Ask the Idea Guru

[OldTrees]

I was thinking... what do you think of actual game wording?
I feel that there is a general lack of standardization and we could have more clearness by redefining some texts on cards (leaving mechanics untouched).

Do you know if someone already start a similar project?
Do you think it could be a useful thing to do?

I feel in general the wording is sufficiently precise/concise for the mechanics. There is sufficient standardization in cases where standardization is important ("Target").

It was discussed in small bits in http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,28533
Voodoo was discussed http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,19120

Increased clarity while not required is valuable. From my experience in the Voodoo Doll thread, it takes more work than expected and consensus is unlikely on more complicated cards.

[Daguerreo]

Hello Guru!

Please could you help us to build mechanics in:
Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35365.0.html)
Atlas (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35223.0.html)


Specific question about Royal Guard | Royal Guard (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,34759.0.html):
Should I increase atk to 1 to make it affectable by opponent shields?
Which is a better name for its ability?


And a general opinion about Enchanted Sea | Enchanted Ocean (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35338.0.html)

[OldTrees]

Hello Guru!

Please could you help us to build mechanics in:
Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35365.0.html)
Atlas (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35223.0.html)


Specific question about Royal Guard | Royal Guard (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,34759.0.html):
Should I increase atk to 1 to make it affectable by opponent shields?
Which is a better name for its ability?


And a general opinion about Enchanted Sea | Enchanted Ocean (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35338.0.html)

Magpie:
Both the stealing effects (from deck or from hand) would add  something to the game.
Stealing from the hand is twice the net card advantage (2x  the value of Hasten)
Stealing from the deck is a Milling win condition

Atlas:
Usually there are fewer non creatures slots filled than creature slots filled. 1 per 2 < 1 per creature.
It is hard to make a good comparison to balance Atlas. Fractal Spark, Unstable Gas and Bolts might be useful.

Royal Guard:
Should I increase atk to 1 to make it affectable by opponent shields?
If necessary, I think the Gravity Pull is sufficient vulnerability.
Which is a better name for its ability?
Hold the Line? Protect is sufficient IMO.

Enchanted Sea | Enchanted Ocean:
It is interesting. I see many paths it opens. I do not know if it needs a more indepth explanation for how is able to power the abilities of your creature.

[jacker]

Hey, i'm trying to empower a bit water, conisdering ita has a lot of half sinergies, i tried with this card.


intending that you receive the same type and value of quanta that creature need to activate its ability.
Is a bad concept, or it is worth a try?

[OldTrees]

Hey, i'm trying to empower a bit water, conisdering ita has a lot of half sinergies, i tried with this card.

intending that you receive the same type and value of quanta that creature need to activate its ability.
Is a bad concept, or it is worth a try?

The core of the card is "creatures get free skill uses per successful attacks".
Obviously this excludes creatures with 0 attack. (Chrysaora unupped only, Steam Machine mono  only)
Limiting it to Water creatures seems unnecessary.
Adrenaline will be interesting. (Adrenal Nymph could power Bolts?)

SoR is similar to but not the same as a single target version of this core effect.

Flooding costs 3 |2 Absorb . 7 Absorb  is expensive. Is the mass effect worth the cost?

Consider different implementations (Single target or growing number of targets or mass, status effect or permanent, ...) to identify which implementation fits best.

[Rutarete]

For Stopwatch (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,27379.0.html), I've received many different cost suggestions - including ones above the current cost - some from the thread and some from chat boards. What do you think is a fitting cost for it?

[OldTrees]

For Stopwatch (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,27379.0.html), I've received many different cost suggestions - including ones above the current cost - some from the thread and some from chat boards. What do you think is a fitting cost for it?

Since it counts the beginning and end but not the duration of the delay or freeze or silence, it prefers short delay durations.
Turtle Shield 6 |4 + 1 card for on average X per turn where X is the number of creatures the opponent has.

Soul Catcher is the best starting place for variable per turn quanta production.
It produces  | per death trigger.

variable per turn quanta production is balanced as:
Output per trigger * Average triggers per turn -> Cost

Stopwatch produces  with half of that delayed 1 turn.
How does  X + X compare with 2X ?
The increased versatility seems balanced with the forced diversification.

Stopwatch triggers using delay or freeze or silence.
The ideal engine of delay is Turtle shield. X/2 triggers per turn where X is the number of enemy creatures.
The ideal engine of death triggers is the Cat. Y triggers per turn where Y is the number of cats.
Obviously delay is going to be more frequent than death triggers.

Based on the increased output and frequency of the triggers, I think it deserves to cost 3x unupped Soulcatcher. [2 |1 + 1 card]
However playtesting will be needed.

[Pineapple]

Adding onto the previous discussion on a "softer" Elements, how do you feel about all the situational yet devastating effects in elements, e.g. Purify, reflective shields, and Sanctuary?

[OldTrees]

Adding onto the previous discussion on a "softer" Elements, how do you feel about all the situational yet devastating effects in elements, e.g. Purify, reflective shields, and Sanctuary?

Situational yet devastating effects are ridiculously hard to balance. In addition, as exceptions, they are usually clunky patches rather than elegant balance solutions.

I believe that there should be variation between the optimal circumstance and less optimal circumstances. Too little variation leads to bland cards. Too much leads to unfortunately situational yet destructive cards.

To test my view consider the following two extremes:
Flip
Cost: 0
Played immediately when drawn. Flip a coin. Heads you win, tails you lose.

Bye Bob
Cost: 0
Starts in your hand. If your opponent is named Bob, you win.
Neither is fun or valuable. Yet valuable cards appear between these two extremes.

Reflective Shield (unupped only) is the worst offender with Holy Light not far behind
Santuary heals 4hp per turn. (relatively useful since SoG is not much cheaper)
Purify heals 1|2hp per turn. (not much but it is always useful)
Mirror Shield is cheap and has DR and Immaterial. (useful)
Emerald shield has DR and Immaterial. (overpriced but useful)
Holy Light is creature healing. (useless unless you plan to hurt your creature with Rage, Gravity Pull or Voodoo)
Reflective Shield. (reduce your  by 1 to mitigate devourer or black hole)

There is a silver lining. The above cards in EtG do not need to be changed despite the room for improvement.

[EmeraldTiger]

did u do a cost/balance for http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35324.0.html ?

[OldTrees]

did u do a cost/balance for http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35324.0.html ?

No.

Unupped
It is better than
2|4 creature with : gain +1|+1
2 attack is worth 2
Half growth is worth 1.5
Such a creature would cost 2.5 + 1 card
Fungus Monster should cost more than 2.5 + 1 card.

Upgraded
It is better than
2|4 creature with  gain +2|+2
2 attack is worth 2
Half growth is worth 3
Such a creature would cost 3 + 1 card (upgraded)

However the Generate and the activation cost is a "bit" over complicated and unnecessary.

[EmeraldTiger]

General analyse for Confusion (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35472.0.html) please.