Despite wanting to get out of the balance discussion I find its running through my head (probably because its saturating the forums at the moment). So here's yet more on balance. This thread is for suggestions to balance that do NOT include changing existing cards or items. This is not a vote against changing cards or items, its just that virtually all balance discussion has been surrounding a linear approach of buff or nerf and I want to encourage some outside-the-box alternatives to be considered. Again just wanting to add options, not necessarily against already suggested methods. I believe more ideas will help the devs think about the best ways to bring about good play. So in this thread don't even worry too much about how good or poor an idea is, just let the creative unique juices flow!
My suggestion to get the ball rolling would be that in MP each team has the ability to cast a single "game-wide effect" that remains in effect for both teams for the length of the match. There would be a pool of effects (maybe even a rotating pool which would create a rotating meta) that each player gets to play 1 from to start the game. These effects, depending on how wild they get, could greatly effect balance without having to modify existing content. Possible effect ideas (the options are limitless): When a character plays more than one card of the same name in a round, they must first discard a card. When any card effects or targets more than one character, roll a die, result less 3 and the card is canceled and discarded. All open terrain for the remainder of the game is hindering terrain. (If the previous is too strong) At the start of each round roll a die, result less than 4 and all open terrain becomes hindering terrain, duration 1. All cards with "Step" have their step value reduced by half (round up). Both sides have a draw limit of X. All ranged attacks have their range reduced by half (round up). Etc. Etc. And of course the effects could be given snappy names (for example the last one could be "Morning Fog"). The idea has plenty of room for flushing out, but you get the idea.
I don't like this special rule for every game for 2 reasons: 1) adds not needed complexity and 2) changes the game too much. We had an extension where Pushback Parry was meant to counter step attacks and Stone Feet WWs. Pushback Parry is a very good counter to step attacks but players only have 0 or 2 of them in a deck and the consequences of stepping into a PB Parry are usually worth the risk. Ideal case would be where players wouldn't want to use step attacks when they didn't have to move, just for standing and attacking, but I have no idea how to achieve that. And Stone Feet... doesn't come with anything good enough to play it. There could be a tokenless divine item with 3 of it or a divine weapon with 3 useful cards and 3 Stone Feet. These 2 Strong Bludgeons for 2 minor tokens are not good enough.
Scarponi, you REALLY have an irrational hatred for items with similar cards and/or stacking of the same card. Nearly all of those suggestions are really clunky, hard to communicate, and don't solve existing problems without introducing a ton of their own. It might introduce weird gameplay styles, but isn't that what Leagues were intended for? Once Jon gets Item / Card Restrictions in place I'm sure they will be a lot more interesting.
Huh? Where do you get that impression. There is nothing particular to this thread, or in the general concept of my one idea that is targeting stacking cards in a deck. The one line: was one of many possibilities where I was trying to indicate possible scenarios that would address what other people had brought up elsewhere. If this is enough to indicate an irrational hatred, then I must also have an irrational hatred for multi-target cards, open terrain, etc. In actual fact, I think stacking the same cards in a deck is part of smart deck building and have absolutely no problem with it.
Ah, sorry. I had you confused with Kalin for a second due to the overblown nerfing of "same card items" from another post ( http://forums.cardhunter.com/threads/yet-another-balance-thread-june-2014.6038/ ). My apologies. =) That's what I get for posting at 8 AM without much sleep. ><
