Bluetracker

Tracks Blizzard employees across various accounts.

Hearthstone Designers talk Knights of the Frozen Throne, Hero Cards, Rogue, and more

Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

I think they confirmed that all classes will get lifesteal. But I don't remember where I read it.

I never said that all classes get lifesteal.

We still want classes to have class identity.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

It really is hamfisted how they repeat how the hero cards work, it's not like it's even a remotely complicated mechanic.

More of the classic Blizzard attitude, 'our audience is too stupid to walk and breath at the same time let alone manage 9 more deck slots'.

Well to be fair - the question was "Explain how hero cards work".
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

Mike Donais, Principal Game Designer: Hero cards are going to replace your Hero when you play them. There's nine of them, one for each classic Hero. Deathstalker Rexxar is the first one that we've shown. You pay mana cost out of your hand. He's not a spell, he's not a minion, he's a new card type, which we call the Hero Card. When you play it, it'll give you some armor. Deathstalker Rexxar has 5 armor. They all have a Battlecry effect, plus they replace your Hero power with a cool new Hero Power.

Why does he empasize that like that? Dave Koask has already confirmed that all Hero Cards grant 5 armor when you play them. Maybe there is more to it, hmm.

Right, we ended up linking up all 9 of these heroes at 5 armor. For a while the druid had a choose one where he either got 0 or 10 armor.

It feels like a space we could explore again some day and use different numbers.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

From IGN interview,

Mike Donais: Actually Lyra went up one mana. She was a four mana 3/5 for a long time and we were like – oh, she’s better than she looks, let’s add one more mana - and we played her to make sure she was still good.

Lyra at 4 mana would have been busted for sure.

In addition when I said "too good" in my head I was thinking "every priest deck for 2 years" not that the power level would be too high.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

I don't know what you're referring to. Blizzard has been knocking it out of the park recently with rogue cards, especially legendaries.

Thanks Helz2000!
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

"I'd rather have a bunch of cards that are pretty scary to us, are pretty exciting and powerful, and finding out one of them is too good than just have a bunch of cards out there, where none of them are exciting or powerful and they're all safe. The last thing you want is a new set of cards and they're all safe."

This is why Mike Donais is a god tier game designer. One of my biggest problems with Gwent is that they manage to nerf the fun out of cards every patch.

Printing this out and posting it on the wall in 60 point font...

On a more serious note, this is a good design lesson that I have learned and relearned a few times. It can lead to some broken cards. The first time I learned this lesson was decades ago on a card set called Homelands.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

I just want to see the damn cards already.

Next Monday the reveals start and there will be a lot of cards each day to talk about.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

What did you get instead of the 0 armor if you didn't choose it?

One was a defensive armor + defensive minions pick. The other was a more aggressive minions with no armor pick or something like that.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

Do all of them cost 6 mana?

No
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

So, if i play Deathstalker Rexxar with mage, and then play glyph, will i discover hunter spells? Or do you mean with "replacing your hero" mostly the artwork and hero power?

Playing Rexxar is a lot like playing shadowform as mage. Your hero power changes but behind the scenes you are still a mage with a mage deck.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

Just make sure you are not locked out of changing a card because there is no scheduled patch for three months.

I remember comments about how you couldn't do anything about small time bucaneer because the next patch was so far away. Being risky is awesome and I admire that but plans in case some things go wrong are even better.

Right, when we make a change we do so in 15 languages and around 50 countries. On different phone infrastructures and different network structures (China uses different phone and network providers than USA for example).

This means it takes some time but we are able to do things faster these days and we are also more willing to do things more often because of the philosophy of pushing cards and then if we go too far - change them.
Mike Donais

Posted 8 years, 7 months ago (Source)

I think they confirmed that all classes will get lifesteal. But I don't remember where I read it.

I never said that all classes get lifesteal.

We still want classes to have class identity.

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>I think they confirmed that all classes will get lifesteal. But I don't remember where I read it.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>I never said that all classes get lifesteal. </p>

<p>We still want classes to have class identity.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkizt45">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>It really is hamfisted how they repeat how the hero cards work, it's not like it's even a remotely complicated mechanic.</p>

