This to me seems to be a combination of classic rpgs with Slay the Spire's map system. You make a team of 4 my guess and each merc has it's own skills. It will be turn based combat similar to Final Fantasy or maybe Darkest Dungeon if they want to add a positioning gimmick. Really curious about how it will play out, this is the least "Hearthstone-like" game mode so far.
My guess is that each merc will be a minion, and enemies will be the enemy minions. They will probably alter some core gameplay features like in Battlegrounds. Perhaps we will finally get a "tap" like in MtG, to activate a minion and do a thing. Or maybe the skills will simply be "when this attacks" or "round starts" or spells in hand themed around the mercs. Basically imagine the demon hunter adventure, but instead of a deck, it's all about those 4 special characters and they do a bunch more shit than just act like regular minions.
One of the main aspects of Slay the Spire is the map which Mercenaries seem to have copied. The map consists of multiple interconnected paths with different encounters, and you may move from one to the other as you wish (though never progressing backwards). So there is an element of decision making about the fights. You could choose a path with more Elite encounters for better loot and harder fights, or a path with many Events (non combat encounters) to preserve your health. Events are like mini roleplay moments. "You find a shrine dedicated to C'Thun. It has many gold offerings at its base." and you get the options to pillage it for the gold and maybe get cursed, or pray to it, not getting the curse but obtaining a buff. Stuff like that.
Didn't expect Zilean of all champs to appear now. He isn't even in the Shurima page on the universe site. Each region will have 7 champs with this new expansion cycle. Shurima will 100% have Azir, Xerath, Renekton and Nasus. Sivir is also too important to not appear, Skarner will get released later along a P&Z champ for that hextech crystal drama i think. Rammus and Ammumu seem not important enough to appear now in my opinion. Talyiah is a 50/50.
The true "Ascended" term refers to the people who were transformed by the Sun Disk into furries beings of awesome power. They are more or less immortal and were the elite of the elite in ancient Shurima.
After Shurima got destroyed (long story), most surviving ascended got a bit power mad and warred against each other. No one could kill them really so humans just played along out of fear and/or worship. Then Zoe came along (yes that Zoe) and imprisoned these now evil ascended into weapons. They thus became Darkin. (Aatrox, Varus and Rhaast; Rhaast is Kayn's Scthe, they have an intense edgy anime battle of wits over who holds control of the body. Varus is what happens if Rhaast would win, Varus fully possessed two guys and merged their bodies, long story...)
Xerath hijacked Azir's ascension ritual and tried to ascend himself, tho it worked better than expected...? He became a being of pure energy. Not a real Ascended but he may be in the tribe in the game.
The Aspects of Targon (Diana, Leona, Taric, Pantheon and Zoe) are something else. Targon has these... celestial...gods...alien things, who might have an empire in the stars and enslaved Aurelion Sol somehow?? They choose human avatars for their powers. Zoe is just one of these gods themselves in person. Pantheon had one of them possess/empower him but something something the god died. He did leave some magic juice on Pantheon's abs tho so he has some cool powers still.
The pack change is great, glad they did that. However the "wait for events" reply to the backlash they got is... worrying. I for one don't trust them at all to just sit, wait and hope this time they'll do it right.
This has got to be one of the most forced things i've seen. Whole thing feels shallow, made just for money. Harrowing event would have been much better. Oh well, at least the spells are interesting, even though the shiny crystal popstar animations don't fit the game at all...
Added an alternate art version and made only the "ALL" in caps. I originally put "TO ALL CHARACTERS" in caps as a goofy joke due to the ridiculous effect of the card, similar to how Power Overwhelming has a funny description. But, for the sake of consistency, i made it conform to other such effects.
First of all it ruins "imersion" in game. LoR is supposed to be the game where we get to see the world of Runeterra. Having these popstar spells would be like getting Overwatch cards in Hearthstone. Feels out of place.
Second of all, this is pure promotion. K/DA is a real life collaboration of artists and singers, corporations and advertisers. It's a giant ad basically for the band Riot made and their upcoming song. And i don't like ads in my games.
