I found last week's design contest very interesting. It seemed like a very hard but interesting mechanic to balance cards around, with a lot of creative room. One of my main problems with the cards was that sometimes you could just easily make a minion-based deck and throw in the card without paying any real penalty (kinda like the winning card tbh, although that one is quite balanced). I really loved all the cool cards that would really force you into creative deckbuilding, both due to their restriction and their pay-off. One of my favourite prompts ever.
Smh the Illidan fight was pretty disappointing. They completely glossed over some of the important details, like how Illidan was actually trying to do good for once. Maybe that’s because Malfurion is a biased narrator and this will come up in the Illidan book
Genuine question: is there anyone that actually cares about Malfurion and his story? I haven't played WoW so I don't have that perspective, but to me Malfurion ranks alongside Uther as one of the most boring, one-note characters in WC3. They're like...Obi Wan if they took all the interesting bits out.
The Lurk mechanic will depend almost entirely on the power level of the Lurker units. If there are enough strong Lurker units, then the mechanic will work. You just get some Lurkers on the board, set up a Lurker on top with predict, and get the train rolling.
But the ones revealed so far don't look so great. 1-cost x/1 Fearsome and 6-cost x/6 Overwhelm - they have to be better than that if this mechanic is going to be viable. The game already has a 6 cost 7/6 overwhelm ... that's 4 lurks just to break even with the Freljord version. Very unimpressed with that one particularly.
Solid idea, I like the new iteration and the character you've used. Make sure you tap into the lore in the description box for us people who don't play WoW! I prefer the Hero Power without the Cost reduction since it's a pretty high rolly ability anyways.
grumpymonk
One of my favorites so far. Great flavor, great execution, I like it a lot. I prefer Sergra for the reward card.
linkblade91
I like how the Quest represents Guff in his very social, amiable way. The original reward card was interesting enough for me and would be fitting the friendship-theme, but it's also too close to Guff Runetotems already existing card. So yeah, the new version is better. Cool cards!
Wailor
I think I prefer the original Quest art or the one with Agamaggan on it, the one with the head has something dark to it that doesn't fit Hearthstone very well. The Hero Power definitely is the better reward for me. The whole concept is neat, but not very creative, which would result in a 4 stars rating from me.
R
Solid design overall. You should definitely change the names of both cards since they are too close to Hunter's Pack. Something like "Prepare for the Hunt" might be good for the Quest.
Lundy
Lost in the Barrens was to be expected in this competition, which is why I wouldn't choose to go with it - it's a bit too boring. I also don't think the flavor connects very well since being lost in the desert and suffering from delirium and experiencing battle rage after getting injured (=Frenzy) are two different things for me. Embrace Insanity is the one I like the most. You're missing a period at the end of the Quest card's text and I agree with Demon that the Reward doesn't need the condition of having an empty deck. Ritual of Summoning is too set-specific for my taste (that applys to Lost in the Barrens as well).
Demonxz95
One of my favorits, very cool design. The one thing I'd change is making the Hero Powers swap each turn instead of letting the player choose one of them. Healing for 6 and dealing 3 damage for only 2 mana is very strong, so the swapping effect tunes down the power level a bit without hurting the flavor.
Hordaki
Very strong card. I gave you 4 stars for now, might add a fifth once I've seen all entries.
It dawned on me that I could simply change the requirement to destroying cards in your deck, which makes Altar of Fire much less swingy in terms of completion. The quest can be completed with Altar of Fire, Soul Rend, Tickatus (uncorrupted), and Shadowlight Scholar or Void Drinker if you have Soul Fragments in your deck. Destroying 8 cards from your own deck is a bit tricky, but Warlocks ability to shuffle fodder cards into their deck can alleviate the cost. I could see reducing the requirement to 7, but 6 still has the problem of only needing 2 Altar of Fire.
I agreed with some of the feedback that the passive hero power didn't really fit, so I made a version of the Discover one that is a bit more controlled at the expense of the reduced cost. I'll try to get feedback out sometime tomorrow!
I found my way back to the discussion threads after teleport gunner sent me far away :)
The first idea I have is a top-down, flavor based design of the Horde senting up encampments in the barrens. I put Rokara's ability as the requirement, as her story is about her training as part of the horde. I used watch posts as the reward to show the Horde setting up bases. It's pretty open ended, but it could help control Warrior decks and give new life to watch posts. Plus, it could make Kargal Battlescar playable.
Edit: Found a piece of art that might be very fitting with the effect.
I also made a sidequest (I could have sworn the prompt didn't allow it when I first saw it, I usually pay close attention to those things). There's a lot of beast synergy in the set, especially summoning beasts with rush and rewarding attacking with beasts. Savannah Highmane is a mob that is found in the barrens, and a commonly played cared back in the day, so I thought it would be a nice reward.
