You always write code to do a job, and aim to make it do that job as simply as possible (this is not quite true if you are really concerned about making code super fast, which is most obvious with parallel code which uses multiple CPUs (sometimes thousands or even more) to work on the same job, but that's a concern far beyond implementing battlecries in HS). Ultimately it is the end result (i.e. functionality) that matters, and that sets a lower bound on how simple the code can be.
I work in a physics department and spent 3.5 years working on code to simulate polymers and swimming bacteria (and other small things in liquids). By the end the code was several thousand lines long spread across 8 files, despite me working hard to make it as simple and efficient as possible. To most people it is extremely complicated, but if it was much simpler it wouldn't do its job properly and would be worthless.
Bugs, bugs, bugs. The bane of my life.
To a programmer bugs are just a fact of life. Sadly simpler code isn't necessarily less likely to have bugs, but it is easier to find bugs in simple code. Bugs are usually typos or (perhaps oddly) missing code. E.g. suppose the devs DID want Mogu Cultist to work with permanents, but they didn't include any lines to account for this. Then the interaction would be bugged, but the only fix is to add more code, thereby making it more complex, but less buggy.
What often happens when you add more features to the code, such as every expansion in HS, is the new code interacts with existing code and that is fine because it was written knowing what it will interact with (hopefully!). The bugs usually arise in the old code which hasn't been fully updated to work with the new stuff. This happens all the time and is VERY easy to miss! HS has thousands of cards to keep up to date and many of the interactions are so obscure it is almost unthinkable that they would all be noticed. Even worse, you often have bugs starting somewhere and manifesting as apparent errors somewhere else (I suspect a lot of HS bugs actually had nothing to do with the cards involved but were caused by an error buried somewhere else altogether).
With my own programming, every update/upgrade I made I expected to introduce a bug somewhere and have to spend longer finding and fixing the bug(s) than it took to update the code in the first place. This is completely normal.
There is an amusing side to all this though: it is up to whoever writes the code to decide whether something is a 'bug' (i.e. unwanted) or a 'feature'. Sometimes unexpected behaviour can be good and be kept (I believe that is how Cloak of Invisibility came about), or simply be harmless enough (and difficult enough to find) that it is OK to leave it in as a 'feature'. As long as the code does what it's author says it does, it doesn't matter what it was meant to do originally.
Other Mogu Cultist decks
Thanks for pointing these out. I had thought about the Elise+Floop approach, but was unconvinced about how likely it would be to keep the hand empty enough to fit the 7 Cultists in it (given you are duplicating anything else there too).
I hadn't thought of Glinda though. It seems more likely to work without hoping to get it to 0 mana with the quest HP to me, but I'll try it out for sure. Perhaps try to get a Finicky Cloakfield in Wild?
I'm super excited for this expansion. The meta has been enjoyable overall for RoS, especially with the buffs, but I'm hungry for some new flavor (especially in my favorite class, hunter). Here's to hoping this expansion brings in new archetypes and disrupts the existing power structure
I'm also no sure how "crafting stuff you want before opening" is beneficial in any way.
It just removes it from the potential award pool. Imho, opening packs and hoping to get that card you want like that is a way better strategy than sacrificing cards and/or dust prior to opening and obtain it trough crafting. The only scenario I can think of where it might be better is if you're after a specific golden card and don't want to run the risk of getting a normal copy which would remove it from the pool.
Potentially weird question. I just went through the entire setup to verify that it works — but can someone confirm that this does NOT cover the Golden Legendaries you would have unlocked from pre-order, nor the quest everyone will supposedly pick up on release?
Depending on what my Goldens were, I was potentially planning on dusting one to craft another before opening packs; am I thus potentially better off waiting?
This is great news! You have surpassed every other HS site (imo) in content, presentation, and now affiliations (I hold HSReplay in very high regard). I'm also curious if you will use their data to inform personal deck cost and deck creator?
Pack 10 had my first legendary (as usual), pack 27 my second, leaving me with 14 packs left on my legendary pity timer...
Was really hoping to finally have luck on my side and encounter my first double legendary or back-to-back legendary packs. Been playing since alpha, with averaging about 120-130 packs each expansion and never averaging better than 1 legendary per 20 packs.
