Ask the New Idea Guru

[Drake_XIV]

In OT's thread, he said:

OldTrees, which element needs a new card more than the others?

None need a new card. All are functional.
All would benefit from a new card.
Most are incomplete.

Water is the element that would benefit the most after considering incompleteness and how long it has been.
2nd Life
3rd Earth

I've done a card for both Water and Life and neither were voted very far up in the Crucible chain.
Have you any particular observations for Earth on first thematics and then balance?

If you have time, reboot suggestions for the two previous cards would also be appreciated.

River Monster
Two issues I see here are an ability that has very minimal effect and it utilizes a duo that will not be , or is rarely, used.  It is a nice idea, but with the ability cost and the effect, it doesn't seem like it would really assist either or .

Mycelium
The unupgraded is fine, helps with minor CC issues in , but doesn't really help as most conventional CC would get rid of creatures before Mycelium kicks in if it is too late.

The upgraded is too similar to the original Shard of Patience, in my opinion, which poses a problem, especially with the attack boost that disregards delay and type.  I personally do not like this passive mass growth in damage, as this turns a small swarm of low level creatures into sturdy midrange attackers quickly.  But this does assist 's issues with bypassing DR.

To sum up my thoughts, I don't think these are exactly the kind of additions that and need.  has too many out-element abilities, so putting a ability into it for something that would not be used so much isn't exactly something that would be used.  could do with the buffing of this Mycelium, but I worry about how it can be abused.  I'd suggest playtesting it.

I'm trying to get a better grasp of card analysis for now, which I still feel is a bit out of reach, so I will again refrain from make making design suggestions.

[Zaealix]

Do you think that there should be at least 1 competitive Mono-deck of every element?

[Drake_XIV]

Do you think that there should be at least 1 competitive Mono-deck of every element?

In the perfect world, it would be nice to see that.  And to a point, there is.  Some are simply just better than others.

I guess that's the aim for balance that should be attained.  What cards should be added in order to keep their respective MonoDecks up to par with the others'?  But I digress...

[OldTrees]

In OT's thread, he said:

OldTrees, which element needs a new card more than the others?

None need a new card. All are functional.
All would benefit from a new card.
Most are incomplete.

Water is the element that would benefit the most after considering incompleteness and how long it has been.
2nd Life
3rd Earth

I've done a card for both Water and Life and neither were voted very far up in the Crucible chain.
Have you any particular observations for Earth on first thematics and then balance?

If you have time, reboot suggestions for the two previous cards would also be appreciated.

River Monster
Two issues I see here are an ability that has very minimal effect and it utilizes a duo that will not be , or is rarely, used.  It is a nice idea, but with the ability cost and the effect, it doesn't seem like it would really assist either or .

Mycelium
The unupgraded is fine, helps with minor CC issues in , but doesn't really help as most conventional CC would get rid of creatures before Mycelium kicks in if it is too late.

The upgraded is too similar to the original Shard of Patience, in my opinion, which poses a problem, especially with the attack boost that disregards delay and type.  I personally do not like this passive mass growth in damage, as this turns a small swarm of low level creatures into sturdy midrange attackers quickly.  But this does assist 's issues with bypassing DR.

To sum up my thoughts, I don't think these are exactly the kind of additions that and need.  has too many out-element abilities, so putting a ability into it for something that would not be used so much isn't exactly something that would be used.  could do with the buffing of this Mycelium, but I worry about how it can be abused.  I'd suggest playtesting it.

I'm trying to get a better grasp of card analysis for now, which I still feel is a bit out of reach, so I will again refrain from make making design suggestions.

When thinking about how to help an element here are some questions to consider:
1) What is the difference between a weakness and a deficiency?
Fire's creatures have low hp. However Fire is not deficient in responses to CC heavy decks.
2) What are the deficiencies of the element in question?
Life is creature based and thus can be shut down with CC. The creature focus is a weakness of Life but also a deficiency since Life does not have a response to CC heavy decks.
3) What are possible responses to the deficiency?
Responses to CC include but are not limited to: Non creature win conditions, Swarming, CC resilience/immunity, Punishing CC.
4) Which responses fit the element in question?
Enter thematics
5) Is my implementation of the response vulnerable to the problem?
Mitosis enables spawning but is shut down by CC. Therefore Mitosis based spawning is not a response to CC.
6) Does my implementation work against the problem?
5 is about whether the solution is shut down by the problem. 6 is about whether the solution would work if not shut down.

[Zaealix]

So something that also occurred to me: While keeping Mono decks up to par is a definite goal, perhaps something else to be considered is the idea of, if not 'weaker' ideas, at least granting some of the more dominant elements cards that play to the strengths of the 'weaker' elements, like a creature that dies if you can't kill an opponent's creature in a certain time frame  ( element? Something of a thematic fit, and aids the mechanics that want creatures to die ). This opposite goal, can give a reason to work with elements that are seen as 'dominant' like  or  , or whatever.

[Annele]

Posting to keep track, and to ask; what you think 2 damage reduction is worth, compared to 1 damage reduction?

[EmeraldTiger]

I also wish to watch this thread. If I get bored with Runescape, I will return to you all.

[Rutarete]

What do you think would be good substitutes for the series in game? Ex dragons, nymphs. Are they the best representation for what they are (big fantasy creatures) and what they do?

[Drake_XIV]

Posting to keep track, and to ask; what you think 2 damage reduction is worth, compared to 1 damage reduction?

I like to think that the initial DR costs 1 while every subsequent DR adds +2 to cost.

What do you think would be good substitutes for the series in game? Ex dragons, nymphs. Are they the best representation for what they are (big fantasy creatures) and what they do?

I'm sorry, but could you elaborate on what exactly you are asking?  What do you mean by substitutes?  Do you mean representations of their elements?

[Rutarete]

What do you think would be good substitutes for the series in game? Ex dragons, nymphs. Are they the best representation for what they are (big fantasy creatures) and what they do?

I'm sorry, but could you elaborate on what exactly you are asking?  What do you mean by substitutes?  Do you mean representations of their elements?

It's more of a question on thematics/representation. Would it be better to have dinosaurs instead of dragons (not all Dinos are airborne, just an example of other big things). Is there a creature that would fit the nymph's abilities better than a nymph?

[OldTrees]

Posting to keep track, and to ask; what you think 2 damage reduction is worth, compared to 1 damage reduction?

I like to think that the initial DR costs 1 while every subsequent DR adds +2 to cost.

Titanium Shield -> Diamond Shield: 1 upgrade + 2 cost = +1DR
Ice Shield -> Permafrost Shield: 1 upgrade + 1 cost = +1DR

[Drake_XIV]

Posting to keep track, and to ask; what you think 2 damage reduction is worth, compared to 1 damage reduction?

I like to think that the initial DR costs 1 while every subsequent DR adds +2 to cost.

Titanium Shield -> Diamond Shield: 1 upgrade + 2 cost = +1DR
Ice Shield -> Permafrost Shield: 1 upgrade + 1 cost = +1DR

Yes, but I was simply approaching it from unupgraded.  There is still the upgraded cost drop to consider after the fact, which usually comes out to be -1 .