<p>More of the classic Blizzard attitude, 'our audience is too stupid to walk and breath at the same time let alone manage 9 more deck slots'.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Well to be fair - the question was "Explain how hero cards work".</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhs9fq">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><blockquote>
<p><strong>Mike Donais, Principal Game Designer</strong>: Hero cards are going to replace your Hero when you play them. There's nine of them, one for each classic Hero. Deathstalker Rexxar is the first one that we've shown. You pay mana cost out of your hand. He's not a spell, he's not a minion, he's a new card type, which we call the Hero Card. <strong>When you play it, it'll give you some armor. Deathstalker Rexxar has 5 armor.</strong> They all have a Battlecry effect, plus they replace your Hero power with a cool new Hero Power.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Why does he empasize that like that? Dave Koask has already <a href="https://youtu.be/CfwMLOgQWEU?t=558">confirmed</a> that all Hero Cards grant 5 armor when you play them. Maybe there is more to it, hmm. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Right, we ended up linking up all 9 of these heroes at 5 armor. For a while the druid had a choose one where he either got 0 or 10 armor. </p>

<p>It feels like a space we could explore again some day and use different numbers.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhsc87">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>From IGN interview,</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>Mike Donais</em>: Actually Lyra went up one mana. She was a four mana 3/5 for a long time and we were like – oh, she’s better than she looks, let’s add one more mana - and we played her to make sure she was still good.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Lyra at 4 mana would have been busted for sure.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>In addition when I said "too good" in my head I was thinking "every priest deck for 2 years" not that the power level would be too high.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhseet">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>I don't know what you're referring to. Blizzard has been knocking it out of the park recently with rogue cards, especially legendaries.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Thanks Helz2000! </p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhsh67">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>"I'd rather have a bunch of cards that are pretty scary to us, are pretty exciting and powerful, and finding out one of them is too good than just have a bunch of cards out there, where none of them are exciting or powerful and they're all safe. The last thing you want is a new set of cards and they're all safe."</p>

<p>This is why Mike Donais is a god tier game designer. One of my biggest problems with Gwent is that they manage to nerf the fun out of cards every patch.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Printing this out and posting it on the wall in 60 point font...</p>

<p>On a more serious note, this is a good design lesson that I have learned and relearned a few times. It can lead to some broken cards. The first time I learned this lesson was decades ago on a card set called Homelands.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhsr7c">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>I just want to see the damn cards already.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Next Monday the reveals start and there will be a lot of cards each day to talk about.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkht17z">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>What did you get instead of the 0 armor if you didn't choose it?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>One was a defensive armor + defensive minions pick. The other was a more aggressive minions with no armor pick or something like that.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhusz0">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>Do all of them cost 6 mana?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>No</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhus4x">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>So, if i play Deathstalker Rexxar with mage, and then play glyph, will i discover hunter spells?
Or do you mean with "replacing your hero" mostly the artwork and hero power?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Playing Rexxar is a lot like playing shadowform as mage. Your hero power changes but behind the scenes you are still a mage with a mage deck.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhuvn7">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<blockquote class="quoted">
    <div class="md"><p>Just make sure you are not locked out of changing a card because there is no scheduled patch for three months.</p>

<p>I remember comments about how you couldn't do anything about small time bucaneer because the next patch was so far away. Being risky is awesome and I admire that but plans in case some things go wrong are even better. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="md"><p>Right, when we make a change we do so in 15 languages and around 50 countries. On different phone infrastructures and different network structures (China uses different phone and network providers than USA for example).</p>

<p>This means it takes some time but we are able to do things faster these days and we are also more willing to do things more often because of the philosophy of pushing cards and then if we go too far - change them.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhv25p">Mike Donais</a>)
<hr/>

<p><div class="md"><p>I never said that all classes get lifesteal. </p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Well to be fair - the question was "Explain how hero cards work".</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhs9fq">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Right, we ended up linking up all 9 of these heroes at 5 armor. For a while the druid had a choose one where he either got 0 or 10 armor. </p>

<p><div class="md"><p>In addition when I said "too good" in my head I was thinking "every priest deck for 2 years" not that the power level would be too high.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhseet">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Thanks Helz2000! </p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhsh67">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Printing this out and posting it on the wall in 60 point font...</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Next Monday the reveals start and there will be a lot of cards each day to talk about.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkht17z">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>One was a defensive armor + defensive minions pick. The other was a more aggressive minions with no armor pick or something like that.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhusz0">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>No</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhus4x">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Playing Rexxar is a lot like playing shadowform as mage. Your hero power changes but behind the scenes you are still a mage with a mage deck.</p>
</div> (<a href="http://www.shacknews.com/article/100661/hearthstone-designers-talk-knights-of-the-frozen-throne-hero-cards-rogue-and-moredkhuvn7">Source</a>)</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>Right, when we make a change we do so in 15 languages and around 50 countries. On different phone infrastructures and different network structures (China uses different phone and network providers than USA for example).</p>

<p><div class="md"><p>I never said that all classes get lifesteal. </p>

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Hearthstone Designers talk Knights of the Frozen Throne, Hero Cards, Rogue, and more

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