A free run is at least one pack, plus you can get two additional packs by letting a run expire before and after the event. Add 3x3 packs from legendary quests and you can get a total of 12 packs for minimal effort, more if you bother finishing Book of Heroes and win some Arena games before you reach 2/3 losses.
Blizzard has never been super generous with Hearthstone freebies. Compared to other Hearthstone events, I think this one is well above average.
I'm glad that Tuskar from DotA2 exists for this competition, his art really suits one of a Tuskarr. On top of that, the effect may be simple, but you rarely see a dual Mage and Warrior card. I used those classes, because while Taunt is not necessarily their thing, they still have some Taunts in their cards like Mirror Image, and the freezing effect made sense from the dual class standpoint aswell as for Tuskarr flavor reasons.
Good for Hunter players, but as a Mage main I feel a little bit screwed. Why Hunter and not Mage? I guess sales of the Scholar Jaina bundle must have been rather lackluster. Would have bought the bundle with a proper skin.
Not even a mention of Lee Sin as something they are watching?
DISAPPOINTED
TBF, they didn't post any watch list in these notes so you don't know what they're looking at. And honestly, I don't even think Lee Sin is that problematic; he's just very popular right now. I'd much rather see L2 Swain + The Leviathan get hit first -- that combo is a lot consistent, and it's been dominating both ladder and tournaments for what feels like forever now. Or Gangplank or Trundle. All 3 champs have significantly higher winrates than Lee Sin.
"We want our rating system to both provide a sense of progression through gameplay and create fair matchmaking. It’s very hard to achieve these two things simultaneously by using only one rating. Therefore, we designed a “dual-rating” system to address our intention. In the updated rating system, there are two ratings—external rating and internal rating:"
Assuming that you continue to play and get better, it will mean that the "sense of progression" is to get demoted back to the start and make your climb back to where you were more difficult. I don't think that's something that appeals to everyone?
Should be a 5/5. Rakanishu does pretty much the same thing on his Hero Power, and I don't think it's setting the stats. Otherwise Lil'Rag would be quite bad.
When I first read it I thought 4/4. Which like you said, is bad! 5/5 is much better :
I've slightly changed the wording of my first card, as "from your class" wasn't necessary. I've also added a second idea because I wasn't sure of my card.
*Edit*: Added slightly different wording for the druid card to fit with Big Boomba from the Dalarian Heist solo content.
Nerf to Guardian Animals is more impactful than one might think, since playing Overgrowth on curve left you with exactly 7 mana on the next turn to perfectly curve into GA. Unless druid has coin or Lightning Bloom in hand, there is no optimal play for 7 mana turn anymore.
The most thing I disliked of Turtlemage was that the game was over turn 9. There was only a small hope that the Turtle player misplays. But it took to turn 20 to realize that it will not not happen. Such a waste of time for both players.
I'm a little sad that they didn't go the route of "If you played an elemental last round" for Elementals. It would have made Elementals a very interesting playstyle (although I can see why it might not be the best mechanic for Battlegrounds). Even something like "If you didn't buy this card this round" would make Elementals a bit more unique. I just wish that they'd gone in a different design direction than just Buffs plus Card Generation.
Conversely, I feel that they captured the flavour of Elementals quite well, actually! They obviously rely on each other to work well and there is sufficient hand manipulation going on to still resembl elementals, especially with the unique mechanics from things like the Gentle Djinn and Stasis elemental.
Honestly, I feel that the design of “play an elemental last turn” is a bit unnecessary and does not really matter from a purely gameplay perspective of BG. If you are playing elementals, you should almost always be playing an elemental last turn anyway and this whole effect becomes nothing more than a glorified battlecry. Unless they were to relegate elementals to something like support units for other tribes, which forced you to sacrifice some gold to play an elemental in the last turn for a huge pay off (like give all your minions +3/+3?), then I really do not see the point to it.
However, I do like some of the ideas you have mentioned like the “not play an elemental this turn” effect. The only caveat would be that it might be a bit complex for people to keep track of.
Week 1 of the Masquerade Ball - Elementals in Battlegrounds, Dual-Class Arena, Horseman Uther, & More
A free run is at least one pack, plus you can get two additional packs by letting a run expire before and after the event. Add 3x3 packs from legendary quests and you can get a total of 12 packs for minimal effort, more if you bother finishing Book of Heroes and win some Arena games before you reach 2/3 losses.
Blizzard has never been super generous with Hearthstone freebies. Compared to other Hearthstone events, I think this one is well above average.
Manual Of Monsters - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
I'm glad that Tuskar from DotA2 exists for this competition, his art really suits one of a Tuskarr. On top of that, the effect may be simple, but you rarely see a dual Mage and Warrior card. I used those classes, because while Taunt is not necessarily their thing, they still have some Taunts in their cards like Mirror Image, and the freezing effect made sense from the dual class standpoint aswell as for Tuskarr flavor reasons.