I know it's not required but i just think it's bad design. Whenever a new champ is released he gets followers which help his game plan. Swain got a bunch of spells that deal damage to both allied and enemy units, and units that deal direct nexus damage. Vi got all that 2 cost draw stuff play stuff package (even if she became a control staple and not an aggro/midrange). Aurelion has dragons with fury which keep growing for his level up requirement. Vlad has units that benefit from self damage. Nautilus and Maokai have toss followers.
It's true some champs don't have direct supportive synergy like Trundle's, but his have the behold 8 cost card stuff which has synergy with what the champ does.
My point is literally no card besides Bayou Brunch helps Tahm, and using him to heal his followers seems like a huge waste. Better ibliterate an enemy than heal a 2/2 to a 2/4, or a 3/1 challenger to a 3/4. Keep in mind to do that he needs to attack (meaning the unit you wanna heal is just removed for that attack), or level up (it stays in him for 1 or 2 whole rounds).
Perhaps Soraka will work well with him, but i think this level of codependency on another region just makes the cards bad.
I'm really not sure about this. He has 6 hp and takes damage every time he captures something with his created spell. Seems like he'd die super easily.
He needs 3 turns to create 3 spells, he needs 3 other units with low attack to capture them and not die, and then he needs to somehow not get removed on the meantime. And his spell is slow speed, and fleeting. How on earth is he ever gonna level up?
And the payoff seems very weak. Sure, he obliterates the 3 things he captured, but most of the time that will be small stuff, so he doesn't die on his way to leveling up. And after he does, he needs to attack to obliterate again, which is a guaranteed death sentence with how low he will be.
And what's with his followers? There is 0 synergy between them. They take damage for what reason? Has nothing to do with how Tahm works. I guess maybe he can heal them by eating them and spitting them out? But why do all this contrived stuff and not just play good statted followers right away. All these guys would be better as Vlad followers than Tahm, at least there would be a payoff for playing them.
Lightwarden anyone? this has 3 hp but only grows 1 attack at a time and only from friendly heals. Doubt it will see play but maybe it gets support.
This to me seems to be a combination of classic rpgs with Slay the Spire's map system. You make a team of 4 my guess and each merc has it's own skills. It will be turn based combat similar to Final Fantasy or maybe Darkest Dungeon if they want to add a positioning gimmick. Really curious about how it will play out, this is the least "Hearthstone-like" game mode so far.
My guess is that each merc will be a minion, and enemies will be the enemy minions. They will probably alter some core gameplay features like in Battlegrounds. Perhaps we will finally get a "tap" like in MtG, to activate a minion and do a thing. Or maybe the skills will simply be "when this attacks" or "round starts" or spells in hand themed around the mercs. Basically imagine the demon hunter adventure, but instead of a deck, it's all about those 4 special characters and they do a bunch more shit than just act like regular minions.
One of the main aspects of Slay the Spire is the map which Mercenaries seem to have copied. The map consists of multiple interconnected paths with different encounters, and you may move from one to the other as you wish (though never progressing backwards). So there is an element of decision making about the fights. You could choose a path with more Elite encounters for better loot and harder fights, or a path with many Events (non combat encounters) to preserve your health. Events are like mini roleplay moments. "You find a shrine dedicated to C'Thun. It has many gold offerings at its base." and you get the options to pillage it for the gold and maybe get cursed, or pray to it, not getting the curse but obtaining a buff. Stuff like that.
Didn't expect Zilean of all champs to appear now. He isn't even in the Shurima page on the universe site. Each region will have 7 champs with this new expansion cycle. Shurima will 100% have Azir, Xerath, Renekton and Nasus. Sivir is also too important to not appear, Skarner will get released later along a P&Z champ for that hextech crystal drama i think. Rammus and Ammumu seem not important enough to appear now in my opinion. Talyiah is a 50/50.
The true "Ascended" term refers to the people who were transformed by the Sun Disk into furries beings of awesome power. They are more or less immortal and were the elite of the elite in ancient Shurima.
After Shurima got destroyed (long story), most surviving ascended got a bit power mad and warred against each other. No one could kill them really so humans just played along out of fear and/or worship. Then Zoe came along (yes that Zoe) and imprisoned these now evil ascended into weapons. They thus became Darkin. (Aatrox, Varus and Rhaast; Rhaast is Kayn's Scthe, they have an intense edgy anime battle of wits over who holds control of the body. Varus is what happens if Rhaast would win, Varus fully possessed two guys and merged their bodies, long story...)
