Starter Pack

[killybob]

the thing is grinding is a huge dissuasive to every all noobs. most people are attracted to the fabulous card art and the lack of real money cost but many falter and run away at the prospect of hours of grinding. it numbs the mind and prevents tactical thinking as much as, if not more than, a pre-set deck in a starter pack. i revise what i said about early upgrading cards in starter packs. we need an easier way for noobs to get ahead without mind numbing grinding. that way the vets stay ahead with score and total card count and noobs aren't discouraged. win - win situation if you ask me.

[tiebearius]

Well you could always give each player 40 card tokens beyond their starting pack. They could then use those 40 choices in any manner they choose. Not a huge advantage, but does encourage the incentive to play and as they play to increase there card base. Since booster may turn out to be a little too random to really help in what they want anyway.

(not to mention the seasoned player who has a good card bse, Would of course use those tokens for more expensive cards just for the Electrum)

(also think that every player should have a maximum of three card trades a year, And all trade have to be of equal value IE: You could only trade a nymph for a nymph)

[killybob]

hmm that's a thought. rather than provide easier routes through grinding we could produce higher incentives to encourage it. atm the only promise for hours of grinding is a couple of good decks. what if there was another quest or something that gave them a a much better prize? i'm sure we'd all prosper from this, even the vets.

[YoungSot]

...Since booster may turn out to be a little too random to really help in what they want anyway.

The starter packs really shouldn't be random. It makes little sense to have random boosters in a game where you can buy the exact card you want. Random boosters are a very slow method of growing your collection, and they don't really help you if you just want to try playing some darkness and life decks in addition to your starting water deck (for example).

[Astrocyte]

I like the way this discussion is going 

I was starting to think that months of grinding (which is really not fun for most people) was some sort of unassailable sacred cow of this game, to the point where most people would rather keep that than have the game become more accessible for new players (and thus more likely to grow).

[EvaRia]

Here's an idea:

One pack for every AI2/AI3.

When you beat that certain AI a set amount of times (3?) you can buy a pack which contains cards found in that deck.

Chance of getting the card corresponds to the amount of copies in the deck. Pillars not included.

[killybob]

that sounds like something to start with. very noob friendly and won't get them ahead too far. ideas like that can be easily developed on and improved. should definitely include AI2 as AI3 is often too hard for true noobs.

[Aitvaras]

When I started playing I have played with every starter deck there is, slowing down any progress of a main.. but atleast I was getting to know all the elements. These starter decks are available to every player.

So, Anyone can take a starter deck, sell some cards, finish quests and add some better cards to than start grinding for upgrading the deck, or buying a deck consisting mostly of cards that arent available in the starter decks.

Basicaly, starting decks and their cards arent realy a big deal IMO. just getting them for free at 500 score or maybe a new quest at 2000 score would be fine. A little bit of grinding and than you have the library you need to play quite a scale of different yet basic decks.

Just buying them is ok to me too.

but getting x copies of all the non rare unupgraded cards wouldnt be cool to me, it realy is to much of a reward for not actualy doing anything.

[RagingAlien]

I already posted my Other suggestion.

It should definitevely cost >= than the total SELL value of the cards in it, except for maybe the first one.

[TStar]

The current system isn't broken.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  The OP is complaining about not having cards to compete in a tourney, so just use the 2-3 hours you'd potentially be in a tourney to farm cash for cards.  I find a serious flaw in logic when a player says they don't have time to grind for money/cards but they want money/cards so they can spent time in tournaments/events.  To me that means you DO have the time to spend, you just don't want to go through the process of building up your card base like everyone else and just skip right to the end-game of playing for prizes.  Earn your stripes the hard way like everyone else did.  Not everything has to be instant gratification because you find grinding more boring than PvP.

These forums have many useful deckbuilding guides how to transition from a starter deck to a AI3/T50 grind deck quickly so that you can go after rares and money.  It doesn't take as long as people act like it does, a couple hours total is enough to give at least 2 solid decks for grinding or PvP.

[Manipul8r]

I'll probably do what you said TStar.  You are right, I can spend a couple hours a week grinding during the time I have alloted to watch TV (since I can do them simultaneously, albeit not as fast).

However, I'll miss some fun tournaments in the mean time.  It's also not just 'more boring than PvP', it's plain not enjoyable.  To me it's like a mouse pressing a button for cocaine (minus the cocaine).  I guess it's just a hoop I have to jump, but it's amusing how a free game costs me more than a game that costs $.

Although you astutely dumped me into a category of people who say they don't have time but probably do, my business is growing fast and I am already pretty low on time.  The longer I have to grind, the less likely I'll be able to make time for a tournament down the road.  Hopefully, I'll be able to play in a tourney or two eventually, but even if not, I'd like to thank the rest of you for giving me and others in a similar situation a chance.

Anyway, I guess it has come down to keeping the status quo.  Why let people who desire to shorten the boring portion do so, when you could just... not?  Why anger the older players who went through all the grinding in order to make it easier on newer players who have busy lives?  Is the status quo set in stone?  If it isn't broken, can it not be improved or grown?  Don't we design new cards and suggest buffs/nerfs?

[Astrocyte]

you just don't want to go through the process of building up your card base like everyone else and just skip right to the end-game of playing for prizes.

What's wrong with that? (regardless of whether a player "really" has time to grind or not)