Ask the Idea Guru

[waterzx]

What is the theoretical value of each status effect ?

By theoretical, I means the average value of a status effect.

For example, momentum costs 2 quanta per card but Chargers have built-in momentum, which means the cost of momentum is not exactly 2 quanta for all creatures. What is the average value for all creatures then ?

I also want to know how to estimate the theoretical benefit of removing a status effect from creature. For example, how much benefit I would gain and how much cost the opponent would pay if I could remove adrenaline from an opponent's creature ?

And how should I consider "berf" status such as Gravity Pull ?



These questions are related to a new card I made. Just as soon as I clicked the "post" button, I start to feel that my estimate (which actually based on nothing) is completely wrong....

http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,42342.0.html

[OldTrees]

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?

1)
A 0 hp creature that cannot be buffed? Redundant
An illusion that disappears when targeted? 2|1 | 3|1 for 0. Unless it gets really big it would follow the normal +1 atk -> +1 cost. It could work.

2)
Repeatable -0|-1: Sounds like Fire Shield/Plague. (Closer to Fire Shield)
-1|-1 would have 2 conflicting effects. It would be more than 0|-1 but less than twice the value of 0|-1

3)
Dragons, Pillars, Pendulums, Elemental Weapons, Shards, Shields?
Adding series are good. However designing a series has complications. The best idea will be held back by the worst idea in the series.
Additionally: Series tend to fail if they are not connected mechanically.

What is the theoretical value of each status effect ?

By theoretical, I means the average value of a status effect.

For example, momentum costs 2 quanta per card but Chargers have built-in momentum, which means the cost of momentum is not exactly 2 quanta for all creatures. What is the average value for all creatures then ?

I also want to know how to estimate the theoretical benefit of removing a status effect from creature. For example, how much benefit I would gain and how much cost the opponent would pay if I could remove adrenaline from an opponent's creature ?

And how should I consider "berf" status such as Gravity Pull ?



These questions are related to a new card I made. Just as soon as I clicked the "post" button, I start to feel that my estimate (which actually based on nothing) is completely wrong....

http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,42342.0.html

1)
The value of an effect is the (valued added per creature * frequency of use on creature)
An effect is not used on a creature too far below this value.
An effect that has targets significantly above this value would be OP.
So a balanced effect has a low variance and thus the value is close enough to the cost.

So the cost of Adrenaline, Momentum, Gravity Pull, Purify, Freeze and the lack of a Infect card would be good material for an estimate.
I am still unsure (not enough data) if alfatoxin is balanced.

However removing the delay of Basilisk Blood is more useful than removing Delay 6.

I think your spell can have a cost of 5 unupped.
However poison should deal more damage since removing infection is less valuable and delay should deal 1/turn.

[furballdn]

Can I get your opinions on balance on Toadfish | Pufferfish? Something about them feels off.

Toadfish has quite decent stats at 6|4 unupped, that alone should warrant almost a 6 cost, but it also comes with a useful ability.

On the other hand, pufferfish feels weak. It'd take over 6 turns to deal more damage than toadfish, and if we look at scorpion, venom is a +2 cost. 3atk +2cost = 5. Where is the upgrade bonus?

[OldTrees]

Can I get your opinions on balance on Toadfish | Pufferfish? Something about them feels off.

Toadfish has quite decent stats at 6|4 unupped, that alone should warrant almost a 6 cost, but it also comes with a useful ability.

On the other hand, pufferfish feels weak. It'd take over 6 turns to deal more damage than toadfish, and if we look at scorpion, venom is a +2 cost. 3atk +2cost = 5. Where is the upgrade bonus?

6|4 costs either 4 or 5  + 1 card depending on which hp value scale is used.
The duo ability of Toadfish is between a +0 and a +1 cost
3|5 costs either 1 or 2 + 1 card depending on which hp value scale is used.
1|2 costs 0  + 1 card
Forest Scorpion costs 3 + 1 card
Venom costs +3
Toadfish is balanced at 5 + 1 card
Puffer Fish would cost 4 or 5 + 1 card unupped by my estimate.
Pufferfish may be UP.