This one is more of a thought experiment than one I intend to sumbit. It is intended to help self-destruction warlock without being too reliant on specific cards. Drawing the card for the turn counts as one, so drawing or removing at least two cards from your deck for the turn will help meet the requirement.
Feedback:
Demonxz95
Cool idea! Maybe for added flavor, have the hero power swap based on casting a spell from the other school, like having a holy spell swap to the holy version and a shadow spell swap to the shadow version.
linkblade91
There isn't too much support for token druid in the barrens set overall, but I do think that this is a creative idea.
BloodMeFist
I like the second version of the hero power better because the first doesn't seem impactful enough and would require the deck-destruction warlock to build in another direction of top just to get any benefit without access to life tap.
Wailor
As far as I know, deathrattle demon hunter is more tempo oriented, so I would prefer the first option slightly over the second which is more value oriented. I think they are both good ideas, though.
Lundy
I think the payoff for the warrior quest needs to be much higher. There aren't many frenzy minions with big effects unlike Ossirian Tear which provides large amounts of value.
I'm not a big fan of Embrace Insanity because the optimal play is to hold in your hand until you can fulfill the requirement immediately. It no longer functions much like a quest and plays more like a regular spell or a sigil.
I like the idea of the adventuring quest, but it would require having to imagine more adventurer cards in the game that don't currently exist.
Anchorm4n
I like it. The optimal play might be to hold on to it until the turn before you fulfill the requirement rather than a turn one play to hide information, but I guess that its fitting for rogue to be sneaky about its adventures. I prefer the hero power as the reward because it not likely for many cards to be left in the player's hand once the quest is complete.
At least it didn't end up as bad as Darius Crowley. If I never saw that full pic, it would seem like the cut was taken right before Darius fell after slipping on a banana.
Finished the adventure, and I have to say it was disappointing how many iconic battles there are in this one and yet every one of them (except vs Xavius) felt like one note, being beaten almost effortlessly without thought. The last two in particular plays exactly like token druid in standard with as much to be expected from a typical token druid game: hard mulligan for the cards you need, fill the board, buff and win. Or don't, and get your helpless arse kicked to the netherside of Kalimdor.
That sylvanas end fight was particularly disappointing considering how well Anduin's last match was. I wasn't expecting the same, but the game ended way before I reached 10 mana, simply because Malfurion practically stole the game with Powershifting. Saurfang didn't even get a turn before I won.
Thanks, much appreciated! I do have a certain fondness for many of these people staying under the radar, and probably a good dose of nostalgy for all those early formative years. I know from trying various tournaments in the past that it's often more difficult than it might seem.
Frostivus' "Aletta's Kitchen" Custom Game Mode - Hearthstone Fan Community Spotlight
This game is pretty fun. Would be awesome if they include it in HS.
What are you Highscores? Mine is 402p and 60 rounds
Card Design Conversation - Unique Drops
I found last week's design contest very interesting. It seemed like a very hard but interesting mechanic to balance cards around, with a lot of creative room. One of my main problems with the cards was that sometimes you could just easily make a minion-based deck and throw in the card without paying any real penalty (kinda like the winning card tbh, although that one is quite balanced). I really loved all the cool cards that would really force you into creative deckbuilding, both due to their restriction and their pay-off. One of my favourite prompts ever.
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Illidan is more an Anti-hero, so to some heroes (even his own brother), he's a villain
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Smh the Illidan fight was pretty disappointing. They completely glossed over some of the important details, like how Illidan was actually trying to do good for once. Maybe that’s because Malfurion is a biased narrator and this will come up in the Illidan book
[Game] Card Treasure Hunt (The Resurrection Attempt)
OK, I promise there are no song references, just Hearthstone:
A molehill writ large
Transformed by the call
And now... seriously dismayed!
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Alex Hartley portraits are always the very best!!
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Genuine question: is there anyone that actually cares about Malfurion and his story? I haven't played WoW so I don't have that perspective, but to me Malfurion ranks alongside Uther as one of the most boring, one-note characters in WC3. They're like...Obi Wan if they took all the interesting bits out.
4 New Shurima Cards for Runeterra's Rise of the Underworlds Expansion Revealed!
The Lurk mechanic will depend almost entirely on the power level of the Lurker units. If there are enough strong Lurker units, then the mechanic will work. You just get some Lurkers on the board, set up a Lurker on top with predict, and get the train rolling.
But the ones revealed so far don't look so great. 1-cost x/1 Fearsome and 6-cost x/6 Overwhelm - they have to be better than that if this mechanic is going to be viable. The game already has a 6 cost 7/6 overwhelm ... that's 4 lurks just to break even with the Freljord version. Very unimpressed with that one particularly.
Group Therapy! Need to blow off some steam? Mega salty? Here's the place!
Fuck Priest.
Group Therapy! Need to blow off some steam? Mega salty? Here's the place!
