Creature Classification [NEW]

[Lanidrak]

Okay, well maybe far from polished was strong language.

I'd agree with you, it is a remarkably good-looking game. I particularly like the seemless flow of your turn, and the distinct lack of stopping and starting.

The recent addition of the 'status' bar - when you 'mouse-over' a creature is just one step in making the game even better. Instead of having to count the turns as a way of finding out when it will un-freeze etc.

I agree, that the scope of this idea is remarkable. But, I do not think it will require a complete redesigning of the core of the game. Alas, I know very little about these things. But I think it could be implemented fairly easily. I highly doubt that Elements was created in a manner that would not allow quick and easy edits/nerfs/balances/changes/updates to single cards - and in that respect, it would not be such a time-consuming task to apply a classification to a few creature cards, implement a couple new cards wh ich use this new aspect of a creature card, and then balance it accordingly.

I think that it is nice how we are getting lots and lots of new cards on a regular basis. But, if things continue at this pace, people might lose sight of the simplicity of the game. We will have very many cards that are too rooted in their function. This suggestion (Creature Classification) will rather open up and untie the rooting of these creatures. For example, a vanilla creature is just that. Medium damage, no ability, medium cost. Give a vanilla creature a classification and it immediatly opens up a whole new realm of possibilities.

Anyways, I'm glad you liked the idea and I must agree that it is a large concept. But I do not feel that it can not be implemented gradually, and systematically. Without requiring a complete re-working of the core game engine.

[Glitch]

Creature classification was an aspect used by magic the gathering because it was limited to only five elements.

The game elements, meanwhile, has twelve, and there are currently only three elemental based cards.  (Holy light, flooding, and eclipse)

While I think this is a could be a good idea, it would be more prudent to wait until more cards are added to make such a change.

[hyoniin]

Elements is still in it's early stages, sure we have the game and it seems to work nicely - but it is far from polished.

I have to strongly disagree with that. I think Elements was surprisingly polished 3 months after launch, let alone now after one year. Why do you think Elements is "far from polished"? What aspects of it would need polishing?

Sure people complain about stuff like game balance but I've never played an online game where people weren't complaining about balance. The truth is that there are no instant win decks or cards, and the current game balance is pretty damn good.

What you suggest on this thread is a pretty good idea that has been used in many popular CCG's. However in Elements it would pretty much mean redesigning of the core of the game. I personally think that instead of "fixing" the core of the game, Elements simply needs more cards and more content (which is what we've been getting lately). There's no point in spending 100+ hours fixing something that isn't broken.

Amen to that sister I couldn't agree more.  I think that a lot of people's concerns with elements seeming to shallow in its depth resolves from the limited number of cards.  With the introduction of new cards it provides for a lot more diversification in play styles since spreading the available choices out will inevitably allow for more successful deck builds that utilize very different approaches.

[Lanidrak]

Meh, I disagree.

More cards will be nice, but we're soon going to run out of ideas. Or cards will just become bland - we are all slightly limited in what we can do / suggest. This classification system will totally reverse that, and what's more, it will immediately give us say 20 new cards? More if you can think of any! That is, 20 new cards that would theoretically, right now, be impossible to implement in the current system - ie. Without Classification.

[Guitarmankev1]

Creature classification was an aspect used by magic the gathering because it was limited to only five elements.

The game elements, meanwhile, has twelve, and there are currently only three elemental based cards.  (Holy light, flooding, and eclipse)

While I think this is a could be a good idea, it would be more prudent to wait until more cards are added to make such a change.

Even if Creature Classifications are not implemented for some time, I think that new cards concerning the current classification of their element would be good idea. As Gl1tch said, there are some cards that do this already, (Holy light, flooding, and eclipse). Well, why not make some more of these type of cards? Or maybe have some existing cards nodding towards a creatures element, such as fire shield only harming non-fire creatures? Either way, I would like to see some more acknowledgment of a creature's element. Should I start a thread concerning this idea?

[Avenger]

Why is skeleton not in the undead category???

[Scaredgirl]

Why is skeleton not in the undead category???

It is. The "Skeleton" category is probably a mistake.

I like this idea more now after reading it the second time. I've played some Call of Cthulhu CCG which uses the same exact system and it's awesome.

If we had something like this, we could build "beast", "spirit", or "flying" decks which would be pretty cool.

For example Nightfall could be changed from:

"All the death or darkness creatures gain +1/+1"
to:
"All the undead creatures gain +1/+1"


The biggest problem would of course be that this would change the whole game balance and require tons of coding and testing.

EDIT: I moved this thread because it clearly suggest a new feature in the game

[Avenger]

Yes, this creature type thing is in Yu-Gi-Oh too. It first is a bit complicated, but it opens a whole new branch of card types.
(For example, dragon slayer).

[Essence]

we're soon going to run out of ideas.

No offense intended, but this is a joke, right?  I could, all by myself, more than quadruple the number of cards currently in the game without having to add any massive new mechanics to it.  The idea that "we" are going to suddenly run dry on ideas is like the Patent Offices of the world closing down because everything that can be invented has been. 

Now that said, I really love the idea of classifications, and I personally would volunteer to spend the time going through and adding to the Elements database schema if that's what it took to get it done.  It just adds so much flexibility and potential...

[Scaredgirl]

Yep. Card Ideas section alone has new cards for the next 5 years.