11th June update: SheikVII's WILD Secret Hunter: Traversing the Diamond ladder in style!
After the Wailing Caverns mini-set released, I tried the Wild ladder and went up against a Stealer of Souls Warlock. After that, I transferred to Standard. I wasn't sure how long I would stay away from Wild.
I guess part of the reason why it seems like players in HS can put up with unhealthy metas is because there were simply a lot more players in Hearthstone than there is currently in LoR. Most of them casual too so unlike LoR players who would have a full collection a lot of people would put up with some of the most oppressive decks just for their dailies or rank rewards. If they were grinding and suddenly found new cards to play with, they would build a new deck and try it out and that kind of progress is missing in LoR after a month of playing or after a week of an expansion. It could also probably be the fact that HS games are much simpler and ends faster so it doesn't feel like a slog sometimes.
Thanks for the matchup tables I know Azir Irelia looses to aggro. That's why my overwhelm brew did so well against them and got me to diamond.
But the thing is what if you dont want to play aggro anymore?
What if you want to experience the rest of the games champion selection?
Then you're basically saying okay I am going to loose 70% of the time 1/5 matches.
So you essentially can't climb effectively.
That is the definition of a unhealthy and oppressive meta deck
It should be at least less popular ATM cause it has a "nerfed archtype syndrome" where people will play it less cause it just got nerfed.
Look at the bright side though it's not Blizzard we are talking about where they had Pirate Warrior around for 6 months and patches unnerfed for 1.5 years.. 3 weeks and it's fixed..
Dunno why it seems like people playing HS can coup with bigger bullshit than people playing LoR in HS the meta is toxic AF for long period of time and nobody "leaves" but in LoR there are some unhealthy metas and everyone loses their minds, at least you don't get attacked to the face mindlessly and lose every game you miss a 1 drop.
-1 Rimetongue: It's a nice card but a lot of times I ran out of frost spells and the other copy was just a 3/4
-1 Rigged Faire Game: I can trigger the first one consistently, but the second one was sometimes untriggerable.
-1 Cult Neophyte: Removed one, I think just one copy is enough as a tech card.
-1 Flamestrike and -1 Primordial Protector: Most of the times I was dead before reaching turn 7 or 8.
+2 Stones +1 Glacier: Early game support. Adventurers are insane sometimes, and are nice curve fillers. Glacier is a solid 1/3 with a board clear potential.
+ Sayge: More reliable for drawing than Rigged Faire Game, and also a 5/5 which is OK.
+ Kel'thu: The combo with Shattering Blast is just THAT nasty that I couldn't resist to add it.
Druid is the only class that can fit 30 cards worth of draw without having to drop burn.
Also it allows you to (occasionally) get the turnaround lethal if your opponent doesn't manage to fully FTK you (whereas otherwise there's a possiblity you just don't have enough health to play your big spells)
I am so pumped for this! While I am very familiar with the basic concepts of character upgrades and such from DnD, I don't think I've ever played a game in the "roguelike" category. It looks super fun!
This is just a brawl. They knew that it will be like that, it is second time they have this brawl and last time it was same. Just have some fun, it is not ladder...
You do not even need immunity in druid. You have so much armor gain and heals in druid that also draw cards... Also you can do turn 1 lethal with any class
No way they will make it as cheap as BGs! They probably hate themselves for not making that more monetized from the beginning. But with this new mode they clearly learned their lesson, you can tell just by reading their description, with "collecting" or mercenaries "dropping monthly". Although I'll be glad to be wrong.
I mean, for me, Hearthstone is exclusively a collectible card game: all these new game modes not related with playing cards have no sense for me...
These new modes should be independent games, alien to Hearthstone completely, because you know: who grabs too much loses all. Blizzard should not bite off more than they can chew.
As long as the other game modes aren't taking designers away from the main/OG game mode, then the 'he who grabs too much loses all' adage doesn't apply. Given how much the HS team has grown in the last few years, I doubt we should be worrying too much there.
