Ask the Idea Guru

[furballdn]

Wow. Great response. Let me make a separate thread for this.
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,42318.new.html#new

[OldTrees]

Interesting thinking experiment: What would the stats of a regular human (You and me as opposed to elementals) be if they were in EtG? You can use other cards, pictures, and gameplay mechanics for reference.

Zaealix has a good answer.

Human: 1|1
Merc: 2|2
Items and Talents vary in magnitude but probably never more than +5|+5
Shakar is an exception.

[eaglgenes101]

Shakar?

[OldTrees]

Shakar?

Shakar was a human in the backstory of the FG grinding deck Shakar's Revenge. He discovered a way to become a voodoo elemental.

[furballdn]

Shakar?

Shakar was a human in the backstory of the FG grinding deck Shakar's Revenge. He discovered a way to become a voodoo elemental.

But is it canon? What exactly is canon anyway?

How do vampires work? Bite the enemy, suck their blood then inject it into you? Do elementals have blood types? How do antimattered vampires work? How do antimattered creatures heal the enemy anyway? Why is a photon or spark as strong (or stronger) than some other creatures that'd seem they'd be stronger?

[memimemi]

But is it canon? What exactly is canon anyway?

How do vampires work? Bite the enemy, suck their blood then inject it into you? Do elementals have blood types? How do antimattered vampires work? How do antimattered creatures heal the enemy anyway? Why is a photon or spark as strong (or stronger) than some other creatures that'd seem they'd be stronger?

Vampires work through magic.  Spooky magic.

Elementals are type O-, or, as it's known in the halls of Heroes, Type negative.

Antimatter works through the power of awesome.  Sheer awesome.  When Awesome is mixed with Magic, somebody's gonna get hurt, as happens with LA decks.

If you don't believe that Photons are powerful, try going outside on a sunny day, with a hangover.

[OldTrees]

Shakar?

Shakar was a human in the backstory of the FG grinding deck Shakar's Revenge. He discovered a way to become a voodoo elemental.

But is it canon? What exactly is canon anyway?

How do vampires work? Bite the enemy, suck their blood then inject it into you? Do elementals have blood types? How do antimattered vampires work? How do antimattered creatures heal the enemy anyway? Why is a photon or spark as strong (or stronger) than some other creatures that'd seem they'd be stronger?

It is not in game canon. However it might be forum canon. (I consider it such)

Vampires drain life from their target using dark magic (instead of earth magic or death magic). I like to assume that their claws have a natural vampiric enchantment.

Antimatter changes the creature so it is partially inverted. This causes their attacks to radiate healing magic.

Photons are probably closer related to Will o Wisps than to photons. Perhaps they are called photons for the lasers they attack with.
Sparks are a living electrical charge of sufficient magnitude. (I would rather fight a Skeleton than the discharge of a powerplant)

[odideph]

Can i have your opinion on the overall concept, the way it is applied, and the balance, of this series please?

[OldTrees]

Can i have your opinion on the overall concept, the way it is applied, and the balance, of this series please?

Average number played in a turn = N
Average value if N are played in a turn = (2^N-1)/N
Cost per card is a function of average value.

In most cases chain will act like a forced combo with itself. The faster the increase the greater the problem.

Note: There are various rates you can have these increase
square for each previous
double for each previous
+1 for each previous
square if there was a previous
double if there was a previous
+1 if there was a previous

[furballdn]

What is happiness and fun? In the context of EtG?

Do all meta games eventually devolve into rock paper scissors or rock paper scissors lizard spork? Is this bad?

Would EtG be better with a much larger card base or a small one?

How do you place more emphasis on creativity/deck building in EtG without grinding or forum based PvP?

[OldTrees]

What is happiness and fun? In the context of EtG?

This varies from player to player. The ability for EtG to reward many different player types is one of its greatest aspects. Here are a few stereotypes:

The Collector has a goal and gets satisfaction from growing their card pool towards that goal. This varies from the 12 of each card players to the 4 of a subset of rares player. These players tend to have a love hate relationship with the spins.

The Warrior enjoys the thrill of conflict. Facing a worthy opponent is fun. The definition of worthy varies.

The Artist enjoys creating. This varies in medium from Decks, Card Art (Vrt), Card Ideas and even Lore.

Players may fall in more than one category or might fit in unmentioned categories.

Do all meta games eventually devolve into rock paper scissors or rock paper scissors lizard spork? Is this bad?

No. Some metagames are rock rock rock. 

You know of Rock Paper Scissors can be expanded further (see RPS 25).*
It can be modified further by adding a dimension. (Each 3 consecutive options in Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock is its own RPS)
Imagine a RPS with 100 options and 5 dimensions.
Now change the certain victory to a probably victory (Lizard has a greater chance of beating Spock than Paper does but Spock could still win)
This is what I would call a mature metagame.

The only objection I see to a mature metagame is that it is too complex to hold in my head.

Would EtG be better with a much larger card base or a small one?

Larger. More options create more diverse experiences and thus more wealth(in the form of happiness).

How do you place more emphasis on creativity/deck building in EtG without grinding or forum based PvP?

Expand PvP Duel. Let people play PvP Duel without prior arrangement (a lobby) and have it separated based on intent (Competitive decks, Creative decks).

[furballdn]

How much would a darkness element spark that cannot be buffed (it dies when targetted with any buff, stays alive with nightfall) be worth? Good idea or bad? Thematically, it could be some kind of super arrogant, injured warrior.

how much is repeatable -0/-1 for all creatures worth? What about only your opponent's? What about reusable -1/-1 for all creatures? Only your opponent's? What if this was eternal (able to be cast multiple times per turn)

Are there any series in the game besides nymphs/alchemy? Should more be added? Are series good or bad?