Hi, new here, sorry if this has been asked before but I just wanted to know if there's a way to play cooperatively with friends. Also, my befriend button is grayed out, so I can't add friends? Thanks for the answers!
Friend list is under development and shall be available in a coming update. Co-op mode is not available yet either. I think I've read some interview mentioning the devs are interested in a co-op mode and are looking into it, but maybe I'm just recalling stuff which never happened, so don't quote me on this please
We're definitely interested in co-op, but that would be a huge undertaking. Patience on that for now but we're definitely looking at it
As good as the idea of having a team strategy sounds, wouldn't it be kinda slow having to wait for your your friend to play his cards? and then having the AI do his thing, I mean with the current system at least I feel there would be too much dead time to have an enjoyable PvE experience. Maybe you can have some kind of "Ghost" of your friend, having one of his characters in your party and being AI controlled... I don't know I can't think of anything that wouldn't slow down the gameplay inmensely beyond that.
co-op definitely poses some serious design problems. I don't think the waiting part is the most prominent either, as turns tend to require far less thinking in PvE scenarios. Also, the AI pretty much plays its turn instantly. I would think your typical co-op game might run at a slightly faster pace of a MP one, if not much faster. What I'm most worried about though, is the fact co-op requires some degree of coordination between the two players. While the chat might suffice, the devs need to take this in consideration, as people don't expect a co-op campaign to feel exactly the same as solo play. Co-op adventures would need to feel like a challenge which needs effective cooperation to succeed for a co-op mode to truly shine. I don't like the "Ghost" friend much. If co-op wass all about an AI-controlled character in your party, that wouldn't really be co-op at all. That's leaving all technical hurdles aside to begin with. Then there's the number of characters on screen problem. 6 all on the same board seem like an awful lot. Not saying it couldn't be done, but that would make for awfully long turns (considering the number of opposing monsters would be proportionally higher too). 4-character parties, 2 per player, seems far more manageable. Last but not least, Blue Manchu would need to craft additional content specifically for the co-op mode. Because of everything already stated (and many things I probably can't even think about) they can't really re-use the already available adventures/maps in the co-op. Everything would need to be specifically designed for 2 players. Not stating all this to say co-op is not going to happen (I hope it does, eventually!), but I felt like stressing there's good reason if the devs stated they can't promise much yet and that co-op wouldn't be coming anytime soon anyways. Not just a matter of snapping once fingers for co-op to suddenly be a thing I guess.
I was thinking that they could just re-use the existing adventures, giving each player one character. The only question would be how many players should be allowed... Three is the obvious number, but the game would move faster with only two players. Also, if we assume the co-op is like the quests, only unlocked once the adventure (or maybe the entire campaign) is complete, then there's nothing wrong with making it more difficult. On the other hand, the fact that you're just throwing uncoordinated people together may be enough of an increase in difficulty. It's true that co-op will be better with custom maps, but the existing adventures are creative and fun. No reason to waste that.
I've seen other online games where you can ask your friends for help. Maybe something could be done where you mark one of your chars as "Share with friends" and then anyone you claim as a friend can borrow that char. Borrowed chars can't be used in ranked MP or first time through SP dungeons or quests, but can be used in place of your shared char in casual games and dungeon repeats. What about three-way MP? There's room for 6 decks at the top of the screen, and when one of your chars dies each opponent could get one star.
If you're talking about PvP, the reason why three-way symmetric PvP doesn't usually work is because you generally wind up with one of two scenarios: two players gang up on the third, or two players beat on each other until one is dead and the other is so weak that the third can just walk over them.
Co-op missions would be great, I'd really like to see that. On the PvP side, it would work if you enlarged the maps and had 2 v 2.
Maybe we'll see some separate big battles - or boss fights. Not sure a mp campaign would be a good way to go, even though a lot of people enjoy coop - some people mostly enjoy the sp content.
This would seem easiest option. 1 character each, biggest problem would probably be who gets to play his card during "player turn". Assuming it would work same way as SP. Giving every player turn between monster turns could lead to interesting balancing issues. Two full parties could be immensely powerfull, especially if coordinated. Forcing huge variance in diffuculty levels. Can't really expect 2 newbies to enjoy same adventures as 2 players with all quests done and fully synergising parties.
Definitely lots of possibilities. I just felt like sharing my own view on a few possible design challenges.