As for whether they should be entirely independent, I think that comes down to how you and the developers view HS. Is it 1 game with a few different sets of rules (i.e. constructed + Arena + Tavern Brawl + most solo stuff + Duels), or is it a hub for games connected by their themes, characters and game engine (all the previous variants + Battlegrounds + Mercenaries + any future modes)?
I don't personally see why it is harmful to take the latter approach, especially when the different modes are close enough to each other that they'd have a shared audience.
Separating the game modes into their own apps would have it's own set of problems anyways. And it may even deter people from playing those game modes coz it'll be another app you have to install, sign in and update separately from the HS client. Blizzard would also need to add it to their Battle.net client and it would also split the player base which would lead to longer queue times like how Duels currently is. I personally prefer having all these game modes in the HS client itself but I did agree on the general consensus that the UI of HS needs to be re-designed coz clicking the back button 5 times to get to the main menu is a bit much
They commented on it a few years back. It's something they wish they'd done from the start but now it'd be a lot of work to merge them. Maybe the "new" team has the will and resources to tackle this
I have to agree. I feel as though T5 is spending a lot of their focus making a lot of content for casual PVE players which would be better invested in making the main game more interesting and accessible to the audience that they are trying to capture with this game mode. It also feels strange saying my favorite card game is an auto battler and a adventure game.
Really cool to see so much traffic in here that late in the competition! Here are some more thoughts from my side.
Alfi
I have seen a baby King Krush among the submissions with your effect on it. If that's your submission, well done! That's a cool card. If it isn't, you should create something else and file a complaint at Shadows because someone has stolen your idea.
Lundy
It's not bad, but I know that feeling when you're not happy with you card anymore after too many changes. I hope inspiration strikes soon!
Hordaki
Very solid card, I like it! Me0203's suggestion for an alternative name sounds pretty cool, too since OG Brightwing's entry text is quite iconic.
Because A: they see hearthstone as an platform for card games now and B: because battlegrounds has more similarities with constructed than some people make it out to be. Mainly the Heroes with hero powers, the characters, the UI, the Keywords, the Mana system and how the attacks works. Also, why make it into a seperate game in the first place? It already has it's own dedicated team, benefits from Hearthstones QoL changes and allows the player to quickly switch between modes.
It also doesn't have enough content for it to be it's own game. Like, how would the main menue look like? "Play" , "buy the perks", and "Quests"?
Your new version is much better! Having seen it, I find it odd that they haven't printed a similar card before - all-legendary decks are such a popular meme, after all. Not to mention, she's a competitive card as well. Perhaps too competitive, but hey, unique and fun enough for me not to care. Only change I'd make is tweaking the title to 'Best Friend Brightwing', 'Brightwing, Lovable Companion', or something else that gets along the friendship aspect - she's helping someone else out, after all!
and it's been performing much better for me. I also tried Neeru Fireblade but he just ended up sitting in my hand.
Fire Breather is actually very good and much better than School Spirits would ever be, even if you don't need the board clear it removes enemy minions with leftover 2hp after trading, doesn't damage your own minions and develops a solid body. I also think Midway Maniac is good in any matchup since it protects your other minions from being traded due to its high health.
Darkseeker's channel - 13th November update: KOtsosKOtsos' Reno Evolve Shudderwock Shaman - ft. Archivist Elysiana
11th June update: SheikVII's WILD Secret Hunter: Traversing the Diamond ladder in style!
After the Wailing Caverns mini-set released, I tried the Wild ladder and went up against a Stealer of Souls Warlock. After that, I transferred to Standard. I wasn't sure how long I would stay away from Wild.
I found this deck (https://twitter.com/SheikVII/status/1400907449067053060) and decided to give it a go. I hit diamond 5 very quickly. That's my target met for the month! Fantastic!
Thanks to SheikVII for the awesome deck and for the guide that you see at the start of the video.
Deck code: AAEBAR8G+g6Y8AKnggPz4QP86APl7wMMngH+DPcN+LECxLQC39IC49ICh/sCn6UD+68DhOID458EAA==
https://youtu.be/leh-ex7yqGA
Still No News From Riot?