Runeterra Patch 1.11 - Card Balance, Single-Player Lab, New Personalization, Global & Friend Leaderboards
Looking forward to the new lab, was hoping for some adjustment to Lee Sin, Oh well guess you can't have it all.
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
Good for Hunter players, but as a Mage main I feel a little bit screwed. Why Hunter and not Mage? I guess sales of the Scholar Jaina bundle must have been rather lackluster. Would have bought the bundle with a proper skin.
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
Interestingly, the threaten line is from the adventure. It's the only adventure-specific one that is on the playable hero.
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
I've gotten pretty good at drawing correct lines over the years :)
Unless something changes, these are attached to the playable version of Rexxar.
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
Looking forward to this one. Rexxar is one of two heroes I still have the default hero on.
Runeterra Patch 1.11 - Card Balance, Single-Player Lab, New Personalization, Global & Friend Leaderboards
TBF, they didn't post any watch list in these notes so you don't know what they're looking at. And honestly, I don't even think Lee Sin is that problematic; he's just very popular right now. I'd much rather see L2 Swain + The Leviathan get hit first -- that combo is a lot consistent, and it's been dominating both ladder and tournaments for what feels like forever now. Or Gangplank or Trundle. All 3 champs have significantly higher winrates than Lee Sin.
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
How do we know this isn't just the voicelines that will be used for the book of heroes thing?
Hearthstone Developer Insights - The Battlegrounds Rating System Update
Assuming that you continue to play and get better, it will mean that the "sense of progression" is to get demoted back to the start and make your climb back to where you were more difficult. I don't think that's something that appeals to everyone?
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
Start is not workin'
Warsong Rexxar, Upcoming Shop Hero Skin, Has New Voicelines
Too bad Uther is just metallic filter over original voicelines...
Hearthstone's Late September Card Nerfs Are Live Soon! Here's our Take on the Balance Changes
Still waiting for the update on android. Anyone get it yet?
Elementals Arrive in Hearthstone's Battlegrounds Alongside the Rating Update This Week in Patch 18.4
When I first read it I thought 4/4. Which like you said, is bad! 5/5 is much better :
Over correction?
Bastion : Grant an ally +1+1 and Spell shield.
Me : I have a bad feeling about this one.
Week 1 of the Masquerade Ball - Elementals in Battlegrounds, Dual-Class Arena, Horseman Uther, & More
Horseman Uther looks pretty dope
Manual Of Monsters - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread
I've slightly changed the wording of my first card, as "from your class" wasn't necessary. I've also added a second idea because I wasn't sure of my card.
*Edit*: Added slightly different wording for the druid card to fit with Big Boomba from the Dalarian Heist solo content.
Week 1 of the Masquerade Ball - Elementals in Battlegrounds, Dual-Class Arena, Horseman Uther, & More
Pre-nerf Jaina is best Jaina. I couldn't be "Proud More".
Runeterra Patch 1.11 - Card Balance, Single-Player Lab, New Personalization, Global & Friend Leaderboards
Bastion
Over correction?
And not even a mention of him in today's patch notes. Guess I'll be taking a little break from Runeterra until they figure their shit out.
Hearthstone's Late September Card Nerfs Are Live Soon! Here's our Take on the Balance Changes
Nerf to Guardian Animals is more impactful than one might think, since playing Overgrowth on curve left you with exactly 7 mana on the next turn to perfectly curve into GA. Unless druid has coin or Lightning Bloom in hand, there is no optimal play for 7 mana turn anymore.
Runeterra Patch 1.11 - Card Balance, Single-Player Lab, New Personalization, Global & Friend Leaderboards
Not even a mention of Lee Sin as something they are watching?
DISAPPOINTED
YES Shaman!
This is hilarious.. Nothing like having the randomness pop
Hearthstone's Late September Card Nerfs Are Live Soon! Here's our Take on the Balance Changes
The most thing I disliked of Turtlemage was that the game was over turn 9. There was only a small hope that the Turtle player misplays. But it took to turn 20 to realize that it will not not happen. Such a waste of time for both players.
BATTLEGROUNDS REVIEW (feel free to discuss)
Conversely, I feel that they captured the flavour of Elementals quite well, actually! They obviously rely on each other to work well and there is sufficient hand manipulation going on to still resembl elementals, especially with the unique mechanics from things like the Gentle Djinn and Stasis elemental.
Honestly, I feel that the design of “play an elemental last turn” is a bit unnecessary and does not really matter from a purely gameplay perspective of BG. If you are playing elementals, you should almost always be playing an elemental last turn anyway and this whole effect becomes nothing more than a glorified battlecry. Unless they were to relegate elementals to something like support units for other tribes, which forced you to sacrifice some gold to play an elemental in the last turn for a huge pay off (like give all your minions +3/+3?), then I really do not see the point to it.
However, I do like some of the ideas you have mentioned like the “not play an elemental this turn” effect. The only caveat would be that it might be a bit complex for people to keep track of.