[Suggestion] Pengw1n ponders: Four Leaf Clovers - making luck an actual mechanic.

On and off throughout the beta there have been a few people complaining about the game relying too much on random numbers (RNG is the term thrown around, no matter it's actual origin as Random Number Generation). While I don't agree with this , and see the deck/party building mechanic as a tool to battle this, it made me think about how "Luck" could actually be introduced (or even retconned) into Card Hunter.

The Racial Aspect

Four Leaf Clovers would be a resource tied to racial selection. All current races are somewhat balanced and would work out getting 1 each, any future race could be balanced around other numbers - for instance, 2 would make sense for Halflings (that are usually lucky in lore) and allow for more diversity (not just hp, race move and racial skill).

The Progression Aspect

Potentially every 10 levels you could aquire an additional Four Leaf Clover (FLC), but it would probably be enough with the initial tokens realistically. It all depends on how much you want to spin a new mechanic as part of the progression.

The Spending Aspect

FLCs would appear att the bottom of the specific figurine on your card hand track, coloured green - or black if expended for this map. Any FLC spent would regenerate for the next map (or possibly for the next adventure, depending on balancing). FLC's can be spent on:

• Discarding a card to draw a new one.
• Allowing you to Shuffle
• A reroll of your next failed roll (after activation, lasts until occuring)

The Passive Card Aspect

Existing, and future cards could be fit with a FLC-based keyword that only triggers when you have x Four Leaf Clovers unexpended (depending on if it's static or progression based - i e more obtainable than base amount). Say a block could have a passive +1 roll if you have a green FLC, while another card could have a -1 roll if you have only black FLC's (expended tokens). This would make it a strategic choice to spend, and could even allow for actual deck building based around a keywork like luck mechanic that could.

Would this be balanced (esp for mp)? Would this be fun? Would this be a worth anything to someone thinking the game is too luck based, or just a waste iof time (i e lost cause)? Would this be possible to jury rig (I know BM are just DYING for more feature requests, heh) on top of the current code?

Whaddya think? Madness, brilliance or just a waste of time creating this post?

 

@Merkel: Yeah, my inspiration came from similar mechanics in table top rpgs, correct.

Valid points Lindbergh, but kept limited the FLC's shouldn't be able to cause too much of these issues. Being allowed 1-2 of these actions per character per map (or even adventure if needed) shouldn't allow for too much of an issue - buy maybe suggest it'd be a bad idea to keep it as part of the general level progression. The move option could also be removed entirely I judged imbalanced, I just needed some actions as examples to show what the general idea could be. The main thing is the balanced payoff between keeping and spending, in my mind at least.

 

I'm not looking for a movement customization, that's supposed to be a minor part of the mechanic. And yes, I even suggested taking out the move entirely if it'd be considered too powerful. I'd say it's the least "necessary" of the things to spend FLC on in my view. Don't really see the relation to your idea tbh?

 

Yours is a inventory slot for re-using current cards (yes, I've read your thread), while my suggestion is a meta-mechanic not related to a specific slot - and not replacing or re-using anything currently in game? I don't see it - I'm not looking to change the default racial move here, at most I suggested being able to discard/draw a random card - for that extra "luck" oomph, and have it be related to a "currency". As I said, that bit is also a minor part of my suggestion as I see it.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree then. Pretty much

You're adding a random layer to the game (random draw deck), I'm trying to at least give the illusion of removing it - by giving players a chance to feel they can affect their own luck. Maybe the goal or effect would be the same - but I don't like the basic idea of a controllable slot.