Xerath hijacked Azir's ascension ritual and tried to ascend himself, tho it worked better than expected...? He became a being of pure energy. Not a real Ascended but he may be in the tribe in the game.
The Aspects of Targon (Diana, Leona, Taric, Pantheon and Zoe) are something else. Targon has these... celestial...gods...alien things, who might have an empire in the stars and enslaved Aurelion Sol somehow?? They choose human avatars for their powers. Zoe is just one of these gods themselves in person. Pantheon had one of them possess/empower him but something something the god died. He did leave some magic juice on Pantheon's abs tho so he has some cool powers still.
League lore. It's weird man.
Warlock still has Treachery
But nooo! You can't have alternative card art! It will confuse new players!
Oh God that card art
The pack change is great, glad they did that. However the "wait for events" reply to the backlash they got is... worrying. I for one don't trust them at all to just sit, wait and hope this time they'll do it right.
Shadow Clone - "You thought you were attacking face, but it was me! You!"
This has got to be one of the most forced things i've seen. Whole thing feels shallow, made just for money. Harrowing event would have been much better. Oh well, at least the spells are interesting, even though the shiny crystal popstar animations don't fit the game at all...
Don't kink shame blizzard artists!
Added an alternate art version and made only the "ALL" in caps. I originally put "TO ALL CHARACTERS" in caps as a goofy joke due to the ridiculous effect of the card, similar to how Power Overwhelming has a funny description. But, for the sake of consistency, i made it conform to other such effects.
So, which art is better?
Only the strongest shall survive!
I don't like this.
First of all it ruins "imersion" in game. LoR is supposed to be the game where we get to see the world of Runeterra. Having these popstar spells would be like getting Overwatch cards in Hearthstone. Feels out of place.
Second of all, this is pure promotion. K/DA is a real life collaboration of artists and singers, corporations and advertisers. It's a giant ad basically for the band Riot made and their upcoming song. And i don't like ads in my games.
Well... i suppose this is what Tahm's followers are for.
Maokai probably wins you the game on the spot, instant mill. Opponent has 4 turns left before dying to fatigue
I know it's not required but i just think it's bad design. Whenever a new champ is released he gets followers which help his game plan. Swain got a bunch of spells that deal damage to both allied and enemy units, and units that deal direct nexus damage. Vi got all that 2 cost draw stuff play stuff package (even if she became a control staple and not an aggro/midrange). Aurelion has dragons with fury which keep growing for his level up requirement. Vlad has units that benefit from self damage. Nautilus and Maokai have toss followers.
It's true some champs don't have direct supportive synergy like Trundle's, but his have the behold 8 cost card stuff which has synergy with what the champ does.
My point is literally no card besides Bayou Brunch helps Tahm, and using him to heal his followers seems like a huge waste. Better ibliterate an enemy than heal a 2/2 to a 2/4, or a 3/1 challenger to a 3/4. Keep in mind to do that he needs to attack (meaning the unit you wanna heal is just removed for that attack), or level up (it stays in him for 1 or 2 whole rounds).
Perhaps Soraka will work well with him, but i think this level of codependency on another region just makes the cards bad.
It's also Slow, while Vengeance is Fast.
I'm really not sure about this. He has 6 hp and takes damage every time he captures something with his created spell. Seems like he'd die super easily.
He needs 3 turns to create 3 spells, he needs 3 other units with low attack to capture them and not die, and then he needs to somehow not get removed on the meantime. And his spell is slow speed, and fleeting. How on earth is he ever gonna level up?
And the payoff seems very weak. Sure, he obliterates the 3 things he captured, but most of the time that will be small stuff, so he doesn't die on his way to leveling up. And after he does, he needs to attack to obliterate again, which is a guaranteed death sentence with how low he will be.
And what's with his followers? There is 0 synergy between them. They take damage for what reason? Has nothing to do with how Tahm works. I guess maybe he can heal them by eating them and spitting them out? But why do all this contrived stuff and not just play good statted followers right away. All these guys would be better as Vlad followers than Tahm, at least there would be a payoff for playing them.