two i think Void tear has more potential if you'd maybe go down in size/cost and try and make a Defile/Corpse Explosion for priest.

Northshire Steward - Bit too premium stats for it's effect. I'd make it a 3/4 or a 2/5. But solid idea, simple and effective.

Undercity Acolyte - The fact you need to match the Attack exactly keeps it in check and realistically only let's you kill 2 and 3 attack stuff. Steward is a more elegant design but i personally like this more.

Scarlet Bishop - This screams otk with [Hearthstone Card (Stonetusk Board) Not Found], Circle of Healing, Fan Club, [Hearthstone Card (Divine hym) Not Found] and cheap summons like Twilight's Call. I really like him, one of the best among the ideas in this thread, but as it is it's too easy to abuse.

Embodiment of Light - Balanced but honestly i think it's quite boring. Should be a giant i think to at least fit with the discount theme.

Observer of Ancients - Overheal 3 is not as easy to do as it seems, but i agree for 5 mana 3 damage boardclear it's a little too easily triggered.

Redeem in the Light - Priest rarely had Rush minions so i think i'd change that maybe. otherwise it's a good card. Kind of irks me that "Reward" appears in the middle of the line instead of at the start.

Lightborn Surveyor - Seems fine, just a ball of stats you need to waste cards on to heal first 2 turns to pose any real threat. Not as good as the sidequest i think. The art does seem a bit too alien to hearthstone though.

Zealous Pacifist - Can't Attack and Silence in priest have always worked hand in hand so this is a weird outlier. Beyond that, i like the card mechanically. Don't think it fits with undead however. Too defensive oriented.

Natalie, the Heretic - Lore wise this is an awesome card. But in balance it seems sort of both weak and OP. Weak because it's 7 mana do nothing. All hero cards so far have a battlecry that affects the board somehow, even in the smallest of ways. OP because it seems very easy to abuse Overheal with her. Each spell most likely triggers all Overheals on your minions so you can shotgun them like crazy.

Goblet of Salvation - As an idea i love it. But it's beyond OP, as it's a better Iceblock. No way for the opponent to remove the death prevention and you can have a lot of Goblets via Rummaging Kobold and Bran or Raise Dead. Better tie the resurrection with having the weapon equipped then they die.

I'm not completely sold on your cards this time around.

The main issue I have with them is that they don't explore too much the design space opened by Overheal. I mean, you could easily reword them to use the phrasing "if they're at full Health".

That said, I think I like Void Tear a little bit better.

Well, I don't know the theme beforehand and I'm always one of the first to answer, if that calms your anxiety a little bit lol

Regarding your cards:

• Scarlet Bishop is too dangerous, IMO. If you have a wide board and a big AoE healing (like Divine Hymn), you can easily one-shot your opponent. I really like the creepy artwork you used, though.
• Embodiment of Light is cool and pretty well balanced. I think DS + Lifesteal combo feels quite realistic for it, as minions with Cost reductions are usually pretty vanilla. I don't mind DS in Priest too much, btw.
• Watcher of Ancients is probably my favorite card, I like that the Overheal has an extra condition to balance the strong effect. The art is also very cool. I'd probably change the word "Ancients" in its name, as that seems to imply it has something to do with Ancients.
  

Redeem in the Light is my absolute favorite card of this thread, as the flavor is amazing and Overheal is a very good fit for Quests. However, it has some polish to do:

• The reward feels a bit weak and Rush isn't a mechanic Priest usually uses. I'd change it to a stat buff (around +3/+3) or a cost reduction (around 2), along with the Lifesteal.
• The artwork should probably feature an Undead instead of a Draenei.

Lightborn Surveyor isn't bad, but I don't like it as much and it's a bit too similar to Demon's Embodiment of Light.

Interesting card, but I think the "Can't attack" bit makes the card too weak, so I'd, buff its Health by 1 or 2 points. Besides that, I'd change the watermark, as the card has nothing to do with music.

I like it, it has very interesting gameplay and the flavor works well. I don't think it's OP, as it hasn't an immediate effect. In fact, I'd buff its Armor to 5. Finally, the Hero Power needs to say "Passive Hero Power" bolded.

I'd probably change the watermark, as they are too complex for the Core set, IMO.

Regarding the cards themselves, I think Fergus the Reedemer is by far the best card. I wouldn't change too much about him, besides the fact there needs to be a colon after the word "dies".

My second favorite card of the thread, although it would make more sense as a spell. Also, you should clarify if the effect counts all game or just after the moment you play the card (adding "all game" or "from now on" at the end of the text would do the trick).