We've got a brand new type of cosmetic card coming to Hearthstone in Forged in the Barrens' Patch 20.0 - Diamond Cards!
- Diamond cards feature 3d animations.
- More cart art due to the larger frame.
- These cards are not craftable and as such cannot be disenchanted.
- These cards cannot be found in card packs.
Two cards in Forged in the Barrens are getting this treatment:
- Diamond Blademaster Samuro
- Instantly obtainable by purchasing the Forged in the Barrens Tavern Pass and claiming the card on the Rewards track.
- Diamond Bru’kan
- Obtained by completing the Forged in the Barrens Legendary Collector 5/5 Achievement (Collect all Legendary cards from the set.)
Quote From Blizzard *NEW* I want to buy the Tavern Pass, but what if I get Blademaster Samuro as one of my Pre-Purchase Legendary drops?
- We put in protections to make sure none of your Pre-Purchase Legendary drops are wasted. Diamond Blademaster Samuro is uncraftable, and no version of Blademaster Samuro will drop as a Pre-Purchase Legendary. Normal and Golden Blademaster Samuro can still be found in packs or crafted – so if you plan to purchase the Tavern Pass, do so and claim Blademaster Samuro before opening packs!
- Normal Mankrik is free on the Reward Track at level 1 and uncraftable. Mankrik won't drop as a Pre-Purchase Legendary or drop from packs. Golden Mankrik can still be found in packs or crafted.
Comments
My first impressions were that these feel ridiculously over the top AND like a pale shadow of what Runeterra’s animations give us.
I know, I know, my two opinions contradict each other. I THINK the thing that makes these weird for me is that there are only two in the game. If the next expansion has 10-20 Diamond cards that are obtainable in a variety of ways (some of them F2P-friendly), then I’ll probably enjoy them.
EDIT: Here’s how I’d do it if I were elected President of Hearthstone:
1) Make about 15 Diamond cards with an expansion.
2) Hand out “Diamond Forges” which are special items that let you craft Diamond cards for a specific set. Players can choose which card they want.
3) Give out Diamond Forges in a variety of ways. Obviously, the pass and pre-orders will give them out, as will a special offer mid-set. You also get one with every 100th pack you open. Then you can earn some more with various achievements, mostly F2P: Complete a solo adventure on Hard mode. Get 50 total wins in Arena/Paid Duels. Get 15 wins in any mode with each class. Maybe one or two more.
4) Profit!
Well, in ideal world cosmetics should finance the game. You can get all cards for free but if you want to support us pays us for shiny cards.
I’m not an expert on how to run F2P games, and I’d love to hear more about it from someone who does know. But even Runeterra gives some cosmetics away, and profiting from cosmetics is their main focus. So I agree with you that Hearthstone should to profit from Diamond cards, but I’m pretty sure that it helps them to give all players a taste.
My vision is that an active F2P player can earn 2-3 diamond cards per expansion, a player who spends some money can earn up to 5 or 6, and whales will get a lot more.
Speaking for myself, these diamond cards feel silly right now. They’re over the top and scream “I bought this specific deal to get this animation!” Gold cards, on the other hand, which can be earned through a mixture of luck and spending resources, instead say “isn’t it cool that I have this???” I spend some money on the game, and I’ll become more interested in earning diamond cards when they feel more like a really cool thing I earned. That’s why I suggest that they let me choose which diamond to craft, while always offering the opportunity to earn another.
That's a great point, which I hadn't thought of. The limit of two available Diamond cards removes personality from the process - you can't be the cool quirky dude with the golden Snowflipper Penguin. You're just some shmuck who paid 100 bucks for an expansion.
Thanks for putting into words why this feels underwhelming to me.
Reminds me a whole lot about the LoR prismatic card skins. Never really liked them that much and they can be a bit too distracting. This feels similar to that. I much prefer the golden borders to these diamond ones. Cool animations tho.
New shiny thing. Looks cool. Nice cosmetic idea. I was thinking of getting the pass anyway this time and a new shiny thing doesn't hurt. Cant wait to see it in game.
Neat.
I love the extra space for the artwork, the characters really pop but I'll wait until I see it in-game to tell whether I like the new frame or not. This might will push me towards the tavern pass.
I think so too. Especially because it guarantees I get a card (Samuro) I want anyway.
They're kinda ugly imo.
Wow getting upvoted for criticism in the Hearthstone community. That's rare.
Yeah, kinda agree. Just means it's something I'm not gonna have to worry about.
Those are absolutely beautiful.
Love this
I guess it's fine, though I think this can make Golden cards feel less special and it's not like everybody has their fav legendaries in gold so for the people who doesn't have too many gold cards this makes those cards feel worse.
Does it, though? The acquisition conditions are very different.
Cool concept... I'm kinda glad that this isn't announcing that other card are getting this treatment in card packs or through dust. That would honestly be just a straight up money grab. But limiting the number of them is pretty cool and something that most people can get.
Most ppl can get? One u need to pay. The other u need to have all legendaries of the set. How many packs is that? And i never felt the need to buy the tavern pass nor will i. Considering most player base is either f2p or just buy a little packs im not seeing most ppl getting it. Which im not against. Cosmetics being bought is fine
Its gonna be really cool to see this cards for my opponent. I dont buy the tavern pass and i never collected all legendaries cards of each set even when i usually buy a lot of packs
My main problem: since we will got the second diamond legendary quite late, it would suck that you will most likely laready have the regular or golden version.