I wouldn't say harder, just maybe some way of limiting the maximum loot you can get. Maybe only allowing you to get the guaranteed item the first time you beat that battle in a day? That way you still have incentive to press on, yet not the huge gains I'm currently amassing on test server.
I think SURPRISE ALABASTER DRAGON is pretty difficult myself, hopefully that won't be the soul-crushing end of many runs.
Bite Your Tongue! Better yet, cut it out! Okay, overreacting and exaggerating a bit. 43 minutes, round 4 42 minutes, round 3 I think the ones I died in took the longest. Slow and agonizing, with my last guy almost, almost... ACK!!!
Flax, do you actually run characters like this, or are you just building them this way to be mean? I'm curious.
To clarify, because I asked for # of battles won—you died on the 5th and 4th rounds respectively? Or did you win 3 and 2 battles respectively? Thanks! Heh.
I don't have a real issue with any of the characters except for Ooze Priest, who focuses on the odd job buffs to the exception of the useful ones, and Gandugh, who is useful against spellcasters and fun to play, but has too much forgetfulness and counterspell in most cases.
Runs: Spoiler Doesn't include deaths, just wins. 4 mins - Round 1 finish 4 mins - 2 6 mins - 3 5 mins - 1 4 mins - 2 2 mins (no enemies) - 3 Spoiler 3 mins - 4 Intermittent internet issues after this. 11 mins - 5 8 mins - 6 4 mins - 1 6 mins - 2 6 mins - 3 11 mins - 4 9 mins - 5 2 mins (Only two copper golems in total. I suspect this may be part of the nospawn bug) - 6 15 mins - 7 Died to Sharkbears, trolls, scars and frost sprites on 8 . They clustered around me very quickly. It seems so far people can average between 5-15 mins, which is pretty quick for 2 guaranteed rares, if they have membership. Maybe reduce the reward of the first few if you are worried about farming? One could probably build a pretty decent deck to farm the first level at any rate, I think that should be reduced at least. Or Magic Elves idea seems alright too.
I was able to actually focus on the levels this time, once you get the hang of each character things speed up a lot. Died on 9, took exactly an hour to get there.
Uh...Blitzkinripper? Really? I'm sorry, but come on, that's not even trying to pretend be fair. Even my best constructed party still loses about a fourth of the time against him and any three of these preset heroes would die to my friggin wizard. Blitzkinripper alone wipes out most parties without even trying and now you're throwing him in with minions? That's a pretty big middle finger to someone who managed to claw their way through the RNG of the last nine maps. That aside, I had a really interesting idea for some of these randomized heroes. Obviously I know you want their decks to be weaker than normal, but wouldn't it be fun if a few of these heroes were fashioned after people like Barnum, Hawlic, Zoltan, and other such heroes you've actually named in the game through legendary items and had at least some of the cards to match? I mean, this is supposed to be a chaotic place where heroes of all times and races clash against monsters of all kinds, right? And if you're seriously going to throw the Alabaster Dragon at us, having some actual legendary heroes that could live up to the name might push your chances up to at least horrendously slim.
"Armored Mage" Xander, from Xander's Boots and Xander's Mail (Dwarf Wizard) "Untouchable" Quick Jon, from Quick Jon's Buckler and Quick Jon's Axe (Elf Warrior) "Lifestealer" Glasod, from Glasod's Dark Skull, Glasod's Dark Thighbone, and Glasod's Dark Eye (Elf Priest) "Absentminded" Chartwell, from Chartwell's Ring and Chartwell's Amulet (Human Wizard) "Lady of Winter" Hylithia, from Hylithia's Robes and Hylithia's Wand (Elf Wizard) Encountering one of these guys in your team could be a fun event, yea.
Don't forget my best friend Wym the Burninator (Wym's Fiery Bangle, Wym's Fiery Pin & Wym's Lavastaff). (And don't mention Duncan the Fashionable... Duncan's Chain Cap & Duncan's Leather Cap)