I dont know too much about hearthstone these days I haven't played since a few years after it was released.
But in mtg toxic metas, and worse poorly balanced sets or mechanics have absolutely led to less streamer representation, and player migration.
Mogwai the new poster boy for Riot played arena exclusively till he couldn't put up with Oko the broko any longer.
And that's where I come from as well
Balance matters, and it will affect the long term health of your game.
Even if you don't see a decrease in your bottom line because whales will always whale.
Sentiment and player feedback is important.
Still No News From Riot?
I guess part of the reason why it seems like players in HS can put up with unhealthy metas is because there were simply a lot more players in Hearthstone than there is currently in LoR. Most of them casual too so unlike LoR players who would have a full collection a lot of people would put up with some of the most oppressive decks just for their dailies or rank rewards. If they were grinding and suddenly found new cards to play with, they would build a new deck and try it out and that kind of progress is missing in LoR after a month of playing or after a week of an expansion. It could also probably be the fact that HS games are much simpler and ends faster so it doesn't feel like a slog sometimes.
Still No News From Riot?
It should be at least less popular ATM cause it has a "nerfed archtype syndrome" where people will play it less cause it just got nerfed.
Look at the bright side though it's not Blizzard we are talking about where they had Pirate Warrior around for 6 months and patches unnerfed for 1.5 years.. 3 weeks and it's fixed..
Dunno why it seems like people playing HS can coup with bigger bullshit than people playing LoR in HS the meta is toxic AF for long period of time and nobody "leaves" but in LoR there are some unhealthy metas and everyone loses their minds, at least you don't get attacked to the face mindlessly and lose every game you miss a 1 drop.
Freeze C'thun Mage
I've updated it a little bit.
-1 Rimetongue: It's a nice card but a lot of times I ran out of frost spells and the other copy was just a 3/4
-1 Rigged Faire Game: I can trigger the first one consistently, but the second one was sometimes untriggerable.
-1 Cult Neophyte: Removed one, I think just one copy is enough as a tech card.
-1 Flamestrike and -1 Primordial Protector: Most of the times I was dead before reaching turn 7 or 8.
+2 Stones +1 Glacier: Early game support. Adventurers are insane sometimes, and are nice curve fillers. Glacier is a solid 1/3 with a board clear potential.
+ Sayge: More reliable for drawing than Rigged Faire Game, and also a 5/5 which is OK.
+ Kel'thu: The combo with Shattering Blast is just THAT nasty that I couldn't resist to add it.
Still No News From Riot?
Thanks for the matchup tables I know Azir Irelia looses to aggro. That's why my overwhelm brew did so well against them and got me to diamond.
But the thing is what if you dont want to play aggro anymore?
What if you want to experience the rest of the games champion selection?
Then you're basically saying okay I am going to loose 70% of the time 1/5 matches.
So you essentially can't climb effectively.
That is the definition of a unhealthy and oppressive meta deck
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
Just noticed the cover picture... RIP Valeera decollete T_T
Blood Magic
Druid is the only class that can fit 30 cards worth of draw without having to drop burn.
Also it allows you to (occasionally) get the turnaround lethal if your opponent doesn't manage to fully FTK you (whereas otherwise there's a possiblity you just don't have enough health to play your big spells)
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
If you have ever played a dungeon run, then you did. You are probably refearing to rogue-lites because of the perma-progression.
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
I am so pumped for this! While I am very familiar with the basic concepts of character upgrades and such from DnD, I don't think I've ever played a game in the "roguelike" category. It looks super fun!
Blood Magic
This is just a brawl. They knew that it will be like that, it is second time they have this brawl and last time it was same. Just have some fun, it is not ladder...
Blood Magic
You do not even need immunity in druid. You have so much armor gain and heals in druid that also draw cards... Also you can do turn 1 lethal with any class
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
No way they will make it as cheap as BGs! They probably hate themselves for not making that more monetized from the beginning. But with this new mode they clearly learned their lesson, you can tell just by reading their description, with "collecting" or mercenaries "dropping monthly". Although I'll be glad to be wrong.