Summary: Balanced | UP respectively.

See this thread for more opinions on pufferfish: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,10227.0.html

[furballdn]

What happens when we compare charger and psion?

Unupped charger
5
4|5
ignores all shields

Unupped Psion
4
4|4
ignores most shields
completely ruined by reflect


Upped Charger
5
7|5
ignores all shields
can be paradox'd

Upped Psion
4
5|5
ignores most shields
completely destroyed by reflect

[OldTrees]

What happens when we compare charger and psion?

Unupped charger
5
4|5
ignores all shields

Unupped Psion
4
4|4
ignores most shields
completely ruined by reflect


Upped Charger
5
7|5
ignores all shields
can be paradox'd

Upped Psion
4
5|5
ignores most shields
completely destroyed by reflect

Upped cards usually get between a -1 and a -2 cost decrease or the equivalent.
I thought/think upped charger was/is slightly OP.
Psion is balanced in my opinion. However I did have influence in the initial balancing moomoose did.

[furballdn]

Hey OldTrees, let's try something audacious, more audacious than birds.

Remember this? As a spell it wasn't that useful. What if it turned into a permanent that affected every creature | only your creatures? How much would it cost then? Would an upkeep cost be useful to it? Should it bring the atk to the closest "magical" number or just bump it to the next highest magical number?

[OldTrees]

Hey OldTrees, let's try something audacious, more audacious than birds.

Remember this? As a spell it wasn't that useful. What if it turned into a permanent that affected every creature | only your creatures? How much would it cost then? Would an upkeep cost be useful to it? Should it bring the atk to the closest "magical" number or just bump it to the next highest magical number?

What is the core suggestion? The card was merely a tool/means of making your core suggestion. What was that suggestion?

[furballdn]

Hey OldTrees, let's try something audacious, more audacious than birds.

Remember this? As a spell it wasn't that useful. What if it turned into a permanent that affected every creature | only your creatures? How much would it cost then? Would an upkeep cost be useful to it? Should it bring the atk to the closest "magical" number or just bump it to the next highest magical number?

What is the core suggestion? The card was merely a tool/means of making your core suggestion. What was that suggestion?

Make all creatures | only your creatures attacks into the magical number of either 3, 8, or 15. Probably rounded to which number is closer.

[OldTrees]

Hey OldTrees, let's try something audacious, more audacious than birds.

Remember this? As a spell it wasn't that useful. What if it turned into a permanent that affected every creature | only your creatures? How much would it cost then? Would an upkeep cost be useful to it? Should it bring the atk to the closest "magical" number or just bump it to the next highest magical number?

What is the core suggestion? The card was merely a tool/means of making your core suggestion. What was that suggestion?

Make all creatures | only your creatures attacks into the magical number of either 3, 8, or 15. Probably rounded to which number is closer.

That was the tool. What was the suggestion? What was the purpose that being able to set the attack to 3, 8, 15 helps achieve?

[furballdn]

Synergy with adrenaline/green nymph, a quicker boost of damage to your creatures, probably weakening your opponent's creatures.

[Zaealix]

Something I kinda wanna do, because the element is close to being capable of a 'pure mage' deck, is some sort of long-lasting  spell or permanent, that builds power over time and can be released for a powerful effect.
I've had...Limited success, in that while I've made the idea, it mechanically fits better in other elements, besides, the only 'thematic' tie, is to the idea of a villian having some sort of 'doomsday' device or artifact...
Anyhow, musing aside, here's the alternate versions:
1. Consumes  quanta per turn, activate ability to sacrifice it, drain all  quanta and do damage to opponent equal to all  quanta absorbed.
2. Consumes  quanta per turn, activate ability to sacrifice it, doing damage to opponent equal to death counters+ quanta absorbed.
I'm trying to think of a way to add  flavor to this spell, but the best thing I have is some sort of 'gain counters when you drain quanta from opponent' or something like that...Not so good. Maybe 'drain life'? Any ideas, OldTrees?