It just happened to me again. Titanic Lackey in between turns 4 and 5 for my opponent. I wonder if it has something to do with the pre release. Oh well you can check it out here if you want to, https://hsreplay.net/replay/2ZBgd7eHFHso8u6dYoWaJS
I expect we will see a good number of quest rouges and secret mages (which might settle at T3). I also think a strong priest deck type will emerge. Unfortunately Dr. Boom still seems OP. OTK rouge is a thing too which has the possibility to hold back contol warriors but i am not so happy if a strong OTK deck is the only way to counter control warrior.
Interesting! Can you verify with a picture? I'd love to see some reborn cards alongside those chess pieces
Sorry, my usual method for posting images is not working because google docs does not support the format. I guess you will just have to take my word for it or try it out for yourself.
[Myth Busted] A cultist in the Crystalsong Forest
Complex vs simple code
You always write code to do a job, and aim to make it do that job as simply as possible (this is not quite true if you are really concerned about making code super fast, which is most obvious with parallel code which uses multiple CPUs (sometimes thousands or even more) to work on the same job, but that's a concern far beyond implementing battlecries in HS). Ultimately it is the end result (i.e. functionality) that matters, and that sets a lower bound on how simple the code can be.
I work in a physics department and spent 3.5 years working on code to simulate polymers and swimming bacteria (and other small things in liquids). By the end the code was several thousand lines long spread across 8 files, despite me working hard to make it as simple and efficient as possible. To most people it is extremely complicated, but if it was much simpler it wouldn't do its job properly and would be worthless.
Bugs, bugs, bugs. The bane of my life.
To a programmer bugs are just a fact of life. Sadly simpler code isn't necessarily less likely to have bugs, but it is easier to find bugs in simple code. Bugs are usually typos or (perhaps oddly) missing code. E.g. suppose the devs DID want Mogu Cultist to work with permanents, but they didn't include any lines to account for this. Then the interaction would be bugged, but the only fix is to add more code, thereby making it more complex, but less buggy.
What often happens when you add more features to the code, such as every expansion in HS, is the new code interacts with existing code and that is fine because it was written knowing what it will interact with (hopefully!). The bugs usually arise in the old code which hasn't been fully updated to work with the new stuff. This happens all the time and is VERY easy to miss! HS has thousands of cards to keep up to date and many of the interactions are so obscure it is almost unthinkable that they would all be noticed. Even worse, you often have bugs starting somewhere and manifesting as apparent errors somewhere else (I suspect a lot of HS bugs actually had nothing to do with the cards involved but were caused by an error buried somewhere else altogether).
With my own programming, every update/upgrade I made I expected to introduce a bug somewhere and have to spend longer finding and fixing the bug(s) than it took to update the code in the first place. This is completely normal.
There is an amusing side to all this though: it is up to whoever writes the code to decide whether something is a 'bug' (i.e. unwanted) or a 'feature'. Sometimes unexpected behaviour can be good and be kept (I believe that is how Cloak of Invisibility came about), or simply be harmless enough (and difficult enough to find) that it is OK to leave it in as a 'feature'. As long as the code does what it's author says it does, it doesn't matter what it was meant to do originally.
Other Mogu Cultist decks
Thanks for pointing these out. I had thought about the Elise+Floop approach, but was unconvinced about how likely it would be to keep the hand empty enough to fit the 7 Cultists in it (given you are duplicating anything else there too).
I hadn't thought of Glinda though. It seems more likely to work without hoping to get it to 0 mana with the quest HP to me, but I'll try it out for sure. Perhaps try to get a Finicky Cloakfield in Wild?
BUY 1 Soul get 2 Lackeys free!!!
thanks
Saviours of Uldum Pre-Release Patch - Crystal Core Change, Card Backs, and Bug Fixes!