I am reminded that Shaman is still unplayable garbage and I am not quite sure how it is even close to the realm of tier 1
Lost In Battle - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
Feedback time!
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Remember to save your class packs for the next expansion, don't open them now 😜
[Game] Card Treasure Hunt (The Resurrection Attempt)
That's correct and you even got all the lines right! Nice one :)
Lost In Battle - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
It dawned on me that I could simply change the requirement to destroying cards in your deck, which makes Altar of Fire much less swingy in terms of completion. The quest can be completed with Altar of Fire, Soul Rend, Tickatus (uncorrupted), and Shadowlight Scholar or Void Drinker if you have Soul Fragments in your deck. Destroying 8 cards from your own deck is a bit tricky, but Warlocks ability to shuffle fodder cards into their deck can alleviate the cost. I could see reducing the requirement to 7, but 6 still has the problem of only needing 2 Altar of Fire.
I agreed with some of the feedback that the passive hero power didn't really fit, so I made a version of the Discover one that is a bit more controlled at the expense of the reduced cost. I'll try to get feedback out sometime tomorrow!
Lost In Battle - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
I found my way back to the discussion threads after teleport gunner sent me far away :)
The first idea I have is a top-down, flavor based design of the Horde senting up encampments in the barrens. I put Rokara's ability as the requirement, as her story is about her training as part of the horde. I used watch posts as the reward to show the Horde setting up bases. It's pretty open ended, but it could help control Warrior decks and give new life to watch posts. Plus, it could make Kargal Battlescar playable.
Edit: Found a piece of art that might be very fitting with the effect.
I also made a sidequest (I could have sworn the prompt didn't allow it when I first saw it, I usually pay close attention to those things). There's a lot of beast synergy in the set, especially summoning beasts with rush and rewarding attacking with beasts. Savannah Highmane is a mob that is found in the barrens, and a commonly played cared back in the day, so I thought it would be a nice reward.
This one is more of a thought experiment than one I intend to sumbit. It is intended to help self-destruction warlock without being too reliant on specific cards. Drawing the card for the turn counts as one, so drawing or removing at least two cards from your deck for the turn will help meet the requirement.
Feedback:
I'm not a big fan of Embrace Insanity because the optimal play is to hold in your hand until you can fulfill the requirement immediately. It no longer functions much like a quest and plays more like a regular spell or a sigil.
I like the idea of the adventuring quest, but it would require having to imagine more adventurer cards in the game that don't currently exist.
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
At least it didn't end up as bad as Darius Crowley. If I never saw that full pic, it would seem like the cut was taken right before Darius fell after slipping on a banana.
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
Finished the adventure, and I have to say it was disappointing how many iconic battles there are in this one and yet every one of them (except vs Xavius) felt like one note, being beaten almost effortlessly without thought. The last two in particular plays exactly like token druid in standard with as much to be expected from a typical token druid game: hard mulligan for the cards you need, fill the board, buff and win. Or don't, and get your helpless arse kicked to the netherside of Kalimdor.
That sylvanas end fight was particularly disappointing considering how well Anduin's last match was. I wasn't expecting the same, but the game ended way before I reached 10 mana, simply because Malfurion practically stole the game with Powershifting. Saurfang didn't even get a turn before I won.
Focused Study - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
Thanks linkblade and anchorm4n!
Looking Back at the Qualifiers for Masters Tour Dalaran - Storylines, Tireless Competitors, Shifting Metas, and Curious Lineups
Thanks, much appreciated! I do have a certain fondness for many of these people staying under the radar, and probably a good dose of nostalgy for all those early formative years. I know from trying various tournaments in the past that it's often more difficult than it might seem.
Quest Trading - Play A Friend!
Battletag: benmorrow#2624
Region: eu
Trade Only?: Yes, you go first.
Riot Confirms and Explains the Removal of Runeterra's Epic Boxes From Expedition & Gauntlet Prismatic Rewards
Wow, lucky. I never had that happen.
I did get a few rates upgrade to epics, though.
4 New Shurima Cards for Runeterra's Rise of the Underworlds Expansion Revealed!
You're creating in hand a copy of the card you shuffle, so this could be more interesting than it initially seems.
[Game] Card Treasure Hunt (The Resurrection Attempt)
Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk?
The hints:
1) proud+more -> Mage
2) Legendary who is in WoW (had to look her up)
3) Jan'alai looks the part
4) Expensive (7 drop) and need time for all of the hero powering
5) (dragon)hawk: check
6) Gift? Rag-something, yeah I guess I've seen worse gifts.
Book of Heroes Malfurion is Now Live - Get the Emerald Malfurion Hero Skin Bundle
I must say, Malfurion looking pretty sexy in this. But I HATE how his hand is cut off in the portrait.
New Shurima Spell - Careful Preparation
Could have been a good card if it wasn't so expensive.