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
As long as the other game modes aren't taking designers away from the main/OG game mode, then the 'he who grabs too much loses all' adage doesn't apply. Given how much the HS team has grown in the last few years, I doubt we should be worrying too much there.
As for whether they should be entirely independent, I think that comes down to how you and the developers view HS. Is it 1 game with a few different sets of rules (i.e. constructed + Arena + Tavern Brawl + most solo stuff + Duels), or is it a hub for games connected by their themes, characters and game engine (all the previous variants + Battlegrounds + Mercenaries + any future modes)?
I don't personally see why it is harmful to take the latter approach, especially when the different modes are close enough to each other that they'd have a shared audience.
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
Separating the game modes into their own apps would have it's own set of problems anyways. And it may even deter people from playing those game modes coz it'll be another app you have to install, sign in and update separately from the HS client. Blizzard would also need to add it to their Battle.net client and it would also split the player base which would lead to longer queue times like how Duels currently is. I personally prefer having all these game modes in the HS client itself but I did agree on the general consensus that the UI of HS needs to be re-designed coz clicking the back button 5 times to get to the main menu is a bit much
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
Stupendously Stellar Star Student Stelina States:
"We'll just have a little peek! Hehe, hehe!"
Blizzard's New Global Battle.net to Break Down Regional and Cross-Platform Barriers for Games
They commented on it a few years back. It's something they wish they'd done from the start but now it'd be a lot of work to merge them. Maybe the "new" team has the will and resources to tackle this
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
I have to agree. I feel as though T5 is spending a lot of their focus making a lot of content for casual PVE players which would be better invested in making the main game more interesting and accessible to the audience that they are trying to capture with this game mode. It also feels strange saying my favorite card game is an auto battler and a adventure game.
The Price Of Progress - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
Really cool to see so much traffic in here that late in the competition! Here are some more thoughts from my side.
Sneak Peek at Hearthstone Mercenaries - Screenshots and Descriptions of the New Mode via a Blizzard Survey
Because A: they see hearthstone as an platform for card games now and B: because battlegrounds has more similarities with constructed than some people make it out to be. Mainly the Heroes with hero powers, the characters, the UI, the Keywords, the Mana system and how the attacks works. Also, why make it into a seperate game in the first place? It already has it's own dedicated team, benefits from Hearthstones QoL changes and allows the player to quickly switch between modes.
It also doesn't have enough content for it to be it's own game. Like, how would the main menue look like? "Play" , "buy the perks", and "Quests"?
Hearthstone Patch 20.4 Datamined Mega-Post - New & Returning Card Backs, Golden Cards, New Achievements, Wild Packs, and More!
Ties have their own animation at the end now, it will say tie instead of defeat
Group Therapy! Need to blow off some steam? Mega salty? Here's the place!
#deletepriest
Not fun when they discover into discover into discover their combo clear. 4 set discover pool esp with new core set is too good for priest.
I'd rather lose to face hunter any day over BS priest.
Blood Magic
Another highly interactive piece of garbage...
The Price Of Progress - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
@Hordecai
Your new version is much better! Having seen it, I find it odd that they haven't printed a similar card before - all-legendary decks are such a popular meme, after all. Not to mention, she's a competitive card as well. Perhaps too competitive, but hey, unique and fun enough for me not to care. Only change I'd make is tweaking the title to 'Best Friend Brightwing', 'Brightwing, Lovable Companion', or something else that gets along the friendship aspect - she's helping someone else out, after all!
Demons? Demons!
So in the end I settled with the following changes:
-2 Raise Dead
-1 Felosophy
+2 Drain Soul
+1 Tamsin Roame
and it's been performing much better for me. I also tried Neeru Fireblade but he just ended up sitting in my hand.
Fire Breather is actually very good and much better than School Spirits would ever be, even if you don't need the board clear it removes enemy minions with leftover 2hp after trading, doesn't damage your own minions and develops a solid body. I also think Midway Maniac is good in any matchup since it protects your other minions from being traded due to its high health.