I'm super excited for this expansion. The meta has been enjoyable overall for RoS, especially with the buffs, but I'm hungry for some new flavor (especially in my favorite class, hunter). Here's to hoping this expansion brings in new archetypes and disrupts the existing power structure
Out of Cards Changelog - 2019-07-22
Semi related to topic card search needs alot of work
first there should be basic dropdown for std, wild or all its pretty impossible to search stuff
second pretty much no one searches for race(blood elf, tauren vs..) it should be replaced with tribe(like beast, mech, vs)
third remove unrelated stuff like family
cost attack needs less than, equal to vs (i dont remember the card thats why im searching)
last there should be a card image view option
Wild Highlander Deck Ideas
Cool idea! Please let us know what the results are!
Open Your Uldum Packs Early - Attend or Host a Pre-release Party This Weekend
Can confirm, just the packs, no extra's.
Edit:
I'm also no sure how "crafting stuff you want before opening" is beneficial in any way.
It just removes it from the potential award pool. Imho, opening packs and hoping to get that card you want like that is a way better strategy than sacrificing cards and/or dust prior to opening and obtain it trough crafting. The only scenario I can think of where it might be better is if you're after a specific golden card and don't want to run the risk of getting a normal copy which would remove it from the pool.
Open Your Uldum Packs Early - Attend or Host a Pre-release Party This Weekend
Potentially weird question. I just went through the entire setup to verify that it works — but can someone confirm that this does NOT cover the Golden Legendaries you would have unlocked from pre-order, nor the quest everyone will supposedly pick up on release?
Depending on what my Goldens were, I was potentially planning on dusting one to craft another before opening packs; am I thus potentially better off waiting?
Out of Cards Partners with HSReplay - The Best in Hearthstone Data
This is great news! You have surpassed every other HS site (imo) in content, presentation, and now affiliations (I hold HSReplay in very high regard). I'm also curious if you will use their data to inform personal deck cost and deck creator?
Uldum Heal Priest
Obelisk's Eye is so OP!
+3/+3 for 2 mana on top of the 3 healing ; Dayum!
Open Your Uldum Packs Early - Attend or Host a Pre-release Party This Weekend
Quest Warlock Uldum
Looks good on paper. Can't wait to see if it works out in action
[Myth Busted] A cultist in the Crystalsong Forest
I enjoyed reading this guide.
+1 @Kovachut
Taunt Warrior - Theorycraft
Archivist Elysiana is there to have chance against Control Warrior/Shaman. Or any slower decks.
Why would you guys remove Execute and Supercollider?
Open Your Uldum Packs Early - Attend or Host a Pre-release Party This Weekend
It does. You can't play with your cards, though, unless you open enough for a deck
You can use SoU cards in the brawl!
https://outof.cards/hearthstone/252-open-your-uldum-packs-early-attend-or-host-a-pre-release-party-this-weekend
BUY 1 Soul get 2 Lackeys free!!!
Nice decks.
Grimm Face Hunter
You're welcome, hope you enjoy it.
Open Your Uldum Packs Early - Attend or Host a Pre-release Party This Weekend
In the text it says: "open your preorder packs" but I suppose it'd also work with just the 3 free ones?
lackey escapes the new expansion early
Arena is a disaster..... I have old draft at 4-1 suppose might as well play to 2 loss, but a good new draft will destroy my deck lol
Update: 4-2 with double tar creeper double flamestrike deck all new cards
Out of Cards Changelog - 2019-07-22
The navigation on mobile is nicely done. Thanks guys...good Job.
lackey escapes the new expansion early
It just happened to me again. Titanic Lackey in between turns 4 and 5 for my opponent. I wonder if it has something to do with the pre release. Oh well you can check it out here if you want to, https://hsreplay.net/replay/2ZBgd7eHFHso8u6dYoWaJS
Zephrys the Great
One of the most exciting cards in this Expansion. I am curious in what decks it will be Played.
New Viable Archetypes in Saviors of Uldum?
I expect we will see a good number of quest rouges and secret mages (which might settle at T3). I also think a strong priest deck type will emerge. Unfortunately Dr. Boom still seems OP. OTK rouge is a thing too which has the possibility to hold back contol warriors but i am not so happy if a strong OTK deck is the only way to counter control warrior.
You can use SoU cards in the brawl!
Sorry, my usual method for posting images is not working because google docs does not support the format. I guess you will just have to take my word for it or try it out for yourself.
Fish restaurant (Murlocadin might be back)
I like it! Can't wait to see how it performs >:D